Last day in Dublin

G'day Mates! Today is my last day In Dublin, Ireland, but I made sure I saw as much as I could see before leaving. I finally got a chance to sleep in, and was well rested for the big day ahead. As Sophia and I got ready we had to pack because we had to check out for the day. Afterwards we headed out to eat breakfast at a local restaurant, and the meal was reasonably priced. I got scrambled eggs with toast, and coffee for 4 euros and it was delicious. As we finished we headed downtown to check out the free Museums in Dublin. We checked out some unique places that showed Ireland artwork, and artifacts that dated back for centuries. After going to several museums we worked up an appetite so we got food at a local Irish bar. I got an Irish stew with Irish soda bread and a local Irish stout beer, and I must say everything was worth the cost! I must say I am impressed with the portion sizes; it reminded me of being in Wisconsin with meat and potatoes. Being full in Ireland is a key component, but walking it off is simple. We decided to head off to the airport to make sure we didn't miss our flight to London. The check in was simple at the airport and we quickly entered our gate without any problems. In a matter of time we boarded our plane of Britain Midland Airways. The flight was smooth and only took an hour to arrive in London. It was a journey to get to our hostel because London is a huge place, but by following our nose and asking locals we found our hostel without any problems. Since we have a tour of the city in the morning I should get some sleep to get ready for the big day ahead. So I will catch you soon, and let you know in my next blog about my experience in the UK.

Cheers,

Lee IV

Day two of Dublin

G'day Mates! After a lovely first day in Dublin, the second day was even better. The day started off with me only having three hours of sleep because my friend Sophia and  I decided to go on a bus tour to Galway, Ireland. We left early in the morning at 7:10 a.m. and arrived at MacCoole Tours for our journey of the day. On this bus tour we visited a traditional Irish farm that has been with the family for 300 years, and we were guided to Burren Mountain Walk. We were astonished of the views we saw from the bus ride and walking around the different towns. In one stop we tried a real Irish coffee made with Jameson Whiskey, and it was yummy. Shortly afterwards we visited a Medieval Irish Castle called Dunguaire. It is amazing to see a building that lasted so long; I imagined what it would be like to live in the past. As we got on the bus the bus driver played Irish music, it was the perfect setting for an Irish tour. For our last stop we walked about Galway City to check out the shops and attractions, then  shortly afterwards we headed back to Dublin. I must say these tours are a great way to kick off this journey, but I must get some sleep because I probably had six hours of sleep in three days. In my next blog I'll talk about my last day in Ireland and my first night in London, England. See you soon!

Cheers,

Lee IV

Dublin Day 1

Hello Mates! After waiting months and days I have finally arrived in Dublin, Ireland to kick off my backpacking trip in Europe. Once we got off the airplane my friend Sophia and I checked into customs and got our passport stamped from Ireland. I was super excited to add another country to my passport. Afterwards we got on a bus to check into our Hostel. Dublin is busy filled with people, cars, and small streets I don't know how people drive in this city, but it works for the people. As we arrived at Generator Hostel we were amazed how nice this place looked. We were checking in but we were too early for check-in, so then we dropped off our bags in a locker room until it was time for us to check-in. As we walked back upstairs we were going to ask the staff where we should go see in the city, then a lady from out of nowhere told us her company does free walking tours of the city. Without any hesitation we quickly hopped on this opportunity because something free is always good. This company is called Sandman's and they offer free tours everyday then at night they run a Pub Crawl in the city. Our tour guide was fantastic, she showed us around the city, and her knowledge about the city and the history of Ireland was remarkable. I learned a lot about the Irish culture that I never knew before. There was not a moment when I got bored because every location in the history had a historical story behind it. The tour lasted five hours and I was filled with knowledge knowing how the Irish community became a country. Afterwards we were offered a meal deal for 10 euros. We could have a full meal with a drink, and I must say the portion sizes are not small. After eating a hearty meal I super full, but I was happy I got my money worth. Sophia and I decided it would be a great idea to walk off our full stomachs. Once our food digested we headed back to our Hostel to get ready for the Pub Crawl. As we entered our room we met two new people who just finished their studies in Copenhagen, and now they are on holiday before returning to the states. They were really friendly people; they even joined us to attend the Pub Crawl event. The Pub Crawl was a great way to meet people and get to know the local attractions and pubs. We had a great time going to five different pubs, and meeting people from all over the world. As the night came to an end we headed back to our Hostel and we shared stories and we received some great tips on what to do in our upcoming cities. After a long day and night without any sleep it was time for bed! In my next blog I will be talking about my adventure to Galway, Ireland and the western cities. See you soon!

