A Dream Come True

Yesterday was the best day EVER... ok not ever, but it was just what I needed.

Yesterday morning I researched where we were going to stay for the next two nights and some things to do in and around Paris (our next major city).

Andrew sewed Canadian flags onto our backpacks (twice, because the first time you could see the white thread). We were sick of people assuming that we were American.

Then for our afternoon getaway Andrew and I went to the Dunnes grocery store and we got chocolate chip muffins and we came back and watched Glee. This lead to a discussion where Andrew informed me that he was a part of Notre Dame's High School Glee club. When I told him he could never get into a glee club he proceeded to show me some of his moves (I believe he was singing Sweet Caroline). 

(I'm actually surprised how well these pictures turned out considering I was laughing so hard I was crying.)

The Last Few Days

We have really been enjoying our time in Killarney. The first day that we got here we spent it at the National Park then the next day (May 8) we spent the entire day in the park too. Below are some pictures from the second day spent in the park.

The next day we decided to go on a bus tour of the Ring of Kerry. We were really excited to see the beautiful landscape, what we didn't really know is that we were stuck in a tourist trap. The first two stops we made were at the most random places: a Bog Museum and a sheep hearding place. At both places you had to pay for admission and both times we were stopped for at least 3/4 of an hour. We paid for neither.

Andrew and I still had fun though. Andrew nicknamed an American tourist on our bus "old man steal me money" because he and his wife paid to get into all these stupid places that the bus stopped and bought other stupid things. Andrew and I were trying to figure out how to scam "old man steal me money" into giving us money. No such luck.

Here we are outside at one of the stops.

Ring of Kerry.

Ring of Kerry.

The next day (May 9) we didn't have any plans so we decided to go to Cork because we read that it is "The People's Capital" (whatever that means). So we got to Cork, it was pretty cold outside (even for Andrew), and we didn't really know where to go or what to see. We went to the tourist office to see what sites we wanted to see in Cork and discovered that we didn't really want to see anything in Cork. So instead of getting on the next train we decided to go to an old church and to a park. The park was really nice and we really enjoyed it but we discovered that we hated Cork. There was dog poop (I'm assuming it was dog poop, some it was questionable) everywhere!! Needless to say, Andrew and I got out of Cork as soon as we could. Now that I think about it we probably spent more time waiting for the train and on the train than actually in Cork. Nevertheless, it was a great day, and we had lots of fun.

Jack this picture is for you. Here is how they do construction (and demolition) in Cork.

(I just wanted to say that I really wanted to take a picture of some dog poop because that is how I will always remember Cork but Andrew wouldn't let me and he was holding the camera.)

So today we thought we would rent a couple of bikes and go into another (bigger) part of the National Park. 

We went North of Killarney to a lookout to have a really good view of part of the National park, but I was too captivated by two horses to really have a look at the view.

Here is picture Andrew took from the lookout.

Then we went to the South to see Torc waterfalls. On the little climb to the waterfalls we were talking to a guy who asked us where we were from, and when we said Canada he said, 'Don't you have Niagra Falls in Canada? Well this won't be as good as that.'

He was right, why did we even bother?? Ha ha.

Although they weren't quite the same size as Niagra Falls, they were still really pretty.

The real story to the bike ride is that after 10 minutes on the bikes I didn't want to bike anymore. See the problem with having a 5 star hostel is that I never want to leave. Today I would have preferred to have gone to Buy-Low (the grocery store here is actual called Dunnes) and purchased a couple containers of chocolate chip muffins and ate them while watching multiple episodes of Glee. Since we had already rented the bikes and because Andrew was having a good time I tried to be a good sport. Unfortunately for Andrew, that didn't last for too long. By the time we made it to the falls I was done, it was time to go back to the hostel, but I guess I didn't communicate this to Andrew because he proceeded to take us in the opposite direction of the hostel and on a route that the only way out was to go back the way we came. Half way through this new little adventure I tried to quit, by telling Andrew that I was not going to bike anymore (I'm not sure how I was going to get from the path back to the hostel because I was not going to bike or walk back... I know the thought of calling a taxi entered my head, but I don't think taxis pick people up on bike and walking paths) but he was so far ahead of me that he couldn't hear me yelling 'I QUIT!'

