Good Ol' Queeny

May 25, 2010

 WHAT a day. Woke up to seeing the Queen! She opened Parliament today so there is a huge procession through the streets that pedestrians can see. We stood in line on the street and watched the entirety of Royal Guard and the cavalry pass by in all of their grandeur. Just amazing. Then she was there in her royal carriage, followed by her crown that has its own separate carriage! Saw her up close! After we all regained from such a sight, we headed to lunch and ate in the middle of Trafalgar Square. Such powerful monuments-- enormous in size and just stunning. Afterwards we headed to the London Eye and experienced London from all angles-- breathtaking in the least. We laid in the surrounding park for a bit after Cadburys and ice cream then headed to...Abbey Road! Took the infamous Beatles pic in one shot, so we counted ourselves pretty lucky. Then we headed to the Beefeaters and made one almost crack a smile with our commentary during photo taking. Should have left our number, now that I think about it, as he was very cute. Headed to our favorite burger joint afterwards (they know us at this point) and discussed how we've covered nearly every inch of London!

CNN and Bicycles

May 24, 2010

Today was yet another sunny day in London, We've been too lucky here with the sun and heat. We took advantage of the heat in Kensington Park, looking at the Princess Diana memorials and the gorgeous fountains. Then we had an interview with Richard Quest, the Wallstreet correspondent for CNN International. Fascinating man, spoke very candidly on journalism and the type of field we are getting ourselves into. He spoke on ethical issues, needing to eat, sleep and breathe news and how journalists are merely gossipers. CNN International was a very cool institution, got to see some filming and walk around the newsroom. Then we headed to Portabello Road which was full of all kinds of sights. Antique jewelry and furniture, gorgeous fruit stands and super cute boutiques line the famous street. Such a sight, you find things you've never even entertained in thought! We headed back home for some amazing Indian Cuisine at Bombay Bicycle, something we've been committed to since we arrived. I couldn't recommend this cuisine more, such interesting tastes and combinations. Really amazing.

    Hit the town after some lovely white wine with dessert and hung out with the entirety of the study abroad group. Everyone danced and sang and reveled in our last week here. I don't think I could find one person prepared to leave.

Family Time

May 23, 2010

   I spent today with my family! My cousins live just down the street from my homestay, so it was too easy to get in touch. I spent the morning with my cousin, Cara, and her husband and children. We had a breakfast with a traditional Israeli spread and amazing lox and bagels. Then, her little girls and I perfected the art of card-making and present-wrapping to prepare for our cousin's birthday. After all of this, we headed down the street to my baby cousin's 2nd birthday party. The party was lovely, we sat in the sunshine in the garden and chatted all day long. The scene was perfect: the kids running in the sprinklers and the adults sipping drinks in the chairs alongside them. They compared the weather to South Africa, perfectly sunny and dry, and we had a gorgeous time comparing travel stories over pastries. Afterwards, my cousins and I headed to a nearby park for iced coffee (coffee with a dollop of vanilla ice cream) and more Israeli dishes. Such amazing food! We met up with some more South Africans who live in their community and had a great time chatting over hummus and pitas. Big day with CNN tomorrow!

Ek lief vou (Afrikaans for "I love you"!) xx

Football, Pubs and the Prime Meridian

May 22, 2010

    The weather has been stunning. Just gorgeous. We decided to take the tube as far as we could today. That is, to Greenwich. If I can recommend anywhere, it would be here. There is an amazing market with foods from literally every country. Congolese, Portuguese, you name it, they had it. After we wandered through the amazing vintage stores and jewerly kiosks, we found the park where nearly every Londoner was laying out. People were all around us, napping, sunning, playing football and genuinely enjoying the perfect sunshine. We hiked up the massive hill to see the Prime Meridian and took photos at "the center of the world". The view from the top of the hill nearly stopped your heart-- you could see everything. The sky was so clear that every monument was nearly shimmering in the sunlight. After we pulled ourselves away, we found a pub to watch the Champion's League Final. What an experience! A pub full of football fans is phenomenal: people of all shapes and sizes, all walks of life, unified in the love of football. And they really do love it! It is a football-obsessed culture here, nearly every person in the park totes a soccer ball around. The locals loved our American accents and even more, our understanding of their favorite game. We watched it with heaps of Englishmen and our Dutch friends who loved the game just as much. Another amazing day in England...

