Hi everybody!
I hope you are having a great week so far, I heard that MN was having a little bit of heat stroke for a while and I hope you all got to enjoy it! My last week has been pretty low key, but I thought I would shoot you an update anyway since I don't have very many weeks left! This past weekend I had two friends from St. Norbert who are studying in Spain wing through Ireland on there two week spring break travels, so they stayed with Alexa and I for Friday and Saturday! It is always great to see a familiar face and to get to show my home to someone. I wish I could share it with all of you! Kerrie and Katie came in Friday evening and we went out and did a little tour of the Galway pubs, then they left on Saturday to come back and we had a nice little night in on Saturday night. It was nice to catch up with them and get to hear all about there study abroad experiences. It is so cool how everyone I talk to is having such a different experience and to hear all about them. I had two final papers to do this past weekend and I finished those and handed them in on Monday! That means besides my final exams next week I am totally done with school work for Ireland, and had a very relaxing week this week knowing that those two papers were finished.
Yesterday my friend Maggie, Alexa and I decided we wanted to go on an adventure and climb Croagh Patrick, the mountain that St. Patrick fasted on for 40 days and banished the snakes out of Ireland from. We didn't really know what to expect, but we don't have very much time left here and are trying to experience as much as possible. We found a bus that would get us there leaving at 9am and transferring in a small town about two hours from here, then getting on another bus for an hour. When we left that morning it was cloudy and kind of drizzly, but the sun came out at a perfect time for us! When we finally arrived in Westport, the town the mountain is closest to, we found a bus to take us to the mountain and finally started to climb a little after 1. There were like 6 other people on the bus with us, all little old ladies, who got really excited for us when they found out we were going up the mountain and told us they would say a prayer for us. They were so cute! When we were on the bus we saw a really big mountain in the distance, and we all were like "how cool would it be if we got to climb that one!" But we really didn't think that was where we were going. When we started climbing we found out that the HUGE mountain was where we were headed! It was such an exhilarating feeling.
The way up was a really rocky path that felt like you were walking on those little rocks that surround houses for landscaping. It was kind of a faux path from people walking so often. Going up wasn't too bad at all until we got about an hour and 15 minutes into it, then we saw what we had to finish. The last stretch was at like a 70 degree angle straight up the mountain, still trying to maneuver on these very slippery little rocks. My lungs were yelling at me, and I realized how out of shape I was, but it was SO fun. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the view kept getting better and better. When we finally got to the top every pain and tough breath was totally worth it. It was the most amazing feeling, like standing on top of the world. There was a church at the top dedicated to St. Patrick, and the most amazing view. We didn't have a whole lot of time because we had to get back down to catch a bus back to Westport, but it was totally breath taking and the most fulfilling feeling to know that I made it up.
The way down was the same rocky path, only trying to walk down them was almost impossible! Maggie and I fell on our bums a few times, including one really graceful fall that left me with some pretty cool scratches on my arm haha. It was kind of like surfing down the side of the mountain, only instead of water below there were more pointy rocks. The way up was tough on the lungs, but this was tough on the knees and hips! We laughed the whole way down as we slid around and tried to keep our balance, and talked to every body we passed motivating them to keep going, it was totally worth it once you get to the top. We got down fairly quickly, about an hour compared to the two hours it took getting up, and ran to get the bus we thought was coming at 4:40, but then found out it wasn't coming until almost 5, oh well! We got back to Westport confident that there was a bus back to Galway, but it turns out the bus we thought we were going to catch only comes on Monday's and Thursday's, and there wasn't another bus until the next day! I went into minor panic mode, but we found a bus driver on one of the other buses and he told us that if we got to Castlebar, the next town over, there would be a bus to Galway in about an hour. We had to get a cab to Castlebar, which was frustrating because of how expensive they are, but we got on the bus and made it back in one piece! It is all part of the adventure I guess!
We went to Monroe's, our traditional Tuesday pub, for pizza and a little bit of Irish dancing but we were all exhausted and smelly and in sweats, so we didn't last as long as usual. It was one of my favorite days since I arrived here, top 5 for sure, and I am so happy we took the opportunity to do it. It was extra fun because it wasn't a tour or a planned thing, it was more spur of the moment and we had to figure it all out on our own. It was one of the first times here that I feel like I got to experience nature rather then just look at it, and I absolutely loved it.
This week I am going to the Cliffs of Moher on Friday, then celebrating my last weekend with all of my Ireland friends! We all start to go home starting next week, and I leave for Italy next Sunday! It is going to be so weird not seeing all of these wonderful people everyday, but it will be much easier to stay in contact when we are all back in the land of cell phones and cars! I am so so so excited to come home, I am missing everyone so much! I still have lots to do before I leave, so time is flying by! 25 more days!
I love you all so much, write when you get the chance!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Dublin x2!
Hi everybody, Happy Easter!!
I am counting down the days to when I come home, time is absolutely flying by and there is so much I am trying to fit in before I come home in one month from tomorrow! It is a very crazy feeling, and school work is getting in the way of finishing all of my plans haha. One thing that I hadn't done yet until very recently was go to Dublin, and since last week I have been there twice! It is definitely not one of my favorite cities, it is kind of dreary and boring, but it was great being there and experiencing the capital city of my country!
Last week Wednesday-Friday I was invited to go spend three days in Dublin with my friend Alexa's family who was visiting from home. Her parents, older sister, and aunt and uncle were all here for ten days and I spent the last three with them. On Wednesday we got up early and took a train to Dublin and got started right away by finding our hotel then headed to Trinity Collge. We saw the book of Kells and the AMAZING library. It was so beautiful, that is my dream one day to have enough books to need a ladder to get to them all, and this was definitely that big. Very Beauty and the Beast. It was a beautiful day and we had great weather, which was so great for them to be able to see more! After we walked around campus a little bit we walked around Dublin and saw Christ Church and Dublin castle from the outside, then found our way to Temple Bar area. We had a drink in Temple Bar, something everyone has to do if they come to Ireland. The atmosphere was great, and there was a musician playing traditional music which is always fun. After some relaxation time we had dinner then went on a Literary Pub Crawl! It was so cool, we traveled to four different pubs and around other parts of Dublin with our guide telling us stories about famous writers in Irish history then acting out a few of there pieces. Totally worth it, probably my favorite thing in Dublin. Our guide was hilarious and knew so much about literature and Irish history, very refreshing.
