IRISH ADVENTURES! (finally..)

some of this may run over from my woohoo in italia blog-but, I don't care I just wrote what I wrote. so here is my 10 days in Ireland:

The last few weeks leading to the end of my incredible semester in Italy have become a sort of blurred memory.  I’m stuffing the last few things in my bags and trying to process my final moments.  I didn’t want to forget a single moment, I wanted to hold it all close and let every emotion wash over me so I could really take in my whole experience, but 4:30 in the morning was not the time. I met Paola at the apartment door, jacket zipped, bags in hand, and her eyes were glossed over as she pulled me in close for a great big Italian Mamma embrace. I’ll never forget the look in her eyes as I said goodbye to possibly one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. This was really it.  I walked out the door with her waving to me from the balcony and the sun beginning to peak over the horizon. The car picked a few of us up to take us to Rome airport and as we slowly drove by a sign with a red line through the word “Toscana” I realized that this really was the end of my semester in Italy.  It’s funny how through all the tearful goodbyes, glasses of wine and last meals all it took was a simple sign telling me I was leaving.

Later that day I arrived in new terminal in Dublin airport greeted by my Aunt Carmel and my cousin Meareade.  It was such a relief to be with family for a while.  I think that really helped with transitioning from a crazy semester.  She made me a huge Irish Breakfast at 4:30 in the afternoon followed by many mugs of tea until I eventually passed out around 10:00. I mentioned to my Aunt Carmel how it didn’t feel like I hadn’t been here in 5 years but instead it had only been a couple of weeks since I last them all.  Everyone is taller and graduating college and taking tests it was a surprise to see everyone so grown up.  The next morning I saw my best friend for the first time in months; she was the very last one to walk through the arrival gate, of course. Big hugs and wide smiles ensued.  Rachel was then treated to the same large Irish Breakfast followed by giant mugs of tea and a nap before we headed out to explore Dublin with my cousin Dermot as our guide.  We explored Temple Bar and Stephen’s Green, had hot chocolate, watched a street performer limbo under a flame, visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells. Later that night we went out to a few pubs and discos with Dermot and Pauline (I was so happy I got to see her! I was worried she would busy with school). We had a great time hangin’ around and then ordering pizza and fries to satisfy our starvation after dancing for 5 hours.

The next day we slept late and had another big breakfast followed by exploration of the windy Howth, a small village/town/place just outside of Dublin.  We walked along the cliffs, with the wind whipping our hair around as if in a crazy dance, and saw the dark ocean crashing against the rocky cliffs of the green Dublin Coast. We reached the village at the bottom of the cliffs and walked along the pier while leaning against a strong wall of wind, our jackets billowing like parachutes.  After all the hard work it took to walk into such a wind, we ordered some “chips” and headed home on the bus in time for dinner.  After yet another delicious meal of potatoes and other unimportant components, Rachel and I left for my Granny and Grandad’s house.

Granny & Grandad’s:

Granny and Grandad were so excited to see me, as was I. I told them stories of Italy and visiting my uncle Peter in the Azores while we sipped tea and ate brown bread.  I showed Rachel around the old house and eventually to the big room where we slept for the next few days.  Monday we went around Mountmellick in the little stores and around the small shops. The next day my Aunt Therese took us for a walk in Emo Park with Granny and Rachel was able to see the old estate grounds.  In the days we spent with my grandparents, we chatted and talked about their past together and how they met each other.  They told us stories of my aunts and uncles growing up in Mountmellick.  Rachel also went out into the garden with my granddad and he taught her things about how he grows the potatoes and black currant plants.  We planned our little excursion to Galway for the next day. 

