My Home Across the Pond

Realization of our trip’s end officially set in with a reception dinner. Dressed in our best, we gathered in the Park Hotel’s formal dining area to formally thank the town for our experience and to acknowledge the sanctity of our international union. We listened as professors, students and council members expressed an appreciation for our union. At every other ceremony that I have ever been to, the repetition becomes tiresome. Thanks to this person; thanks to that person; when can we leave? The sincerity of this town has made the words spoken that night unmistakably genuine and unfathomably true.

As we said our final goodbyes, sadness consumed us. We weren’t just parting with a country; we were parting with an experience; with our new friends and with what we learned to call home. After clearing out the last of my things, I sat on my bed in silence. The empty room that I first came to was different than the one I now sat in. My experiences gave it meaning and in many ways they gave me meaning.

One-hundred-thousand thanks to the town of one-hundred-thousand welcomes.

One Final Excursion

In the Irish spirit of “Carpe Diem” a group of us made one final excursion, this time to The Copper Coast and Mahon Falls. Each of these destinations is on the southern coast of the island but is distinctively beautiful. The Copper Coast gets its names for its once mined metal industry. The word “Industry” portrays imagery converse to its stunning shoreline. I sat there admiring it, starring off into the clear ocean water. I was sitting at the end of the vast world; a grain of sand on an ocean washed shore. On the ride to Mohan Falls, I sat and thought about the triviality of any one being in this infinite world. Perhaps Keats sat upon this same shore in his own realization.

We stopped at the Mahon Falls on our way back to the hotel. Who knew that this natural wonder was right in our backyard? Mahon Falls is a sixty-meter waterfall that rushes over a divergence of small mountains. There is beauty in the symmetry. The air made my lungs proud as I gazed upon the mystic setting. Even the water tasted more pure.

A Gentleman's Game

With merely two weeks remaining, our Ireland adventure was concluding. Although this made us sad, we still had a lot to celebrate. We had already experienced nine unforgettable weeks, and with class already at a close, we had the chance at Irish leisure without constraint. Sounds like trouble, right?

Our time was spent celebrating some birthdays and playing a simulation of golf; you know, the gentleman’s game.

Pub golf is a very complex game. Let me explain. It is a partner game (a scramble, so to speak). Each pair of players makes their way through 18 different pubs, drinking a pint of beer at each one. Strokes are counted as lifts to the mouth (a complete chug being a hole-in-one). There are also two bunkers, where shots are to be taken and two water hazards, where bathrooms may not be used.

One of the “golfers” suggested an addendum that brought an entirely new dimension to the game. We created a variety of awkward, yet humorous sentences, to be chosen at random. If one of these were to be said to a stranger, a stroke would be subtracted from that team’s score. “ You would look great in Periwinkle”.

Okay, “simulation” may not be the best word choice, and “gentlemen’s game” may be a stretch, but I think we kept our composure quite well considering our aggressive drinking approach. When in Ireland, do as the Irish do, Right? Until morning, we stood along side some of our Irish friends and did it the Irish way. We danced to songs of laughter and drank to songs of sadness; singing all along. No amount of nausea or degree of aching head could diminish the joy that the nights companionship has brought me.

Scotland Part 2

After a good night's rest, we grabbed some breakfast and continued our exploration of Edinburgh. We had some ideas of what we wanted to do that were brewed up in our previous explorations. We planned on: visiting the Our Dynamic Earth Museum, visiting Edinburgh Castle and further exploring the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile is pretty interesting. It is the city's largest tourist spot, it is composed of a variety of small shops and historical sites; which for me was reminiscent of Paris, on a smaller scale of course. We walked this route to and from the Museum, making our journey an event in its own.

The Our Dynamic Earth Museum is a unique experience. It is a science center that offers information on the processes and cycles of the earth. This two and a half hour experience consists of a variety of visual displays and videos. We really enjoyed the videos and learned a variety of new things about the way the earth works. I recommend it on a rainy day or for a nice relaxing experience.

After the exhibit, we headed back up the Royal Mile towards the Edinburgh Castle. After some souvenir shopping, we arrived at the castle. The castle was not a very good experience for us. Besides the fact that a camera was stolen from us here, we found that the castle did not have much to offer other than its aerial views of the surrounding city. I do not recommend a visit here.

After our castle visit, we were ready for some food. It was our last night in Scotland, so we felt like doing it big for dinner. A bottle of wine and a nice italian meal made the day complete and also made us pretty tired. With an early flight the next morning, we gave in to our fatigue and called it a night, but first we went for a final walk down the beautiful streets of Edinburgh. We took a good look at the gardens, monuments and castles against the night sky. Truly a site to see.

Scotland

In the last weekend of April, we scheduled an excursion to Scotland. The trip started off quite smoothly. We were able to skip out on the hassle of sleeping in the airport, due to another grand gesture by Tom Keith. He called and paid for a taxi ride the morning of our flight. This gave us a chance to go into the trip well rested. As we made our way to the airport, I sat and enjoyed the silence of the early morning drive. I thought about the calmness a driver must find when the roads are clear. At times like these, the job looks pretty appealing, especially when you are in a smooth riding Mercedes like this one.

The driver left us in perfect time to catch our flight. The airport process was a lot smoother than it had been on previous trips. I guess it gets easier with experience. I also have gotten pretty good at packing. I have managed to fit a weeks clothes into a small backpack, not to mention my notebook and sketchbook which I brought to keep me occupied on the plane. The plane ride always seems shorter when you keep busy. I spent this one getting ready for final- so take that back, sometimes it seems longer.