Love you, miss you all xx

Break Dancing in London

Friday, May 21st

Today, Steph and I strolled around Hyde Park, taking in all of the sights and even more so, soaking up the stunning weather. Nearly 80 degrees here-- can you imagine? After an amazing lunch at the Serpentine, which is built right on the river with the most gorgeous view, we laid in the park watching the culture around us. This really cool group of break dancers were in the center of the park, dancing and goofing around to awesome music. We enjoyed the free show as we relaxed and took in how gorgeous the flowers, trees and fountains were. Then we met up with Isa and wandered for hours, taking turns at whims and browsing shops all along the way. We danced around in Marc Jacobs, strutted around Oxford Street and finally found a Manchester United jersey after much searching. We were decidedly starving after this and returned to a favorite, "YoSushi"-- the sushi restaurant with the conveyor belt. It just gets better every time!

     Since it is Isa's birthday, we decided it would be a big night out. A huge group of us wandered into the city and ran into a group of guys dismayed at the club situation. We befriended them and ended up spending the night at this gorgeous club called Cafe de Paris. Looked straight out of a movie, lit up with fairy lights and just the most romantic setting. Such a great night of dancing and chatting with the boys from Holland! It is so fascinating to meet people here and hear of all of their travels and experiences. What an amazing thing to make connections around the world!

Thursday, May 20th

Woke up in disbelief that the night before had occurred. The girls and I went for breakfast at this amazing Dutch Pancake House where the pancakes were the size of pizzas and filled with fruit and ice cream. Then we met with reporters from the BBC! How unreal is that? The facility is overwhelming, full of marble floors and winding staircases. So beautiful and ornate, unlike any newsroom I've ever seen. The reporters were phenomenal, they are spearheading BBC Persia. They cover all of the goings on in war-torn areas in the Middle East, specifically Iran. They showed us footage from over there that has not been seen by anyone: police running over protesting civilians, raids of colleges, brutal beatings. We have no idea about how much suffering is going on in that country. Even more striking was the fact that these reporters are unable to return to Iran because of their involvement with the news. Such a commitment.

We found a great pub and watched a cricket match while eating bangers and mash. How English is that? We stayed at the pub for hours, soaking in the culture, and even met a fellow Gator who graduated in 2002! The Gator Nation is everywhere! We then had amazing Tiramisu to celebrate Isabel's birthday at Stockpot, this amazing fusion restaurant with great food and even better prices. We're nearly locals!

Love you all! xx

I Think This Bus is Going North...

Wednesday, May 19th

      Today, after class of course, we had "group games". Basically, the entirety of those studying abroad from Florida were required to meet in the middle of Hyde Park to engage on European-themed group games. Everyone was dreading said activities but they ended up being hysterical. Water balloon tosses became fights, the field became a soccer match and the limbo became more of a dance contest than anything. The teams were broken up into 4 and named after the Houses in Harry Potter. As authentically English as we could get! After this, the girls left to shop on Oxford Street. We only made it through Primark, where things are incredibly cheap and the lines terribly long. Such amazing finds! I'll look very out of place in Gainesville with my Euro look but happy to be so fashionable!

    Tonight was Avenue Q. Prior to, however, we revisited our favorite burger joint, Byrons, where we have become regulars. Avenue Q was absolutely hysterical. I met heaps of Americans who were also studying abroad, which was exciting. Glad that my people are finally travelling! After we waited for the cast, we headed out on the town. After a few failed bars, we were sought out by one of the street vendors. He promised to get us in a local club for cheap then told us his life story of how he journeyed from California to find peace. Robby, Leah and I followed him to the club, full of apprehension after his suggestion that London was a place of peace. After a sketchy pound exchange, we walked into this super Euro bar, full of blinding lights and searing techno. The characters in there were a point of much laughter: an old woman in the corner, the Turkish man nearly frozen in a gargoyle crouch on the stairs, the group of "gangsters" trying to communicate with us through the plexi-glass. We were surrounded by some of the gems of London! After the club closed, we ate what is sure to be the worst pizza I've ever encountered and pretended to be as British as we could. I remember thinking that mine was the finest British accent on this side of the pond. We got on the wrong bus and drove for nearly an hour until we realized just how unfamiliar the stops were. Thus, began my first experience in London's elite cab service. It takes 3 years to become a certified driver and extensive training-- so they really are amazing. Plus, they look straight out of a war movie from the 1930's. Figured we'd seal the night with the classiest mode of transport one can find.

