Slainte ta Dooblin!

On our second day in Dublin we went on a historical walking tour of the city, which was free! It was a great way to explore Dublin for the first time. Our tour guide was very passionate and extremely knowledgeable of the city so it was a great learning experience as well. We saw the town hall, the old castle, the national museum and library. We also got to walk through Trinity College and learned that the Library there was the one used in the filming of the Star Wars movies for the Jedi library, interesting.  After the tour we went to a pub called O'Neill’s for a discounted lunch. I had the Guinness and Beef stew which was incredible! So many veggies piled high on top of it too. By this point it had become pretty obvious that the Irish serve two kinds of potatoes with most of their meals. The famine is over! :) Then we decided to walk around and do some shopping! I ended up walking into this shop where they could look up your family name and you could read about its history. Apparently the Kemp name was originally associated with the Vikings from Normandy. Who knew? Pretty awesome stuff though! I bought the best souvenirs for people and it made me excited to get home so I can hand them out! Haha

Then we went back to the hostel for a bit and cleaned up before going out! We were determined to make it to the Temple Bar! We decided to go back to Fitz’s (our nickname for it) for dinner since we knew it was delicious and well-priced. We all ended up ordering the same thing, this delicious garlic cheesy baguette with a salad. Absolutely amazing, as all Irish food is! Then we went back downstairs to finish our Bulmers Irish cider and listen to some of the live band that was playing. There was a group of Irish guys that ended up next to us that we started talking to. One of them kept grabbing my hand and making me twirl around, not really sure what that was all about haha. Then they all started to get a little too friendly so we decided it was time to leave! We finally made it to the Temple Bar!

The bouncer at the door let us skip the line and just walk right in because we were all around the age of 20- he said if we were between 18 and 25 to just go in because they needed to keep with the age ratio. Too funny really. As soon as we walked in the band started to play the song Galway girl, it was absolutely perfect. If you have seen PS I love you it’s the song that Jerry is playing when Holly walks into the pub where his band is performing. It’s a song about an American girl in Ireland, perfect song for the occasion! Then we went to the bar! The girls all made me go up and ask the bar tender what a good Irish shot was. They said I was best suited to do it because of the red hair, “use your Irish charm! ” All the guys we met there always seemed fascinated by the fact that I had red hair and freckles. One guy asked me what post card I was from. Haha I have no clue why! Anyways he suggested a baby Guinness and so I ordered six for all of us! It was 5,80 euro a shot! Crazy expensive, but so delicious! It was Kahlua on the bottom with baileys on top so it looked like the foam head on the dark Guinness. So yummy! Everyone laughed at us when we cheers’d and yelled because apparently that is only an American thing to do. At one point in the night a group of guys came up to us and said “so your from America huh,” because we had all just yelled haha too funny.

We didn’t stay too long because it was so crowded but we had our shot and heard our song and were satisfied with that. We started wondering further down the street and ran into Atle, our Norwegian friend, from the night before! He was with a group of German girls that he had met but he ditched them to come walk around with us! Muahah. J He was the cutest thing ever, he pretty much played the role of big brother for us. Several times he warded off a group of guys who had drunk too much. It was just so nice to not have to worry about any drunk guys bothering us because Atle was watching out for us! Such a sweetheart! We all just walked around from pub to pub listening to the music and taking it all in. Then we found this little disco place with the disco balls, shag carpets, light up floors and everything. We were really excited until we saw the vending machine for sex toys in the bathroom and the creepy middle – aged men sitting along with wall by the dance floor. We hurried out of there pretty quickly haha. It was such a great night and we were sad to leave Atle but we were exhausted to we were back at the Generator by 12:30 I think.

The last day we just walked around and got the last of our souvenirs. Including my official claddagh ring, finally! J Then we walked by St. Patrick’s Cathedral and tried to go to the museum but it didn’t open until 3 which was too late for us. We found a little pub to have one last Irish cooked meal, and I had to finish with more fish and chips. So good over there! By that point we were all exhausted so we just hung out in the lobby at the Generator hostel for an hour until it was time to head to the airport. My sunburn was killing me by this point and wearing that heavy backpack on my shoulders was a miserable experience but I survived! Hah. We took the 4pm bus to the Dublin airport, a plane to Beauvais airport, the bus to Porte Maillot, the metro back to the hostel area, and finally arrived back at our rooms at 12:45 am. Exhausted but we had to unpack and repack for our 9am departure time to Belgium the next morning! Crazy times over here but I wouldn’t settle for anything less. It was an amazing three days in Ireland and I cannot wait to go back some day to explore the country further! 