The stuff I was studying actually has a lot to do with my experiences here. Its amazing how many creative minds have sprung from this small island, it got me thinking about how inspiring the land can be.

After our plane landed, we had a short bus ride to our hostel. Having bee surprised by our previous sleeping arrangements, we set no expectations for this one. After all, it was the cheapest one at only 12 Euro a night.

The hostel was much different than I had expected, in a good way. Its halls were covered with really interesting graffiti art ( intentionally put there by the owners), which gave it a hip modern appeal. The hostel also included a bar, kitchen and dining area. Not bad.

After we unloaded our things, we set off on our first day of adventures.

We started off with a stroll down Princes street, stopping at spots such as: the National Gallery, Royal Scottish Academy, the Scott Monument and the Princes street Gardens. All of these sites were interesting in their own way. The gardens were absolutely beautiful, serving as foreground to distant castles and government buildings. We eventually made our way northeast to a place called Calton Hill. This area was one which was elevated over most of the city. It included sites such as the City Observatory, the National Monument and the Nelson Monument. The National Monument was a pretty epic site. It consisted of a recreation of the Greek Parthenon, well part of it anyways. Midway through the replication of this unbelievable structure, Scottish funds ran low and the project was brought to a stop. Bummer, because what they had was beautiful, especially against its natural surroundings.

From this site we headed south to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Holyroodhouse is probably my favorite palace that i've visited thus far. It is the official residence of Scotland's monarch. Maybe it was the audio headset, but my attention did not wander from the interesting stories of the palace and its occupants, that is until I saw the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Parliament was of particular interest to me, due to its unique and brilliant post- modernistic design. The architect of the building is Enric Miralles and this is definitely the jewel of his work. He explains the building's design as inspiration from upturned boats, sprays of green leaves connected by twigs, and when viewed from above, a shimmering shoal of fish. He designed the building to be a part of the area's landscape, running the building right into the base of Scotland's extinct volcano. Just looking at this building inspired me.

After our visit to Parliament, it had been a pretty long day for us. Our plan was to grab some food and relax. What better way to relax than the premier of Iron Man 2? Oh yea, they have something called V.I.P sitting, which we got, which included leather reclining chairs and ice cream. Yep, living the dream. And in case you were wondering, the movie was excellent. Do you know how in sequels and trilogies the movies gradually get worse? This one didn't. Two thumbs up!

Weekend in West Country

On Friday morning we left for the West Country. The west coast is known for its coastline cliffs and unbelievable views. It was a 4.5-hour bus ride to our hostel but we stopped about an hour out at the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most historic sites. This is where St. Patrick baptized King Aengg. It is also a spot that has been fought over for hundreds of years, and a nice site if you ask me. We didn’t stay long though; we were ready for some cliffs

For our first day there, we were without an itinerary. Conveniently, Dr. Snyder asked a group of us to go golfing with him at a local par- 3 course called Doolin Pitch and Putt. The sites from the course were beautiful and it was a beautiful day to be outside. We had our fingers crossed that we would be so fortunate the rest of the weekend.

We woke up early Saturday morning with plans to catch the Doolin ferry to the Aran Islands. The archipelago consists of three islands, the largest of which was only 9x2 miles. The landscape on these islands is rugged, rock and divided by thousands of stonewalls. We rented a mountain bike upon our arrival. Our plan was to fast track our way through these twisting, sloping roads. Our first stop was on the top of the island’s highest point. Oun Arann Lighthouse and Signal Tower is the oldest lighthouse on the island. From atop it, you can see the entire island. It was a spectacular view, mazes of stonewalls scattered over grass hills. I’d say it was worth the hike. The ride down the hill was great; we practically coasted into our next destination, Oun Aong Hasa. This site is known as the most spectacular semi circular Celtic stone fort in all of Europe. The view of the island is one of the most lovely sites that I have ever seen. Absolutely breathtaking. The 200-year-old fort rests at the edge of a cliff 300ft above the Atlantic. Looking down the coast is a gift from the heavens. We hung our heads over the cliff to get views that bring the ocean to life and put chills down your spine. This site alone was worth a weekend, and we still hadn’t seen the more well known, Cliffs of Mohor. After a nap on the ferry ride back, we were ready for dinner. A local pub did the trick with a steak sandwich and some great seafood chowder. As for a drink, a couple of Buhlmer’s held me over.

Sunday was the day we had most anticipated, a trip to the Cliffs of Mohor, but first, the a look at the Burren. The Burren is a windblown limestone wasteland that hides flora, fauna, caves and a whole lot of history. It seemed like an intergalactic experience, with its lunar imagery. I have never seen anything like it. It was reminiscent of the Elephant graveyard in The Lion King. It was a nice prelude to the equally surreal Cliffs of Mohor.

The cliffs soar 650 feet above the Atlantic. There are no railings or fences restricting you from views.

Fact: Wind gusts have been fatal, resulting in an average of 2 deaths per month.

I still hung over the cliff to get some pictures. I think I’m getting a hold of this heights fear I have. Being up there was majestic. Think Avatar’s “Floating Mountains” and you’ll get an idea of what the area looked like on such a foggy day. Pretty great.

Food Festival

I like colloquialisms. I like using them to exaggerate a point. I usually resort to the common ones like “ Don’t hold your breath” or “It would be a cold day in Hell before I do that”. These are ones that basically say that there is a low chance of something happening. Here’s an original one put into conversation.

When asked: Are you going to Amsterdam for the weekend?

Response:

It would take a volcano erupting and spreading its ashes across Europe to keep that from happening.

