Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts

Friday, May 25, 2012

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

Thursday, May 24, 2012

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

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

100th Blog Post

G’day Mates! It is an honor to announce this is my 100th blog post! I can’t believe I am passing the 100th 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