Thursday we woke up and made a bee line for the Guinness Factory. Alexa's dad brews his own beer so was VERY excited to go, and it was so much fun. The whole experience is very well laid out, and even though it is a self guided tour it is more like a museum and I learned so much. You get to taste a half pint at one of the stops, then learn the art form of pouring your own pint on another floor, which is pretty intense. Even though I am not the biggest Guinness fan it was somehow much easier to drink sitting in the factory surrounded by all of the history. The brewery was opened 250 years ago and has been super popular since, very cool. After the factory we went to Kilmainham Gaol, the prison where many of the supporters of the 1916 Uprising were held and killed. It was a very creepy place full of Irish history, but very interesting. After that we just had a low key night and went back to the hotel since it was the last night for them to be together. It was SO nice to stay in a hotel and be with a family, I think sometimes just seeing a new face is very very helpful.
This weekend I was having a tough time not being home for Holy Week, it is my favotire time of the whole year and I really did not like being away from St. Ambrose for all of the masses, but the Cathedral here did it really well and it was nice to celebrate it. My friends and I on Easter dyed eggs then played games outside because it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL out, then we had tacos for dinner haha. It was a nice low key day. The best part was my parents brought the computer to our family Easter and I got to talk to my grandma and all of my wonderful family. It really really brightened my whole week and I cannot wait until I get to see you all in person!
Yesterday my friends and I got up at 4am and took a very early bus to Dublin to do a bus tour of Wicklow National Park, called the Wild Wicklow Tour. It was a very very rainy day so we didn't get to see everything that we would have liked, but it was a very cool tour. It is a family run business and the tour guide was totally goofy and crazy. he cracked jokes about everything, but was also very knowledgeable about Dublin and its surrounding areas. We got to see where PS I Love You was filmed, where Braveheart was filmed, the Wicklow Mountains, Bono's house, and some other very cool things that I would have never seen if I hadn't taken the tour. It was a great day tour and gave us something to do while waiting for our exams to start!
I have one and a half papers and two exams left and I am totally done, which is so exciting. Next week will be pretty low key, but the week after I have two exams and it is my last week in Ireland! After that I have two weeks in Italy then I am home, which is totally surreal. I CANNOT wait to be home, but there is so much I want to do before I leave! I have made such great friends here, and leaving them is going to be so hard, but I am trying very hard to live life to the fullest these last 30 days! I love you all so much, update me on life and write me when you get the chance please!
All of my love and prayers coming your way
I am counting down the days to when I come home, time is absolutely flying by and there is so much I am trying to fit in before I come home in one month from tomorrow! It is a very crazy feeling, and school work is getting in the way of finishing all of my plans haha. One thing that I hadn't done yet until very recently was go to Dublin, and since last week I have been there twice! It is definitely not one of my favorite cities, it is kind of dreary and boring, but it was great being there and experiencing the capital city of my country!
Last week Wednesday-Friday I was invited to go spend three days in Dublin with my friend Alexa's family who was visiting from home. Her parents, older sister, and aunt and uncle were all here for ten days and I spent the last three with them. On Wednesday we got up early and took a train to Dublin and got started right away by finding our hotel then headed to Trinity Collge. We saw the book of Kells and the AMAZING library. It was so beautiful, that is my dream one day to have enough books to need a ladder to get to them all, and this was definitely that big. Very Beauty and the Beast. It was a beautiful day and we had great weather, which was so great for them to be able to see more! After we walked around campus a little bit we walked around Dublin and saw Christ Church and Dublin castle from the outside, then found our way to Temple Bar area. We had a drink in Temple Bar, something everyone has to do if they come to Ireland. The atmosphere was great, and there was a musician playing traditional music which is always fun. After some relaxation time we had dinner then went on a Literary Pub Crawl! It was so cool, we traveled to four different pubs and around other parts of Dublin with our guide telling us stories about famous writers in Irish history then acting out a few of there pieces. Totally worth it, probably my favorite thing in Dublin. Our guide was hilarious and knew so much about literature and Irish history, very refreshing.
Thursday we woke up and made a bee line for the Guinness Factory. Alexa's dad brews his own beer so was VERY excited to go, and it was so much fun. The whole experience is very well laid out, and even though it is a self guided tour it is more like a museum and I learned so much. You get to taste a half pint at one of the stops, then learn the art form of pouring your own pint on another floor, which is pretty intense. Even though I am not the biggest Guinness fan it was somehow much easier to drink sitting in the factory surrounded by all of the history. The brewery was opened 250 years ago and has been super popular since, very cool. After the factory we went to Kilmainham Gaol, the prison where many of the supporters of the 1916 Uprising were held and killed. It was a very creepy place full of Irish history, but very interesting. After that we just had a low key night and went back to the hotel since it was the last night for them to be together. It was SO nice to stay in a hotel and be with a family, I think sometimes just seeing a new face is very very helpful.
This weekend I was having a tough time not being home for Holy Week, it is my favotire time of the whole year and I really did not like being away from St. Ambrose for all of the masses, but the Cathedral here did it really well and it was nice to celebrate it. My friends and I on Easter dyed eggs then played games outside because it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL out, then we had tacos for dinner haha. It was a nice low key day. The best part was my parents brought the computer to our family Easter and I got to talk to my grandma and all of my wonderful family. It really really brightened my whole week and I cannot wait until I get to see you all in person!
Yesterday my friends and I got up at 4am and took a very early bus to Dublin to do a bus tour of Wicklow National Park, called the Wild Wicklow Tour. It was a very very rainy day so we didn't get to see everything that we would have liked, but it was a very cool tour. It is a family run business and the tour guide was totally goofy and crazy. he cracked jokes about everything, but was also very knowledgeable about Dublin and its surrounding areas. We got to see where PS I Love You was filmed, where Braveheart was filmed, the Wicklow Mountains, Bono's house, and some other very cool things that I would have never seen if I hadn't taken the tour. It was a great day tour and gave us something to do while waiting for our exams to start!
I have one and a half papers and two exams left and I am totally done, which is so exciting. Next week will be pretty low key, but the week after I have two exams and it is my last week in Ireland! After that I have two weeks in Italy then I am home, which is totally surreal. I CANNOT wait to be home, but there is so much I want to do before I leave! I have made such great friends here, and leaving them is going to be so hard, but I am trying very hard to live life to the fullest these last 30 days! I love you all so much, update me on life and write me when you get the chance please!
All of my love and prayers coming your way
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Adventures in the south of France
Hi everybody!
Holy cats I feel like it has been forever since I have updated you, but life has been pretty chill lately! This past weekend I went to Nice, France for the weekend and enjoyed a lot (a little too much) sun and relaxed for a few days. The weeks before that were pretty slow. Two weeks ago we were at Monroe's, our favorite pub in Galway, because they do Irish dancing on Tuesday nights and we usually go and watch. The atmosphere is so fun and the music is great. We were there early and had dinner, and the little old man who loves to teach American girls to dance came right to our table and told us to get up and dance. He taught us a few group dances before the Regulars came in, and then danced with each of us individually with the "prfessionals" haha, the real Irish people who come every week. It was so so much fun, his name is Michael and he is probably 75ish, and has more energy then anyone I know! It was my goal to dance with him at least once while I was here, and even though I obviously had absolutely no idea what I was doing he was a great teacher and didn't care. It made me remember why I picked Ireland!
