Spring Break 2013 Part 2- Dublin

As promised, my blog post about Dublin. I just have one thing to say..... cold, rainy, windy... That about sums it up. For those of you who read my last blog post, I quoted Forrest Gump when he talks about rain. I said in London that the rain is nothing like what Forrest explains, well in Dublin, it very much so was. Especially the part about "sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. It seemed, at times, that using an umbrella was just pointless. The rain blew in sideways and unless you were holding the umbrella directly in front of your face (where you could no longer see where you were going), the umbrella would just flip inside out. Needless to say, I spent sometime indoors. I really tried to embrace the cold, but the first full day in Dublin was just miserable. 

So before I start in on my little day by day recollection, I thought I would share some things I found interesting or funny. I did not realize that Gallic was actually still used in Ireland. When you look at a sign, the first thing you see is in Gallic followed by English, which was quite surprising to me. It was pretty funny when I walked into a bookstore that all the authors names were SO IRISH!!! I mean, I guess you would expect that, but it was quite entertaining. Little fun fact, no matter where I go, what country I am in and what language they speak, Happy Birthday is always set to the same tune. In English, Spanish, Italian, Gallic... always the same. I really see the appeal of see through umbrellas now... As some points, I had to hold the umbrella directly in front of my face because of the wind so it would have been nice to have something I could actually see through.

Okay, so I landed on Wednesday and the sun was shining and it was quite nice. I walked around for a little while, but I was tired so I didn't do much during the day. The first night, I went to the Arlington Hotel for dinner and a show. That was really nice. The food was awesome and the music was great and I got to see some authentic Irish dancers. It's amazing how their upper bodies never move! I even heard Galway Girl! (For those of you that don't know that song, just watch P.S. I Love You. It's the song that Gerard Butler sings to Hillary Swank at the beginning when they meet in the pub. No wonder she fell in love with him!) So yeah, it was a fun night! 

The statue of Ireland's hero, Daniel O'Connell,
at the end of O'Connell Street. 

So apparently this is a famous picture. The spire
is the tallest sculpture in the world and sits in the
middle of O'Connell Street. 

I saw all these claddagh rings in a gift shop and it just reminded me of the one that I had when I was a child. 

The Irish are so serious about their drinking, they
even put a bottle opener in their caps! 

This is the post office of Dublin on O'Connell Street. A very
nice building with a lot of history.

You see how in all those pictures, the sky is nice and blue and welcoming... Well that wasn't the case for the next day. On Thursday, I took the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit, which might I say is not very rapid) out to Howth, a little port city outside Dublin. On the way in, I swear I saw something that resembled the Loch Ness Monster, even though we were at the ocean... It was so cold I could barely take pictures because my hands would freeze in place and I wouldn't be able to move them. It was also really windy. I tested my theory that I didn't actually have to hold myself up, that the wind would do it... I was right, I attempted to fall backwards and the wind held me up. Needless to say, I didn't stay there long. When I got back to Dublin, it had started raining. It was one of those days where you really just want to curl up in front of the fire and watch TV or read a good book and never leave the house. Well, since I was in Dublin and not at home, I attempted to go out. I went to Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells and The Long Room and then walked to the Christchurch Cathedral and by that time, I was so soaked that I just had to stop. I crossed the River Liffey and went into a little coffee shop and stayed there for a few hours watching other people go by and waiting for myself to dry off. Finally, after 2 cups of coffee and a muffin, I decided to brave the storm and head back to my hostel, which was about a 15-20 minute walk. Once I got back, I just sat and did nothing in the warmth of the hostel until it came time to get dinner. I went out to a local pub and had some fish and chips with a girl I met at the hostel and then went home for an early night. 

This was the harbor at Howth, freezing cold!!!!!

The classical archway of the Trinity College.
Unfortunately, when I was there, there were
camera crews right in front so a straight on shot
was not an option. Oh well, guess I'll just have
to go back.

One of the statues in the courtyard of Trinity College.
Everything was so green.

After a certain point, I refused to take my camera out for fear of the
permanent water damage it would obtain. So these were from my phone. The Long Room of the Trinity College Library, the Christchurch Cathedral, the River Liffey, and one of the classic Georgian doors of Dublin. 

