Ireland is Calling

All us in our St. Patricks Gear

First trip abroad since landing in the Great UK. All of us were pretty stoked for a proper vacation....no backpacks, nice clothing, and a straigtener. However, life in Brighton flys....you lose track of the days, due to working and having fun. So once again the time arrived far earlier then planned and we weren't really prepared. Sorry, Christie was prepared (as always) the rest of us were not.

What would we possibly do without the organized lady of smarts? I especially did not have a clue as to how we were getting to the airport, whether our flights had been booked or what to pack. I just handed money to Christie and was informed as to when we leave and how. Lazy? Definatly. I rely on this girl.

We had an early flight out of Gatwick to Dublin. I worked a double the night before, and due to the departure time from our new flat at 3:30 am an all nighter was the only realistic option. Grateful for the extra time, I did my packing about 30min before departure.

To treat ourselves, and the fact that trains arent kind at this hour of night....we took a cab to Gatwick. Ballin!!! Nah, it was 40 pounds all together...seriously....wouldnt you have done the same? And there is nothing I enjoy more then a car ride sleep. That, and for those who know me its not really a choice...I knock right out to the soothing sounds of tire on rubber.

Once we got to the airport, I was reminded as to why I love trains. Airports just instantly make me feel ill. It must be something about the smell, confindment, restirctions, hushly that puts me off. Sigh. I miss the train rides.

The flight was fine, nothing to really go on about. Then came the fun part. Waiting in Dublin for our good friend Rob. Unfortnatly, we got to Dublin at 9am and his flight wouldnt get in till 2pm. Thats alot of time to waste in an airport after pulling an all nighter. Did I mention I hate airports?

An uncomfortable nap, over priced crappy food, silly over tired jokes later...we were reunited with our favorite travel companion. Smily and bubbly, we were obviously being braty complaing about our hour travel to Dublin, considering this guy came from Canada. Instantly though, the mood changed to joy at the sight of him.

Rob, who always wins MVP out did himself this go around. He found us an apartment in the Temple Bar area in Dublin during St. Paddys weekend. Even the cabbie was impressed. I was over come with joy when we checked out the new digs. However, I was also saddened at the fact that this place far out does are current place. I think its the fact that there are beds with box springs and frames....not paper thin mattress' on the floor.

The first night we went to the Brazen Head. Which is the oldest pub in Ireland. Concrete and full of eras of advertisments for Guiness and artifacts of previous decades.....it had a welcoming feel. After a travel day, theres nothing like getting a huge protien of Irish Stew inside a Yorkshire pie bowl. Sounds amaazing? It was beyond your wildest dreams.

Sporting our braclets Rob got for us


The first night was spent wandering about and starting to get a feel for Dublin. As you walk, you pass pubs, castles, histortic buildings, catherdrals and interesting characters. Within a few minutes I knew I would love this City.

Dublin is actually not a huge city as I was picturing. Not a metropolis by any means...much of it is the same as it was hundreds of years previous. However, this surprisingly small population increases by a milllion some people during the St. Patricks day festivities.

One of the beautiful Churches
The next morning, us early risers (me and rob) cooked the gang breakie! Theres not better way to start the day then irish sausages, egg, and toast....and maybe some irish cream and coffee. Today was the day we would be reunited with our love. New Europe Walking Tours. YAY!!

Irish Breakie

Hardly able to contain our excitment we went on our way. Trish, who was a virgin to the infamous event...was preplexed by the giddyment. We lucked out again, got a WONDERFUL tour guide named Chris. Surprisngly, the Irish dont sound as you would think. They hardly have an accent....however, Northern Ireland ( which is part of the UK, not Ireland) has an incredibly thick accent. Strange.

Our ginger guide Chris( would you expect any different?) was informative and funny. I really enjoyed him. We went and saw all the major sites, St. Patricks catherdral, Temple Bar area, Dublin Castle, Trinity College and St. Stephens Garden.

Walking tour...Raining, but well worth it

First and foremost, Ive never seen so much green. Every plant and lawn is the most vibrant green you have ever seen. I see why Ireland is associated with Green. Second, the history is Ireland is rich, rebellious and depressing. The Irish have been through so much.....I can see where the term " Fighting Irish" comes from.