Our tour guide, Eoghan (pronounced Owen)!

At the Temple Bar on the walking tour

Guinness and Beef Stew!

Sun burnt!

Bell tower at Trinity

So many Irish photo bombers

With our Norwegian big brother, Atle!

So true :)

St. Patrick's Cathedral

The Land of Eirinn and the Cliffs of Mohers!

I don't even know how to start writing this entry. The three days I spent in Ireland far out way the rest of the trip combined thus far. I'm in love with this place.

The people are so nice! We got off of the plane at about 11:15 so we missed the last public bus passing through. There was an older gentleman who told us just where we needed to go and gave us all maps marked with out hostel on it and everything. So cute. After the bus though we still had a ways to walk to get to our hostel door. Now at night these little streets were quite dark and abandoned looking so the girls that were with us, the same ones who experienced the pick pocketing, were terrified. Then a couple walked up and offered to help us find our way because the street names on the map and on the streets themselves were not the same (a great help to us tourists!) Finally we arrived only to discover that the 6 of us had been split up into 3 different rooms and three different floors. The manager however was so nice and helped rearrange it so we were all in a private suite together- no additional charge! We got right to bed that night because we had to get up to make our 7 am bus for our tour out to the Cliffs of Mohers!

The trip lasted from 7 am until 7 pm. It was a long day! But oh so much fun and the sights in the country and on the coast were just breath taking! Everything is so green! We stopped at an abandoned Abbey and at a Castle for pictures and exploration but of course the main events of the day were at the cliffs themselves. We couldn't walk to far out because apparently the winds get so strong there that people have been blown right off the side. So now they have stone fences up to keep you a good distance from the edge. There were performers everywhere playing the harp, banjo, guitar, and singing it was just beautiful. The weather was amazing as well! Ireland is always been noted for their rainy climate but it did not rain a single drop while we were there! In fact I got sunburned! haha. While we stopped at the castle to walk around there were a group of Irishmen sitting outside a cafe who called us over- "hey you with the fiery hair, bring your friends and come sit with us!" I heard these remarks all weekend! haha Its like they've never seen a redhead before which of course is false. We talked with them for a while and they gave us some tips about where to go in Dublin and the parts of town to avoid. It was a really nice little conversation and they even stood up from one side of the picnic table so that we could all sit down with them. Chivalry is most certainly not dead in Ireland!

That night we came back and rested up before we cleaned up to go out to dinner and to some pubs! We wanted to go to the Temple Bar, of course!, but decided to stop at a place across the street for dinner first. We piled into a booth at Fitzsimmons and I had my first Guinness and some genuine fish and chips! Yummy! While we were chowing down the live entertainment started on the first floor which played of the speakers on all 5 floors. He was phenomenal with great song selections. After eating we decided to go an see the performance up close and we stayed down there and danced for a while. Then we went up to explore the other floors. We ended up on the terrace on the roof where we made some friends. Three Irishmen, Peter, Karl, and Dean,  over heard us talking about the conversion of a pint into cups and started making fun of us haha. Not that I blame them at all! Then after a short time another guy came over and joined the group. He was a Norwegian named Atle. We all sat down (they got all of us girls chairs even haha love those Irish boys) and spent the next few hours talking about the differences in our cultures and the various expressions and customs (this was how we heard about the attacks in Norway, sadness!) . It was really a lot of fun! We're all Facebook friends now! haha So we didn't make it to the Temple bar that night but it was well worth it. It was such a great night! 

I'm in love with these fences

By the Abbey

With some of the girls by the cliffs

So high up!

Amazing

Our international table! Countries represented: Ireland, Norway, Australia, and the US!

With my first Guinness!

Notre Dame and Exploring

Finally made it to Notre Dame! 

While Abby was sleeping in after her Bastille Day adventure I went with some of the other girls to see Notre Dame. It was very impressive. All the displays and the architecture. The gargoyles and bell tower were by far my favorite part! We walked around the church and got to see an original chandelier, the stain glass windows, and I bought a medallion as a souvenir! Then we waited in line for an hour and a half to climb up to the top. 

