It’s been a rough day. We woke up at 2:15 am and our bus left the centre for the airport at 3. We had to split up into 2 groups but we finally made it to Dublin! I really can’t believe I’m in Ireland right now! A bus was waiting for us and we got on and immediately drove to the Guinness factory. It’s pretty ironic that a BYU group toured a beer factory, but it was interesting nonetheless. We got under 18 yr. old passes so we could get a free “drink” (aka coke) at the end of the tour. The bar tenders looked at us like we were freaks because we’re a bunch of young adults who, you would think love to drink. So we got sodas and boy, were they good! Even our professors got under 18 passes…That’s when people started really looking at us weird.
After the Guinness factory we went to the hotel to put our stuff in the rooms and take an hour (or 2 for me) nap. We were somewhat rested when we left to explore Dublin and get a feel for Ireland and what it has to offer. We found the famous Carroll’s shop and went crazy inside buying souvenirs and stuff for St. Patty’s Day.
We ate dinner at the oldest pub in Ireland – The Brazenhead Pub. It was built in 1168, can you believe that!? The food was delicious and I think it amazes people when we tell them we don’t drink. It’s actually kind of amusing to see their reactions. The group sang happy birthday to me, which is always awkward, and they made me stand on a chair! It’s been a great first day in the land of luck!
March 16, 2011
Even though we don’t drink, I felt like I had a hangover! I felt so much better after sleeping in this morning…We REALLY needed it. We were given the day off to just do whatever we wanted. After easing our way out of bed and getting ready for the day, we went out and explored some more! We ate lunch in a pub – I got minestrone soup with a cheese and tomato Panini. It was yummy!
We shopped around a few of the pedestrian streets and came across the CUTEST store! It’s called “Avoca” – It reminded me a lot of “Anthropology”. I only bought 2 things in there, but I could have bought everything!
After Avoca we found a jewelry store to buy our claddagh rings. For those of you who don’t know, claddagh rings are traditional Irish rings given as a token of love or worn as a wedding ring. The rings depict two hands holding a heart with a crown on top. If you wear the ring with the heart pointing away from your hand it suggest you are single. If it’s pointed toward your hand, or your own heart, it suggests that your heart belongs to someone else. Let’s just say that my claddagh ring is facing right side up. J
We ate dinner at some random café, got Digestives (little biscuit-cookie things) from Tesco, and headed back to our hotel to prep for the BIG St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow. People are already getting hyped up and ready for it…It’s going to be CRAZY!!
March 17, 2011
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!! We woke up and DECKED out. We bought the t-shirts for this year’s St. Patty’s Day, so we wore those and each of us had our own look. I looked like a biker chick: I wore my t-shirt, a bandana tied around my forehead, some awesome green flasher shades, and Kinsey’s black coat. Ashley put green eye shadow and eyeliner on me and then Annie sprayed my hair green. We looked AWESOME! When you imagine St. Patrick’s Day, you imagine kids pinching each other if one isn’t wearing green…I saw no pinching because EVERYONE is wearing green.
Me & Blake playin our "flutes".
A large portion of our group waiting for the parade to start!
A few of my beautiful gells.
After we took lots of pictures and videos and got kissed (on the cheek) by a big group of of Brazilian boys we waited around for the parade to start. The parade was a bummer, for me at least, because it was just bizarre and different than what I was expecting it to be. I can’t even begin to describe why it was weird. Trust me, the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland isn’t all it’s hacked up to be. I’ll just say it would have been a LOT better had we been intoxicated. I actually think the whole holiday would be ten times better for the druggies and alcoholics. We did stop at a shake place called "Shake Away" and their shakes were named after people...So, naturally, I had to get the 'Ben' shake. And may I say, it was delicious!!!
After the parade, it was disgusting. Everywhere I looked I saw drunk teenagers and just wild people. I wasn’t impressed with Dublin after the parade. Dressing up for St. Patrick’s Day and just seeing “The Emerald City” was the best part of the whole day for me.
Around 5 pm, we got on the bus and drove to Kilkenney, a little town about an hour away from Dublin. It wasn’t nearly as crazy as Dublin’s festivities were, but it was still a little wild. We decided to stay away from pubs and craziness and ended up at Papa Johns. Sometimes pizza just hits the spot, ya know? It was amazing. I think the best thing for me is just being able to say, “I’ve been to Dublin, Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day.” How cool is that? But no, I didn’t see any leprechauns, rainbows, or pots of gold. I think in order to feel the “luck of the Irish” you need to get some Guinness running in your blood first. ;)
March 18, 2011
I’M TWENTY TODAY!!! Today is the first time in 20 years that I’ve actually felt older on my birthday. I don’t know why, but I just do. Maybe it’s because I’m on the opposite side of the world from my family and those I love (almost…) or maybe it’s the fact that I’m on my own living one of the biggest dreams I’ve ever had. Either way, it’s been a great day!
We woke up at 9:45 in our really great hostel (really, it was great.). We missed breakfast so we lilly-gallied getting ready and headed downstairs to lock our bags away for the morning. I called my sweet parents, they sang me “happy birthday” – I cried, and we were off to explore Kilkenney! We wandered through the little town and found a cute neighborhood. It was a beautiful, sunny day in Ireland so we were enjoying every minute of it! We found a little café and ordered soup and ate it outside! I was so excited to be able to eat outside without getting cold! It was amazing.
We got back on the Irish Coach and drove to The Rock of Cashel. I fought to stay awake on the bus because the countryside of Ireland was indescribable. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! This Rock of Cashel is supposedly where St. Patrick converted some king. There was a great view of the countryside from the ruins of this cathedral so we really just walked around and took pictures.
Our trip to Ireland ended for me when I bought myself a little magnet with a real 4-leaf clover in it. It was only 4 Euros, but it was all worth it! We got to the airport and all of the restaurants were closing. Weird because it was 6:30 when we got there. So I went to Burger King for my Birthday dinner. Yum. It was pretty gross, but I wasn’t going to go hungry!
Nothing too exciting happened today, but my girls did take me out for a much better birthday dinner! They are too sweet to me! We went to Chipotle because I was craving REAL Mexican spices. It was so incredibly appetizing! After that, we went to Pizza Hut (it’s legit here in the U.K…Like nice, sit down restaurant) and got Pazookies! They were so good! **And no, I didn’t choose all American food-chains on purpose. But needless to say, American chains are ten times better than English food.
Thanks again to all of you for your love and friendships. I love you guys so much!
Love,
Liz
This week:
Monday – Wednesday: Belgium & France!
Friday: Stratford upon Avon
I love Liz.
ReplyDeleteYour mummy is still waiting for green wig & Irish jig photos please! Glad it was a "magical" birthday ... LUCKY girl! Love ya oodles!
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