Tuesday, May 18th

     They have a China Town in London! We had a delicious Dim Sum lunch right in the middle of China Town today-- such good food in London! Leah and I then walked across town to see Westminster Abbey. Dad kept telling me I would leave the Abbey changed but I couldn't have imagined why the experience was so affecting. The size of it is unreal. You walk in the front door and are greeted with a ceiling higher and more elaborate than you can imagine. There is a faint sound of a choir and the eerie heaviness of the organ playing in the background. Then you see the stained glass whose intricacies shock you. The graves, however, and the monuments throughout the church, give you chills. There are over 4,000 people buried in the Abbey, some with graves so old that they have faded into smooth stone slabs. Some of the memorials stretch high to the ceiling, decorated with statues of Greek Gods and angels receiving their deceased loved ones. Some are depictions of the ones who had passed, lying down as if they were sleeping and painfully real. Queen Elizabeth rests there, which was striking to see, as well as a multitude of other kings and queens. Continuing through, you enter the room with all of the knights, where the ivory ceiling is considered one of the wonders of the world. Rounding the corner after this breathtaking sight, you encounter Poet's Corner. Too weird to see effigies of Shakespeare and the lot. From here, you can journey to the cloister, where the door that stands is from 1109, deemed the "oldest in London". The building itself has stood nearly the same amount of time. Unbelievable. As we wandered, a group of visitors who happened to be a choir entertained us with their gorgeous voices and adroitness at using the room's acoustics.

     The tube stations often have performers in them, usually with a guitar or a microphone and usually very talented. Leah and I were walking to our line when we heard this ethereal, operatic voice coming from the corner. We looked around and found the source: a blind woman in a Puritan looking frock, with her old mother sitting next to her, singing as loudly as she could. We had been hanging out with Westminster's spirits all day, so we were naturally convinced she was a ghost or an omen, if anything. Needless to say, the bus was looking like a great alternative...

Mamma Mia and Drinking Games

Monday, May 19th

    Back into school mode. We are becoming what some would deem experts at public transport and have our morning commute to a science. Did the traditional "stand underneath someone's armpit on the tube" that nearly every Brit has warned me about and lived to tell the tale. Worse for wear but alive nonetheless. After class, we found a lovely cafe in the middle of the park near school. The park is full of blooming tulips and man-made paths covered by ivy raised by lovely iron bars. It looks straight out of a fairy tale. We then journeyed to the British Museum and began the process of taking in all that the museum has to offer. Such striking exhibits on poverty, famine, sickness-- can't help but walk away changed. We then had a mandatory lecture on the history. I don't know if the professors got the memo, but covering 2,000 years worth of history in a two hour sitting is requesting a bit much from people in my age group, considering our attention span is about as pickled as any of our livers. After an educational lecture for some and a great nap for others, we were dismissed to get ready for Mamma Mia.

    We all were given tickets to Mamma Mia and thus, sat together in something of a student session. TOO fun! Everyone was singing along, as the leads were struggling  bit and needed as much assistance as possible. The music engaged everyone and the boy next to me was engaged enough to take swigs of his wine every time a character on stage did. Mamma Mia drinking games, how about that? We haven't stopped singing the show tunes since.

    After this, we decided to take in in London's nightlife and headed to The Roxy. Such a fun place-- amazing music and super trendy people. Naturally, we were the first on the floor and happy to show everyone exactly how we dance. As Madonna played, infused with Lady Gaga overtones, we all decided that we were moving to London for graduate school, no questions asked. We all sang our hearts our to "Shout" and only got happier a the D.J continued to make perfect musical choices.