Well what do you know? It happened. So we were left in Dungarvan. Not the worst thing that could have happened. I mean after all, we were pretty exhausted from the last two trips. Conveniently, this weekend was the weekend of the city’s food festival; which turned out to be a great time. The weekend started with a BBQ held at the Lawlor Hotel (which I recently heard that the Kennedy family ate at). The food was spectacular. Lamb, rabbit, burgers, sushi, barley soup and tons of scrumptious desserts. Everything, once again, was complimentary. Good old Dungarvan! As we ate, we listened to a live band and watched the locals tear up the dance floor. Not a bad night.

The following day started off on a similar note. More delicious food. This time we were attending a cooking demonstration by three of the countries top chefs. Each of their styles was unique. The first demonstrator cooked three courses utilizing all of the parts of a pig. The second specialized in Sicilian food. Ironically, she mentioned each of the places that we visited while there. The final demonstrator cooked vegan meals and gave us some interesting information on health concerns. For instance, did you know that you are supposed to wash fruits and vegetables with soap? Well I didn’t. I also had no idea what nettle is and no idea that it makes the most delicious tea I’ve ever tasted. After our final samplings, we had a nice relaxing day. I did some catching up on class work and a lot of catching up on sleep. It was nice to recharge my batteries.

Final Day in Sicily

We started off the day with a visit to the tourist information center. The center had been closed all weekend, so today was our first chance to stop in for the essentials i.e. a map, tourist hotspots and attractions. After gathering this information, we spent the day exploring as many of them as we could. Most of the sites were old churches but there were also some really cool parks and botanical gardens. One garden that we visited had a really nice exhibit on insects (not my thing, but they really do get as big as dogs). In the midst of our garden explorations, we stopped for some lunch. Pasta and peas, followed by gelato. A tasty treat!

Afterwards, we continued to explore the area. We walked along the beautiful coastline, stopping at shops and anything else that drew interest. After some rest, we were ready for food again. Dinner consisted of a nice antipasti buffet, amazing Ragu and the best cascada cake on earth. I am not exaggerating, it may just be that good.

With that much food in my belly, it was the perfect time to call it a night.

So we were already down to our final day before another dreadful airport experience. We woke up, gathered our things and we were out the door by 10 am. The problem with this is that we had an entire day to kill before our flight. Which would be fine, if it weren't for our heavy bags and our half ass plan of getting to the airport. Once we had everything figured out though, the day went smoothly. We revisited some of the sites that we liked and came across some new ones. We walked through street markets and looked for souvenirs for our families. I got a jar of pesto and a cookbook. That may have been a selfish purchase but its better than nothing. We snacked on food almost the entire day. Is it bad that I had three separate desserts today?

I ate real food too. We stopped for some pizza and one more fantastic meal before we journeyed back to Ireland. If there is one thing I took with me, its a desire to eat there again.

Palermo

We woke up early the next day to gather our things. As we were heading out the door, our host stopped us and gestured us to join him for breakfast. I'm glad he did. Mario treated us to a great breakfast which included freshly baked bread and hand squeezed orange juice and a variety of cheeses and pastry. Although I appreciated his gesture, we had a bus to catch. So we went to the station and we were on the road by 10 am. The ride to Palermo had some beautiful sites, which evoked hope for our voyage ahead.

The bus left us at a busy town square. As we exited the bus, we were faced with a beautiful opera house and rustic buildings all around. The streets were all made of stone bricks which complemented the brilliantly detailed buildings. As we walked the streets, we watched for hotels, hostels or any place that we could stay for the weekend. After asking around a bit, we found a 3- star hotel that gave us a discount because we were students. They also gave us a map and some recommended sites. Stroke of luck.

After settling in, we started our exploration by voyaging down the city's main stretch of shops. Along the way, we saw some beautiful cathedrals, museums and play houses including the Teatro Massimo, Mondella, Martorana, San Domenico and Palazzo Abatellis. These were all beautiful buildings that the city is known for. We worked our way down to the coast where the view was majestic. The clear blue water against the bottom of a range of mountains was a site to see. The opposing shore was faced with parks and gardens such as Orto Botanico and Villa Giulia. These gardens had beautiful trees and flowers, even fruit bearing ones.

A taste of their fruits sparked our appetites so we headed back towards the hotel to grab some dinner. There were so many places to chose from, so we picked one at random. It worked out nicely. Some of the best food i've ever had only cost me 7 Euro. This included Pesto Sicilia and a buffet of Antipasta.

After over indulging twice over, we were ready to call it a night.

Trapani

Our flight to Sicily boarded at 9:50 am, so we were up early to anticipate anything Ryan Air had in store for us. The flight process was the usual hellish ordeal but the flight itself had a pleasant surprise. The French Alps. Flying over them was an incredible experience. I could see snow capped mountains peaking above the clouds. The range spread as far as I could see and provided the most picturesque view you could imagine. I began to think about what an amazing experience it would be to stand at the top of one, after a long hike. Perhaps another trip. First, Sicily.

When we landed, the plan was to find the bus to the center of Trapani, where our B&B host was to pick us up from. This task was more difficult than we anticipated. In a low- tourist area like Trapani, there is a low English speaking population. Common sense dumb ass! When we finally made it to our host, communication seemed even less hopeful. There are only so many words you can look up in a guide book before a conversation dies. Upon our arrival at the B&B, we saw alot of nothing. Pretty sites, but not much going on. We had been warned about it being a port city and not much more. The warning was validated as the night went on.

Times like these make traveling tough. No map, no communication... Seemingly, no hope. At one point, i was actually scared. You don't realize the comfort that a group of travel companions provide until you're without one. Especially in a place of a different tongue. Not to fear though. I came up with a plan.