Holy stairs. There were a million stairs, and it was awful because they were all tiny narrow winding, worn, slippery stairs. I was very dizzy by the time we reached the top! But it was worth both the wait and the climb. It was another fabulous view of the city from up there. We also got to get up close and personal with the gargoyles. They are so awesome. Each one is unique and almost has its own personality. Some of them looked like the ones straight out of the movie which was pretty neat. Then others were very creepy haha. We also got to climb up into the bell tower where Quasi hangs out, you know :) It was so cool, I snuck under the rope to get my picture taken with the bell. Its named Emmanuel and it still works! I tried to hurry cause I was afraid that it was going to ring while I was under it! We met some guys who were studying abroad from Buffalo which was pretty funny. One of them lived right around the corner from one of the girls in my group. Such a small world! 

After Notre Dame we wandered around a little and found the Shakespeare and Co. Book store which was very cute! Then we went into some souvenir shops and I got a few other things for people back home! (I know you told me not to mom but come on, you know me, I have to!) The rest of the weekend has just been about relaxing and catching up on some sleep. I took a three hour nap after Notre Dame and still went to bed at 11 and slept til 10. 

The next day, Saturday, we just wandered around the streets and did some shopping! I bought 4 dresses and some leggings, so cute and great deals! Just can't resist the sales- my Aunt Paula must be rubbing off on me! :) Then we came back to write our papers. Yes a paper- 5 pages too! Ughh! haha it wasn't all that bad just put a damper on my evening. Sunday we just went back to that street market and I bough the cutest scarf. Then we went to the Mont Parness cemetery and walked around for a bit. It was quite the sight, just thousands of different head stones and monuments. Lots of family shrines and uniquely created plot markers. It was very interesting.Then we came back to edit papers, eat some grub, and go see the final Harry Potter film (3D) in Paris! Tres cool! haha :) 

C'est la vie a Paris! 

Stain glass window, beautiful.

Insane architecture!

With the girls under the bell!

That would be an elephant, a faceless creature, an angry mountain lion-like thing, and a pelican was around the corner.

Dude on the left was straight from the movie if you ask me.

Such a pretty grave site. It was all mosaic tiles and flowers.

Me at the Mont Parness cemetery with the Mont Parness tower in the back

Storming the Bastille in Paris!

What an experience Bastille day was. Hands down my favorite part of the trip so far. 

The day before the actual holiday I went with a group of people to a Fireman's Ball. Throughout the city all of the firehouses throw parties for the neighborhood the night before and the night of Bastille day. There is free admission, but they really encourage donations, and then they sell champagne and beer inside. Each firehouse does something slightly different and just like at home some are larger than others, but of course we went to the big one- right around the corner from the Bastille itself! 

The lines were insaneeee! I felt like I was in a mosh pit at a rock concert. People were shoving and hitting and the bouncers were not all that friendly. They kept shouting at people to move back from the fence but of course the people at the back were not moving so the people in front (like me right up against the fence!) couldn't budge. So then they decided it was a good idea to just two hand shove people back by pushing the fence. Right at me! I pretty much had impressions of the fence pattern all over my body. But we finally got in and it was a lot of fun. The firemen, oh my goodness, I almost think they hired male models to walk around in the uniforms. Oh. La. La! See picturesss :) 

There were DJ's and light shows, a drum line performance, and then the firemen started dancing on the bar! ahhh! hahha. Then they pulled my classmates up there and we took over! haha. One of the girls in our group however had drank a whole bottle of wine before hand and then she stole a bottle of champagne which she drank most of herself. Not a good mix. She was sick all the next day and on the way out I had to practically hold her upright because she could barley walk. One thing that may surprise some of you, I have not been drunk at all so far this trip and I don't want to be either. I want to remember my trip and be able to fully absorb everything around me. Sure I'm going to have a few drinks but I did not come here and spend all that money just to spend more money on alcohol! I'd rather go the the Louvre and the Picasso museum! Anyways so while I was walking out with her this man tried to push in between us and so I kindly said "pas ici si'vous plait" meaning not through here please. Well I hadn't seen that he was using some brace like crutches, until he hit me with one that is! People are so mean! haha So while the ball was fun while we were in there I did not enjoy fighting to get in or the walk out as my drunk classmates were screaming out obscenities to the locals. It was truly obnoxious.