The Queen and I

Sunday, May 16

   Sorry about the lack of updates this week. As you can imagine, it has been tremendously busy. Sunday, we took a trip out to Windsor Castle. We could not have prepared ourselves for the magnitude or scale of the castle. Not only was it esthetically shocking, the age of the castle blows one's mind. It is a gorgeous structure, still completely intimidating to onlookers at the exterior but beautiful the second one enters the gates. The moat has been transformed into stunning gardens and we were lucky enough to be supplied with a digital tour that explained every corner of the castle. We viewed Queen Mary's dollhouse (deemed creepy by most onlookers) and walked through the Royal art gallery, taking in the amazing sight of Da Vinci's original sketches and portraits of the Royal Family. Then we travelled room to room in the actual castle, left breathless at nearly every room. The details, from the doorknobs to the chairs, are perfection. Rooms are adorned in pure gold and jewels, furs and fabrics individual to only certain parts of the world are found as rugs and draperies, and the designs on the tapestries and paintings are nearly ethereal. And the history blows all of the decor our of the water, a far as amazement goes. The structure has been there for centuries; its just amazing to think of the knights that strolled through the same halls as myself. It was eerie sitting in rooms that were the place of major decisions that defined history...so much to take in. Also a cool note, one can tell when the Queen is in residence based on the flag flying. The royal flag, not the Union Jack, was flying when we were there which meant she was too! Afterwards, we went to the oldest pub, dating back to the 1600's, and had an amazing traditional English dinner. Good old Shepard's Pie! Finding more and more that Americans are far more effusive than the English. Waiters still continue to be shocked by how thankful I am for the napkins they bring to the table.

Was that Harry Potter on the Bridge?

May 15, 2010

London is the perfect city. After waking up and chatting with our homestay mom, Lily and I headed to meet the group at St. Pauls. The magnitude, the beauty, the significance of this church cannot be expressed in words. It is so overwhelming, I began to cry just at the power of it. It makes you believe in a divinity solely because man couldn't make such beauty without some sort of divine influence. Breath-taking. We stayed and watched a service and I discovered that "My Country Tis of Thee" sounds strikingly similar to "God Save the Queen". Lily pointed that one out for me when I started singing along to the English tune with American pride. Then, we travelled to the crypt, where there are tombs as old as the 1600's and statues from the original church erected in 600 A.D. We saw tombs belonging to Admiral Nelson, Florence Nightingale and the Duke of Wellington and marvelled at the ages of those who passed and the dates on which they did. After this eerie experience of skirting around the tombs in the ground, we climbed the 570 plus stairs to get to the top dome. The stairs got smaller and smaller while the ceilings got lower and lower...finally, we arrived at the exterior. Standing out on the ledge, you can see the entirety of London, stretching for miles and miles and miles. Lily and I left a little heart at the top to leave our mark on the ancient building. This city blows your mind.

After our legs stopped shaking from the climb and our nerves, we went for sushi. It was on a conveyor belt! What a lunch experience, such a diverse population. Post lunch, we walked across the Millenium Bridge to the Tate Museum. When we walked in the atrium, a huge protest was going on. People were flinging up black balloons shouting about the oil spill and British Petroleum. Too cool. Wandered through the Warhol exhibit and some fascinating surrealism exhibits, taking in each piece in its amazing depth. Then we journeyed to the thatched-roof Globe theatre-- home of Shakespeare! Just in shock to be in a place that he walked. We re-crossed the bridge, denying ourselves the peanuts from the vendors, and ventured to the place where Harry Potter was filmed, the Australia House! Australia House was Gringotts in the film. From here, we saw the Somerset Place, played in the fountain and then sought out a little cafe'. Found an amazing organic place, after a run-in with a stag party dressed in Halloween decor who invited us to drinks, and planned our evening. After a wine and dine, Lily and I headed back to our homestay--sans train scare this time.

This city really gives you a perspective. So much history, such a wealth of people and so much excitement. Can't think of a better place.

Love you all xxx

Buses=Not the Way to See London

May 14,2010

     Today, we began our classes! After an hour long commute, using both buses and the Tube, we arrived at the University of London. Amazing to think that we're having our schooling here. After the basic scholastic rundown, we were herded into buses to begin our overview of the city. Our leader was a Scottish man, who resembled Shrek in both appearance and voice, and we saw all of the big sights from our bus window. At times, we were given the liberty to explore for 15 minutes but that was the extent of our freedom. After this taste of London, we headed to a local Italian cafe and had an unbelievable meal. Dining in local places has been tremendously rewarding. We've yet to struggle with eating here!

  Heres a great story for the kids. Took the tube home from the middle of the city, as we always do. There was only standing room, so Lily and I were forced to stand near the back, holding on only to poles. The guy standing next to me, separated only by a suitcase, dashes off the train. The thing is, he leaves the suitcase and never returns. People start to notice as the train begins to move and panic sets in. All of the sudden, the entire train was committed to finding out who owned that suitcase and whether or not we were going to live through the experience. The woman across the train yells to me to ask the guy sitting to my left who, at the time, was completely oblivious. Much to the relief of the entire train, he confessed ownership. The entire train breathed easier. What a moment!