Two weekends ago my friend Angie who is studying in London came to visit just for a quick two days. It was great to have a visitor, and even though we didn't do very much except stay around Galway it is always nice to see a friendly face!
Friday I left for Nice and was so excited to see the sun. We got to France about 5:45 and found our way to our hotel. We had found a super cheap hotel which was even cheaper then any of the hostels which was really great, it wasn't anything fancy but it was nice to have clean towels and someone make our beds even just for a few days! It is the little things in life that just make it better haha. After we found our hotel we made our way down to the water, which was about two blocks from our hotel, and walked along the water for a while until we found a restaurant that we liked, which was not difficult. It was a cute little open restaurant right on the water, and eating seafood, drinking wine, and looking out onto the ocean made the night SO perfect. We were exhausted from traveling and didn't really know much about the city yet so we made it an early night and headed back so we could get up early and enjoy the beach fully the next day!
Saturday we woke up and walked along the entire coast just checking things out and found that it was really really quiet. When we got back to our hotel it turns out we walked in the opposite direction of all of the actual city, but oh well it was so nice! We found a famous flower and food market down by the water and bought amazing picnic food, bread, cheese, olives, fruit, absolutely wonderful. We made our way down to the beach and sat and relaxed all afternoon. As much as I love Ireland I was definitely missing the sun, and it was so strong I think my body went into shock! It's like the first day of summer after a long MN winter. After we had our fill of sun for the day we wandered until we found a gelato stand and enjoyed yummy gelato while we walked the city a little bit. It is a super cute town filled with restaurants and shops. The crowd is a bit older then I expected, but it was so much fun. I went to Palm Sunday Mass in French, it is always an experience going to mass in another language but it is also one of my favorite things to do. I love how even though I don't understand all the words, it is such a universal thing that I can respond to in English without knowing any French. They had olive branches instead of palms, but were selling super intricately folded palms outside the church. Holy Week is my absolute favorite time of the year, and I am really going to miss being home for the Triduum and Easter, but I guess I can't complain! After we found a restaurant for dinner where I had FANTASTIC pizza and then we found a few bars and cafes where we sat outside and enjoyed the night life.
Sunday we walked the opposite way on the coast back to the big port where a cruise ship had just come in. There were little celebrations and tours for the cruise members, and we just took in all of the huge boats and beautiful chateaus. The water is so ridiculously blue and clear that I could have just sat and looked at it for hours, which lets face it I did. We made our way back to the market for picnic day two, and found that it had gotten cloudy since the morning. Me, being not so smart, decided that I didn't get that burned the day before so I didn't need to put sunscreen on because it was cloudy. ROOKIE mistake. I FRIED the tops of my feet, my chest, and my back, but oh well I guess I still haven't learned after 21 years of summer! That night we found a great little seafood restaurant and then went in search of some fun. My friend Erin had a heard of a place called Wayne's which was supposed to be super fun so we asked our hotel desk man to look it up. When we got there it was a total tourist bar, but one of the most fun places I have ever been. There were big long tables where everybody just sat intermixed and made friends with whoever was next to them, we had Austrians on one side and a few French boys on our other side. Our waiter was a very attractive Australian man who was totally crazy, and I think the guys next to us where pretty much the only French people in the whole place! It was totally crazy, and then a live band started playing. After a little bit everybody started getting up on the tables and dancing, apparently that is what Wayne's is famous for. Now I am so not a person who gets up on tables and dances, but the atmosphere of this place was so much fun and crazy I had to hop up there! What made it even better is I they served Amaretto sours, my FAVORITE drink which I cannot find in Ireland. I was one happy camper.
Monday we didn't have to leave until late, so we found our last bakery for breakfast then walked to a Russian inspired church a few blocks away from our hotel. It was really cool, it looked like a Russian palace with the striped spires and all. We headed to the beach for our last few hours there. We were all pretty sunburned so it was a short trip out there where we all stayed pretty covered up, unlike a few of the women who were definitely topless, oh the differences in cultures. We found our last gelato and headed to the airport to make our way back to Ireland where there is no sun. To prove this to us it was raining when we landed and all last night. Thanks for throwing that in my face mother nature haha.
This week I am going to Dublin with Alexa's family who is here visiting, it is crazy that I have been here for over 3 months now and haven't been to Dublin yet except the airport! I am very excited to spend time with her family and see the city. Classes ended last week so I now have two papers and two finals at the end of April and then I am done which is so crazy! Time is flying! I am almost ready to come home, but not ready to leave. Crazy mix of emotions!
I love you all so much, sorry this was such a long one! I cannot wait to hear from you, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Happy Easter!
Holy cats I feel like it has been forever since I have updated you, but life has been pretty chill lately! This past weekend I went to Nice, France for the weekend and enjoyed a lot (a little too much) sun and relaxed for a few days. The weeks before that were pretty slow. Two weeks ago we were at Monroe's, our favorite pub in Galway, because they do Irish dancing on Tuesday nights and we usually go and watch. The atmosphere is so fun and the music is great. We were there early and had dinner, and the little old man who loves to teach American girls to dance came right to our table and told us to get up and dance. He taught us a few group dances before the Regulars came in, and then danced with each of us individually with the "prfessionals" haha, the real Irish people who come every week. It was so so much fun, his name is Michael and he is probably 75ish, and has more energy then anyone I know! It was my goal to dance with him at least once while I was here, and even though I obviously had absolutely no idea what I was doing he was a great teacher and didn't care. It made me remember why I picked Ireland!
Two weekends ago my friend Angie who is studying in London came to visit just for a quick two days. It was great to have a visitor, and even though we didn't do very much except stay around Galway it is always nice to see a friendly face!
Friday I left for Nice and was so excited to see the sun. We got to France about 5:45 and found our way to our hotel. We had found a super cheap hotel which was even cheaper then any of the hostels which was really great, it wasn't anything fancy but it was nice to have clean towels and someone make our beds even just for a few days! It is the little things in life that just make it better haha. After we found our hotel we made our way down to the water, which was about two blocks from our hotel, and walked along the water for a while until we found a restaurant that we liked, which was not difficult. It was a cute little open restaurant right on the water, and eating seafood, drinking wine, and looking out onto the ocean made the night SO perfect. We were exhausted from traveling and didn't really know much about the city yet so we made it an early night and headed back so we could get up early and enjoy the beach fully the next day!
