Its about time - A visit from some Londoners

Sorry for not keeping up with the blog. Thess past few weeks have just been buys with planning trips, work, and yes a lot of drinking.

After another week of classes and some crazy nights, Friday (March 9th) finally came rolling around. Jake and I were expecting some friends from London to come and stay with us for the weekend. Mike Fillare, Jake Levine, Cecilia Fendrock, and Lauren Higgins got to our place at around 9pm that night, we got ready, and headed to a new club we haven’t been to yet called Lafayette’s Basement. It was a great time. Drinks were cheap and the 90’s music really set the tone for the night.

The next morning Jake and I woke up late and decided to just walk around the city, exploring new streets and pubs. Our friends had the whole day planned running from the Guinness Storehouse to a walking tour and much more. We up later that night, and decided to go on our first pub-crawl. We left the door by 7pm, so we new it was going to be a long night.

Here is the whole gang. From left to right: Jake, Jake, Emma, Me, Lauren, Cecilia, Mike

Our first pub was very calm and laid back, more for socializing and getting to know everyone on the crawl. We got one free pint of our choice, and soon we were on our way to the next stop.

Cheers!!

O’Neill’s was the place, a very loud Irish pub with singing, dancing, and of course drinking. A live band was playing traditional music and had the whole place on their feet. After a Guinness or two, I heard the lead singer asked if we had any Americans in the house. I raised my hand and he called a few of us on stage and asked if we knew the song Wild Rover, an old Irish song that every native should know. Thanks to my Uncle Tom Duffy, I knew the chorus by heart, stomps and all. Had a blast. Sadly, no one took pictures of this amazing event, so your just gonna have to believe me.

I’m not gunna lie, but the next two pubs are a little blurry. I honestly don’t know what could have caused this memory lose except for the fact that it happened nearly two weeks ago. When we got to the nightclub, we got free admission to one of the nicest places in all of Ireland. The club had 5 floors, dancing and DJ’s on each one. The clock struck 1am, and we were exhausted. We made our way back to main street, ate some food, and called a cab to take us home.

The guys

The girls

Next morning, I made our friends some breakfast and walked them to the bus station for their return home. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend and I can’t wait to go to London and see our friends again. Our trip is planned for the lat weekend in March and should be a lovely time.

The week following was pretty quiet. Most of my classes started to get into important material and group projects were being assigned. Homework doesn’t really exist at DCU. Most of the modules I am taking are based on one or two papers or one final exam. All the professors post their notes online, but that doesn’t mean you can’t just not show to class.

At night, Jake and I would check RyanAir for cheap flights out of the country. Besides our London trip, we have also booked our spring break trip to Scotland, a weekend in Munich during their “Spring Fest” (a miniature Oktobur Fest), and a long weekend in Rome to visit my good friend from high school. I am so excited for each trip and can’t wait to explore more of Europe.

Galway/Cliffs of Moher

Last weekend was probably one of the most hectic weekends I have had here in Ireland. Planned days before, 9 friends and I went two and half-hours west of the Dublin to the city of Galway. That’s right, it only took about two hours to go from coast to coast. When we arrived, we checked in our hostel, dropped off our luggage and decided it was time to get some lunch. We stopped in at the local pub and got sandwiches and chips. It was only about 1pm when we finished and we had the whole day to ourselves. It was time to explore and see what was around.

We came across this brick road with a mob of people walking in all directions. There were stores on both sides and ribbons hanging from roof to roof. It reminded me of Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter movies.

We split up into two groups (guys and girls) and went off window-shopping. About 20 minutes later is when the fun really started. Jake's (my roommate here in Dublin ) face started to swell up. He said his throat was closing and he was having trouble breathing. He was having an allergic reaction, and needed medical help ASAP. We found a local pharmacy and got him some Benadryl but it wasn’t helping. It took us another 20 minutes of panicking and running around to find a medical center. By that time, Jake’s face looked like a tomato ready to pop.