GALWAY:

We arrived to a rainy but humid Galway searching for food and a place to stay.  We prioritized and ordered some food in a little café. We asked one of the waiters for his opinion on where to stay and we ended up in a great (CLEAN) little hostel only paying 5 euro.  We proceeded to explore the city and all the little shops in the pouring rain.  We stopped in to see the cathedral and walked around by the university buildings taking a break for some coffee and Cadburys.  Shop Street was full of life despite the rain. We ate dinner at a great little burger place and then went searching for a good pub with suggestions from my cousin.  The pub we ended up going to first was full of tourists and locals so we ordered some cider and ended up talking to these 2 old guys for about 2.5 hours with some traditional Irish band playing in the front corner of the room.   They had us cracking up with all their stories and jokes.  We left the bar searching for a younger crowd and found this place with 4 actual bars inside the place filled with students and another live band.  We ordered drinks and were once again approached by probably the only old guys in the place.  What strange luck. We met some other exchange students and travelers as well. Anyway, as we left the bar to head back to the hostel, the street looked like a zombie town--as in drunken people/students stumbling home and barely standing-breaking bottles and making weird zombie-like noises.  It was hilarious.  Great night for sure.

The next day we woke up early and met the other girls staying in our room-they had just finished their semester studying in Northern Ireland. We left for breakfast with some beautiful sunshine as a change of pace- we had full Irish breakfasts with a pot of tea each at a great little bakery on Shop Street Then we caught the bus to Salthill.  Rachel and I walked along the pier and found this little hidden beach with people wind surfing and kayaking. Too bad we forgot our wetsuits.

On our way back we stopped at a little café for some apple tart and a giant bowl of yogurt parfait. We caught the train back and Therese picked us up and we had dinner at Granny’s house.

The next day we spent with Gillian-FINALLY! It’s been forever!- she took us shopping and we had some lunch –just catching up with each other.  Then we explored some creepy castle that looked like it should have been in a Vampire movie-Charleville Castle I think..  anyway then we went to another more modern castle that was turned into a bed and breakfast with a pub in the basement. We came back to her house and I was able to catch up with the rest of her family and exchange pictures.  Bernadette (Gillian’s mom) made us the most delicious lasagna, Rachel and I both had 2 servings.  :]

The next day we went hiking through the Sleve Mountains near Mountmellick and had sandwiches along the water, again another lovely day spent hiking.  We arrived back at my Granny’s and then my Aunt Jacinta picked us up to spend the night at her house. 

TRIM:

Well rain once again, this time cold.  We went into Trim and up into the castle exploring the grounds and then enjoyed some hearty soup at the Trim Café. Later that night, we went to my Aunt Mary’s house and met up with the boys.  Rachel and I went out to meet my cousin Cathal and Neil to watch the end of the rugby game and have a few beers.  Cathal took us out later to one of his friends engagement parties in Dublin and we had a great time meeting his friends and telling our stories.

Enniskerry:

The next day, after a long night, Rachel and I filled our stomachs with porridge and tea and headed out for a hike with my Aunt Mary.  We went around the estate grounds on the border to Waterford, drove along the tops of the mountains/hills where turf was taken to heat the houses-now it is forbidden to take anything from these natural landscapes.  We hiked down the mountain into the valley where an old miner’s village used to be-incredibly beautiful even though we had patches of rain here and there. We then enjoyed some sandwiches and drinks at a little organic café just at the bottom of the mountain.  We headed home for a huge meal with my cousins and uncle, with an amazing dessert to follow, aka my aunt’s famous cheesecakes-I have missed it so much.  The boys had us laughing with their antics and jokes- I don’t know how my aunt does it with all those boys-the Healion gift of patience is a mystery to me.  The rest of the night was spent packing and unwinding from such a great day filled with food adventure and plenty of laughs.

I just hope it’s not another 6 years before I see any of my cousins and family in Ireland I had such an incredible time and it honestly felt like I hadn’t left for more than a few months.  I know Rachel really enjoyed herself and I hope she was able to take a lot from this experience of meeting the other side of my family.  This is a trip her and I will have to once again in the near future, you know, when we get rich and all that.

In any case this update is a bit delayed and pictures will follow once I have a decent internet connection.