Cheers,

Lee IV

Across the Pond

G’day mates!  Welcome to an exciting adventure ahead for the next month.  My friend Sophia and I will be discovering new countries, cuisines, and cultures.  For Day 1 of our trip we started in Chicago flying out of O’Hare International Airport. Before we departed we grabbed a quick bite to eat at Great American Bagel.  I got a turkey sandwich served on a cinnamon raisin bagel.  It sounds a bit odd, but the flavors marinated well with one another.  I recommend trying this sandwich because these bagels are amazing!  Our first flight was a short trip with a layover in Charleston, South Carolina which was smooth and super-fast flight.  After a two hour flight we got a little hungry again so we decided to eat at this restaurant called Carolina Barbecue.  I must say I recommend the food here because they had one of the best barbecue sauces I have tried thus far.  I got a beef brisket with macaroni and cheese and green beans.  I was full after this meal.  Shortly afterwards it was time for us to board our next flight to Dublin.  In my next blog I will talk about my day 1 in Dublin. I am super excited until then I’ll catch you across the pond. 

Cheers,

Lee IV

100th Blog Post

G’day Mates! It is an honor to announce this is my 100^th blog post! I can’t believe I am passing the 100^th mark, but I am happy to share this journey with you. As I look back it has been a fun, busy adventure, but things are just getting started. Now since summer break is here it is time to take a break from school and enjoy the hot weather. Things are about to get started because you’ll be able to follow my journey throughout Europe for a month. I am travelling from May 21 until June 19 with my friend Sophia from Moraine Park. Sophia and I will be discovering new places, food, and cultures. This will be one of my biggest trips besides when I studied abroad in Australia for a semester. As we encounter new countries I will be posting pictures and videos of our adventures. So sit back and enjoy the journey it is going to be heaps of fun! First stop will be in Dublin, Ireland for a couple of days; this is something you don’t want miss out on! Catch you soon mates!

Cheers,

Lee IV

Culinary Club goes bowling

Ahoy Mates! For the annual end of semester activity, the culinary club went bowling at Ledgeview Lanes. For all the hard work we put into fundraisers, going bowling was a great way for us to enjoy the end of the semester. There were twelve members of the culinary club who attend the event. We had a great time bowling and dancing the evening away. Although I haven’t gone bowling since March my scores were pretty good, and each game my scores went up. My highest game was a 174, and I was satisfied with that score. Hopefully in the near future I can be consistent with a score like that. We bowled four games and didn’t want to stop. Of course all good things come to an end so we all headed home. I am looking forward to next semester for a fresh start and meeting new culinary students. If you are looking for some fun and tasting great food, join the culinary club, I guarantee you will have a blast!

Cheers,

Lee IV

Culinary Students Goes Local

G’day mates! Recently I had the opportunity with other students in my Food Principles class to visit an organic farm. We visited Park Ridge Organics Farm in Fond du Lac to learn about sustainability and the importance of supporting and purchasing local business. Park Ridge Organics Farm is a family owned and operated certified organic farm offering quality fresh seasonal produce. As we arrived, Robyn, our tour guide, and owner gave us a brief history of how they started their business and how they are impacting the community. I was amazed how much information I was learning and how this farm is growing in popular demand. After Robyn finished talking, she showed us around the farm where all the food grows and is produced. The food was starting to grow and ready for transfer into the bigger fields to finish growing. I had the chance to try an asparagus right from the soil and it was amazing. It was the freshest tender asparagus I ever tried; I never knew this vegetable could taste so good. If you want to find more information about Park Ridge Organics Farm click on the link http://www.localharvest.org/park-ridge-organics-M11061 and you will be amazed on the quality of food you can buy here.

Cheers,

Lee IV