Two Great Things.

Two great things happened recently.

1. We found a Pizza Hut in Dublin
2. WE HAD FREE REFILLS

Some of you may be wondering why I am absolutely ecstatic about refills and pizza, but this is a big deal. You just don't find free refills in Europe everyday.














We were happy.

hiking.

I love hiking in Ireland. We are required to do 12 hikes for our "hill climbing" class, and I have only done 5 so far. I know, I'm a little behind. But that doesn't change the fact that I very much look forward to the hikes, especially when the weather is warm, the hill is high in the sky, and the trail is along the sea.

My most recent hike, which was located in Howth (about an hour and a half Dart ride away from Greystones), was by far the best of all. It had to have been about 65 degrees, because I was sweating and I was in a tank-top. For all of my other hikes, I have been bundled up and avoiding the wind and rain from attacking my face.

Basically, it was a lovely day to be outside in Ireland. We finished off the two hour hike with our elementary brown sack lunches and a walk through the prawn festival.

Paris

I don't even know where to start. It's nearly impossible to fully capture the magic of Paris with a few words and photos. But I will do my best to translate my experience of the city of beauty, fashion, elegance, history, and romance.

Jordan and I were nervous to travel and stay in a foreign country where neither of us spoke the language fluently. Even after my four years of french classes, I was rusty and forgetful. Thankfully we had time in the airport for me to brush up, and to teach Jordan the basics. We found that getting around in Paris was actually pretty easy, and we ended up meeting some very helpful and friendly people - the rumors about the french being stuck up aren't exactly true from what I can tell.

We had plenty of time to see the major sights, with extra hours to spend in the culture of Parisian cafe's indulging in the delicious food and espresso. Jordan was an excellent navigator and Metro coordinator, and I was there for moral support. Unfortunately I am severely directionally challenged. But by Sunday, we knew our way around Paris better than Dublin!



My french stamp! I am so proud of my passport.



Notre Dame, and the star in the center of the city.





Jordan and I walked along the Seine for a few hours. This was one of the best ways to experience the romance of Paris.




So much espresso. And not just regular espresso, it was always pretty and decorated like this little guy.



Souvenir shopping and browsing.



Sacré-Cœur!



And the famous "Tour Eiffel"






We went up to the top of the tower and stayed until the sun went down. Advice from my dear friend George, who lived in Paris for a semester and gave us so many tips!





The Louvre



The real Mona Lisa. We got as close to her as possible.




Jordan being his studly self, reading our map and getting us around the city




Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, recommended by everyone I know who has been to Paris. The shopkeepers even speak English! It was such a relief.





This was our favorite cafe of all. la fourmi ailée had authentic french cuisine and a wide selection of teas brought to us in a cast iron pot. Our waiter was also super friendly and spoke really well English for being a Frenchman.









The Pantheon



Streets of Paris



Shopping at Naf Naf on Champs-Élysées




Jordan and I had extremely sore feet at the end of each day. Since we had already stuffed our bellies, and we didn't want to be lame and go back to our hostel, we went to the movies! Twice. It was a great experience. I was fascinated by the french previews and theater setup. Saturday night was The Fighter, which was amazing. The acting was some of the best I have seen in a long time. Transforming performances by Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. And Saturday was the night I finally got to see Black Swan! An epic film that took us a few hours to digest. I am so glad Natalie Portman won the Oscar for Best Actress. Well deserved to say the least.



Sunday night we went all out at Häagen-Dazs Gold Room - sit down restaurant. For dinner we had dark chocolate fondue ice cream balls with fresh fruit, brownies, and cookies for dipping. Heavenly.





We were not ready to leave by Monday. For both Jordan and I, this was by far one of our favorite vacations we had ever been on. He promised me that we would go back someday. I will miss the melodic sounds of the french language, but the taste of the Paris air, crepes, warm espresso, and french onion soup will never be forgotten.

A Whole New World

I have been staying busy here, and already I have experienced things that still seem like a dream. I really cannot believe I am actually in Ireland! It hits me in a new way every time I wake up.

It helps me to process the things that happen here by taking photos, writing things down on paper, talking with the people here, and obviously, blogging. With this I am able to grasp the deeper meaning that I am usually not searching for in my day to day routine in the states.

One practice I have been disciplined enough to do is journaling daily. If not daily, then often. I save my receipts, newspaper clippings, plane stubs, and anything else that falls into my fingertips. I paste these things in my journal, and then I write. At this point it seems silly and forgettable, but ten years from now I will cherish those small pieces of paper and words in a notebook from one of the most memorable times of my life.

This week has been constant with new experiences to write about.


I have visited Dublin. It was nothing like what I expected. It's very compact, yet big and busy. I loved it.



I have been to the famous Temple Bar!



I have started some great relationships, and I have experienced community in a whole new way.



I have been hit with differences in culture, like pureed soups, which is the most common in Ireland. This right here is vegetable soup, but it is definitely not the kind of vegetable soup I was expecting. Very delicious though.

I have received the largest collection of textbooks in one semester that I have ever had. The difference is, I would probably thoroughly enjoy reading all of these.

I have studied Irish History, realizing that the places I was reading about would be places I will be visiting in a few weeks.

I have visited several Cafes in the neighboring towns of Greystones


I have experienced the Dart Train, learning how to do public transportation in a different country.


I have ordered tea, surprised to find that the standard is actually to get your own cute little pot which holds three servings of tea.

Oh yeah, and I visited Bono's house, (actually, the gate in front of his house). The neighborhood is one of the more beautiful places I have been to yet.