Saturday we woke up and walked along the entire coast just checking things out and found that it was really really quiet. When we got back to our hotel it turns out we walked in the opposite direction of all of the actual city, but oh well it was so nice! We found a famous flower and food market down by the water and bought amazing picnic food, bread, cheese, olives, fruit, absolutely wonderful. We made our way down to the beach and sat and relaxed all afternoon. As much as I love Ireland I was definitely missing the sun, and it was so strong I think my body went into shock! It's like the first day of summer after a long MN winter. After we had our fill of sun for the day we wandered until we found a gelato stand and enjoyed yummy gelato while we walked the city a little bit. It is a super cute town filled with restaurants and shops. The crowd is a bit older then I expected, but it was so much fun. I went to Palm Sunday Mass in French, it is always an experience going to mass in another language but it is also one of my favorite things to do. I love how even though I don't understand all the words, it is such a universal thing that I can respond to in English without knowing any French. They had olive branches instead of palms, but were selling super intricately folded palms outside the church. Holy Week is my absolute favorite time of the year, and I am really going to miss being home for the Triduum and Easter, but I guess I can't complain! After we found a restaurant for dinner where I had FANTASTIC pizza and then we found a few bars and cafes where we sat outside and enjoyed the night life.
Sunday we walked the opposite way on the coast back to the big port where a cruise ship had just come in. There were little celebrations and tours for the cruise members, and we just took in all of the huge boats and beautiful chateaus. The water is so ridiculously blue and clear that I could have just sat and looked at it for hours, which lets face it I did. We made our way back to the market for picnic day two, and found that it had gotten cloudy since the morning. Me, being not so smart, decided that I didn't get that burned the day before so I didn't need to put sunscreen on because it was cloudy. ROOKIE mistake. I FRIED the tops of my feet, my chest, and my back, but oh well I guess I still haven't learned after 21 years of summer! That night we found a great little seafood restaurant and then went in search of some fun. My friend Erin had a heard of a place called Wayne's which was supposed to be super fun so we asked our hotel desk man to look it up. When we got there it was a total tourist bar, but one of the most fun places I have ever been. There were big long tables where everybody just sat intermixed and made friends with whoever was next to them, we had Austrians on one side and a few French boys on our other side. Our waiter was a very attractive Australian man who was totally crazy, and I think the guys next to us where pretty much the only French people in the whole place! It was totally crazy, and then a live band started playing. After a little bit everybody started getting up on the tables and dancing, apparently that is what Wayne's is famous for. Now I am so not a person who gets up on tables and dances, but the atmosphere of this place was so much fun and crazy I had to hop up there! What made it even better is I they served Amaretto sours, my FAVORITE drink which I cannot find in Ireland. I was one happy camper.
Monday we didn't have to leave until late, so we found our last bakery for breakfast then walked to a Russian inspired church a few blocks away from our hotel. It was really cool, it looked like a Russian palace with the striped spires and all. We headed to the beach for our last few hours there. We were all pretty sunburned so it was a short trip out there where we all stayed pretty covered up, unlike a few of the women who were definitely topless, oh the differences in cultures. We found our last gelato and headed to the airport to make our way back to Ireland where there is no sun. To prove this to us it was raining when we landed and all last night. Thanks for throwing that in my face mother nature haha.
This week I am going to Dublin with Alexa's family who is here visiting, it is crazy that I have been here for over 3 months now and haven't been to Dublin yet except the airport! I am very excited to spend time with her family and see the city. Classes ended last week so I now have two papers and two finals at the end of April and then I am done which is so crazy! Time is flying! I am almost ready to come home, but not ready to leave. Crazy mix of emotions!
I love you all so much, sorry this was such a long one! I cannot wait to hear from you, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Happy Easter!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Barcelona!
Hello everybody Happy Spring!
This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go to Barcelona, Spain for 2 days and it was so beautiful! Spain is a country that I never actually thought I would ever make it to, and I am so happy I used my time in Europe to go there. I have a friend who is studying in Toledo, outside of Madrid, and she and a few friends came to Barcelona and we got to spend time with them which was SO nice. I always love seeing anyone from home, it is always so crazy to be able to say we were in Europe together!
Our flight left Friday morning at 6:45am out of the Shannon Airport which is an hour and a half from Galway, and we had to be there early for check in, so we took a short nap and got up and left the apartments at 2:45am to make it to the 3:30am bus. We thought we would have plenty of time because the bus station is about a half an hour walk, but it turns out there were a lot of travelers this weekend because we had to wait in a long line. I was so nervous we weren't going to get on the bus, and when we got to the front of the line he told us that we were the last people on the bus! We were so lucky, I have no idea what we would have done if they would have turned us away! When we finally got to the airport we took the two hour flight and got to Barcelona very easily, and after traveling for about 9 hours we finally got to our hostel and met up with Amy and her friends. We took off right away and walked the streets of Barcelona. D'Antonio Gaudi was a famous artist/architect in the early 1900's and he designed a lot of the buildings and famous sites in the city, so we got to see a few of his buildings on our way to his most famous one, the Cathedral Sagrada Familia! It is a huge Cathedral that Gaudi designed and started, but died in the middle of building it in the 1920's before it was finished. Since then it has been continued to be built, and when it was damaged during the Spanish Civil War restored. It is very, very intricate and crazy looking. The front of the building is centered around the crucifixion and the back is centered around the Nativity. Everywhere you look there is some new thing to see or interpret, I loved it! We decided once we got in that we wanted to pay the 2.50 Euro they were asking for to go up to the top, and it was totally worth it. The city looked so beautiful from the top of the church and it gave it such an older feel! Very Spanish looking from the top haha. After that we wnated to go find the Olympic Stadium from the 1992 Olympics, and we wandered around the city until we finally started seeing signs! It was a very beautiful part of town, they went all out for the Olympics and a lot of the fountains and other special monuments are there which were beautiful. We made our way to the "Dancing Waters" show outside of one of the Plaza's which was beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the one at Epcot in Disney World. We thought it was going to be much warmer then it was the whole weekend so it got pretty chilly sitting by the fountain in the cold weather, but it was still definitely warmer then Ireland! After the show we were all hungry and we headed to a Spanish restaurant where those of us not studying in Spain could try Paella, Tapas and Sangria! SO Yummy! My love of food definitely includes Spanish food, I didn't have anything I didn't like! I fell in love with Sangria, totally wonderful, hopefully the girls studying there will figure out how to make it!