Jake is severely allergic to peanuts and we are guessing that the chips from earlier that day were cooked in peanut oil. The medical center injected him with Epinephrine as Emma and I filled out his paper work. The reaction was so severe that the doctor recommended that Jake go to the hospital for precautionary measures. He was there for 6 hours before being released at 10pm. It was a great start to our three-day weekend.

The next morning we got up, packed lunch and walked off to the buses for our tour. Our first stop was about 45 minutes away at Aillwee Cave, an ancient passageway into the mountains of The Burren. The cave stretched over a kilometer long and is only about 5 feet in height throughout the path.

Emma walking in the cave

Outside the cave, we were on this beautiful mountaintop where you could see the whole valley beneath us. We took a couple pictures, had a coffee, and then were on our way to the most anticipated attraction, the Cliffs of Moher.

The Valley

When we arrived, our tour guide told us to be cautious with the winds, especially near the cliffs. WE stepped off the bus and literally got swept off our feet. With +50mph winds blowing from the South, it was impossible to walk in a straight-line. After backpedaling to the top of the cliffs, we turned and saw this.

The Cliffs of Moher

The cliff side

Me trying to smile with the winds

Jake battling the winds

Thanks to my studious cousin Nora, she told me that Continental Rifting created the cliffswhen Ireland and the rest of Europe tore from North America. There's a large subduction zone about a mile off the coast eating up the sea floor and the coast loses about a centimeter each year. We battled the winds for about an hour then made our way into the gift shop.

Our next stop was on a rocky shoreline with the sun setting at our backs. I decided to get artistic and take some cool photos with the sun and shadows we made.

Emma, Callie, and Jake in action

Tebow (for Mike Kinslow)

Me showing off, and looking cool at the same time

From right to left:

Emma, Jake, Me, Kaci, Callie, Sam

The day was long, but it was something I will never forget. We didn’t arrive back until late, and decided to make a family dinner with pasta and bread back at the hostel. We went out that night to a club, danced the night away, and went back to bed ready to ride back to Dublin the next afternoon.

The alarm rang at 10am, we packed our belongings and were off to find an Irish breakfast. 5euro plate with free coffee was a steal and we couldn’t believe the amount of food we got. It truly was an Irish breakfast with our eggs, sausage, beans, toast, and little corn muffins.

All of us out to breakfast

After stuffing our faces we walked around, doing a little shopping and site seeing. Our bus wasn’t until 5pm, so we found a cool pub, watched some soccer and drank a few beers as the time went by. So far, this was my favorite weekend over seas. My friendships grew stronger and the sites were breath taking. I am so happy I choose Ireland for study abroad.

Howth

I know I have been falling behind on these blogs, so this one is going to be a little longer so I can catch you followers up on what I have been up to lately. The weekend before this, a group of about 15 of us went to Howth Pier; an hour train ride east of Dublin. We arrived at around 11am, and split into two groups to adventure our new surroundings. My group first went to the pier, walking down the boardwalks looking at all the fishing and sailing boats. At then end, we had a great sight of a tiny island about 1 mile off shore.

We then started our hike up the mountains, making a few scenic stops along the way. About half way up, we saw a trail that veered off the main road. It brought us to a patch of grass, and an overlook of the whole pier. It was beautiful.

Above is a picture of me and my good friend Emma

At the top of the city, was a little pub called The Summit. We stopped in for lunch and a few beers as we watched Manchester United play Liverpool in the FA cup. We left at the half, and continued to our final destination. From the top of the cliffs, this is what we saw.

It was just amazing. We could hear the waves smashing against the large rocks and the seagulls crowing above us. As we came closer to the beach, I saw a tiny mud path leading down to the beach. The path was not man made and was probably at a 45-degree angle, making it very hard to walk down without hiking boots. However, after about 15 minutes of mayhem, the boys made it down to the beach first.

Joe and Jake making their way down the slippery slope.