Taking over London begins tomorrow! Love you all! xx

Home Sweet Homestay

What a day of travelling. Up at 6am to catch a ferry from Ireland to Wales. After this four-hour journey, we loaded a bus to travel 2 more hours into Wales. Apparently, this ride was a rough one but my state of slumber prevented any awareness or human interaction. We dined at a lovely tea room in Wales, where we exercised our new currency (pounds) and faced a menu that didn't include fish n' chips or Irish stew. We re-boarded the bus after freshly made cream ice cream, journeying for four more hours into London. From here, my roommates and I took a 45 minute journey into Crouch End, where we are staying. The cab driver was from South Africa and had amazing insight into not only London, but all things rugby and living around the world. His stories made the journey much less painful.

We finally arrived at Jeanette's house and had a gorgeous dinner waiting for us. Jeanette is unreal, so well-traveled, wise and hip. I'm currently downloading her c.d collection because her music taste is so amazing. She's travelled to nearly every continent, has friends everywhere in the world and hosted students from everywhere. The room in which I'm staying has signatures all over the wall, from students as far the Middle East and as close as Texas. The houses look straight out of Harry Potter and were built in 1890 ("New for London", according to Jeanette).  So excited to get into London tomorrow!

Homesick for Ireland

May 12, 2010

It seems impossible that it is our last day in Dublin. We've grown so fond of this amazing city. Our last day has been spent in the Guinness Factory, which feels like a visit to the Industrial Revolution. The tallest building in the city, the sight from Gravity Bar is the perfect view of Dublin. Prior to climbing up all those flights of stairs, we listened to a lecture on the history and advertising techniques of Guinness. Fascinating! It has been successful for over two centuries, which is such a feat. Then I learned to pour the perfect brew, stood at the taps and poured myself a pint! Grandpa would be so proud of my newly acquired skills. This took most of our afternoon, so we headed to the market afterwards to get food for our long journey for tomorrow. We looked so lost, trying to sort through European food and find an American comparison. So hungry from the market, we headed to dinner for our last Irish Fish N' Chips. In a bout of foreshadowing, Andrew noticed the restaurant had a fish tank and made an offhand comment about our dinner. When our dinner arrived, sure enough it was fully fried fish with the tail still intact. Dinners with tails also have scales, which we all continued to spit out, mortified with each bite. Needless to say, our last dinner was an authentic one.

We returned to Temple Bar for our final night and to celebrate our amazing group. We danced yet again to our favorite music, reclaimed our favorite spot at the bar and spoke to as many locals as we could. This included the very drunk bus driver who told us of Italian invasions and his desired American jaunts in Tennessee bars and the Austrians who wanted to take our photo, of course. After a chance encounter with the coolest Irish woman ever who told us Irish men were the best because "they are rough and rugged", we headed to Fitzsimmons for our finale. And guess what? The performer played "Galway Girl", my absolute favorite Irish tune. I nearly cried. We all got up and danced and sang together until we were nearly in tears. We love Ireland so much, we're already homesick.

Left to Our Own Devices

So one thing we took away from the Jury's Inn was a heavy distrust in wake-up calls. My roommate Lily and I were relying on a wake-up call for 7:30am so that we could make our 8:30am bus departure to Glasgow. This, however, did not happen. We woke up at 8:35am, petrified at the time, and rushed downstairs as quickly as possible to find the group had left us. So, we were left in what some would deem a predicament and what I would deem an adventure.

We had Dublin to ourselves for the day and loved every second. We hit the National Art Galley, the National Library with texts from the 1100's and even ancient love letters, the National Museum for a second round and Dublin Castle. Dublin Castle is just surreal, with its raised ceilings, stunning chandeliers and remnants of a lifetime straight from medieval texts. We strolled through the beautifully kept parks and took photos of everything from the tulips to the gorgeous grandparent-grandchild pairs throughout the park. We thought a luncheon at Trinity College would give us the best experience and were shocked to find that they serve beer in their dining halls! After lunch, we went for a stroll around campus and were stopped by a group of guys drinking beer in the middle of the cricket field. They thought we were Irish and for the second time in the day, Lily and I felt like locals. This soon changed when the gorgeous weather we had been experiencing changed to what we had been expecting: cold, hard rain. Then we certainly looked like outsiders in clothes not meant for such weather and expressions that betrayed our thoughts.