The next day we were in no real hurry to go anywhere or do anything specific, it was a really relaxing day. I feel like the past few times I have traveled I have been so stressed with seeing everything I want to see that I didn't take time to really enjoy it! We walked down the street our hostel was on, Las Ramblas one of the biggest streets in Barcelona, toward the amazing city market. It is an everyday market that was HUGE! I know I mention these in almost every city that I visit, but I love the idea of buying things so fresh and yummy everyday. Something I definitely wish I could do at home more often. After our fix of the market we walked across the city to one of Gaudi's most famous structures, Park Guell. It is a big park where a lot of the buildings look like gingerbread houses haha. The park was beautiful and the view was even more amazing. We found some steps and we decided to see where they led. After 325 stairs we were at the top of the park with an AMAZING view of the city all the way to the Mediterranean! It was totally worth the steps! The man who worked at our hostel told us there was another pretty park that we thought we might try and get to but we didn't know where we were going and the map was kind of confusing. A few of the girls went into the Pharmacy to ask for directions, and a little old Spanish lady told her that we couldn't get there by foot we had to take a bus, and she would show us (all in Spanish of course!) This woman was SO adorable, and one of the nicest ladies I have ever met. I had no idea what she was saying, but I still love her haha. She walked us through this neighborhood all the way to the correct bus station then got on the bus and told the conductor where we were headed and asked him to make sure we got off at the right stop. She offered us her bus pass, but already had one so we said we were fine. She was so genuinely nice and wanted us to have such a good time, it was so comforting! It also helped that all of the girls I was with spoke very good Spanish so I just got to follow haha. If it wasn't numbers or colors I was pretty much out of luck. Once we got off the bus we found a little supermarket and bought baguettes, cheese, meat, chips, and pop and walked to the park for a picnic. It was so beautiful and so relaxing just to sit and enjoy where we were. Probably one of my favorite moments of the weekend. We then decided we were ready for the beach!
It was only about 60 degrees tops, but we were bound and determined to sit on the beach, even if that meant sitting there in our long sleeves and jeans. It was SO beautiful sitting and watching the waves and the surfers and just taking it all in. We walked along the beach for a while and touched the water (BRR! It was like Lake Superior!) and then walked on the sidewalks along the ocean once it got a little too cold to be in the water. It was such a nice relaxing afternoon with no agenda and no time limit. We walked and found a Spanish band playing by the port and sat and watched them for a little while, then found dinner at a little Italian restaurant with more Sangria! It was a great weekend with great friends!
This weekend my friend Angie who I stayed with in London is coming to visit just for one night, but it is always nice to have visitors! I only have this week and next week left of classes, then a nice long break before my two finals! I will keep you updated when anything else exciting happens, next weekend I am going to Nice, France for another relaxing weekend so that should be great! I miss you all so much!! Write if you get the chance!!
This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go to Barcelona, Spain for 2 days and it was so beautiful! Spain is a country that I never actually thought I would ever make it to, and I am so happy I used my time in Europe to go there. I have a friend who is studying in Toledo, outside of Madrid, and she and a few friends came to Barcelona and we got to spend time with them which was SO nice. I always love seeing anyone from home, it is always so crazy to be able to say we were in Europe together!
Our flight left Friday morning at 6:45am out of the Shannon Airport which is an hour and a half from Galway, and we had to be there early for check in, so we took a short nap and got up and left the apartments at 2:45am to make it to the 3:30am bus. We thought we would have plenty of time because the bus station is about a half an hour walk, but it turns out there were a lot of travelers this weekend because we had to wait in a long line. I was so nervous we weren't going to get on the bus, and when we got to the front of the line he told us that we were the last people on the bus! We were so lucky, I have no idea what we would have done if they would have turned us away! When we finally got to the airport we took the two hour flight and got to Barcelona very easily, and after traveling for about 9 hours we finally got to our hostel and met up with Amy and her friends. We took off right away and walked the streets of Barcelona. D'Antonio Gaudi was a famous artist/architect in the early 1900's and he designed a lot of the buildings and famous sites in the city, so we got to see a few of his buildings on our way to his most famous one, the Cathedral Sagrada Familia! It is a huge Cathedral that Gaudi designed and started, but died in the middle of building it in the 1920's before it was finished. Since then it has been continued to be built, and when it was damaged during the Spanish Civil War restored. It is very, very intricate and crazy looking. The front of the building is centered around the crucifixion and the back is centered around the Nativity. Everywhere you look there is some new thing to see or interpret, I loved it! We decided once we got in that we wanted to pay the 2.50 Euro they were asking for to go up to the top, and it was totally worth it. The city looked so beautiful from the top of the church and it gave it such an older feel! Very Spanish looking from the top haha. After that we wnated to go find the Olympic Stadium from the 1992 Olympics, and we wandered around the city until we finally started seeing signs! It was a very beautiful part of town, they went all out for the Olympics and a lot of the fountains and other special monuments are there which were beautiful. We made our way to the "Dancing Waters" show outside of one of the Plaza's which was beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the one at Epcot in Disney World. We thought it was going to be much warmer then it was the whole weekend so it got pretty chilly sitting by the fountain in the cold weather, but it was still definitely warmer then Ireland! After the show we were all hungry and we headed to a Spanish restaurant where those of us not studying in Spain could try Paella, Tapas and Sangria! SO Yummy! My love of food definitely includes Spanish food, I didn't have anything I didn't like! I fell in love with Sangria, totally wonderful, hopefully the girls studying there will figure out how to make it!
The next day we were in no real hurry to go anywhere or do anything specific, it was a really relaxing day. I feel like the past few times I have traveled I have been so stressed with seeing everything I want to see that I didn't take time to really enjoy it! We walked down the street our hostel was on, Las Ramblas one of the biggest streets in Barcelona, toward the amazing city market. It is an everyday market that was HUGE! I know I mention these in almost every city that I visit, but I love the idea of buying things so fresh and yummy everyday. Something I definitely wish I could do at home more often. After our fix of the market we walked across the city to one of Gaudi's most famous structures, Park Guell. It is a big park where a lot of the buildings look like gingerbread houses haha. The park was beautiful and the view was even more amazing. We found some steps and we decided to see where they led. After 325 stairs we were at the top of the park with an AMAZING view of the city all the way to the Mediterranean! It was totally worth the steps! The man who worked at our hostel told us there was another pretty park that we thought we might try and get to but we didn't know where we were going and the map was kind of confusing. A few of the girls went into the Pharmacy to ask for directions, and a little old Spanish lady told her that we couldn't get there by foot we had to take a bus, and she would show us (all in Spanish of course!) This woman was SO adorable, and one of the nicest ladies I have ever met. I had no idea what she was saying, but I still love her haha. She walked us through this neighborhood all the way to the correct bus station then got on the bus and told the conductor where we were headed and asked him to make sure we got off at the right stop. She offered us her bus pass, but already had one so we said we were fine. She was so genuinely nice and wanted us to have such a good time, it was so comforting! It also helped that all of the girls I was with spoke very good Spanish so I just got to follow haha. If it wasn't numbers or colors I was pretty much out of luck. Once we got off the bus we found a little supermarket and bought baguettes, cheese, meat, chips, and pop and walked to the park for a picnic. It was so beautiful and so relaxing just to sit and enjoy where we were. Probably one of my favorite moments of the weekend. We then decided we were ready for the beach!
