Let the Traveling Begin

This past weekend I embarked on what is to be the first of many, many weekend trips. This one was a good way to start because IES (my study abroad program) sponsored it meaning I didn't have to worry about planning or travel details. And it meant all of my friends, or at least the vast majority of them, were going as well.The trip began at 5:50 am on Friday when we embarked on a tube adventure in which I rode the tube for over a hour to get to Heathrow airport. I will spare you all the details but needless to say exhaustion was a definite theme of this adventure. That day we arrived at the Hostel in which 10 girls were in one room, which was probably one of the most fun sleepovers I have had since I left elementary school. But the first day was spent on a unfortunately boring tour of Ireland. It was supposed to be a 2 hour walking tour but it was really a 2 1/2 hour standing tour, were we would stop at one building and then get a history of Ireland for about 20 mins. Basically it was not enough seeing at too much listening on too little sleep. But the city was pretty beautiful......
That night we had a group dinner at a Italian restaurant and then explored the Irish nightlife.Rachel, Anne, Jenna and I found this really fun bar with a super cool bartender, met real Irishmen and listened to Irish musicans cover American music. Once the band stopped we quickly became the only ones dancing to the not particularly good music playing over the sound system. We then continued exploring and found....A 80s bar...that advertised free jello shots with drinks and no cover charge (my new favorite place.) And played only 80s music...needless to say the dancing continued but we quickly realized how exhausted we were and planned to come back the next day with all the girls.

View of Dublin, I love cities on the water.

Anne, Jenna and Rachel at the Irish bar (with the fun band).

Day 2 began much too early with the strangest breakfast experience I have ever had. Apparently at hostels breakfast is coffee and tea and toast. And when I say toast I mean they literally provide loafs and loafs and loafs of bread and many toasters. Watching everyone line up and freakout about bread was one of the strangest, most entertaining experiences of my life. But not a very satisfying breakfast but whatever.. We went to the writers museum that morning, I don't feel like I know enough about Irish Lit to fully appreciate it but I'm glad I went. And then that afternoon, after pub lunch 2 (of 3), we went to the countryside. I was sort of ambivalent on Ireland until that point (lame I know but besides the night life Dublin is a bit under-whelming...at least the parts I saw). But Sandycove, the area of the countryside where James Joyce's tower was, is the beautiful place I have ever been in my life. It was exactly the way I imagined it, neither photos nor descriptions can do it justice. But it was a beachfront town, complete with rocky cliffs. And then the girls and I went to another bakery, so good, I swear I'm going to gain the study abroad 15, the food is so good (so much pastry). The girls and I are planning a bakery-crawl, like a bar-crawl but for deliciousness. But anyway that night we went to another Italian restaurant for dinner and then we went out. The 80s bar was even more fun, so much dancing and Rachel did my hair and make-up, something that needs to happen everytime we go out..so much fun.

All of us at Sandy Cove.

  

Jumping Picture! Surprisingly successful!

But needless to say the going out and lack of sleep made Sunday morning rough. But all we did was go to the Guinness Factory, on Sunday morning (so much drinking so early, the bar was crowded). It was cool to see but I am lame and not really a beer person so I tried my free sample sip but cashed my free drink in for a diet coke (fail I know.) But after a final pub lunch we headed back. It's funny how quickly a place can feel like home, after only a month this has become my home.

Sorry there aren't more pictures, I am exhausted and they take way too long to load (our internet sucks). But they are all on facebook, so check them out there.

So this week is super busy, realizing I finally have to do school work...ugh. But my family is coming on Saturday, so excited and Becky's birthday was tonight so some more going out will have to happen between now and then. Also going to see 2 more shows this week (already saw one dance performance). Really even on the worst days, tube stop canceled, broken purse, rain, broken umbrella and more, I can't help but be amazed that this is my life.