Me on the pebbly beach

We hung around for a while taking photos and trying to be artistic in the way we posed and took them. The sun was beginning to set, and that was our cue to start heading back to the city for some dinner.

Jake trying to stay dry on the rock.

Jake and I on a rock a few feet from the shore.

Before we left the cliff side, we took one more detour to find a good view. Through the high grass and between two large hills, I was able to take this photo of all my friends in front of me.

The picture reminded me of something out of the TV series Lost or maybe even some album cover. It was an awesome sight, and we watched the sun set off in the distance over the water.

We ate dinner at a local pub in the city and shared the photos we took that day with everyone at the table. It was a long, but great day. Everything was planned well and went according to plan.

That pretty much wiped us out until the Thursday coming, where it was Jersey night at a local club in Dublin. I wore my Celtic soccer jersey, and it just so happened that the pub/club was known for their Celtic fans. The manger saw my shirt and was amazed that an American was wearing it. He bought me a free drink and we talked soccer for a while. It was a good night.

Joe, me, and Jake showing our colors at the club. The lights really make our shirts look cool.

Our next trip planned would be to Galway, the next big city in Ireland about 200km West on near the Atlantic Ocean. My next blog will be about the Cliffs of Moher and our adventure to new city.

On Wednesday, IES (my affiliate abroad program) took me and 10 others in the program out to dinner. It was a good thing I looked up the restaurant before leaving because half of us probably would have been under dressed. Fallon and Byrne was the name, a fancy little place on top of a super market with huge glass windows surrounding us. The whole city was lit before us as we sat down at a long table for 14. I normally hate sitting at long tables because you can't have a conversation with every one there, so I made best of the situation and sat directly in the middle. I wore a grey sweater with a white button up underneath and dark grey dress pants. I don't like to brag, but I looked good! We were all allowed to have one free drink. Suiting the occasion, we all got a glass of wine. Most of the girls got white, while the guys got red. The menu was shortened for us, as we could only choose from four different starters, entrees, and desserts.

After we all ordered, and before the socializing broke out, I decided to make a toast. I rang my wine glass, stood up, and began my little spiel. I thanked the IES ladies who took us out, and told them that this will probably be the best meal we have overseas. I then went on to say how much the 12 of us have bonded over the past few days, and how other people were jealous of our little "click" at school. I finally wished everyone a good and healthy semester, and ended it with the old Irish saying "Cheers." (and yes mom, I did this all on my own without anyone telling me what to do. Sam took this picture while I was talking)

My starter, a thinly sliced piece of smoked salmon covered with greens and beats, was just displayed so eloquently, that i didn't want to eat it.

For the main course, an Irish ribeye steak cooked to perfection (medium rare is a Kinslow must) with a side of chips (french fries for us Americans) and light salad. I wish i took a picture after i finished because i literally licked the plate clean, and still had room to pick off other friend's plates.

Finally, and most highly anticipated, dessert was on the way. In a tall milk shake like glass, was orange creme ice cream covered in whip cream and chocolate syrup. At the bottom, a warm brownie surprise. I didn't spare a second, digging right in once the last dessert was placed on the table.

I sat back, stuffed beyond belief, ready to go back home and sleep. We stuck around for another half hour or so, and then went on our way back home. It was a perfect dinner on a gorgeous Wednesday night. Here are two pictures of our group at dinner and on the stairwell of the restaurant. (I am third down on the right)

Keep posted for more blogs

Steve

Finally I have a minute (and a break from drinking) to start my blog. I have been here for just about a week now and I already know about the craic (yes, pronounced like crack, and its and irish slang term for fun or what's going on). When I arrived in Dublin Airport, Jake and I immediately made friends that were part of the IES program. We rode over together to our apartments in Shanowen Square and started to unpack our things. Our adventure had begun. We went into the city and had a heart attack on the way because we weren't use to driving on the other side of the road. The crazy taxi drivers didn't help the situation as well. After a few orientation meetings and safety warnings, we were on our own, ready to explore the beautiful city of Dublin.