The activities on Bastille day itself was what was truly amazing. We went to the Eiffel Tower to enjoy a free concert that was going on. The crowds were insane! haha. We ended up going to a cafe to relax and get some coffee before we went to find a place to settle for the fireworks. My roommate Abby decided that she was going to go off on her own for a bit to get some metro tickets and find the lock bridge to put her lock on it. The lock bridge is a place where people take little padlocks with the initials of themselves and their significant other and lock them on the fence. Then they throw the keys into the water and this is supposed to symbolize their love- locking it up and literally throwing the key away. It is very romantic and quite the site. But I tried to tell Abby that this was not the day to get separated from the group. She didn't listen. I think she was just getting a bit annoyed of the city and all the large group traveling. She said she would find us afterward but of course she didn't. I was worried about her all night but knew there was no way to find her, no cell phones! She didn't end up getting back to the hotel even until 3 am -- we were back here by 1230.

Anyways the rest of us found a small little park where we decided to wait for the fireworks. We were surrounded by people from all over- London, Pairs, Spain, etc. It was awesome. We drank some wine and ate some candy and crepes. Then we made friends with these two little french boys sitting next to us- Leonn and Noah. Absolutely adorable! They kept throwing flower petals at us and laughing. Then they went around and asked us all our names- in english! Too cute. They started singing head, shoulders, knees, and toes but they got stuck when it came to the eyes and ears part so all 12 of us joined in and finished singing with them. It was so much fun.

When the fireworks started it was simply amazing. Looking around and seeing all the Parisians oohing and ahhing in celebration and being right there beside them was just an incredible feeling. The fireworks themselves were fantastic! What a show! Types of fireworks that I have never seen in random patterns, fairy dust looking stuff, baby pink hearts. It was so pretty right there by the Eiffel Tower- which shimmers every hour on the hour by the way, sooo beautiful! 

We headed toward the metro before it ended because we wanted to beat the crowds, and it was a good thing we did because that is why it took Abby so long to get back. She had gotten caught up in the mad dash of people going the wrong way! Thankfully we ran into a very nice french gentleman who helped us find the metro because most of them were closed for the night. It was crazy!
It was a night that I will truly never forget! 

C'est la vie a Paris!

This was the small dance floor at the Firemen's Ball

The Beautiful Firemen on the Bar!

The DJ and Light show on the larger stage

With Abby on Bastille Day

Waiting for the fireworks

Sparkling!

Versaille et Marie Antoinette

Ahhhh Versailles! Beautiful, amazing, and Pierre-Jean (PJ). 

 We got off the metro and the palace was right there for us to see. Initially it was disappointing because there was a bunch of construction around the main entry way which took away from all of the sculptures and artwork lining the way. Then we made it to the chateaux and we saw the extremely long lines winding around the court yard. We were not happy! Until Jean-Pierre took us right past everyone and waved his little badge to get us through. He's amazing. More on him later though. 

We had to split into two groups in order to go on our tour of the castle. I was in the second group which meant we had an hour to kill in the gardens out back. Now don't get me wrong it was absolutely beautiful seeing all of the different flowers and patters created with the bushes and fauna but it was freezing! The wind in the open area was intense! After walking around the garden, taking our pictures, and freezing we found a cafe where we could get some hot chocolate and warm up before our tour inside. My hot chocolate kept leaking all over me! I was not happy! 

Then we met in front by the beautiful golden gates and discovered that we had to wait for this really pushy russian woman to go in first. She and PJ had some words because she was shouting over him later on in the tour to give her own presentation. We all had head phones so we could listen to PJ on his microphone tell us all the details and history of the palace. Finally we got in and Pierre-Jean is so knowledgeable and witty it was the most enjoyable tour I've ever been on. He makes it fun because you can tell he is having fun doing it instead of sounding bored. While we were in the Hercules room some woman tried to join our group and so he had to stop and tell her to go away because it was a private tour. He's just so funny about it, firm but always with a smile and pep. He's coming with us on our two, three day excursions and I can't wait to get to know him and be entertained in Normandy and Belgium! 

After the main castle, which was absolutely beautiful we went to the King's private home and Marie Antoinette's private home. They each had their own chill spot away from the castle so they could get away from the public view for a couple hours or so. The King's home was pink marble! So pretty and definitely ideal for my future private home :) haha. PJ told us how their lives were spent surrounded by others. There were people sitting in chairs watching them sleep and on ottomans watching them dine in the dining room. Even when the Queen had a baby there were witnesses on hand to ensure that the child was legitimate. No thank you! 