Word of mouth led me to believe that if we could make our way to a city called Palermo all of our problems would disappear. So we found a bus heading there in the morning. Until then, just eat, sleep and survive. For food we did great though. One thing about Sicily, you can eat anywhere and it will be an amazing meal. We picked up two fantastic pizzas, some Gelato and a bottle of wine ( all for 13 Euro. Not bad right?). We ate dinner in our bedroom and went straight to bed with fingers crossed for Palermo.

And Then There Were Two

It was our last day with the group before they flew back to Dublin. We spent it revisiting our favorite spots, including Sacre Coeur. We started off the day tourist style, visiting all the shops and purchasing souvenirs for our loved ones. We eventually worked our way over to the Louvre and made an attempt to visit the exhibit on the building's history. You can only understand so much in French.

Dinner that night was marked with sentiment. It was the exclamation point on an amazing adventure. We went to an Italian bistro, with street side seating. When in Rome, right? After a little bit of Gelato, we called it a night. The rest of the group had to be up early, so we followed the trend to send them off.

We woke up at around 8 for breakfast and the group's departure. At some point during the day, Cherie and I had to make our way to an airport outside of Paris, to catch our flight to Sicily. But first we said our goodbyes. I was sad to see some people go. Sharing an experience like Paris brings people together, and although I knew i'd see them shortly, I also knew that it would not be under such extraordinary conditions. It was especially tough seeing Keiko cry as she said au revoir.

When everyone left, a feeling set over me. I was no longer comforted by their leadership and knowledge. Cherie and I, for the first time, were completely on our own. It didn't take much to tell that she had felt a bit weary also. Check out had passed, and our flight was from an airport 2 hours away. With some time to kill, we decided to do some more exploring in Paris. So we set off on foot through the city, until we came across the Rodin Museum. This was an interesting exhibit. I would say that his most interesting sculpture was The Gates of Hell. This sculpture displays a scene from Dante Aleghieri's " The Inferno". Many of Rodin's other sculptures are featured in The Gates of Hell, including the Thinking Man. I think his sculpture really brings the story to life, so I enjoyed viewing it most.

Before catching the metro to the bus station, we stopped to snack on some more "complimentary" breakfast. We took a second to soak in a last look at the surrounding city. The rest of the day would be filled with metro and bus rides, interspersed with waiting, walking and back pain. We found a hotel just outside of the airport to stay at until our morning flight.

J' Adore Paris!

I may have forgotten to mention one key thing... Our hotel buffet has an amazing coffee, expresso, cappuccino, what ever drink you want- maker. It wasn't relevant until day 4 of my trip, when exhaustion set in. I had been walking 12-15 miles per day, every day. My legs were tired, back aching from carrying rations around and heavy eyes from early mornings and late nights. This machine saved my trip, along with a drink called Burn that I found for 1.30 Euro at a nearby grocer. I would crash eventually, but not today. There was too much to do!

Our first excursion of the day was to Museo Carnavalet. This museum is dedicated to the history of Paris. I can't say that I really enjoyed this one. I wouldn't recommend it but what can I say, the Van Gogh museum was closed for repair. From here we visited Centre Pompidou. A place that I truly enjoyed and one hundred percent recommend. Aside from the buildings amazingly modern structural expressionism, It housed some pretty amazing works of contemporary and modern art. I appreciated the modern art most. There were displays of abstraction, cubism, dada and early surrealism. My favorite artist of modern expression was Edward Krasinski. I suggest you check out his stuff. After 3 or 4 hours there, we thought it might be a good idea to head back to Notre Dame and check out its interior.

To no shock, it was pretty incredible. It gothic details were highlighted by the age and wear of the building and even the atmosphere was tainted gothic by the building's limited daylighting. Fun fact: there is a crypt beneath the cathedral; ruins of an old Roman designed city. We were able to walk through the ruins, which was an interesting experience. You could see remnants of arches and columns and even their bath and spa rooms.

There was also a small church nearby, that was of interest to Keiko, so we went to check it out. Sainte- Chapelle is a 13th century gothic church that is known for its use of stained glass. Only 5 colors are used, but all of the bible's stories are depicted in its window covered walls. It is beautiful. Another place that I recommend seeing.

After a quick bite to eat, we were back at it again. Next stop the Pantheon. Another huge, neoclassical structure. It holds the tombs of many notable people including french philosopher and mathematician, Renes Descartes. What I found most impressive about the Pantheon was the tunnels that ran underneath the ground level, this is where all the tombs were. They seemed to stretch on forever and if I hadn't been directed to them, I would have never known they were there. This feature made me wonder about how many hidden features there could be in any one of these buildings.

After heading back, the group decided that we would eat together at a Vietnamese place called Escale a Saigon. We had a great time there. Once again, Heidi and the other professors were amazingly nice to us, and treated us all to appetizers. I really respect their efforts to make us feel comfortable. Each of them have gone above and beyond for us. During the dinner, I got a chance to talk more to Heidi and Dr. Mcgurk. I have come to love Heidi's wit and Dr. Mcgurk's sincerity. They are both some of the nicest people i've known. They will be missed when they leave.

Peak of Paris

Day three I was starting to get in the swing of things. I woke up extra early, ready for another day enjoyment and artistic admiration. After demolishing the buffet and stuffing another meal into my backpack, I headed with the group to Musee d' Orsay. The building itself is an impressive structure of neoclassical style. It holds many works of impressionism and displays some modernist art too, including many works of Van Gogh. I enjoyed the art here tremendously because of their emphasis on light, visible brush strokes and unique points of perspective.