After doing some homework (surprised?), we headed to The Temple Bar for the most amazing night yet. The traditional Irish music was the best background to a night of new friends and pure excitement and love for the Irish culture. We danced through the night, sang our hearts out and made friends with everyone around us, old and young. The night continued on at Fitzsimmons, an even more traditional Irish bar and one we deemed our group favorite. So sad to leave this place!

We're Going to Find Us a Gerard Butler Here!

Today we took an amazing tour of Dublin and absolutely fell in love. We visited Saint Patrick's Cathedral (built in the 1100's) and in the spirit of being noticeably touristy, jumped out of the van to take photos of the multi-colored doors in the town. The church is just awe-inspiring, lined with tattered flags from old battles and statues commemorating those lost as early as 1290. The parks are just stunning, with tulips and rolling green hills, and we were so excited to smell the amazing air promised of these floral greens. We had a perfect lunch on the top floor of a converted barn overlooking the flowers and greenery and could barely bring ourselves to leave.

When we returned to the hotel, we quickly turned round and left for the Dublin Institute of Technology for a lecture on Irish journalism from two young Irish journalists. Great to be in a university setting again-- everyone looks so hip here! The lecture was mildly painful, so we tended to our boredom by flicking through Irish tabloids and drawing perfect recreations of our lecturers. After our lecture, we strolled through the campus of Trinity College, which is just beautiful. Yet another antiquated building that just leaves you speechless.

So much homework to do, so forced to stay in tonight. Instead of being attentive, of course, Lilly and I watched "P.S I Love You" in the spirit of being Irish. We stayed where the Irish parts of the movie were filmed! (You're my Galway girl...) Will keep you posted after I wipe away all my tears evoked by the film...

All my love, Brit xx

Are We Still in Ireland?

May 9, 2010

    We arrived in Dublin yesterday after yet another bus journey and trip into a quaint Irish town. Best part of this journey was the cafe we found. Amazing food and the soundtrack playing was Glee. Once again, louder than everyone around us, we sang along very contentedly until we decided it was time to shop in the surrounding vintage stores. Upon arriving in Dublin, our bus was spit on, which absolutely shocked everyone. We had just come from Galway, where everyone was so welcoming and receptive. Dublin is a very different place.

We had free reign to the city and opted to journey into Temple Bar, a hip place with heaps of bars and restaurants. In the same breath of the spitting incident, we were sat in the basement of a restaurant and told "not to cause trouble". We were so shocked that we were being treated so poorly! The food was absolutely unreal but the meal in its entirety was 3 hours long because the servers would intentionally ignore our requests. After our dinner, we journeyed into town, hoping the night would redeem the unnerving dinner. We were right. Met a huge array of people, as Dublin is tremendously international, and hopped from pub to pub. One bar was 7 stories high with an exterior top floor. This was our first exposure to the amazing architecture in Dublin

The morning was spent in a gorgeous cafe, where the desserts would blow your mind. The chocolate tart was perfection and the Irish Soda bread, which continues to solidify itself in my top 5 favorites, was incredible. We walked along Grafton Street, observing the shops and even more so, the people. European people have phenomenal style! People here dress on such a whim and style is so individualized. I find myself taking such risky fashion moves out of pure inspiration. The streets are filled with music and street performers, so the scene is just out of a movie. After the cafe, we went to the Irish National Museum. The building itself was stunning and the exhibits even better. Mummies from Ancient Egypt, boats from Ancient Rome, shields from Medieval Ireland, Viking remains...it was absolutely unreal. After taking it all in, we were completely exhausted. 

   Tomorrow is a proper tour of Dublin, so happy to keep you posted on that! We all really miss Galway, as it really felt like home, but we are all quickly adjusting to the "New York" of Ireland, as we have deemed Dublin. 

Miss you all, love you love you xxxx

They play GaGa in Ireland?

May 7th

Just returned from an amazing night of "pub crawling". The day began with our first classes, to which we all walked grudgingly at 9am. After this, we took a 2 1/2 hour bus ride up a one way road to the Cliffs of Mohr. Our tour guide spoke the entirety of the way in an Irish monotone that along with the rocking bus, put us all straight to sleep. Saw castle from the 1400's that now serves as a banquet hall, which is just surreal. Kept claiming it was so good to be home. Travelers from all over was there, which was an amazing way to connect with people all over the world. We worked so hard to walk up the mountain, so being up top was quite the feat. As usual, we were the loudest out there as we continue to find that Americans are much higher in volume than every other group of people.