It was only about 60 degrees tops, but we were bound and determined to sit on the beach, even if that meant sitting there in our long sleeves and jeans. It was SO beautiful sitting and watching the waves and the surfers and just taking it all in. We walked along the beach for a while and touched the water (BRR! It was like Lake Superior!) and then walked on the sidewalks along the ocean once it got a little too cold to be in the water. It was such a nice relaxing afternoon with no agenda and no time limit. We walked and found a Spanish band playing by the port and sat and watched them for a little while, then found dinner at a little Italian restaurant with more Sangria! It was a great weekend with great friends!
This weekend my friend Angie who I stayed with in London is coming to visit just for one night, but it is always nice to have visitors! I only have this week and next week left of classes, then a nice long break before my two finals! I will keep you updated when anything else exciting happens, next weekend I am going to Nice, France for another relaxing weekend so that should be great! I miss you all so much!! Write if you get the chance!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Happy St. Patty's Day!!!
Hello!
It is March 18 which means I survived St. Patrick's Day in Ireland! It was so much fun and I wish you all could have been here to experience it! It was BY FAR the most beautiful day we have had since I arrived, not a cloud in the sky, sunny, and 60's! We were in t-shirts and totally comfortable which is unheard of for the past 2.5 months at least. My friends and I started out by making brunch at 10am which was a really great way to start a super fun day. The parade was at 12:30, and from what I have read and heard it is the biggest on in Ireland. There are like 50,000 spectators and the streets are not very big in the first place! It was weird, this weekend there were a lot of tourists downtown and I began to feel very territorial like it is actually my home which I think is good:) After the parade we stayed downtown and went to a few of our favorite pubs for the afternoon. They all had traditional music playing and the people were so much fun! We took a break for the evening and headed back into town at about 10pm for round 2, and the streets and pubs were still packed. Everyone was in such high spirits (I don't know if that was because of the weather or the alcohol, I think both helped :)) All of the green was crazy and fun. It honestly is more of an American holiday and it really isn't too much different here then any other day except it is a bank holiday so no classes and work for a lot of people. Of course as an American it felt totally different and was definitely a reason to celebrate! I promise, they all did there share of celebrating as well:)
Other then that the past week has been fairly uneventful. My semester is winding down quick, only 2 weeks of classes left, which means I am writing papers much more often then I would like to be. The weather today was another absolutely gorgeous day which makes homework even harder, but being happy so much easier! I got my final exam schedule last week and it was a little different then what I had planned. At first everyone told us that we had spring break from April 4-24, but it turns out that isn't the case! My friends and I had planned a trip to Italy at that time but lucky for us we didn't book anything just in case, so now we moved our trip to the first weeks in May. I am done with classes on April 2, then have a final April 17 and May 1 so April is going to be a long month! It will definitely be nice to get to go places around Ireland that I was worried I wasn't going to make it to, and to experience Galway to its absolute fullest. Since exams are different I moved my flight and am coming home a week early! May 17 at 8pm I will be back in MN exhausted and happy!
This weekend I am going to Barcelona for a short visit and am meeting up with one of my friends from St. Norbert who is studying in Spain so that will be so nice! It is supposed to be sunny and warm and relaxing! All of these opportunities are so amazing, I am so blessed that I get to do all of these things and experience all of these different cultures. It definitely makes me more gracious for what I have and take for granted every day. I am totally falling in love with it here, but there are things that are just better at home (like a clean bathroom/living space, blankets, and hugs!)or that they don't have here (i.e. corn chips and salsa, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and cheap ice cream haha) I have 8 weeks left which sometimes seems like an eternity and sometimes feels like it is flying by. Either way I am trying to live everyday as much as I can! I love you all so much, I hope spring is being nice to you! Write if you can!
It is March 18 which means I survived St. Patrick's Day in Ireland! It was so much fun and I wish you all could have been here to experience it! It was BY FAR the most beautiful day we have had since I arrived, not a cloud in the sky, sunny, and 60's! We were in t-shirts and totally comfortable which is unheard of for the past 2.5 months at least. My friends and I started out by making brunch at 10am which was a really great way to start a super fun day. The parade was at 12:30, and from what I have read and heard it is the biggest on in Ireland. There are like 50,000 spectators and the streets are not very big in the first place! It was weird, this weekend there were a lot of tourists downtown and I began to feel very territorial like it is actually my home which I think is good:) After the parade we stayed downtown and went to a few of our favorite pubs for the afternoon. They all had traditional music playing and the people were so much fun! We took a break for the evening and headed back into town at about 10pm for round 2, and the streets and pubs were still packed. Everyone was in such high spirits (I don't know if that was because of the weather or the alcohol, I think both helped :)) All of the green was crazy and fun. It honestly is more of an American holiday and it really isn't too much different here then any other day except it is a bank holiday so no classes and work for a lot of people. Of course as an American it felt totally different and was definitely a reason to celebrate! I promise, they all did there share of celebrating as well:)
Other then that the past week has been fairly uneventful. My semester is winding down quick, only 2 weeks of classes left, which means I am writing papers much more often then I would like to be. The weather today was another absolutely gorgeous day which makes homework even harder, but being happy so much easier! I got my final exam schedule last week and it was a little different then what I had planned. At first everyone told us that we had spring break from April 4-24, but it turns out that isn't the case! My friends and I had planned a trip to Italy at that time but lucky for us we didn't book anything just in case, so now we moved our trip to the first weeks in May. I am done with classes on April 2, then have a final April 17 and May 1 so April is going to be a long month! It will definitely be nice to get to go places around Ireland that I was worried I wasn't going to make it to, and to experience Galway to its absolute fullest. Since exams are different I moved my flight and am coming home a week early! May 17 at 8pm I will be back in MN exhausted and happy!
This weekend I am going to Barcelona for a short visit and am meeting up with one of my friends from St. Norbert who is studying in Spain so that will be so nice! It is supposed to be sunny and warm and relaxing! All of these opportunities are so amazing, I am so blessed that I get to do all of these things and experience all of these different cultures. It definitely makes me more gracious for what I have and take for granted every day. I am totally falling in love with it here, but there are things that are just better at home (like a clean bathroom/living space, blankets, and hugs!)or that they don't have here (i.e. corn chips and salsa, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and cheap ice cream haha) I have 8 weeks left which sometimes seems like an eternity and sometimes feels like it is flying by. Either way I am trying to live everyday as much as I can! I love you all so much, I hope spring is being nice to you! Write if you can!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Rach's visit and the Aran Islands
Hi Everybody!
