I'll Have Music With a Side of Tea

I believe this is the last weekend of this little adventure I'm on that I'll be in Dublin.  The rest of the time I'll be traveling.  It was nice to get a weekend "off" to be able to relax a little.  

After suffering from what I'm 95% sure was a bad case of food poisoning Monday night, I had an accounting test the next day followed by a big group presentation in Irish History the day after.  I could barely sit up straight in my test so we'll see how that turns out and I was still feeling sick for the presentation but it went well enough.  I hardly ever get sick but of course, when I do, it happens at the worst times.  Anyways, I'm all better now.

On Thursday night, I went and saw UCD's production of Phantom of the Opera.  The international student network gave out free tickets but I would have easily paid the 15 euro to see it.  The singing was fantastic!  Broadway quality without a doubt.  The seating was all on a flat floor with horrible spacing so someone's head was center stage for me the whole time but other than that, I was blown away!  I had never seen Phantom of the Opera before and am glad I got to do that.

As foreshadowed in last weeks entry, I went to the uilleann pipes workshop with API on Friday.  We learned a little about the history of the pipes and how they work and then got a demonstration.  Once again, I was blown away!  The guy who played for us apparently played for the queen at some point.  The pipes kind of reminded me of how an organ works.  We got free CDs with uilleann pipe music and it's the greatest thing ever.

After the workshop, the group headed over to Bewley's where we were treated to tea and cake.  I got a piece of fudge cake that may have been the richest chocolate I've ever eaten.  I have a serious sweet tooth but still wasn't able to finish the whole thing. 

Saturday was a do nothing day.  I stayed in bed and watched Harry Potter.  It was great.

Today, fellow CSUer/APIer Kerry who goes to the National University of Ireland in Maynooth and me went to a medieval/viking museum called Dublinia.  We learned about some vikings and the early days in Dublin.  Afterwards we stopped into a pub I had been told everyone has to go to called The Long Hall.  It was beautiful inside and they serve a great pint of the black stuff.  There was a rugby match of Ireland vs. Scotland on and it was fun to see how into it the Irish people in the pub were getting.  We then got some lunch (and more tea) at a very tiny cafe and walked around a little more.  Good day.

I'm super excited for next weekend for a couple of reasons:
1) The API group is going to Galway and Connemara in western Ireland for the weekend
2) My 21st birthday is on Saturday!

Other exciting news:
Sister Megan and me finalized some travel plans.  We're going to be traveling around Europe a bit (Italy, Switzerland, and Austria to name a few) at the end of April/beginning of May.  Should be really fun!

Harry Harry Potter Land

I was in Edinburgh, Scotland this past weekend with the API group.  A place I wouldn't have thought to have gone on my own, Edinburgh had the nicest people of any city I've been to.  People went out of their way to be friendly and anyone going to Europe should definitely make Edinburgh one of your stops!

We left from UCD at around 4:15 AM to the airport and took a short flight up to Scotland. After landing, we took a bus into the city and checked into our hotel, followed by a walk to Edinburgh Castle.

As we rounded the corner onto Spittle street, right in front of us was the gigantic castle.  We hiked up the hill and into the castle where we were able to go on a self guided tour.
The highlight for me was seeing the actual crown jewels of Scotland.  Absolutely amazing (pictures weren't allowed).  From outside the castle, you could also see lots of Edinburgh which was beautiful. 

Turn the corner and there it is!

A small group of us then decided to wander around a little and find some food. We ate at this place that served a traditional Scottish breakfast and it was delicious!

Later that day, all the API students went on a walking tour of the Royal Mile. Our tour guide was excellent and we learned about the history of Edinburgh. Our guide took us down a lot of small alley ways that lead to some big attractions which I never would have thought to do on my own.

For dinner, we stopped at a pub and tried some local "festive beverages" as well as chomping down on food.  It had been a very long day so we headed back to the hotel and went to sleep around 9.

The Royal Mile

The next morning after a filling breakfast, we went to a tour called The Real Mary King's Close.  It was an underground tour of a close that was partially destroyed and fully buried.  It is said to be haunted and I could definitely see why.  The creepiest part was the room filled with piles of dolls that people bring for the ghost of a little girl.

We had the rest of the day as free time so a small group of us went to the National Gallery of Scotland and looked at some artwork.  We then decided to take the hike up the Scott Monument, a very impressive Gothic style tower.  The spiral staircase was very tight but we made it and got to take in the awesome 360 degree view of Edinburgh.

Scott Monument

Later that night, some of us went on a walking tour that highlights locations J.K. Rowling got inspiration from for the Harry Potter books.  For anyone who somehow does not know, I am a huge Harry Potter fan so this was quite exciting!  Highlights included the graves of McGonagall and Thomas Riddle, the inspiration for Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, and various locations J.K. Rowling wrote parts of the books. 

Very talented hands

For dinner, I got traditional haggis.  I was expecting to not like it but it ended up being delicious!  I was very full after eating but still wanted more.

Haggis

Our final day in Edinburgh started with a bus ride to the Ocean Terminal where we got to tour the Royal Britannia, the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II.  The ship was rather large but surprisingly not as lavish I was expecting for the royal family.

Royal Britannia

I was ready to go back to Dublin after the ship but knew he had one more stop.  We had been going pretty much nonstop for over  2 days and I wanted to sleep.  However, I'm very glad we took the time to go to our final destination in Scotland: South Queensferry.  Home to the view of two enormous bridges, this seaside town was a great wrap up to the weekend.  I got some fish and chips and my first ever battered Mars bars (heaven in deep fried form) and was able to soak in the amazing views.

