I am now entering Rihanna's world.

Okay, not quite. But for a couple hours last night, at the O2 Arena in Dublin with Emily and Pat, I was totally in her world. The Rihanna concert was definitely the way to end 5 months in Ireland together. After listening to Rihanna songs for the past week straight, hearing them live couldn't have been better.

Our favorite song came on

Excited. Duh.

You almost needed an umbrella ela ela ela

So I'm obviously not in Rihanna's world anymore, but I have left Galway. Currently in Dublin hotel enjoying a little family time. The past week really has been a vacation. No visitors, no commitments, just the sun and Galway. We went to the beach, went for runs, the market, out to pubs. Basically what we've been doing for the past 5 months but with nothing else in between. And the weather was gorgeous. Apparently Ireland had a bit of a heat wave. We definitely took advantage of it.

mmmm treats on the beach

Frisbee time

It's hard to get used to the fact my family is in Ireland. I've talked about my life here so much, it's crazy to think they are now going to get to experience parts of it. So far today the weather has been perfect, they've already enjoyed their first Guinness, and our week long tour of Ireland starts bright and early tomorrow.

So long, farewell....

To my friends and visitors, not yet to Galway. There are only a few of us left now. Two more left last night. Every other night seems to be someone's "last night" so we go out to dinner at one of the many restaurants we have yet to try, sit by the water, enjoying the nice weather, and then to have one last pint at our favorite pubs. Each day is one closer to when I'm leaving, but I'm not quite ready yet. I still have a few days left in Galway, and I will be enjoying every minute of them.

After finals were over, Sullivan came to visit! It was a much needed break for her, and a very very welcome guest for me. She needed a little bit of the Irish slow life put into her life. We ate out, cooked dinner, and enjoyed the market. We went to Dublin, the Aran Islands, and the Cliffs of Moher. Each of which I had done before, as you know, but we did something a little different at each.

According to John Jameson, Sullivan and I are certified whiskey tasters. I must admit, Jameson was my favorite and not just because we took the tour. Some souvenir shopping, a quick trip to the museum, and the typical tourist stops around town; we were back on the bus to Galway.

We bought tickets to go to Innishmaan, but as most Irish things are slightly unorganized, didn't get off at the right ferry stop. So we went to Innishorr instead, the small island. The rain held off so we biked around the island stopping for lunch by the sea, at the graveyard, shipwreck, lighthouse, and of course the white sandy beach.

Some poor planning let us stay in Galway the next day, enjoying one of my typical rainy afternoons eating treats, walking around, shopping, and watching a movie in the apartment.

Cliffs of Moher the last day in Galway. Everyone has to do it when they go to Ireland. I didn't mind seeing it for a third time. Its still amazing. And in a week from today, I won't mind seeing the Cliffs for a fourth time. The flowers had finally started to bloom and the grass was green, so it was whole new tour to me (almost). I sadly put Sullivan on a bus the next morning. Luckily, she took home a huge bag of my stuff. Less stuff for me to carry home.

I was happy to have such a great friend here to share what I've been doing for the past 5 months. She met my friends, saw the sites, and hung out at the pubs. Neither of us had a care in the world for those 5 days. We talked and laughed, ate and drank and it could not have been any better.

My days left here are shrinking, and with each day that passes, I love Galway more and more. the days are getting longer. The sun doesn't set until at least 10 pm, which makes you want to stay outside by the water all night long. Yesterday, we played Bananagrams and ate pizza by the water. Took a little break to change then headed over to Shop Street for a Bulmers. Burritos for dinner and a walk to the pier. My friends and I walked together and sat on the edge by the water, not talking really, just taking in the sights. We have been here for 5 months and its finally coming to an end. We've met great people who have made this time here so special. We live in a city where everyone wants to be. People are swarming, and as we walked back into town to have one last pint of Guinness with our friend Tara who was leaving, it felt like Summer. The tourists were out, strolling along enjoying every one of the street performers. The tons of locals came out from no where. It was like a block party, with plastic cups of beer and music. You couldn't even walk through the streets without running right into someone Irish. It felt like it was really finally summer, which made me never want to leave this place.

Rihanna tickets are bought for Wednesday in Dublin with Emily and Pat.

Surfing on Monday in Sligo if the surf is good.

One last market today.

Silent Disco Part II tonight!

Oh yeah, I forgot!