This past week had flown by since I have returned from London. When I first got back I was feeling really sick so I finally went to go see the nurse on Wednesday who had me see the Doctor on Thursday who gave me medication for my sinus infection! I was very happy about it because I am now almost totally healthy after over two weeks of being sick. On Thursday night my friend Rachel, who was my freshmen and sophomore roommate at SNC, flew in from studying in Rome. She didn't get into Galway until 2:40am, but we got to spend the whole weekend together! It was so nice to have a visitor and see a new face.
On Friday morning we powered through on very little sleep and woke up to go see the Aran Islands. There are three islands off the western coast of Ireland right outside of Galway that are often considered to be the most beautiful part of Ireland, and also the most "Irish" part of the country. It is said that the more west you go the more traditionally Irish the people and land are, so where I am and the islands are more traditional then Dublin or places more in the East. The Islands are incredibly traditional, and have only had electricity for the past thirty years. There are only around 800 people living on the big island if Innis Moor where we visited, with three Catholic churches, three schools, and around twelve farms. It was absolutely gorgeous and I was so excited that I got to share that with Rach. I will attach the link to pictures in my email! When we woke up Friday morning it was raining in Galway which doesn't really make for the best tourist weather, but we decided to get on the bus anyway. We had to take a 45 minute bus ride then a 45 minute ferry ride out to the island, and by the time we got there the rain had stopped. We got off the ferry and saw van tours for 10 Euro, and decided because it was cold and we didn't really feel like walking or biking in the wind this looked like a good option. The guide took us all around the whole island and gave us the history and pointed out important things. he had grown up there and learned English as a second language after Irish, so he was a great resource. He gave us two hours at the highest point of the island where we had to climb up a large hill to the cliffs, and when we got there the sky was blue and the wind had died down. It was so beautiful looking out over the sea and the island! After we returned to the center after our tour we shopped a little bit and found Aran Island wool sweaters that we fell in love with. It was a great day!!
That evening we got back and met up with friends to have fish and chips at what we are told is the best fish and chips in all of Ireland! It is downtown Galway called McDonnugh's, and it was a really great meal. After we went out to a traditional pub so Rach could experience Galway and listened to some great music!
Saturday was very very rainy and windy so our plans to go to the market and the ocean were cut a little short. We tried for a little while but we were pretty wet! That night we went to see "He's Just Not That Into You" because Rach was craving an English movie after all of the Italian she hears all the time. It was a really nice relaxing day with some great friends. Rach left at 5:30am Sunday morning in a hail and windstorm, but overall the weekend was so much fun!!!
Yesterday I had to do some of my very first homework since I arrived here 2 months ago, sad I know. As much as I go to class here it is definitely easy to forget that I am a student sometimes. The work load is so much lighter and easier then at home, not that i am complaining about that at all ha. It is definitely going to be interesting going back to student teach in the fall and to have to remember how to work hard and get things done! My classes are actually coming to an end in a few weeks which is very crazy, I can't believe that I am halfway done with being here! In two weekends I am heading to Barcelona to meet up with a friend studying in Spain, and then I have a trip to Nice, France planned for a weekend after that then a 12 day trip in Italy! I am so blessed to have all of these opportunities, and realize how much I take for granted when I am at home. I miss you all so much! Have a great week and I can't wait to hear from you!
Love from Ireland!!
This past week had flown by since I have returned from London. When I first got back I was feeling really sick so I finally went to go see the nurse on Wednesday who had me see the Doctor on Thursday who gave me medication for my sinus infection! I was very happy about it because I am now almost totally healthy after over two weeks of being sick. On Thursday night my friend Rachel, who was my freshmen and sophomore roommate at SNC, flew in from studying in Rome. She didn't get into Galway until 2:40am, but we got to spend the whole weekend together! It was so nice to have a visitor and see a new face.
On Friday morning we powered through on very little sleep and woke up to go see the Aran Islands. There are three islands off the western coast of Ireland right outside of Galway that are often considered to be the most beautiful part of Ireland, and also the most "Irish" part of the country. It is said that the more west you go the more traditionally Irish the people and land are, so where I am and the islands are more traditional then Dublin or places more in the East. The Islands are incredibly traditional, and have only had electricity for the past thirty years. There are only around 800 people living on the big island if Innis Moor where we visited, with three Catholic churches, three schools, and around twelve farms. It was absolutely gorgeous and I was so excited that I got to share that with Rach. I will attach the link to pictures in my email! When we woke up Friday morning it was raining in Galway which doesn't really make for the best tourist weather, but we decided to get on the bus anyway. We had to take a 45 minute bus ride then a 45 minute ferry ride out to the island, and by the time we got there the rain had stopped. We got off the ferry and saw van tours for 10 Euro, and decided because it was cold and we didn't really feel like walking or biking in the wind this looked like a good option. The guide took us all around the whole island and gave us the history and pointed out important things. he had grown up there and learned English as a second language after Irish, so he was a great resource. He gave us two hours at the highest point of the island where we had to climb up a large hill to the cliffs, and when we got there the sky was blue and the wind had died down. It was so beautiful looking out over the sea and the island! After we returned to the center after our tour we shopped a little bit and found Aran Island wool sweaters that we fell in love with. It was a great day!!
That evening we got back and met up with friends to have fish and chips at what we are told is the best fish and chips in all of Ireland! It is downtown Galway called McDonnugh's, and it was a really great meal. After we went out to a traditional pub so Rach could experience Galway and listened to some great music!
Saturday was very very rainy and windy so our plans to go to the market and the ocean were cut a little short. We tried for a little while but we were pretty wet! That night we went to see "He's Just Not That Into You" because Rach was craving an English movie after all of the Italian she hears all the time. It was a really nice relaxing day with some great friends. Rach left at 5:30am Sunday morning in a hail and windstorm, but overall the weekend was so much fun!!!
Yesterday I had to do some of my very first homework since I arrived here 2 months ago, sad I know. As much as I go to class here it is definitely easy to forget that I am a student sometimes. The work load is so much lighter and easier then at home, not that i am complaining about that at all ha. It is definitely going to be interesting going back to student teach in the fall and to have to remember how to work hard and get things done! My classes are actually coming to an end in a few weeks which is very crazy, I can't believe that I am halfway done with being here! In two weekends I am heading to Barcelona to meet up with a friend studying in Spain, and then I have a trip to Nice, France planned for a weekend after that then a 12 day trip in Italy! I am so blessed to have all of these opportunities, and realize how much I take for granted when I am at home. I miss you all so much! Have a great week and I can't wait to hear from you!