Under oppression from the British for decades they have constantly fought for their independence, their voice, a country of their own. The tactics and various rebellious uproars are fasinating. They are a people of pride.

Interestingly enough, not much was sad about the whole years old tentsion between north and south Ireland. I sense that it is a very touching subject to this day. Although, talking to Chris it was interesting to learn the the infamousness of St. Patricks day did not orientate in Ireland. Due to famine and oppression....many of the Irish fled to foreign lands. There is an estamated 45 million of Irish decent abroad...mostly in North America and Australlia. Thats almost triple the population in Ireland at the moment.

It was in Boston. Orignally St. Patricks day was a religious holiday...spent at church and with a quiet family supper. It was when the American Irish changed it to a patriot holdiay it grew fame. Most sayings about the Irish are americanized. "Luck of the Irish" and so on. The Irish hate how people wear a four leaf clover.....for the Irish it is sacred the clover symbolyizing the holy trinity. They hate to be associated with it.

St. Stephens Park
Whilst walking along we came across some trash.....a Tim Hortons cup. No....must be a mirage! Then Chris informed us of a Tim Hortons kios on Graffton Street. WHAT?! So strange.......we later found this treasure of home. There in an convience store was an automatic machine and a stand of donuts branded Tim Hortons. Why? I haven't the slighest clue. Did it actually taste like Tim Hortons? Not at all. But excitment for a piece of home made that cup of coffee heaven.

Found a bit of Home!
That night we partipated in our favorite activity! Pub Crawl. This one wasn't great...but it was nice to have a proper night out dancing with all of us. Due to crazy work hours and opposing shifts it been a while since we have been able to have a good night out. That, and Rob is a treat to watch on the dance floor.

Then came our favorite holiday. ST. PATRICKS DAY!!! Dressed in green, we got up early to watch the parade. To be honest, it was kinda disappointing. Nothing to do with Irish culture, mostly just weird sea like colorful new age costumes. Its not like I was expecting Macys' day parade ( well....maybe a bit) but this was ridiculous. O well, on to other festivities.

St. Paddys Day Parade

Carnival for St. Paddy Day

Us Girls!

After some pub lunch, really no bother to go to a resturant...pub food is in and of itself a delight. Especially because we were on vacation...that means not feeling guilty about treating ourselves. We got into our gear and headed out for a great night out.

Thats right, we went all out for St. Paddys day. And in style....if I do say myself...we out did ourselves. MVP for this protion goes to Christie and Trisha.....their creativity and ambition pulled together to make for an epic outfit.

Temple Bar area is this district of Dublin full of pubs. All you need to do is start walking and see where the night takes you. We started in a calm classic Irish pub, however....as soon as you start walking...you realize just how many people had the same idea. The streets were PACKED. I couldnt believe the amount of traffic and garbage skrewed about. The most surprising part was the next day whilst me and Rob went exploring it was as clean as if nothing had happened. Impressive.

Every pub had something new and different to offer. One pub was packed full of people singing along to classic, another with live Irish music, another with dancers doing the proper Riverdance, and so on. We ended the night at Copper Face Jacks. A club only known to the Irish. Excited about the info and find we went straight in. Unfortunatly, while the club was huge and coule hold about 600 people there was easily 1000 people there. You could not move, talk, dance, drink or even think. Amazing atmosphere....but lets face it....not enjoyable and incredible dangerous if something were to go arai.

There are not enough words in my vocabulary to express how amainzg one of my favorite holidays was. It was an epic night. The Irish really know how to show Canadians a good time.

The next day, me and Rob went exploring while the girls recovered. After an amazing Irish Breakie we went strolling around Dublin. What a gorgous city. Full of character and history. It was an amazing afternoon stroll. After, we meet up with the girls and headed for the muesuems. We were off to see the infamous Bog People.

Bog People
Bogs, which are basically wetlands....do not have oxygen or bacteria....hence...people who have been murdered hundreads of years ago are found. But the skin and hair are intact and have not decomposed. Amazing, and really creepy. But fasicnating! After we checked out the Natural History Musuem....fondly referred to as the dead zoo. AWESOME!