   After winding roads, steep cliffs and castles, we headed home and took a huge group out to dinner. We had wine and margherita pizza and sang a glorious rendition of "Happy Birthday" to the middle-aged woman behind us. Then, we sought out to celebrate our last night in Galway Irish style. We headed out to the bars and took up the entire floor with our American dancing and debauchery. Too much fun. Then we headed to their version of McDonalds: Supermac. Perfect for an evening out! Tomorrow we head into Dublin to amp up our intake of Irish culture and tendency to make trouble.

The Irish people are unbelievable. So kind and so helpful, quick to speak to you and tell you how much they adore their country and our own. Funny little notes about the culture: restrooms are toilets, exits are ways out and their form of ketchup is brown sauce. A lot of little things to pick up on!

Love you all, keep ya posted in Dublin xxx

Dia Duit!

May 5, 2010

As promised to all, the night was full of debauchery. Ended up at a bar named "Fibber McGees" that had 2 for 5£ drink specials...dangerous. The locals loved us and tried to cater to our needs with a musical variety that included Usher and Kanye West. One of the guys chatted with me about America and when I added that I was from Florida, asked if that was near New York. I feel a bit better about not knowing much about Galway. We chose this bar over the one with traditional Irish dancers for the sole reason that we were remiss to encourage displaying children in bars. Instead, we got traditional Irish football fans.

Today was absolutely unreal. Drove a double-decker bus onto an island, where we loaded a ferry and docked on the Arran Islands. Words and pictures could not do the Arran Islands justice. The entire island is lined with man-made stone walls, perfectly shaped into squares which denoted property hundreds of years ago, and is surrounded by the most beautiful water and beaches. First time I've experienced the thrill of the sheer vastness of a cliff: the entire island is built upon them. The water expands for what seems like forever and the colors of the sky, grass and flowers are unlike anything I've ever seen. There is one one-way road that winds through the island and one high school with 80 pupils. Imagine the population! The most amazing cemetary I've ever seen-- all stone with the most intricate carvings with dates back to medieval times. The houses still have thatched roofs and chimneys. Horses mill in people's front yards. We climbed up the enitre mountain of the island to the top fort which was built in 500 B.C. It takes your breath away in every sense of the term. Every photo disappointed me because it couldn't capture just how awesome the sight was. We laid on the edge of the cliff, testing our nerves and equilibrium, until our eyes nearly crossed from the height. Then we ventured down the mountain for toffee squares and homemade ciders while chatting with the locals about their quaint lifestyle.
The ferry ride back and bus ride through the island were hardly easy on the body but we returned to a huge Irish feast at Monroe's Tavern. A gorgeous Irish stew intact with a pint of Guiness! Taught the group how to Sesh (I was Chairman. Aren't you proud Lucky?) and generally caused trouble in the tavern. Off to "study" now. Studying abroad includes understanding the culture in which you study. The Irish culture loves to pub crawl.

Love you all xx

"Slainte!"

(Cheers!)

I Don't Do Anything that I Can See On A Postcard

May 4th

After a gorgeous breakfast in New York with my lovely Australian companions, I met up with the group on Canal Street. New York really is unreal: so many styles and people and no one seems to bother each other. Except for the painfully aggressive street vendors but thats neither here nor there. After a slice of pizza at Rudys in Little Italy and a stroll around Broadway, we returned to our hotel to claim our luggage and head back to the airport. Hiring what is sure to be a mafia-run van company, we arrived to the airport in black Lexus SUVS after a silent drive. silent because we were afraid that if we were to speak, we would be killed.
For this round, we were not in the airport long. We finally boarded our flight for Ireland! Gorgeous flight-- fed every few seconds with pretzels and Continental's idea of a fulfilling dinner and breakfast. Remained in a perpetual zombie state for most of the flight but got to see the unbelievable landing.
Ireland is exactly how you would imagine it. Sprawling greens hills, medieval architecture and sheeps in pastures everywhere. Horses roams near the streets blocked only by stone walls that look straight out of the Renaissance. We took a car into Galway-- the opposite roads are the most surreal thing to drive on-- and arrived to an Irish breakfast. Our driver was a native of Limerick and spoke joyfully of his trips in America and his plans to return to visit Mississippi. Our breakfast included sausage, black and white pudding, Irish oatmeal and unbelieavble Irish soda bread. Who said I wouldn't eat well in Europe? We proceeded on a walking tour with a "10 Generation Galwayian", Liam, who claimed he was homesick for Galway even when he was there. The town can be walked in 10 minutes flat and is the spot where Columbus landed prior to his journey to America; the harbor still stands with the Spanish arch. Pictures don't do this city justice: it looks positively medieval. We roamed through the oldest churches and down alleys still intact with cobblestone streets. The pubs are unreal, some dating back to the reign of King Charles, and the cafe culture is just gorgeous. We all went out for pastries and coffee, feeling very cultured and native; however, our white socks are apparently very telling of our American status. The natives are so friendly here and very helpful as we fumble around with our Euros and passports.
Joe, our driver, advised us to live among the locals and gave me my favorite quote of the day: "I don't do anything that I can see on a postcard". So valuable here. Will update after our night of Fish and Chips at a sailor's lounge and a pub intact with Irish dancers and Celtic music.