South Queensferry

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This week looks like it might be the busiest since starting school (which isn't saying much):-Have a short accounting test on Tuesday (Off campus...kind of odd)
-Large group presentation on Wednesday for history
-Seeing UCD perform Phantom of the Opera on Thursday
-Friday is another API cultural event.  We're learning about the Irish form of bag pipes known as Uilleann Pipes followed by tea at the historic Bewley’s on Grafton St.

I've got a feeling we're not in Dublin anymore

Ah Amsterdam.  If Seattle WA, Portland OR, Boulder CO, and Las Vegas NV all had a baby and moved to Europe, that would almost be Amsterdam.

We left on Thursday morning and caught the airport shuttle bus right outside of campus.  After a flight which felt like about 20 minutes, we hopped on the very convenient train and ended up at Amsterdam Centraal.  A 5 minute walk later and we checked into our youth hostel.  We had originally booked a 20 bed room but the guy at the desk told us we could stay in the 10 bed one for the same price (which meant all of us were in the same, private room).  A great way to start the trip!

View from our room

Trying to find a place to eat

We walked around the city a little and had some dinner.  I was amazed at the architecture.  To date, Amsterdam is probably the most beautiful city I've been to.

The next morning, we got up early to buy our tickets for a hop on hop off canal tour suggested by Eimear.  It was something I wouldn't have thought to do but it was a great decision!  There were 3 different routes through the canals and our ticket let us get on and off whichever boat we wanted for the entire day.  The boats stopped at various points of highlight around the city so you could get off and explore.

The canals

Our first stop was the Anne Frank Museum.  We went through the self guided tour in which you got to walk through the house and explore the various displays of original artifacts.  It was one of the most, for lack of a better word, chilling things I've ever done.  To actually be in the place where her story happened was mind boggling.  I got chills numerous times going through and could not believe what had happened in the house. 

Anne Frank House

After going through the museum, we got back on a boat and went around the canals some more.  We got off a few more times to walk around.  Our plan was to go to the Van Gogh museum but it was pretty pricey so we decided not to (we went into the lobby which means we can technically say we've been there).  We grabbed some lunch back at the hostel (the city is small which makes getting places fast/easy) and hopped back on a boat.  We got off at a stop with one of the few remaining giant windmills in the area and also walked around a farmers market.

After some dinner, my friend Julie and I walked around the infamous red light district a little bit to see if it lived up to all the hype.  I know my grandparents read this so let's just say everything you've heard about it is true.  From a sociological standpoint, it was fascinating to watch everything that was going on!

Some red light windows visible from the hostel.  There's an unwritten rule that pictures are not allowed in the red light district.

The next day, some of us met up with one of the girl's in our group friend who happened to be in Amsterdam for the weekend as well and we tagged along.  We walked around some more and planned to go to a neon art museum but for some reason it wasn't opened.  It started to snow which made things a bit chilly but also added to the scenery.  After some lunch, we went to a museum near the red light district and then stopped at a coffee shop (it served actual coffee) to warm up.  Being in the Netherlands, some of us wanted to get Dutch food so we wandered around and found a place.  The food was delicious!  Service on the other hand was terrible (which was a running theme).  If ever in Amsterdam, never eat at Fogata or Jennifer's near the train station.  They try everything they can to rip you off...unsuccessfully I might add.

Dutch food is quite good

We then went out to a few bars in the red light district where I met someone who knows Heather, my roommate/one of my best friends in Colorado.  Very small world!

Amsterdam made me realize how much I love Dublin, especially the pubs!  It was a fantastic vacation from my vacation but I'm glad to be home.  I had a lot of moments this weekend where I was sitting down and thinking to myself, for example, "I'm sitting on a boat in a canal in Amsterdam!"  It's pretty amazing.  I love those moments.  I loved Amsterdam and am excited that I will be back in about a month on my Bus2Alps trip!  Can't wait!

Other notable things:
-Went to the climbing wall and met some people from Scotland and Ireland.
-Will have been here for a month on Friday...crazy!  Where is the time going?

I'm headed to Edinburgh, Scotland with API very early Friday morning for the weekend.  Can't wait!

Clever Title

On Friday this week, a group of my friends took an early morning DART train to the coastal town of Greystones.  We then went on a 6 km hike that took us along the coastline of the Irish Sea where we ended up in the town of Bray.  The hike was incredibly picturesque and it was nice to get out of the city for the day.  It was probably the best weather we've had since being in Ireland.  I actually had to take off some layers! 

Favorite picture of the day

Panorama (with rainbow) as we were nearing Bray

When we got into Bray, we went to have lunch and I got my first fish and chips in Ireland.  It was delicious!  The weather started to get bad so we hopped back on the DART and back to UCD.

On Saturday, the API group went to the Fighting Words center where we were trained as volunteers.  The organization has primary and secondary school kids come in and do a creative writing workshop.  It's up to us if we want to come in and volunteer and I'm hoping I'll be able to at some point while I'm here.

Eimear then took us out to a pizza lunch followed by a surprise she had been hyping up for the last few days...a Gaelic football match!

Gaelic football!

I had gone to see UCD play Trinity in Gaelic football earlier in the week so I had a basic understanding of how the game works.  It's kind of a combination of soccer and rugby.  It's also about 20 million times more exciting than American football (or any American sport for that matter).  Gaelic football is pretty much nonstop and the players don't wear pads.  It was incredibly cold out so I didn't stay for the whole match but it was definitely worth it!

I ended the day with some dinner and a pint of the black stuff with some Trinity friends.

Other notable things this week:
-Had my first presentation in a class...it went well
-Got registered at the GNIB so I can get back into the country when I leave...kind of important but they make you pay 300 euro.  Not cheap!
-Signed up for the UCD mountaineering club!  I'm going to try and go climbing at the UCD wall on Tuesday.  Haven't climbed since I left and am feeling antsy!

Next weekend is Amsterdam!