Alright, so the last day in Dublin made my entire trip worthwhile. I decided that I wasn't going to let the weather get me down and that I was going to embrace the freezing cold. I took a tour bus to a medieval town outside of Dublin called Kilkenny where there is a medieval castle and lots of cool stuff. My tour guide was pretty funny. At one point I heard her use the phrase "silly little git". She explained the history of the shamrock and that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, used the shamrock to explain the trinity to the uneducated.  When we first arrived it wasn't raining too much and the wind was bearable but after only a few minutes, the misery kicked up again. I don't think I have ever been that wet in my life, aside from being in the shower. My pants were stuck to my legs and my boots had turned a whole different color. Thank goodness for my leather jacket otherwise I would have just been miserable! Well anyway, I took a tour of the medieval castle, walked around the city, and saw the original Smithwicks brewery. After a while, I just couldn't take the cold anymore so I went inside one of the museums across the street from the castle and had lunch. BEST FOOD EVER!!! I had something called cottage pie. I don't really know what it was, some kind of meat covered in potatoes and baked in a casserole! Heaven! 

This is the Kilkenny Castle! I walked all the way out to the far
end of the garden in the rain to get the whole castle in the picture!

The rose gardens of Kilkenny Castle. Well
they are normally rose gardens... right now
they are in hibernation. 

One of the entrances to the Smithwick Brewery!

Some of the medieval streets in Kilkenny. Still made
of cobblestone!

So after Kilkenny, we got back on the bus and drove to the little town of Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains. While driving, we passed through a little town called Hollywood. The Irish like to think that California's Hollywood is named after this little town because three brothers from Hollywood in Ireland moved to LA and became very famous in the movie industry and named Hollywood after their hometown. To "prove" this relationship, they put a Hollywood sign up on the hill of the town.

The storm I have been complaining about turned out to be one of the worst in a while. There were lakes where there used to be fields and rivers where there used to be streams. My tour guide kept saying "well that river wasn't there yesterday!" It wasn't until I reached Glendalough that I really witnessed the true beauty of Ireland. When I got off the bus, the rain had stopped and the wind died down a bit and this is what I saw... (you can click on the pictures to make them bigger)

Upper Glendalough Lake! The massive amount of rain flooded
the lake but it was still so beautiful!

This tree is not usually under water, but it
was on that day! I just loved the contrast between
the dark tree and mountains and the light sky!

There were waterfalls where there had not previously
been waterfalls! But just look at all the green! Isn't it
just beautiful!

So this white water river is normally a trickling
stream that you can walk along and admire the
beauty. I would call this a whole other type of beauty!

Those little rivers... not usually there. But look at the green!!!!
I guess they have to pay the price to have such wonderful green
fields and forests!

Like always, documentation that I did
actually travel there. I remember when I
first started blogging someone told me
that there were never any pictures of
myself so I could just be faking it...
Proof I'm not faking it! :)

Probably one of my favorites! This waterfall was just spectacular and wasn't there the day before! Although it was freezing cold and raining all the time, I feel blessed because I was able to witness this beauty that I would not have seen otherwise!

This is the bridge that I had to cross to get back from the lakes
to the monastery. I don't know if you can see, but the bridge was
flooded. You can see part of the medieval monastery on the other
side but getting there was quite the wet challenge. My shoes were
completely soaked by the time I got across to the other side.

More makeshift rivers!

And this is tower of St. Kevin's Monastery. There are only 60 left in existence in Ireland today and this is one of them. Built completely of stone and still standing! The graveyard you see if still used today.

So in the three days that I was in Ireland, I got every type of weather imaginable.

Day 1- beautiful blue skies!
Day 2- rain and wind and clouds...
Day 3- SNOW!!!!

All in all, a pretty wonderful spring break. A few days in London and then a few days in Ireland. I can't wait to go back to Ireland, although, I vow never to return unless it is between the months of May and August because I feel like those are the months that I would have the best chance of having nice weather. 

For those of you that don't know. I went to the Vatican for Easter service this past weekend so keep your eye out for my next blog post about that. I'm sorry I'm a little behind! I'll catch up eventually. Hopefully before it is time to come home. Only 6 more weeks. It's amazing how time flies!