Love from Ireland!!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
London!!!!!
This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to spend 4 days in London, and I completely fell in love. It is such a fun city with so much history and so much going on all the time. It was just Alexa and I who went, but we were able to stay with my friend Angie for the weekend. She was my best friend when I lived in Sartell and we haven't seen each other for a few years, but we reunited in Europe!! It was so nice to have someone who knew what was going on and could give us suggestions and help us get around a little easier. She met us at the underground station when we got in Thursday night and took us out to karaoke with her friends. It was so much fun! A great way to start a really good weekend.
Friday Alexa and I decided we should get our bearings and try to see as much as we could, so we bought a tour bus ticket and got 48 hours to ride on the topless red double decker buses. Boy did we use it! On Friday we saw Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and a lot of other little things that we wouldn't have picked out without the bus tour guides. While we were at the Tower of London we decided to get ice cream and walk by the Thames, and as we were walking a bird pooped in my hair. That was a fun little adventure:) By the time we had seen most of the sights it was time to go back and meet Ang to go get dinner and see our first show, Spring Awakening!!! If you have never heard of it, look it up and listen to the music. It was the 2007 Tony Award Show of the year, and it is absolutely amazing. It is the story of young teens in the nineteenth century finding all about sex and the parts of life that their parents are sheltering them from. It was sooooo much fun. We went and got fish and chips before hand, and it was the perfect British night:)
Saturday Lex and I woke up early and went to the center of where theater tickets are sold and tried to find cheap tickets for as many shows as we could. We ended up buying matinées tickets for Billy Elliot (so good, amazing dancing) and then tickets for Wicked that night! I saw it on Broadway my senior year of high school, but it was definitely worth seeing for a second time. I swear I am never happier then when I am in the theater. Before our shows started we got back on the bus and rode it to Harrod's and around a little bit more to hear more about the sights. After Billy Elliot we ate at this really cute Italian restaurant down by the theaters and ate yummy pizza and wine. 2 perfect nights in a row, I am so blessed I can't even put it into words.
Sunday we woke up to catch the free boat tour down the Thames that we got with our bus tickets and rode the boat to Greenwich. I decided that I want to move here when I get the chance, it is such a cute town with everything I need, including a HUGE daily market. We went up the hill to the Royal Observatory to straddle the Prime Meridian and walked around the city a little bit, then took the underground over to King's Cross to play Harry Potter and see Platform 9 and 3/4. It was a little disappointing, but totally worth it! Then we headed to the British Museum for a while, then made our way to Mass in a BEAUTIFUL Cathedral. It is called St. James Parish on George Street, and it was one of the most beautiful churches I have been in since I arrived and it was in the middle of the city. After mass we met up with Ang to get on the London Eye to see London at night! It was a completely different view, and totally breathtaking. It was so nice to spend time with Ang and do some of these amazing things with her. I also totally fell in love with the underground system, strange I know, but it was so efficient and reliable and took us EVERYWHERE. I have yet to live somewhere where public transportation is popular, maybe someday.
It was one of my favorite weekends since I arrived two months ago. I am still battling a sinus infection, but somehow that seems less important when in Europe. This weekend my freshman and sophomore roommate Rachel who is studying in Rome is coming to visit and I could not be more excited! It is going to be so wonderful to have someone from home here and get to show her all of what Galway has to offer. I think we may even try to sneak off to the Aran Islands for a day which would be fantastic.
I know spring breaks are starting, so have fun and be safe if and when it is yours! I love you all so much and cannot believe that I am not even halfway through. Sometimes that is really exciting and sometimes it is really exhausting, but I can't wait to hear from all of you! Love you!
Friday Alexa and I decided we should get our bearings and try to see as much as we could, so we bought a tour bus ticket and got 48 hours to ride on the topless red double decker buses. Boy did we use it! On Friday we saw Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and a lot of other little things that we wouldn't have picked out without the bus tour guides. While we were at the Tower of London we decided to get ice cream and walk by the Thames, and as we were walking a bird pooped in my hair. That was a fun little adventure:) By the time we had seen most of the sights it was time to go back and meet Ang to go get dinner and see our first show, Spring Awakening!!! If you have never heard of it, look it up and listen to the music. It was the 2007 Tony Award Show of the year, and it is absolutely amazing. It is the story of young teens in the nineteenth century finding all about sex and the parts of life that their parents are sheltering them from. It was sooooo much fun. We went and got fish and chips before hand, and it was the perfect British night:)
Saturday Lex and I woke up early and went to the center of where theater tickets are sold and tried to find cheap tickets for as many shows as we could. We ended up buying matinées tickets for Billy Elliot (so good, amazing dancing) and then tickets for Wicked that night! I saw it on Broadway my senior year of high school, but it was definitely worth seeing for a second time. I swear I am never happier then when I am in the theater. Before our shows started we got back on the bus and rode it to Harrod's and around a little bit more to hear more about the sights. After Billy Elliot we ate at this really cute Italian restaurant down by the theaters and ate yummy pizza and wine. 2 perfect nights in a row, I am so blessed I can't even put it into words.
Sunday we woke up to catch the free boat tour down the Thames that we got with our bus tickets and rode the boat to Greenwich. I decided that I want to move here when I get the chance, it is such a cute town with everything I need, including a HUGE daily market. We went up the hill to the Royal Observatory to straddle the Prime Meridian and walked around the city a little bit, then took the underground over to King's Cross to play Harry Potter and see Platform 9 and 3/4. It was a little disappointing, but totally worth it! Then we headed to the British Museum for a while, then made our way to Mass in a BEAUTIFUL Cathedral. It is called St. James Parish on George Street, and it was one of the most beautiful churches I have been in since I arrived and it was in the middle of the city. After mass we met up with Ang to get on the London Eye to see London at night! It was a completely different view, and totally breathtaking. It was so nice to spend time with Ang and do some of these amazing things with her. I also totally fell in love with the underground system, strange I know, but it was so efficient and reliable and took us EVERYWHERE. I have yet to live somewhere where public transportation is popular, maybe someday.
It was one of my favorite weekends since I arrived two months ago. I am still battling a sinus infection, but somehow that seems less important when in Europe. This weekend my freshman and sophomore roommate Rachel who is studying in Rome is coming to visit and I could not be more excited! It is going to be so wonderful to have someone from home here and get to show her all of what Galway has to offer. I think we may even try to sneak off to the Aran Islands for a day which would be fantastic.
I know spring breaks are starting, so have fun and be safe if and when it is yours! I love you all so much and cannot believe that I am not even halfway through. Sometimes that is really exciting and sometimes it is really exhausting, but I can't wait to hear from all of you! Love you!
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