After I had finished throwing a tantrum we proceeded to go further away from the hostel so that Andrew could go to the washroom, but then finally we were able to go back to the hostel. I am glad to say that we made it back to the hostel and now looking back on today... I think it was a pretty good day and I think I actually liked the bike ride, but we definitely aren't renting bikes tomorrow.

Andrew and I are still having a great time in Killarney but we will be packing up the day after tomorrow to head out to who knows where. We are homeless as of right now because we haven't decided where we want to go before we meet up with Mom and Jack on the 15th.

Good-bye Dublin Hello Killarney

Yesterday Andrew and I had our last day in Dublin and spent it touring around the Guinness brewery. 

We really enjoyed Dublin but today we were off to Killarney because we found a really good hostel rate (with Paddy's Palace again!). We made our way with all our gear and groceries to the Dublin train station and caught our first European rail. It took us about 4 hours to get to Killarney. When we got here the air was fresh and we immediately loved it. 

When we got to Paddy's Palace we went to our room and we found out that we have a huge room to share. It is more than 2 times as big as our hostel in Dublin, plus the bottom bunk is a queen (yes in Dublin we were in bunk beds... I got the top bunk), we have our own ensuite (instead of sharing a bathroom with an entire floor of people), a window that opens and most importantly a heat register so that we can control the heat!!! It feels luxurious. Below is a picture of our 5 star hostel.

After we unpacked a bit and after I did some laundry we went for a walk. We decided that we were going to eat supper in the Killarney National Park. Here are a few shots of the park.

It was really neat because when we got into the park there were cows roaming around, then later we saw a lot of deer (pic 3 has some deer). It is really gorgeous. In Ireland fashion, after the really great sunshine for the first 2 pictures, it started to rain. Luckily we were eating our supper below a big tree so we didn't get wet at all. The rain in Ireland only seems to last for a little while and then it stops... but usually starts again later in the day.

It is one week til the B Team (Mom and Jack) get to Ireland and we are so excited to see them... hopefully the volcano doesn't stop them.

"Braveheart" Meets "In The Name of The Father"

Yesterday we went to Glendalough on a bus tour which is known for its scenery. It was the place where they filmed Braveheart. Here are some pictures that were taken at the stop.

One of the other stops on the tour was the small town of Kilkenny. We were dropped off at the city center and given a few hours to look around. Andrew and I went touring around the Kilkenny Castle for almost the whole time but unfortunately when we finished the tour Andrew and I both agreed it didn't have anything on Craigdarroch Castle, but it was still a really neat castle. 

Today Andrew and I wandered around Dublin again. It was raining and was suppose to rain all day so we planned to go to the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, the Kilmainham Gaol (Dublin's unoccupied jail) and to the Guinness brewery. Andrew and I were expecting to learn about the soil, geology of Ireland, etc. but when we got there and opened the doors all we saw were dead stuffed animals. I didn't want to look at dead animals so I left and Andrew wandered around for another couple of minutes until he had enough too. Who would have thought, 2 vegetarians going to see dead stuffed animals.

After we walked into the National Gallery where we saw a Monet, Picasso and many other names I didn't know. The most interesting part of the museum was our discussion with a security guard... I don't think I have an eye for the arts. 

Next we went to the Kilmainham Gaol for a guided tour through the jail. This was the most interesting thing we have done so far in Dublin because the guide told us all about Ireland's history, which is very sad but very interesting. We also learned that the jail was used for several movies including the Daniel Day Lewis movie "In The Name Of The Father".

Afterwards we went for a pint at Cafe En Seine which was across from the Mansion House. The guard at the museum told us that this place had been redone and after it was redone the person who remodelled it went bankrupt. When we got inside it was so beautiful and covered with knick knacks... no wonder he went under.

Tonight we went and ate supper down by the River Liffey and bought our first Guinness beer out of a can... wasn't too bad.

We didn't make it to the Brewery but we are doing it tomorrow, which will be our last day in Dublin, then off to Killarney and another Paddy's Palace.