Spring Break 2013 Part 1- London

Alright, so I think I am going to have to write this blog in two because it's just going to be too long. For those of you that don't know, I spent my spring break week in London and Dublin. I spent the first 4 days in London and then flew to Dublin.

London was quite the experience. This was the first time that I had traveled alone in a foreign country, so that  in itself was new. They definitely weren't kidding about the rain. It rained pretty much all the time every day but it was a rather nice rain. It wasn't freezing cold and the rain fell very nicely. It just fell, it wasn't like most rain I'm used to that blows and comes from every direction. Like Forrest says "little bitty stingin' raing... and big ol' fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath." That's the kind of rain that I am used to so this wasn't really too bad. You just have to make sure you have an umbrella at all times because it just sort of starts raining and doesn't stop. I was really fortunate to be able to duck into some museums when it started raining and just sort of stay there wandering around for hours.

When I landed, it took some time to find my hostel and get settled, but once I dropped my stuff off, I set off on a walking adventure to find Big Ben. I just sort of started walking from my hostel and every time I saw something interesting, I turned. Didn't really matter what direction it was in, i figured I would get to the river and find Big Ben eventually. On this journey, I passed through Russell Square, walked to the Brisith Museum and stopped in to see some exhibits. After that, I ventured through Leicester Square (the London version of NYC Time Square and 42nd street) and then on to Piccadilly Circus. I then found myself in St. James Park and walked to Trafalgar Square and to the river. I saw the Eye and then continued along the river until I found Big Ben. It was quite a walk, but nice because it didn't start raining until the very end which is when I got on the Tube (London Metro) and went back to my hostel.

Part of Leicester Square. This is the Palace Theater where
they are currently playing Singing in the Rain. 

A statue in Russell Square  right across the
street from my hostel.

The cupid statue in the middle of Piccadilly Circus. 

Look at all the red buses. Granted it's been a long time since I
was in London and I don't remember much, but I definitely
don't remember there being so many red buses. 

A view of the London Eye from across the river. 

And then the there was Big Ben. A great end to the first day.

So the second day, I also went on an adventure back in the Big Ben direction. Mind you, this was St. Patrick's day so it was a little crazy downtown. I walked from my hostel, took the Tube to Trafalgar Square where I was surprised by a very large St. Patrick's Day festival. I watched for a little while, but once I started to get a little claustrophobic from all the people, I decided to step inside the National Gallery. It was truly incredible! I saw so many famous paintings; Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Seurat, Bellini, Rubens, Rembrandt, van Gogh, van Eyck, Michelangelo, Turner, Constable, Raphael, Caravaggio, da Vinci, and the list goes on and on. It is truly amazing how much more you can appreciate a place like that when you have been educated in art history and really understand the significance of what you are seeing. I would encourage anyone who is studying abroad, especially in Europe, to take an art history class or two. You will appreciate the museums and exhibits so much more! Anyway, so after the National Gallery, I walked through St, James Park and to Buckingham Palace. Then walked back towards the river and found Big Ben again. It was at this point that I realized that there are signs written on the road to show which was you should look before crossing the street, which was good for me because I was very confused.

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square

Buckingham Palace! I was so sad that the little guards were not
there. I didn't realized they are only out in the summer. :(

The whole thing just screams London.
The red telephone box and Big Ben.

I just loved the rain washed streets. You
don't need a lake to see the reflection!

And the oh so helpful signs on the cement all over London telling you which way to look before crossing the street so you don't get run over. 

So the third day was also rainy and gloomy, but I didn't let it get me down. I went to see the London Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral. They wanted to charge be 15 pounds to go inside. Needless to say, I didn't go inside so then walked over to the Tate Modern. While I walking over the Millennium Bridge to get to the Tate, I came across a man selling roasted peanuts but I didn't have enough change to buy one. He asked me how much I had and basically gave it to me for free. Some people are just nice! As I was entering the Tate it started raining so I spent a good few hours walking around looking at all the art. Sometimes modern art really confuses me... Anyway, after that, I walked over and saw the Globe Theater and then took the Metro to the Victoria and Albert Museum. For dinner, I met up with a good friend that lives in London!

St. Paul's Cathedral with an old fashion red
bus. I like these old ones way better than
the modern looking ones.

The London Bridge. It is quite picturesque, especially when
you have a little sun light peaking through the clouds.