To tell you all I climbed a MOUNTAIN the other day! Not just any mountain either; it was Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo. I had been told thousands of people climb this mountain every July, some barefoot, as a pilgrimage. St. Patrick was said to have fasted at the top of this mountain for 40 days and then threw a silver bell down the side, banishing the she-demon Corra and eliminating snakes from Ireland. (Thank you Wikipedia) This was a pretty popular mountain so I assumed it would be a leisurely walk up to the top, no big deal.

Boy, was I wrong. It was broken into 3 different parts: A steep part, a flat part, then a really steep rocky part. All three parts were hard. I could never imagine doing it barefoot.

First part

I thought about stopping, but pushed on, knowing it would be worth it in the end. Looking up towards the final stretch, however, with no real path, just tons of lose rock, was daunting.

Hard part

We walked in and out of clouds. It would be sunny and hot, then 10 steps later, cloudy, cold, and rainy. I finally made it but was stuck in a cloud and couldn't see a thing. A little anti-climatic, but still worth it.

Then we started our way down, which was harder than going up. It took me almost as long, trying not to fall on loose rock and tumbling down the mountain side. Boys were literally running past me as I took tiny step after tiny step. Finally, we made it back and enjoyed a nice treat and much needed stretch at the visitor's center.

A little game I've played before.

A typical little get-to-know-you game that I've played at meetings and first day of classes, and just read one on my favorite new blog: Happys and Crappys. Tell us one good thing (happy) and one bad thing (crappy) about your day today. As my trip is starting to come to an end, I can't help but want to play this game, just a little bit.

Happy: I went to the dog tracks on Friday. Get the student discount. Look at the info book. Pick the dog with the coolest name to win because I have nothing else to base my decision on as I have NO knowledge of racing at all. Place your bets. No more than 2euro for me. Run down to the track. Watch as the dogs parade around, then are shoved into the starting gates. The mechanical rabbit zips by and out go the dogs. Cheer for about 30 seconds. Go collect your prize! Repeat.

Crappy: Overall, I lost about 3euro, which isn't as bad as some of my friends, who ended up losing 20, but still. I was hoping to come away a winner.

Happy: My last final is on Wednesday! After that, I will officially be a senior!

Crappy: I actually have to study for it, which as I've told you all before, is difficult here. I've even admitted to dreaming about being in Memorial Library. Who would have ever thought I would want to be tucked away on the 3rd floor, in a cubicle, with no windows, no people, no noise, no distractions, just me and my studying?

Happy: Sullivan is coming on Friday! I haven't quite made our itinerary yet, but I can promise she will never want to leave, and not just because I won't be coming home yet. Hurry up Friday!

Crappy: Almost all of my friends here are going home between now and Saturday. I can't imagine being in Galway without them. Our time here has been so wonderful, with the best people and having such a great time together, I can't believe we only have a few days left. It hasn't quite hit me completely, but in the next couple days, Ireland just won't be the same.

Happy: Meals prepared by my roommates and I, including Oatmeal Pancakes, White Vegetable Lasagna, and the most delicious Potluck dinner yet.

Crappy: Feeling WAY too full because you just can't get enough of all that good food.

Happy: Family coming in almost 2 weeks.

Crappy: That little bit of worry I have that the ash clouds will interrupt their flight plans. If they can't come (or Sullivan) watch out- I will not be happy.

Happy: In a few days, having all the time in the world to just hang out in Ireland and do whatever I want.

Crappy: ........................ nothing.

Two Words: Silent Disco

By far one of the best nights spent in Galway. It wasn't at a pub, talking with old Irish men listening to traditional music, although I do love doing that, nor was it spent having a party in Niland House with all my friends. It was spent at Silent Disco.

You walk into the bar, pay 5euro and get your hand stamped, go through the curtains, onto the dance floor. Don't forget to pick up your headset! Put the headphones on, turn to the station all your friends are on, and dance the night away.

There are two regular djs, playing indie dance music along with all your classic American tunes like Twist and Shout on two different channels on your headset. When you don't like the song, simply switch over to the other station. Three solid hours of dancing like crazy. Its just like the iPod commercials. Jamming to your own tunes, but everyone is doing the same thing all around you.