After some time at the museum, we ventured over to one of my favorite spots in Paris, Sacre Coeur. The Sacre Coeur is a Roman Catholic church located on the highest hill in Paris, Montmartre. The journey there was entirely uphill, leaving the view back nothing short of spectacular. The basilica itself is unbelievable in size and detail ( sounds a bit like every building i've described, but its true!) After exploring the inside of the church, we explored the surrounding streets. This area was what made Sacre Coeur so memorable for me. There were small shops, tons of outdoor cafes and you couldn't walk 5 steps without seeing a starving artist sharing his work. I really did want to buy every piece of artwork there. I didn't have the money too though, so I just got some Gelato!

After descending the massive hill, we headed to Les Invalides. This building contains many artifacts of military relevance, most notably, Napoleon's tomb. Once again, wow! The guy knew how to do it big. Even his tomb was overly large, Shrek like actually. After exiting, we plopped down on the lawn to snack on some of our "complimentary" breakfast. Just as we were finishing up our meal, it began to get dark. A nice time to see the Eiffel Tower again!

Some Life I Have Going Me!

The next morning, I eagerly woke to begin some more adventures. Breakfast buffet. Good food too. Crepes, brie, ham and an endless amount of Nutella. A pleasant way to start my morning. After a quick meeting, we were off to the Louvre. Once again, more giggling. Size alone. 652,000 square feet. 35,000 objects from prehistory. Fact. you can't do the Louvre in one day, most likely, not even in one week.

Then museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, which was originally built as a fortress in the 12th century. The museum's famous pyramid design was done by I.M. Pei, a master of modern architecture. I was taken away before even entering, so you can imagine what the entire experience had been like for me. After walking through sculpture galleries, and rooms filled with wall to wall paintings I arrived at the museums largest attraction, the Mona Lisa. It struck me as strange that I had walked through room upon room of religious painting, ones of Jesus, the last supper, Mary and angelic figures. Right there in the mix, the Mona Lisa. Why?

The Mona Lisa wasn't the only painting or work that got me thinking. For this reason, I developed an appreciation for art that I had not had prior to this trip. I now love a day at the museum. As a group, our time at the Louvre was cut short, so another visit sometime during my stay was definitely in store.

After leaving the museum, we strolled past the Palais Royal to the Place De La Concorde, a beautiful public square. After exploring its landscapes and surrounding buildings we found ourselves at the Arc De Triomphe. The Arc De Triomphe is a monument to honor soldiers of Paris. It is a massive structure that centers in the intersection of 11 major avenues. The view from the top of it was amazing. We enjoyed it so much that we made an attempt to eat lunch there before being scorned by a security guard. After soaking in the sites from above, we went back to ground level for a trip to the Orangerie Museum to take a look at some works of impressionism. They had two entire galleries dedicated to Monet's Water Lilies. I really enjoyed the way that he would paint the same scene in a variety of ways, including time changes and depth changes.

After a couple of hours at the museum we headed up to the lively Latin Quarter. The area is known for its bistros, so we went as a group for a traditional french dinner at Bistrot de la Montague. We had a nice 3 course meal which included french onion soup, pouched salmon, a cheese dish and of course, ice cream. Our professors graciously treated us to this fine meal, along with unlimited wine. Some life I have going for me! While we sat eating, IN PARIS, a guitarist walked throughout the restaurant energizing the group. Before we knew it, everyone was up dancing, led by our fantastic professors.

The City of Light

On Easter Sunday we began our group excursion to Paris, France. We left for the Cork Airport at around 7:30 in the morning and boarded for Paris about 3 hours later. After the usual tedious and frustrating airport experience, we arrived in a city that was just a short bus ride away from The City of Lights. With our excitement built, we anxiously sat through yet another orientation about the city and what to expect.

When in Paris, do what the Parisians do! I don't think we took that approach. As a typical group of American tourists usually does, our first stop was the Eiffel Tower. On the way there though, the sights were amazing. Every building was so intricately designed and coincided so nicely with the others. I guess the best way to describe it is that instead of the usual process, where buildings are planned then built and a city is the result, it almost seemed like the city was planned and the buildings were constructed as pieces to the city's grand design. I was truly impressed. Though, at first sight of the tower i was not overly impressed. I was of course blown away by its size and presence but aesthetically it wasn't that pleasing.

About an hour later, when the sun had set and darkness set in, the tower lit up. Truly one of the most beautiful sights. Each of its tiny lights twinkled like stars against the night sky. It was majestic. Honestly, the entire city had that majestic feel. Each and every building had lights casted on it, highlighting their architectural details. The spots of shadows and glimmers of light created an ambience that explains Paris' undeniable romanticism.

Leaving the tower, we walked along the Seine River, where we could see boats pass under tremendously ornamented bridges. We made a stop at a nearby Japanese restaurant for some dinner. We snacked on Sushi as we gawked over what we had seen so far. But the night was still young, so we still had some exploring to do. Our next stop, Notre Dame Cathedral.

Have you ever giggled when you see something that just blows your mind? Well I did when we arrived at the amazing gothic structure. It exhibited an indescribable amount of detail across the entire span of its massive exterior. As I sat staring at it, I thought about the passion that its designer must of had in the process of its construction and the feeling that he had upon its completion.

USA V. IRE

At around noon yesterday, a bunch of us got together for a trip to Blarney Castle. The mayor and his wife graciously offered us a ride to the 13th century structure. What makes this castle particularly worth a visit is the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. Legend has it that kissing this stone will give you the gift of flattery. This ritual has been performed by millions of people including some major names in entertainment and politics. Though, this kiss is not achieved easily. In order reach this stone, you have to go to the peak of the castle and then lean over backwards on the edge of its parapet. This is especially difficult if you have a fear of heights, like i do. For a moment, I was able to conquer my fear. Hopefully its luck will show.

