On to Limerick

Yesterday in Galway started off a little rocky. I scheduled a tour, but they never showed up to pick me up, leaving me waiting for an hour. Once that was clearly not going to happen, I went into the city center. But, I got caught in the pouring rain. I had an umbrella, but it did little to protect against the side winds. However, I did accomplish one goal which was visiting the Claddagh village and purchasing an authentic Claddagh ring. I just love the symbolism of them.

In hindsight I think that the tour falling through was a blessing in disguise. Traveling to four countries in under two weeks was starting to take a toll on me. I was EXHAUSTED yesterday. (side note: sorry to anyone who talked to me yesterday, as I was particularly cranky. Especially you Mom and Dad. Love you!!) But, I had a pretty easy day yesterday. I even took a nap, and I got some much-needed sleep last night. So, I'm feeling refreshed this morning, and ready to start the final chapter of my trip. I'm now on to Limerick today to meet up with my second tour group. I am so excited to meet everyone and to see more of Ireland.

Galway, Ireland - Days 1-2

I'm absolutely in love with Ireland. I've never before met a whole group of people who talk as much or as freely as I do. Everyone from the cab driver to the people in charge of my bed and breakfast have been SO kind and accommodating. My B&B is so cute and cozy. As I type this, I'm sitting on the couch with freshly brewed tea to my right side and a gently burning fire in fireplace to my left. This is beyond relaxing. I arrived in Galway yesterday evening, so Wednesday was pretty much just a travel day for me. I did take a quick walk to the coast once I arrived to stretch my legs. It is gorgeous.

Today, I took a tour to the Cliffs of Moher. The company picked me up on my doorstep (literally), so it was really convenient. Along the way, we also stopped to see many things including Dunguaire Castle, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Leamanagh Castle, and the Burren. The Irish countryside looks exactly like what I imagined it would. It's like a green patchwork quilt with stone walls and thick trees/bushes separating the various plots of land. It's lovely. The day started off rainy, but cleared up nicely by the afternoon. The Cliffs of Moher were beyond worth seeing. They were breathtaking! Below are some pictures from today.

Dungaire Castle:

Irish Countryside:

 

Cliffs of Moher:

Can you tell it was just a little windy today?

Who knew I was an Irish pony whisperer? In fact, I have a picture of an English horse posing perfectly for me, as well. Apparently, I'm huge with European equines...

 

Ireland, here I come!

 

Closing the First Chapter

Tomorrow will mark the end of my first tour. This has been a wonderful learning experience so far, and I can't wait to see what the next few weeks have in store for me. Today, I visited the Anne Frank House. All I can say is wow. It is incredibly powerful. They did such a good job preserving the annex she and her family hid in (right down to the magazine clippings of celebrities Anne pasted around her attic room). Seeing the way she and her family hid for so long is shocking. It was also incredible to learn more about Anne. She was truly wise beyond her years. They had videos and quotes (along with artifacts) throughout the museum and the total effect is heart-wrenching. I'm so glad I went. Then, I spent time wandering the various markets before our group farewell dinner.

Now, I'm about to go repack my bags and hope they make weight tomorrow. My luggage needs to go on a diet. It doesn't help that the airline I use tomorrow has lower weight maximums for checked baggage - NO wiggle room for me. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Assuming my bags and I make it on the plane, tomorrow I will be flying from Amsterdam to Dublin. Upon arrival in Dublin, I'll hop on the first bus heading to Galway, Ireland. I have heard nothing but amazing things about Galway (and Ireland as a whole), so I really can't wait. I'll be totally on my own for this leg of my trip, but I'm feeling excited and ready. I've booked a small bed and breakfast that sounds nice. I'm a two minute walk from the coast and a ten minute walk from the city center. While there, I'm going to try to tour the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher (weather permitting). So, around this time tomorrow, I should be basking in the sight of the Irish coastline. Someone really needs to pinch me.

 

Day 3 in Paris, Day 1-2 in Amsterdam

On my last day in Paris, I spent the day in Montemart, the artist's district. Then, I had a leisurely lunch and stroll around Paris. After that, I had to pack up since I would have a late night. At night, I went out to a really nice restaurant and had a great French meal. After that, I went on a cruise down the Seine. The city is truly beautiful at night, and the river gives a unique perspective of it.

Sunday morning, we took the train to Amsterdam. Upon arrival, we first took a canal cruise. Then, we got on a bus and did some sightseeing around the city. Along the way, we stopped at a family farm that specializes in making Gouda cheese and the traditional Dutch clogs. They did a demonstration in the making of both, and then people were more than happy to pay lots of money to buy their goods. I'm pretty sure it's a tourist trap, but it was highly interesting to watch. The man making the clogs grabbed my hand and told me we were going to take a "party picture." This made me nervous since I am now in Amsterdam, and I'm pretty sure I have an idea of how they party (which I'm not planning to join in). But, I was relieved that he just wanted for me to hold a pair of his shoes. The people here seem really nice. Strange, maybe, but nice...

Today, after breakfast, I went to visit a diamond company (no, I didn't buy any). I took a tour of their facility, and they taught me all about the way diamonds are cut. While there are not really diamonds found here, Amsterdam is known for cutting diamonds. In fact, the giant diamond in the scepter of the British crown jewels was sent here to be cut/shaped. Also, the "brilliant" cut for diamonds (very popular) was invented here. Next, I went out to discover more of Amsterdam. I went to the Van Gogh museum, which was really good. Then, I went for a walk around the canals. They really are beautiful to walk around. I also went to a flower market. Amsterdam is known for it's flowers (tulips mainly). Tomorrow, I will visit the Anne Frank house.