By far, the best parts of the Silent Disco are 1. Trying to figure out which channel people are listening to. Either by their horrible off-key singing or great dance moves to the beat, it was so fun trying to match up to them 2. Taking off your headsets for a minute while the song is playing to just hear everyone singing but no actual music. It was the weirdest feeling, seeing everyone dancing yet the room is pretty much silent, except for a little singing and some side conversations.

Never have I heard of any Silent Discos back home, but if Milwaukee starts to be cool enough for one, I will be first in line to get my headset.

Another two words: Aran Islands.

The other highlight of the week, a much needed break after my first final, Tierney, Kelsey and I went off to the Aran Islands. After a bus and a ferry ride, we arrived to the Irish speaking island of Ireland. You hop off the ferry and automatically are bombarded by men trying to get you to come on tours in their buses and horse drawn carriages. We opted to rent bikes!

I'd compare the Aran Islands to an Irish Capri in Italy. The crystal blue water, a little touristy, but still one of the prettiest, most relaxing places you could ever imagine. We pedaled all throughout the island, stopping to see the seal colony, the watch tower, the white sandy beach for lunch and the famous Dun Aengus rock fort. The rock fort was by far the best part, more specifically the cliff edge. No railing, straight down 400 feet. It's like you are on the edge of the world. So cool, but the whole time my legs wouldn't stop shaking. I was happy to go back to regular ground.

Final #2 coming up Tuesday.

Dearest Iceland:

Please cool your jets. My friends are stuck throughout Europe: Greece, Italy, France, Sweden. With no way easy alternative way to come home, being as Ireland is an island, I feel like they might be there forever. I realize Europe loves us visiting, but I'm getting a little worried I might never see them again. Or that I might never get back home to America. Or my family and other visitors may not be able to come. Not that I'm complaining too much. Ireland isn't the worst place in the world to be stuck, but knowing I might have to stay here forever is affecting my finals studying. You know I always put the studies first.

Not to mention Iceland, I'm supposed to come visit you! I was excited, but now that pretty much everyone hates you right now, its not as appealing. Oh and the threat of you erupting again, maybe while my sister and I are there- not fun. So stop. Please.

Sincerely,

The girl stuck in Ireland

Holiday in Europe

And I’m back.

I've been on Spring Break 2010, stopping in Italy, Prague and Budapest. My friends and I packed all our things in backpacks and hopped on the plane, ready for a wonderful trip. We worked on our tans in Italy, ate good food for every meal, had treats galore, and saw every site we could ever want to. Some highlights for you.

1. Eating gelato twice a day in Italy. If I had studied abroad there, I would probably only eat gelato. I think I got my fill for the week I was in Italy. In a cone, with two flavors, the combos are endless. We even splurged on Easter Saturday and got the 4euro cone at Old Bridge, right outside the Vatican. I never thought ice cream could be so good. Nothing beats licking a cone of strawberry, banana, and chocolate gelato next to the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
2. Being literally feet away from the Pope. Even now, with all the scandal of the Catholic Church, seeing the Pope is pretty cool. On Friday in Rome, the Pope did the Stations of the Cross right outside the Colosseum. Thousands of people stood outside with candles, listening to the Pope say the stations in different languages. We were farther away, on top of this hill, but it paid off. As it was nearing the end, police starting putting up barricades on the street so we rushed over to see why. We were the first ones over there, and it turned out the Pope would be leaving on that street. He drove by us with his entourage, (not in the Pope mobile though) waving and smiling at everyone. We could practically touch him, and it was amazing.
3. Seeing all the famous sites. You see pictures of all these places, but nothing compares to actually seeing it in person. One day I'm hanging out in Ireland, the next I'm seeing world famous tourist attractions. I loved every one.
4. 
   Florence
   
   Parliament in Budapest
   
5. 
   
   
   
   
   
6. Going up to the cupola of the Duomo in Florence. We waited in line for an hour, not realizing how cool it really was. First, we see the inside. Huge paintings of biblical stories as you walk around the balcony. Then, you walk up stairs and stairs to the top; spiral stairs, short stairs, big stairs, stairs that basically go straight up, and finally a ladder. Once you get to the top, you forget about all of them. A view of the entire city, from the center of the city. Buildings with the same red oofs, the market, the river, churches, and people. I wanted to take pictures and stand up there for the entire day. We eventually left but later on climbed more stairs to a Piazza that overlooked the city again. I will never get tired of those views.
7. 
   
