Paris

This weekend was my last planned trip outside of Ireland. My friend, Dayna and I went to Paris for the weekend. We flew out thursday night, took the train into the City Center and walked about 20 minutes to our hostel. The hostel was pretty nice and served breakfast which made the mornings easy. The only problem was there were no television stations in english so right before bed nothing to watch. The first day we got up, had breakfast and got on a bus that took us to Disneyland. There is one park set up like Magic Kingdom and a second like MGM and they are directly next to each other. We first went to the Magic Kingdom like park, heading first over to Space Mountain. Space Mountain in Paris is ten times better than anyone anywhere else. It has a launch to start along with loops and corkscrews, it was sick. The park was not packed at all and it was only a five minute wait all day for most rides. The only two rides that were 50 minute waits were Thunder mountain and Crush's Coaster. The only french we needed was deux(two) to get on all the rides. We went on everything in the first park by 3 o'clock and then headed over to the other park. It was very simple layout and had Rock N' Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. Both had 5 minutes waits, cannot get better then that. We must have gone on Tower of Terror at least 5 times. It rained a few times but everytime we were inside something so it was okay. We had to leave for the bus at 730, wish we could've stayed longer but it was a blast and I definitely want to go back.
The next day was the big tour around the city day. We got up and walked down to the Louvre where we got on a bus that toured around the cities big monuments and attractions. We saw the eiffel tower, national music assembly, Eiffel Tower and much more. We then got off the bus and went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Dayna had been to Paris but didn't get to go up the Tower so that was the big thing we had to do that day. It was really cool and thank god we had the booked tour or we'd have been waiting in a huge line. After that we got on a little boat cruise that took us past the Louvre and Notre Dame. Once the tour ended we went and got lunch and then walked over to The Louvre. We didn't go in but went through the gardens and saw the glass pyramid. Then we went to Notre Dame and grabbed some pictures there and then had to head back to the airport. It was a great weekend and I definitely want to go back

Blarney Castle and this weekend

Two weeks ago I went to Blarney Castle with one of my friends. We left Dublin around 6:30am and headed on our way down, stopping first at Cobh. We were able to walk around and see some of the shops and the big market. Then we headed on our way to Kinsale which was a nice little harbour town, got a nice lunch of fish and chips, my friend Sarah's first ever.

We then made our way to Blarney Castle. The grounds were huge and very pretty. Loads of flowers, trees and much more, something to see. We first went right to the Blarney Stone through the Castle. You had to walk up this very tight spiralling tower with a rope to help keep your balance. Then you get to the top of the castle which is a square walkway and at one side is the Blarney Stone. You then have to lay on your back, grab onto two black bars and lean down and back with a guy helping to hold you while you kiss it. It was pretty interesting but certainly glad I did it (hopefully no one peed on it that night) After that we explored the grounds, especially interesting was the poison garden. Once the fun there was done we got back on the bus and headed to Cork City. We saw the huge church and hung out by the water, got some milkshakes was a dope time. Then we headed home, getting back around 9:30pm. I'm pretty sure Sarah and I know every part of each others lives with how long we had to be on the bus, but it was worth it.

This weekend some of us went to a concert by Vladimir Jablokov. He is a violinist player who, with a small orchestra, takes classical opera songs, some classic rock songs and many more and puts a really cool twist on them. It was one of the coolest concerts I've been to and had an amazing time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcyyuj67oxk

The next day, my roommate Donald, my friend Dayna and I went surfing down in Sligo, three hour train ride from Dublin. We got there and assumed that we would freeze to death in the Irish water. We got our wetsuits, which were the tightest thing ever and headed down to the water. We spent the first part of the lesson learning to paddle and catch waves, getting in the right position, laying down waiting for the water to push you forward and then pushing yourself up with your arms but not standing.
The second part of the lesson was standing. That was what I thought I would never get but after a few tries I was able to hop right up and kept on doing it. The waves were by no means big but big enough for us to learn on. It was one of my favorite things I've done and I've clearly caught the surfing bug and want to keep on doing it, my new favorite hobby. After that we got an awesome dinner at the local pub and then headed back, was a great day.

Western Ireland

This weekend went to Western Ireland.  Our Science professor was on the trip so much of the trip focused on the scientific aspects of the landscape that we had learned about in classes; the rock types and how they formed, rivers and much more. The first place we stopped on our journey was an old cemetery in the Buren, which was made completely of Limestone. We then moved on to the Poulnabrone portal tomb. Our professor asked us how we thought they could get that top stone on there so long ago. No one knows how so all up to speculation. We then went to what locals would call Fairy Forts. It is a moat around an earthen embankment. Locals will not go into the center of the embankment as they think that the fairies will curse them. One of the professors and our driver who are from Ireland will not go into the center. It was pretty cool.

Next we went onto the Cliffs of Moher. Our Science professor asked that we not go passed the marked area as it is not very stable. 60 people die a year so that's one every 6 days. We saw some people go sit right out on the edge, pretty sure they were gonna die. It was really cool.

After that we went to Doolin where we stayed the night. We all went out to dinner that evening and listened to some music and had a few pints, was good time.
The next day we took a ferry out to the Aran Islands. Some of us rented bikes and took them around the island.

We saw a sunken ship and I stayed down by the ocean water looking at the little pools, reminding myself how I once wanted to be a marine biologist. We then biked around to a fort on the island and to a well on the other side. It was really pretty and not very populated so was a nice relaxing day, plus I hadn't biked in a long time so that was fun. On the way back from the island a dolphin appeared right next to where I was standing on the boat and followed us in to shore so that was really cool to see.

After we got back to the mainland we bused over to Galloway where we were staying the night. We went out to dinner and then hit up a few pubs with one of my friends cousin who was a local leading the way. It wasn't great but an enjoyable time nonetheless. The next day we went to a sheep herding place to watch a guy who gives demonstrations. He had one of the dogs in Marley and Me which starred Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson and he had pictures on the wall from it, that was pretty cool. Then he handed out the little border collie puppies before he started. One was passed around to me and it immediately started licking my arm and face and then fell asleep, obviously love at first sight as everyone said. I'm still going back to steal it.

 Then the guy showed us the dogs herding in action, which was really cool. I believe I saw this at Billings Farm back in elementary school but this was really cool seeing in Ireland. One of the dogs led by going around the sheep while another dog's style was to glare like he was stalking them and move his head to get them to go. The picture above doesn't do the landscape justice as it was beautiful there, the best I have seen in Ireland so far. The guy lives on the side of the river where the picture is with the dogs and his sheep are over on the hills over on the other side. When its time to herd them he takes some of the dogs over and herds them, giving commands from the boat. Overall it was a really cool experience and a great weekend.