Then we went to the hamlet that Marie Antoinette had built in order to feel more connected with her homeland and various elements of nature and farms that she grew up surrounded by. The village was beautiful. I swear it was what Belle's village in Beauty and the Beast was modeled after. So quaint and charming I can't even explain it. In addition to my private home I'd also like my own village and farm, okay? great! By then we were all exhausted. We slowly made our way back to the bus stop where we took off to the metro. My feet were angry with me once again, but a quick nap did wonders! So we went out to one of the fireman's balls for the beginning of Bastille day! (Stay tuned for the Bastille day post! haha)

C'est la vie a Paris!

The lower gardens

The Hall of Mirrors, so beautiful

The palace 'proper'

A swan bit my foot!

par le canal!

Well in the village!

This was pretty much Belle's house

Pierre-Jean, the best tour guide ever!

Classes and Cathedrals

Well, the actually reason that we're here has started...class. Its actually not all that bad. I was petrified that it was going to be entirely dull because its mostly philosophers-Descartes, Marx, Rousseau, etc.- but it turned out to be mostly discussion and group things based on the ideals and not the actual readings (which I did not do..like most others!). I read the sparknotes so I'm fairly prepared but obviously not as well as those who have actually read, but it worked out well and I actually participated quite a bit! I know me, its crazy...& I never talk in class : ) But day two is down and its not so bad!

Yesterday after class Abby, Tara, Erica and I went to the Sacre-Coeur (Sacred heart) cathedral which was stunning. When we first arrived off the metro it looked to be another sketchy area but when we turned toward the cathedral itself it was actually very touristy. The hill, and many many rows of stairs, were lined with different souvenir shops and vendors. The view from the top was amazing, as was the details to the church. Unfortunately we weren't able to take pictures inside but trust me when I tell you it was beautiful. All the gold leaf sculptures and painting, the different altars for the various saints. While I'm not an incredibly religious person myself it was something else to see others praying in the pews and on their hands and knees in front of the various saints.We didn't end up going into the dome but it was still an amazing view from the top of the stairs and hill. On our way back down we explored the different shops and eateries to see what we could fined and I got myself a necklace of La Tour Eiffel!

Today we only had class in the morning because in the afternoon we went to the Pantheon! We had seen the outside on our shopping trip to Luxembourg but the inside was stunning! It was fun to do something like that with the entire class as well. This time we went up into the dome so we were able to see a 360 degree view of the city from an incredible height. It was amazing to be able to put the various sites that the city has to offer into perspective with one another instead of just viewing them on a map or in a book. After the dome we went down into the crypt in order to see the significant deceased members that had the honor of being laid to rest in the Pantheon. This included Rousseau, Descartes, Madame Curie and her husband, Monsieur Braille, and manyyyy more. It was kind of cool knowing that these profound individuals from the past, that we hear and learn about all of the time, were right there within an arms reach.

After the Pantheon we went the Les jardins de Luxembourg which was right down the road! It was beautiful. The flowers and grass were so perfectly maintained it was insane. There were officials patrolling the grounds to monitor people's behavior and ensure that no one messed up any of the garden. There was also a huge fountain where children were playing with the little sail boats like you see in movies and such. It was pretty fun to watch. There were many statues, crazy trees that were rectangular, and people lounging out everywhere around the grounds. There was this one woman, with the longest craziest white hair who was either really drunk or falling asleep and she kept almost falling forward off her bench onto the graveled street. It was soooo funny, hahah. One of the guys in our group, Anthony, stood there and took a video of her continuing to fall forward and then catch herself. Then she woke up and saw him filming...busted! haha Too hilarious. We then went back up toward the Pantheon and did some shopping! I bought a dress and a tank top at this store called Pop London haha. It had really great Bastille Day sales! : )  I also order this hot dog in a baguette with cheese and it was the most delicious thing everrr! Basically anything smothered in cheese here is amazing!

Well off to bed early, Versailles and Marie Antoinettes farm tomorrow so I need to rest up! Bon Soir!

By the Sacre Couer!

Amazing street performer who juggled a soccer ball

Sacre Coeur up close!

I finally got my croque-monsieur!

The Pantheon

Focault's Pendulum

In the Pantheon

Luxembourg Palace and the garden

C'est la vie a Paris!