8. The gorgeous sun, clear blue water, fresh squeezed lemonade, and iced coffees aka Capri. The journey to Capri had some glitches but eventually we got there. Our train from Rome either hit a person and someone died or just the train broke down, things got a little confusing with the translations. All the Americans, however, grouped together and we eventually made it to Naples, then a ferry to Capri. I drank freshly squeezed lemonade with vodka at a little bar on the water with the sun shining. We took naps on the rocky beaches working on our BTs. We took a boat ride around the island, touring the rocky shoreline, huge houses, and the clearest blue water I have ever seen.
9. 
   
   8. Prague has Pilsner beer. We enjoyed our fair share of Czech beer the nights we were there. I must admit, I still was craving a Guinness the whole night, but it was pretty good. We went out to The Pub, where you sit in booths with taps so you pour your own beer. All the tables race against each other, with a big screen showing the standings. We never even came close to the top, unfortunately. I was, however, really good at pouring the beer. Some might even say a career in bartending could be in my future. Right now that sounds like a pretty tempting career path.
10. Markets. Each place we went had huge food markets full of vegetables, meat, cheeses, and breads. I wanted to buy everything I saw to make amazing dishes, but with no kitchen I unfortunately couldn’t. I made up for it in the markets that sold everything non-food. Italian leather, scarves, dishes, postcards, lace, dolls, everything you could ever want. These leave American farmers markets in the dust. Nothing can compare to the hugeness of these markets, filled with tourists browsing, and people who actually live there buying their food for the day.
11. 
    Goulash from the market in Budapest
12. Eating standing up and outside for every meal in Prague. Apparently the restaurants are overpriced and not that good, so seeing we were on a budget, we ate at the markets in the big squares. Who needs to sit down to have a nice meal? Two out of our three meals a day consisted of some sort of meat in a bun, potato soup, and dessert. For breakfast we ate pastries from the bakery next to our hostel. So good.
13. 
    
    
    Eating sausages and drinking beer in Prague
14. Caving. We took a bus out to some type of National Park in Budapest, on the Buda side, to crawl through caves. We had to dress in full body suits and hardhats with lights on top, and suddenly my 3euro Keds shoes didn’t quite seem adequate. None of us knew what we were getting into. Our group of nine and a guide headed into the side of the mountain and climbed down a huge ladder, like the biggest ladder I’ve ever seen, straight down, and that was the easy part. With the three of us girls leading the pack, we climbed through holes the size our heads practically, on our stomachs. Wiggling through The Worm, doing the Superman move so our bodies fit through the opening. We would come to a big open room, where it seemed there would be no way out, but our guide would inevitably find a tiny tiny whole we would have to fit though. It was probably the coolest thing I have done in a long time, although I was sore beyond belief the next day.
15. People knowing English and wanting to help us. We must have looked pretty confused and lost at times. Four Americans with huge backpacks just staring at the train ticket machine or Metro map wondering how we are going to figure this out. Fortunately, there are nice people in Italy, Czech Republic, and Hungary that know English. So thanks to the man in Prague that told us how to get to our hostel at midnight in the rain, the main in the train station who told us how to get to the airport, the woman on the train in Italy who helped us when the train stopped running, and the hotel receptionists who helped us find places to stay when we were homeless in Italy. It makes me want to learn a second language.

After the train broke down. Tierney wasn't happy but at least someone helped us out.

While the trip was amazing, everything must have a few negatives.

1. Cobblestones. They look pretty, its cool they’ve been there so long, but they hurt my feet. It seems every European loves cobblestone streets. Walking for miles on cobblestones day after day leaves my whole body a little bit more sore than usual. I’m recovering though; don’t worry.
2. I only know one language. It wasn’t too difficult to figure out signs, menus, or directions. Most people in other countries know English so it was never too big a deal but that was the problem. Everyone knows English, so they know what you’re talking about. They, however, know a language we can’t understand at all. Every time people would start talking I automatically thought they saying top-secret things, something really interesting, or talking about us. Probably talking about us. I didn’t like it.
3. Having smelly clothes. A small backpack for two weeks full of clothes you’ve worn twice is not fun. That problem has been easily fixed though. I’m staring at clean clothes drying in the Irish sun smelling good.

My first exam is on Monday so studying starts now I guess. My Niland House friends start leaving in a month. I will be back in Milwaukee in two months from yesterday. More Ireland traveling is in the works and I’m trying to fit in as much Guinness as I can.