 

Today in Paris (Day 2)

Today, I took a morning sight-seeing tour around Paris. Then, I headed off to Versailles. After that, I headed over to the Louvre. By the way, the lucky streak has continued. I said it was raining yesterday, but it stopped and the sun came out in time for our walk around the city. And, today it was really nice again (windy, but pleasant). I can't even describe or show everything I've seen. What an incredible day! I'll let the pictures and captions speak for themselves...

Eiffel Tower:

 

Arc de Triomphe (celebrating Napoleon's victories - needless to say there's no mention of Waterloo...):

 

The Invalides (houses Napoleon's body/tomb underneath the golden dome):

 

The tunnel where Princess Di had her tragic car accident:

 

Versailles: Started off as a hunting lodge by Louis XIV. Versailles also served as a home for Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette. Obviously, it was no longer used as a palace for the royal family after the French Revolution. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (who were beheaded) were the last royals to call Versailles home. Later, it was turned into a museum.

 

Marie Antoinette's bedroom (above)

 

Louvre:

(Venus de Milo - pictured above)

 

(The Winged Victory/Nike of Samothrase - pictured above)

 

(Mona Lisa - pictured above)

 

Yesterday in Paris

Here are a few pictures from yesterday. For what I did on that day, see my previous post.

Notre Dame:

View from Montparnasse:

 

The City of Lights

I'm here in Paris, now. But, I have no time to write much. In a few minutes, a bunch of us are walking around town and going to Notre Dame. It's raining, but I'm not going to let that stop me. Then, we have a dinner out on the town. Then, we're climbing a nearby tower to get a bird's eye view of the city and the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Should be a great evening!

Day 3

Today was another spectacular day. The weather was perfect (once again). It's forecasted to rain tomorrow, but we will be on a train to Paris, so that is no problem.

 

Stonehenge:

My day started with a trip to Stonehenge. We had the rare experience of visiting it the day before the Summer Solstice. For those of you who don't know the history of Stonehenge, there are many theories about how and why it was built. But, one thing is certain: it serves as a perfect calendar clock, because every year on the Solstice, the first ray of morning sun lights a trail that leads directly through the same two standing stones of Stonehenge. So, each year, all sorts of crazy modern day Druids and hippies come out to dance naked in the moonlight and wait for the sun to rise (or so I'm told). No one was naked yet, but there were plenty of crazy people running around. The army was even there putting up a statue of a man on his knees worshipping the coming of the sun (pictured below).

 

(In the last picture with me at Stonehenge, I'm standing in the path the sunlight will travel tomorrow morning.)

Bath:

Next, we traveled to Bath. It was spectacular! Driving up, all you could see was the hills dotted with golden-colored houses and buildings, so the landscape almost seemed to glow. All the homes and buildings must use the local stone for their exteriors, so it really is beautiful. Bath is now the shopping hotspot for the southwest, but it was once celebrated for it's healing capabilities. It contains the only hot springs in England. It smells bad, due to the sulfur content, but it was really interesting to learn about the history of the springs/baths and all the people that were "healed" by bathing in or drinking from the water. They offer you a drink from a fountain when you leave, so I tried it. It's warm and doesn't taste great. But, if it really is medicinal, it's worth the aftertaste. Either way, I was promised it can't hurt.

 

There is still SO much I want to see and do in London, but my time has just about run out. I guess I'll have to try to come back one day. I had a wonderful start to my trip, here. Paris, here I come!

 

Quick Post from London

Hi everyone! I don't have much time to post this evening, as I'm off to eat dinner and to watch England play soccer (futball?). Apparently there is a big tournament called the Euro going on (not quite positive about the name). I don't particularly enjoy soccer, but "when in Rome," right? Or in this case, "when in London..." I should have time to post tomorrow!

 

Here is one picture from today. This was taken in Trafalgar Square. The weather was perfect today (as you can probably see).

 

Flights and Day 1 in London

Sunday, June 17 was the first day of my trip. I flew from Tallahassee to Atlanta. Then, I took an overnight flight from Atlanta to the Heathrow airport in London. I sat next to a friendly, college-aged girl named Brittany. She lives in London but is originally from a smaller fishing village. She gave me TONS of tips and advice on what to see, do, and not do while I'm in London.

 

I arrived at the London airport on the morning of the 18th (today) I took a shuttle to my hotel whereI was met by my first tour director, Eric. So far the weather is nice - chilly, but not bad. After a quick lesson from Eric, I took a bus, managed the tube, and rode the London Eye all by myself! Now I'm off to meet everyone in my group tonight for dinner. Can't wait!

 

Here is me at the Tallahassee airport, ready to depart.

 

 

And, here I am upon arrival (exhausted).

 

These are some pretty cliffs along the coast that I could see just before we landed in London.

Lastly, here I am on the London Eye (so neat)!

 

 

Packed and ready to go

I've packed (and repacked), and I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be! For a notorious over-packer, I don't think I did too bad, considering I'm going for a month. Who knows... I'll probably be singing another tune after lugging it all around for a few weeks. Either way, I fly out tomorrow. :)

 

Test: Posting from the iPad

I fly out on Sunday! Below is a picture from when I was in Italy in 2011. I thought that trip was amazing, but I can't wait to make even more memories on this one. First stop on this trip: London.