Another strange ritual that the castle holds is the Wishing Steps. Supposedly, if you can walk up and down this stone stairway, eyes shut, with only a wish in mind, it will come true. Not sure about the grey areas on this one, but i slid down the railing... Does that work?

Truthfully, the part of this trip that I liked best was unbelievably rich, natural landscape. I took loads of pictures detailing the waterfalls, flowers and stones displayed along the walking paths. I experimented with the features of my new camera and found a lot more joy in the art of photography.

After a quick stop for some ice cream, we headed back to the hotel for some dinner. We tried to keep it light because we had big plans for the night. An extremely important and international sporting event. U.S.A v. Ireland. Beer Pong. A bunch of the guys from the pub were coming over to play some beer pong and other American drinking games. We kept score by country, like a miniature olympics. We even had a trophy. We ended up tying, or losing track of score from over consumption. One of the two. Great night though.

Dublin Part 3: final chapter

I woke early Sunday morning and for the first time I didn't have an itinerary. My plan was to explore the city by foot, hitting up all the major attractions. The first of which was Trinity College.

Trinity College is well known because it is Ireland's oldest university. It contains a beautiful fairy tale like library and of course The Book of Kells. This book is a manuscript written in latin, which holds the four gospels of the New Testament. It is beautifully decorated and scribed on leather pages. I did not get a close look at the book but the library itself was magnificent. It was lined with books from floor to ceiling with tall sliding ladders bound to the shelves (picture Beauty and the Beast crossed with a beautiful cathedral). It seemed extremely dated in comparison to the rest of the campus, which was a nice blend of old buildings and modern facilities.

After our visit to Trinity we swung across town for a quick trip to the Guinness brewery. Its amazing just how complicated the brewing process is. Makes me wonder how they came up with it in the first place. Fun fact: If Guinness is not served at 7 degrees Celsius it will loose 50 percent of its taste. Just as impressive as the process, was the building it took place in. Its design and the story behind it are brilliant. Arthur Guinness leased the building in 18th century. He leased it for 9000 years- i'd say he believed in his product. The building was redesigned to keep its original infrastructure and the brewing process intact and exposed. Pretty cool. Even cooler, at the very top of the building is an all window bar, allowing you to overlook the city. I would have taken more pictures for you but i was too busy pouring the perfect pint. Yes, they teach you their famous technique and certify you as an expert in it!

Certified!

Trip to Dublin Part 2

We woke up early saturday morning, hungover, to catch a 8:45 shuttle to Newgrange, located in the Boyne Valley. After an hour long bus ride, we could see the magnificent structure atop a large hill in the distance. It took some walking and another shuttle but we finally reached the site. It was worth the wait, ten times over.

Newgrange is a passage tomb constructed over 5000 years ago, making it older than England's stonehenge and Egypt's pyramids. It is a large mound covering over an acre of land. The base is lined with large, decorated kerbstones and it is faced with beautiful white quarry rock. There is a 19 meter long tunnel entrance that leads to a chamber within, where cremated remains were stored. This was all very interesting, but its not what made Newgrange my favorite site thus far.

What makes this tomb most interesting is its astrological, spiritual and ceremonial significance. Located just above the entrance is another opening known as a roof box. Once a year, during winter solstice, a narrow beam of sunlight penetrates the roof box and reaches the chamber, dramatically lighting the whole room. The lighting only lasts for 17 minutes, once a year. It is believed that during this time, the tombs spirits are ascended into heaven.

I was absolutely struck by the science and architecture used to create such a structure, at such an early point in human history.

After our bus ride back from Newgrange, we immediately voyaged back into the busy city. Our first stop was the National Art Museum. Normally, I would appreciate the beauty of the art but it would stop there. This time, I had the pleasure of viewing the gallery with Keiko Miller, my cross- cultural symbology instructor. Listening to her thoughts on the work allowed me to see and appreciate it in an entirely different light. I studied each painting and discussed them with Keiko. She gave insight that made the experience extremely rewarding. The gallery was absolutely humongous, so after 2 hours we had only seen about half of it. I guess this is just prep for next weeks trip to the Louvre!

After a long day of walking, it was about that time again. Dinner! 1 meal and 3 breathes later, i was even closer to broke. Cheers to my parents. How do they feed me? But this place was worth it. We found a nice little italian bistro. Our table ate family style- prompted by me of course. It was nice tasting everyone's dish, and for the first time since i'd been in Dublin I was fool ( and i hadn't even drank yet).

After a brief period of digestion, I was out to the bars again. This time the drinking in the room lasted a bit longer, due to expense. Walking down towards Temple, we braced ourselves for unexpected attacks from the insane clown posy or jumps from the twelve year old girls dressed as hookers. Strength in numbers right? We made it safely, thank God! We actually ended up finding a bar with a great band. The guy sang every song imaginable. So we hung out there for the night, with another adventure to look forward to in the morning.

Trip to Dublin Part 1

This weekend we made a trip to Dublin and it was definitely a trip worth taking. Dublin is by far the largest city in Ireland, which made our time there a huge contrast to our experiences in Dungarvan. We arrived in the big city early Friday afternoon. Immediately, it was made apparent to us that we'd have to make some adjustments in our expectations.