That night, a bunch of us decided to go out and celebrate the beginning of an amazing semester. The local pub, Matt Weldons, is a smaller pub that has good drink prices and a fun atmosphere to socialize. We held our beers high, and I made a toast. Matt Weldons is now a pub we go to every Wednesday to catch up with all the friends we made that day and to share the stories and good times of the previous week.

Then good old Twisted Thursday came rolling around. Quinn's, a club on O'Connell Street, was the hot spot to go to for drinks and dancing. Earlier that day, Jake made friends with the VP of student affairs (Collie) at Dublin City University (DCU). Collie was able to get us 12 VIP wrist bands to club and access to some free drinks. At 10;30pm, we walked through the doors, and waiting for us was a champagne bath with glasses. You could say we were "poplin bottles." We had a great time and I met some irish lady friends who loved to dance. It was another great night.

The next morning, we woke up for a bus tour of the city. We were able to get on the top of the double decker bus, and enjoy everything we saw under the warm sun. I saw all the great sights including St. Patrick's Cathedral, Stephen's Green, and of course the Guinness Storehouse. Our tour guide was very funny and gave us good advice on where to go to eat when we are in the city.

We decided to stay in Fri night and just hang out playing some drinking games. jake and I were also waiting on our two friends Viv and Nancy to come in from Vienna, Austria. They are also studying abroad through IES and wanted to get away for a weekend in Ireland. They came in around midnight and we went to bed.

From right to left, Viv, me, Nancy.

Sat morning we woke up early to go on an IES trip to Causey Farm. We snuck the girls on the bus and took an hour bus drive into the country side of Ireland. It sounds crazy, but the grass is really greener over here. At the farm, we learned all about the country tradition of Irish families. First, we went into the kitchen and made Irish soda bread. In Ireland, no one takes precise measurements when cooking, so you can never get the same tasting meals. After that, we hit the wooden floor boards and learned a tradition Irish dance. The song was similar to the one in Titanic where they are on the bottom of the ship partying. Some of the instruments played in that movie are some of the ones we also go to try. The coolest part of the trip was the sheep dog. The owner had him so well trained that he could literally make the sheep run in circles. His master had commands to make the dog lead the sheep left right or back. it was really cool to watch. Last, we played Hurling, and Irish sport similar to lacrosse and hockey. It's hard to explain, but you have they field hockey like sticks and you have to get this hard ball in a goal or through two posts. Here is Jake and I with equipment and gear.

The hard part is keeping the ball in the air without a pocket. Overall, it was a very interesting day and made me realize how hard the country life really is.

Sunday we went into the city with the girls and went to the famous Guinness Storehouse. This place was amazing!! After a self guided tour and multiple pictures, we went to the top floor which was called Gravity Bar. it is the highest point in Dublin and has a view of the whole city. With your ticket, you got a free pint of Guinness at the top, and enjoyed the 360 degree view.

For lunch, we went to the oldest pub in Dublin called The Brazen Head. Dating back to 1196, this pub had delicious traditional food and an atmosphere that you can't find anywhere else. Here is a picture of my Guinness Stew.

Then of course, Sunday night, we went to this huge pub called the Bleeding Horse to watch the Superbowl. You probably had every American in Dublin at this bar, it was packed. With great drink specials and free finger food, we couldn't resist. We partied till the early morning watching the Giants defeat the Patriots for the second time in 4 years.

School started the next day and it was confusing, but I got through the day. Classes run differently here. One day the module will meet at 1pm one day but then Thurs is will be at like 6pm, so scheduling was really tough. Some classes I'm taking are Into to Modern ireland, Media and Communication Skills, and Cultural Studies of Ireland. I like all of m classes, so far, and the workload hasn't piled up yet.

My next post will be in a few days, so make sure to keep checking. You can also comment on something if you set up an account. Til then

Steve