Love you all and miss you heaps xx

The Art of Travelling

May 3rd, 5:42pm

Today was an excellent lesson in the unpredictability of travel and the value of an extra change of clothes in one's carry-on. Bearing in mind the consequence of a missed flgiht and even worse, the looming threat of going through security, Robby and I arrived at the Orlando airport three hours earlier than our expected departure time. Within this span of three hours, we encountered a multitude of characters. We were greeted with smiles and personal anecdotes of Ireland and young travels at check-in and continued onto our terminal with mixed emotions of shock at our reception and anticipation of what was to come. Upon sitting down, we encountered "Ice Cube". Ice Cube, in a painfully monotonous gravel, expressed his disdain at his two missed flights and his partying habits in Orlando that effected his tardiness. He informed us of his jaunts around the state nearly three times. As he continued to mumble and Robby and my patience grew consistently thinner, we encountered what is sure to be the most emotionally abusive couple I've ever experienced. They were toting their friend's ashes in a carry-on and continued to remind each other of their ineptitudes and their selfishness. She was nearing 300lbs with a wheeze and a wheelchair and he was just north of 150lbs with a leather jacket and scarred cheek. Needless to say, their banter kept us entertained until we were fortunate enough to entertain the presence of "The Pembroke Pedophile". This older man had the mental capacities of a 6-year old and continued to reveal personal facts that I wish he chose to censor. When I complimented his cookie choice, he informed me that his mother was a diabetic; when I noted his tennis racket, he mentioned that he nearly drowned in his youth at camp; when I looked at Robby's Ipod, desperately seeking some solace or entertainment, he told me "I like where you live...Pembroke Pines". My first instinct was to run to the next terminal but I quickly recognized that he was merely-creepily, nonetheless- reading my luggage tag. When he and Ice Cube befriended each other, each topping each other with more personal, irrelevant revelations, Robby and I were subjected to the affections of a strikingly awkward couple across from us. Their appearance suggested a father-daughter relationship but their level of affection suggested otherwise.

The flight was a roller coaster. People around us succumbed to their motion sickness, creating an aroma that made it all the more difficult to convince myself that I did not need a sick bag. We exited the plane, thankful for ventilation and checked in for our next flight. Upon eating our "Last American Meal" of take-out Chinese, Robby yielded the call from his mom informing us of our cancelled flight. The remaining ash from the Icelandic volcanic eruption was blocking access into Ireland, thus cnacelling flights up until the next night. The rest of our group arrived in disarray. We exhausted the resources in the food court while we waited for word from our group leaders. A disorganized 4 hours later and two Auntie Anne's cinnamon-sugar pretzels in, we were told to find our own lodging and transport from the airport.

As Newark airport borders the state prison, we naturally opted for a jaunt into New York City. We hired a bus from the airport, drove into Times Square and took the Subway into Manhattan. The Subway was wrought with sights: school children ignorant of their midnight curfew warning us that the train would never stop, homeless women yelling into non-existent cell phones and angry conductors marvelling at our ineptitudes when it came to public transport. Surviving the trip, we made it to our hotel and spent the rest of the night exploring Manhattan, courting the club culture and discovering the best all-night food spots in town. For future reference, Kool Bloo has the most amazing french fries my jet-lagged body has ever had.

And the packing begins...

The excitement and the reality of the trip has finally set in. Departing in two days...isn't that unreal? First post from the States, excited to greet you from the other side of the world!