1. people don't stop driving J walkers

2. there are parts of the city that you should just stay away from at night

3. EVERYTHING is double the price that it should be; hence the reason why i finished a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread in 2 and half days

Day one was interesting. We immediately delved into activities, starting with a look at the Dublin Castle. The Dublin Castle was originally built to protect the city from invasion. Later, it served as the seat of British Rule in Ireland. In 1922, the Irish Free State was established, leaving the castle as a major Irish government building until present time. We did not get a chance to tour the inside, but from the outside the structure was quite impressive. The building is protected on all sides by strong walls, leaving a beautiful georgian courtyard in the middle. This is where we gathered for an explanation of its history and Tom Keith's thousandth group picture; which I made a whole- hearted attempt to escape from.

The next stop on our tour was the National Museum of Archeology. I know that museums may not be completely irregular to you, but you have to understand that this is a national museum, so it is enormous. Its collection includes early work in gold, church treasures, viking period and even displays items from Egypt, Cyprus and the Roman world. It was an outstanding exhibit with some fascinating displays, including recovered bodies from tombs and sarcophaguses. I enjoyed the tour very much, I was even able to sneak a picture or two.

As soon as we finished our tour of the museum, we continued our streak of tours with a visit to Parliament. The Irish Parliament House was brilliant. Today, it is used as the Bank of Ireland but its structure and design remain that of its 18th century design. This was another tour that I managed to covertly take pictures of from my coat pocket. Though the images were great, it was the history that took place within the building that was most fascinating. Cheers to the tour guide, he conquered my self-diagnosed ADD.

After all of the tours had finished I was famished. So a group of us went to a sandwich deli that we had passed earlier. It wasn't very filling, but topped with a PB&J , it did the trick. From dinner we rushed back to the hotel to get ready for the bars. Dublin, being more Americanized, had drinking areas that identified more with bars than the charming pubs of Dungarvan, regardless, we had a great night. With a limited budget in mind, we did some heavy drinking at the hotel before we left. By heavy drinking I mean shots of terribly cheap whiskey chased with hard cider. Needless to say, the night was interesting. It got most interesting at around 1:30. let me explain.

The part of the city, that we basically bar crawled in, was not the best. We were forewarned of just how bad it would get later in the night. Well, we didn't really take that warning to heart and experienced the discomfort that came with the realization of its truthfulness. Mix Dante's Inferno (the outer layer) with hookers and clowns and you'll get a hint of what we saw... Interesting but uncomfortable.

Needless to say, we did things differently on Saturday.

Weekend Trip to Waterford

The other day, we took a nice day trip to Waterford. Waterford probably doesn't mean much to you, so i'll explain. Waterford is the Ireland's oldest and one of its largest cities. Hidden within this highly commercialized area is a fascinating 10th century ruin. Reginald's Tower is the country's oldest civic building, dating back to the age of the Vikings. During our tour of the tower, we were able to see remnants of viking weaponry, currency and stand in the tower from which they defending themselves in battle. Pretty cool.

After our tour of the tower, we went to a well known chinese restaurant called Wongsong for some lunch. Our instructor Keiko taught us the proper way to use chopsticks- which i have mastered. She also told us that she would teach us how to make sushi. So after lunch we went in search of Sushi ingredients and stopped at some other stores along the way. FYI. Excellent Gelato ice cream at Gino's! After wandering about for a couple more hours it began to rain, so we caught the bus back to the hotel.

When we got back, we all went to Keiko's house for a Sushi Prep lesson. It was delicious! Who would have guessed that we'd receive so much incite to asian culture while in Ireland? Regardless, I am learning tons of new things. You are sort of forced to when studying abroad. All the sites are great but there is a true satisfaction that comes from the feeling of being completely independent, embracing spontaneity and making decisions with limited restriction.

21 Years Young

One of the coolest things about being in a new place are the new people. I've gotten to know some of the locals and they're a fun crowd to be around. It didn't take long for me to adjust to the accents and terminology used here; I actually have found myself adapting their adjectives (ones like brilliant and lovely). The guys that I have gotten to know best all work at the hotel pub. They are all extremely friendly and welcoming. A bunch of them actually extended me the courtesy of taking me out for a round of golf. So there I was, playing golf with the head chef, pub manager and two bar tenders. I hadn't played in a while so it was nice to get out. Like they say, a bad day playing golf is better than a great day at work. Best part: even in Ireland people quote Happy Gilmore.

After walking 18 I was pretty tired so I grabbed some dinner and relaxed until my night class. 3 hour seminar with Tom Keith, the human encyclopedia. Class wasn't bad though. We reviewed a lot of the things that we've seen here and discussed their historical relevance. Ok, so it was a little boring but I was looking forward to the remainder of the night, which would be spent celebrating my 21st birthday.

At around 10 I went to the hotel's pub. One of the bar tenders bought me a celebratory pint to start of my night. After a drink or two at the hotel, a bunch of us headed over to the Local and met up with my golf buddies. For the next three hours I was showered with shots of Whiskey chased by beer, followed by a massive hangover. Cheers

Céad Míle Failte

Castles, concerts, parades and pubs. I have a lot to bring you up to speed on. I guess i'll start with our visit to the Lismore Castle. Earlier this week, we made a visit to a castle located on the far side of County Waterford. We didn't even need to enter the castle to get an idea of its brilliant design and historical significance, but we did have the privilege of doing so. Although it was largely reconstructed in the 19th century, we were still able to observe aspects of the castle that dated back to the 7th century. As the tour guide mumbled on about Dukes of Devonshire and Earls of Cork, we all explored the castles beautiful landscape. After our cameras had died and we had become exhausted of looking through them, we jumped on the bus and headed back towards our townhouses.

