The car park is closed!

This weekend Alyssa, Shaun and I went to Dublin.  We caught a bus from Galway at 1:15, and got to Dubs around 3:45ish. Right away, we hopped on a bus to the Guinness Storehouse. This was a lot of fun, and interesting.  Here you can pour your own pint.  I had an awkward time with it, but it was a good pint nonetheless. Bartending is not in my future. 

After the storehouse, we got food, and my cousin Declan met us there.  He is one of the nicest people you ever want to meet. He went above and beyond Irish hospitality.  I really can’t wait to head back to Dublin and see him again. 

The next day, we went to the Leprechaun Museum.  This was basically a mythology museum.  They brought into the tour how Walt Disney ruins images of everything as in with Darby O’Gill and the Little People.  Apparently, before Disney ruined their image, leprechauns were looked at as fierce tricky little people, and you don’t want to get on their bad side.  I was the only one who had even heard of the movie. 

After the Leprechaun Museum, we went to watch the Ireland v Wales rugby game.  Ireland unfortunately lost, but it was a good match nonetheless. We then went to The National Wax Museum.  This was pretty cool, and mostly focused on Irish history and mythology.  There was a really cool “horror” exhibit, and in one of the rooms was a Buffalo Bill/ Hannibal scene.  That was a really impressive room. Well done.  Michael Jackson was also there, and I got very excited.

Next we went on the Traditional Music Pub Crawl.  This was one of my favorite parts.  I loved listening to the musicians with a pint in my hand. I could do that every night.  It was great to hear their insight on how they play the songs, and the feel they give them. I enjoyed talking to one of them for a bit as well.  It was pretty cool.

On Sunday, Declan took us out for a drive around town, then he took us for a bit of a tour. We drove through the biggest park in Ireland, and there was one place with hundreds of deer.  It was pretty cool.  After that we went into town, and did the National Museum of Ireland, National Gallery, Trinity College, and then went out to eat.  After that, we got the bus back to Galway.

So, other than losing my wallet there, It was a great weekend.  Yes, I lost my wallet. It was bound to happen.. I haven’t been having the best of luck with my possessions lately, as I lost my phone last night (I got it back, no worries). I’m thinking that I need a Velcro belt that I can attach everything to me.  If anyone wants to fashion one for me, I’d love ya forever. 

St. Paddy’s day was on Thursday, and I went to the parade in Galway.  We were supposed to head to Dublin for Paddy’s but I couldn’t because I thought I had a tutorial the day after.  I didn’t but Galway was a great craic anyway.  The parade was pretty cool.  After that I met up with my cousin Alison and her friends.  We hung out for a while then went to a few pubs.  It was a lot of fun.  There have been a lot of tourists around lately.  Galway is usually really lively, but it has been especially busy this week.

On Friday, Shaun and I saw Rango, the newest Johnny Depp movie.  It was pretty cute and funny. I enjoyed it a lot.  Then Saturday, we went to the Galway National Museum, and Galway Aquarium.  After that we watched the Rugby game, Ireland v England (we won 24-8) Great game, and great energy in the pub.  I really enjoy watching Rugby.  I will definitely continue that practice in the states.  It’s an intense game, and I like it so much better than football.  I know most of the basic rules, but I just have to read up on the rest of them. Its an intense game though. And it is so much fun to watch here. 

On Thursday Alyssa, Shaun and I are heading to London.  I am SO excited for this.  We are going on a Harry Potter walking tour, and I CANNOT wait.  I’ll hopefully blog before that. I’m really trying to get better at this thing.  I know I’ll be upset with myself when I get home that I didn’t blog enough.

So that’s it for now, I miss everyone, and hope all is well!

Till next time, Slainte.  

That's all she wrote!

Wow. I stink at this thing! My goal was to write in this at least 2 times a week!  I haven’t written in about a month!  Time is absolutely flying!!!!

I left off where I was heading to Limerick.. It was pretty fun.  I rode down with Norma, and took a bus back the next day in order to make it to my Irish class.  While in Limerick I saw Brian, Nikki, their 2 girls, Maria and Anna, Vincent, Mave and Lousie, Auntie Vera, and Uncle Harry.  Uncle Harry is doing well.  We had a whole conversation with him, and he can walk up 2 steps as a part of his exercises.  A great improvement.  It was nice to see everyone in Limerick. 

On Feb. 18^th-20^th, I went on a trip with my Irish class.  This was a lot of fun, because we stayed in a house with a family that speaks Irish.  It was pretty cool.  We had a lot of class that weekend, but some of it was fun stuff.  I really liked the teacher.  We actually saw her in a bar about 2 weeks later, and she recognized me and started speaking in Irish to us. During the classes we learned a few songs.  I still remember one of them, and it gets stuck in my head sometimes.  It’s pretty cool having a song in a different language getting stuck in your head.   At night we had the option to go to a dance class or learn some more songs.  I picked dance, and I’m so glad I did.  There was about 60 people in this class.  So much fun.  We learned a few dances.  At the bar later that night, the band started playing the song we danced to. So all of us did the dance! It was so much fun! We got made fun of by the Irish people there, but it was worth it!

On Feb 25^th-27^th Jenny, Alyssa, Shaun and I went to Belfast, Carriack Rope Bridge, Giant’s Causeway, and Derry. It was awesome.  I liked Belfast and all of the history there. Carriack Rope Bridge was pretty cool too.  It was beautiful there.   The Giant’s Causeway was my favorite part though.  We saw a double rainbow and everything! It was a beautiful day, and the view was amazing.  Derry was also fun.  A lot of history there too.. We saw the spot that the massacre ‘Bloody Sunday’ happened.  What I really liked in Derry was the paintings on the sides of the buildings. 

February 28^th-March 6^th was RAG week, aka college week.  It was basically a week where all of the Irish kids go absolutely crazy, and start drinking on Monday morning and don’t stop until Sunday.  Us Americans participated a little, but not crazy like that.  It was a great craic, especially because on Monday, it was Shaun’s birthday.  He turned 21! We made him princess cupcakes, which was pretty funny.  He also made sure to tell everyone that it was his birthday. A lot of fun.

This weekend I’m going to Dublin, and staying with Declan.  We’re going to the Guinness factory, and definitely the Leprechaun museum.  So excited for that!!! On March 24^th Alyssa, Shaun and I are heading to London.  I’m excited to see Aunt Margaret and Mickey.  It should be really fun.

Well, I think that’s it for right now.  Hope all is well at home.

Till next time (hopefully before another month passes)

Slainte