We spent the night enjoying the Irish lifestyle and FOOD.....I wish I was Irish.

Next was the Guneiss Brewery. Rob had previously bought us tickets. I was a bit sketcky about the fun factor...but boy was I wrong. There was 7 floors and it was an experience. The first couple of floors are spent learning about the process and history of the famous stout. Which is amazing....who knew Guiness had been around for such a long period.

Guinness Brewery

Being a beer drinker, but not ever really particpating in the Guiness fad....Ive never had a proper pint of the stout. The third floor came with a pint. It was rich, creamy and delicious.....its really not that good abroad...but from the place it orignatedd....it is incredible.

The other floors contained resturants, how to properly pour a Guiness(it is an art form), the famous people who drink it (including the Queen) and then comes the amazing part. The top floor has a bar with all windows. To which you get a superb view of Dublin. What a sight! Well worth your time to take the Guiness experience.

That night we particpated in a bit of the Irish lifestyle and went around the pubs. Ate great food, and enjoyed our new found delight...Guiness.

The next morning me, Stef and Rob got up early and spent some time around Trinity College and Stephens Park. Its hard to describe how amazingly vivid Dublin is. All you see is green vegatation spotted with the most incredible rainbow of floweral gardens. Truly is beautiful.

St. Stephen Park

Spending time at some of the Cathedrals, its interesting to learn that while the vast majority of the population is Catholic there is not one Catholic Cathdral in Dublin. They are all protestant. Again, due to the invasion of British hold on Ireland. Trinity College as well is Protestant, with woman being able to enroll before the Catholics were allowed. Strange, but true.

Me and Stef on the top of the Guinness Brewery

Next event was the Jameson's distillery. Good ol Irish Whisky. This was more of a tour with informative guides. It is hard to believe the amount of time and work that goes into making whisky, known in galic as "water of gold". Irish whisky is distilled three times and left to mature in three different types of wooden barrels for three years, then it is tidiously mixed together to create Jamesons. You have to apperciate the effort involved.

Rob was estatic at the end of the tour when you get a drink of the whiskey. None of us girls apperciate whisky, so the boy lucked out with four extra drinks.

Ireland is a place I would like to go back to. I want to see the country side and visit more of the smaller towns along the coast. I guess I'll just have to make another trip for we were now off to Amsterdam.

Me and Trisha having fun!

Our Jameson Whiskey Drink

To be honest, Amsterdam was more of a pleasure vacation for us. Just sit around, do what we want and enjoy the city. Plus it was fun to be back in the hostel scene. This one was great, especially the shower. Our flat back in Brighton does not offer a great situation when it comes to bathing. Small, grundy...it either leaks onto the floor of the bathroom or doesnt drain and makes you swim in your flith. Not great....needless to say....we really enjoyed those showers in Amsterdam.

Time in Amsterdam was spent renting bikes and riding along the canals and practing our two person one bike. The weather was HOT, so there were long picnics in Vondale park enjoying food and wine. We went back to our favorite jazz club and listened to more amazing musicians. We read our books, spelt in late, walked around and ate what we wanted. It was bliss.

Me and Stef

Me and Christie by the canal

Biking, our favorite pastime

This vacation was indeed needed. Long hours working in Brighton can take its toll, but its worth the hours to be able to experience this.

It was a sad goodbye when we left, Rob...our favorite travel companion was going home. This man not only knows the best things to do and see...he really keeps up moral. You could not be upset around this hiralous, good hearted guy. Alas, we will reunite again.

Back in Brighton, we were met with our new arrival. Taylor! Trishas boyfriend. Now the house was complete, three bedrooms and five people. Scary.

However, Taylor fits in just great. Hes super laidback and easy going....which you would have to be living with four fiery girls. He's funny and chill and a great time. That, and I do bellieve he was meant for Brighton. His style and attitude fit in really well in a town like this. Were glad to welcome him into our little family.

After going to Dublin and Amsterdam, Im feeling the itch to travel again...just leave and see where the world takes me. Thank goodness Im going to Roma to meet my parents in a matter of a week and a half. Roma for easter, Dublin for St. paddys day....life can not be any better. Plus I get to see my parents again!!! So till then, Ciao