On the way back we made a stop at another, smaller castle; if you could even call it that. The story behind this one is quite interesting. A man, who's name I don't recall, planned on building a castle for his wife. She demanded a castle that matched the size and elegance of the one that her brother-in-law had built for her sister. The man intended to give her just that but failed in a historically memorable way. In the early stages of its construction (only the castle's entrance gate had been constructed), the man ran out of money, leaving him unable to ever complete the project. I give him credit, the gates were lovely; but i immediately discredit him for his inability to perform even a hint of financial planning.

The very next day, I experienced my first international concert. There is a huge star here named Christy Moore. I'm recommending that, before you continue reading, you watch a clip of him on youtube to better understand my experience. His music is what you would expect here in Ireland but you would never find this kind of music, or such a large fan base behind it, in the states. I really enjoyed the energy that he put into his music and the comical asides that he offered during his rest periods. This was a concert to remember especially under the condition we were invited to the concert as guests, free of charge. Another gracious welcome followed by yet another open bar. This was a night to remember, or forget based on your post-concert pub experience.

Dungarvan's seemingly endless line of hospitable gestures did not stop there. St. Patrick's day was this past Wednesday and the town honored us by asking us to lead their annual parade. We did so, carrying the flags of Ireland, the UK, the US and county flags. After our march through the town, we were welcomed by the local sailing club with lunch and drinks.

They really are the town of one hundred thousand welcomes!

Blood Bin

We're staying in a pretty nice place. Everyone has their own room in a three person townhouse. It has two bathrooms, a laundry room, a nice size living room and a really nice kitchen. This is good! With our limited meal plans, I am going to have to do my own cooking for a good portion of my time here. Today, I will eat at the restaurant. So far, the meals there have been alright. I found a couple of items on the menu that I like. These I will stick to but it is important to know a few things.

1. Salad is basically another name for coleslaw

2. Potatoes will be included in every meal

3. Ice cream is extremely hard to come by

Now with the exception of rule three, these rules might be unique to the park hotel. I haven't explored too much outside of it. Though, I was able to find some other places which have had some pretty great tasty treats. The Jitterbean is my number one recommendation. For a pint though, The Anchor, Mary's or Minnie's. Almost everything here, restaurants, pubs, shops are all charming and quaint. I have found that it is more comforting than the states in that regard. Being here has shown me how differently the states view portion.

Drinking is done differently here. It is extremely casual, more frequent and when you are here, you are always celebrating. Once again, cheers to the Dungarvan townspeople. Three open bar nights for us and a world of new experiences. Talk about a culture shock, the sports here. I have never seen a sport as dangerous as hurling. Watching felt dangerous. Every game looks like a scene from Braveheart. No exaggeration. There is a something called a blood bin for wounded players.

Today, I had the chance to play some Rugby. The whole group received an all day lesson and actually got into some 11 on 11 games. It was a great experience. The game is consistent with the other sports here but it is much different than any sport in the states. i.e. More contact, less pads.

Pudding Cakes

Our first day in town was a busy one. Upon our arrival in Dungarvan, we were graciously treated to a complimentary breakfast. The thought of a real meal... Anything sounded good to me after sustaining on Chex Mix for the last day.

My first impression of Irish food was not a favorable one. Don't get me wrong, I am not a picky eater. Far from it, actually. It just so happens that I don't really care for ham; which seems to be incorporated in almost every meal, and I didn't like the watered down eggs that were served with it. To be honest, there were few things offered that seemed appetizing. Pudding Cakes are dried pigs blood. Who knew? After eating three or four of them, I came to learn this fact. Food. Another major culture shock.

Well, i'll get back to the food later. First, i'd like to discuss the unbelievably hospitable and kind people that we have had the pleasure

of meeting since we've been here. It began with breakfast but was punctuated with a parade and a formal welcome in The Council Chamber of Waterford County Civic Offices. In this reception, the Mayor, an embassy representative and other town council members spoke. We were treated graciously and with a level of respect that displayed the character that is bred in this town . Another major culture shock.

After the reception, we were treated to food, beverages and entertainment. At this point, my concern for the quality of food was instantly dismissed. I enjoyed many helping of freshly prepared lunch options including deli fresh sandwiches, sausage, a variety of cheese and lastly, a slice of delicious carrot cake. For beverages, we were offered both red and white wine, tea, coffee and a variety of fruit juices. For entertainment, we watched two young girls play irish fiddle and harp music as another girl danced to it. They performed wonderfully.

Throughout the rest of the day we were further oriented into our living quarters. We got situated in our rooms, discussed our meal options and for the first time since we landed, we relaxed. Not for long though.. To the pub!

Roundabouts

I have to say that the strangest thing that I have seen during my stay here has been Roundabouts. I've been here for three days and I still don't have the faintest idea of how they work or how they could ever be a safe alternative to a four-way stop.

But first thing first. It took almost an entire day to get here. I don't care what time zone you are in; that is an exhausting experience. First an early 6 hour drive from Cleveland to Chicago. Then about 7 hours of Airport irritation before an 8 hour flight. I'd like to say that my first impression of Ireland was memorable and that I saw the picturesque green pastures that I had imagined. But i didn't. I saw a busy city transit where I caught a bus heading to Dungarvan.

It was during the 3 hour ride from Dublin to Dungarvan that my expectations for the area became reality. I saw seemingly endless stretches of beautiful green pastures in every direction. Hugging the road were old stone walls, exaggerating each of its many curves with gothic accent. It was during this time that the reality of my trip really set in. I would be living in Ireland for the next three months.

It really struck me that I didn't even have to get out of the bus to experience my first culture shock. I am sure that I will never be adjusted to cars driving on what Americans call the wrong side of the road. For my own sake and for the sake of others around me I will not be operating any vehicle during my stay here.

I am excited to explore the quaint city of Dungarvan, but first a nap!