The Millennium Bridge leading to the Tate Modern. It is a
beautifully constructed bridge!

A view of the city from the Tate! It really is a beautiful city!

Picasso in the Tate

The Victoria and Albert Museum, also called the VA. 

On the last day in London, I took a bus out to see Stonehenge. Now I can check that off my bucket list. It was quite incredible! I would suggest to anyone traveling to London to take half a day and go out and see this! It was like London knew that I was leaving and wanted to give me a good last day. There were blue skies and the sun came out! I took the Tube to Kings Cross and St. Pancras Station. I secretly hoped to hear the word Muggle while walking through Kings Cross station. I then went to the British Library. Why can't we have libraries like this. I would live in the library if libraries looked like this in the US. And then to finish off the day, I went to the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Stonehenge in all it's glory!

I also feel like I have to take some pictures
of myself for proof but it is so hard to find
people that can take a decent picture. I think
I asked about 5 people before I got a good one!

St. Pancras with blue skies!

Platform 9 in Kings Cross Station!

The British Library! A glass case of books
filled the entire center corridor of the library
all the way from the bottom floor to the top!

The Sherlock Holmes Museum!

After London, I went to Dublin for 3 days. 3 days filled with rain and windy and cold weather. Check back a little later for my blog about Dublin. I know that if I tried to combine the two, I would just kill you all with its length! 

There is a New Pope in Town!!!

Well, it's official! As of last night there is a new pope in Rome. I think with his new "divine power", he "gave" us a beautiful day to celebrate! And boy is it a beautiful day. I was at home last night when I found out about the pope and it was too late to make it to St. Peters Square to see him give his blessing and what not. So on the way home today, I went on a little adventure! And was it one!!!

I walked from school, through Piazza Navona, to the river, down to Ponte Sant'Angelo over the bridge and down towards St. Peters Sqaure. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE!!!!!!! It was ridiculous! I couldn't believe how many people appeared over night. Granted I had been avoiding that area of the city since the announcement of the resignation of the Pope but wow... It was madness. I have some pictures to document the beautiful day and the madness that is Rome at the current moment!

This is Piazza Navona in the full swing of things! It was busy as ever and
 the blue skies made for some gorgeous pictures! 

The center of Piazza Navona in all its glory!

And then there was this little girl! How cute is she!!!

A view of the Ponte Sant'Angelo as well as the Tiber River, absolutely full from all the rain and in the background, you can see the dome of the St. Peters Basilica and proof of the beautiful day!!!
(Usually the level of the river is about 30 feet lower)

The Ponte Sant'Angelo and Castel Sant'Angelo!!!
There really is nothing more beautiful than Rome!

I mean, come on!!! Look at this beautiful angel designed by Bernini!
 Where else in the world can you walk over a bridge and see such beauty!
No where!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and then there was the man playing the violin... Seeing this picture, you would think, "oh how sweet and romantic" until I tell you what he was playing and then you'll laugh...
Time After Time, yup that's right. An American song... Pretty funny to sing along to though!

And here is Via della Conciliazione! Leads right to St. Peters Basilica! Right behind where I was standing to take this picture was a temporary structure just for press and camera crews! It was incredible!

I couldn't help myself. They come from all over the world to take pictures of tourists and document the reactions and what not, so I thought, "I'm going to take a picture of you Mr. Reporter Man..."

You can still see the red curtain on the balcony of the basilica from last night!
This is just a small amount of the crowd that was in St. Peters Square! 

And then there is me. I couldn't help myself. If I had to go through the ordeal of being bombarded by tourists and people trying to sell me things just to get here, I was going to act like a tourist and take a picture!

So you see how cool being in Rome is! If you can't tell from the amount of exclamation points, I had an awesome day! This is the first truly beautiful day we have had in weeks and I had a wonderful time enjoying said beauty! I didn't even mind the tourists and I got gelato, which makes everything even better! It was such a fun day! What an amazing experience!

P.S. You can officially comment on these blogs and they will come through, sorry for the confusion. Oh and I'm leaving for London the day after tomorrow so I will be off on another adventure shortly! Hopefully the weather gods decide to give the rain some rest and let the sun get some exercise. Here's to a sunny and wonderful trip to London and Dublin! Cheers! Ciao!!!!