Ireland, the last hurrah!

Ha'penny bridge across the river Liffey

Ciao tutti!

I've been missing my blog, it's been a while!  Assimilating into the USA life mode is taking more effort than I had imagined.  This will probably be my last entry for some time, until the next time I go traveling at least!  Hard to believe it's been about a month since I've been in Europe!!  Things are so different here in the US of A it is really hard for me to relate to those experiences & adventures I was having.  It's weird!  I am really glad that I took the time to do this blog so that I will always have some great memories & some of my silly little anecdotes & comments to bring a smile to my face :).

I am currently in Minnesota for a couple of days visiting my family & cat.  Snow is on the ground & it is COLD!  There was a storm the other night & on my 9 hour drive yesterday I saw a bunch of semis & cars in the ditch.  Good old winter driving, I haven't missed you.  I have been teaching a bit of yoga in Springfield, Illinois, with mild success & also have a couple of other random jobs.  I am taking this time to plot out a course for my future.  I hope to be back out on the west coast soon.  I am thinking of applying to nursing schools in hopes of becoming a nurse practitioner, going back to school may not be my smartest option but...  I do really enjoy school.  I think it is possible to be a professional student, right?  Probably doesn't pay very well.  ha!

Here are my photos from the few days I spent in Ireland, as I said earlier, I loved it!  I felt instantly comfortable with the Irish, the sense of humor, that yummy Irish soda bread, the beer, the live traditional music in the pub scene.  I will have to go back to explore the country fully one day.

that same bridge in the daytime

Dublin scene, it was actually way colder than I expected.  And windy!!

Parliament square, Trinity College

Trinity College is right in the center of Dublin, it has a beautiful campus & was bustling with activity.  A lot of notable literary figures have graduated from Trinity like:  Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker & Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot!).  The college also has a famous old library which you can tour & have a look at the ancient Book of Kells.  The book is a translation of the four gospels of the  new testament complete with intricate celtic artwork written in monasteries of Ireland, Scotland & England.  You are able to read & learn all about the meanings & artwork in this mysterious book & then have a quick glimpse.  It was cool.  I enjoyed the old library the most, some were referring to it as the "Harry Potter Library".  I love me a good library.

some artwork from the Book of Kells

so intricate!

the Long Library at Trinity College

the Jedi archives.  apparently George Lucas did not base this on the Trinity library, looks pretty similar though.

St. Stephen's green

in the park on the chilly morning

Dublin castle.  Dublin means "black pool" referring to a river convergence of swirling black water.  Now the river flows underground through town & the original black pool is underneath this lawn with Celtic knot pattern on it.  

lady justice

burning castles, the symbol of Dublin on the city's crest

took a walking tour, visiting city hall

Christ church cathedral, Dublin

my exuberant tour guide & Trinity College student, giving a "viking tour" of Dublin, because vikings were the first settlers.

in the Temple Bar zone, where there are a lot of tourists & colorfully painted shops

getting prepped to tour the Guinness storehouse.... !

temple bar

inside of the churches it is pretty bare & stony (compared to Italian stuff at least) but, the stained glass windows are elaborate & beautiful.

here I am approaching the Guinness factory!!!!!  It is the #1 tourist attraction in Dublin, maybe in Ireland!  You can take a self guided tour & then enjoy some tasty beer.  Guinness has been brewed here by Arthur Guinness since the 1720s.  

"the black stuff"  the special taste comes from roasted unmalted barley.  Yummmm.  Did you know Guinness has fewer carbs than most other beers?  Good for my diet!  ha ha.

view of Dublin from atop the Guinness brewery.

another view of the Guinness complex, notice the massive tanks.  Worldwide Guinness is one of the most popular beers ever!

I had really been wanting to get out into the country a little bit & this seemed difficult using public transport in one day so, I took a cheesy day tour on a bus.  I actually learned a lot & really enjoyed it, also met a bunch of nice erasmus students.  First stop was Glendalough.  Here you can see some beautiful lakes and trails as well as an ancient monastery & graveyard.  It was cold & it was pretty.

getting some good, ferny nature shots

the old monastery with traditional round towers

old graveyard with crooked, celtic headstones

We drove through the countryside, over the Wicklow Gap in the Wicklow mountains, very pretty!  This is where Braveheart was filmed & you can even see an old "town" that was built for the movie filming.  On the bus we listened to our guide's jokes as well as traditional Irish music.  Then we arrived to Kilkenny, a medieval inland town on the river Nore.  Here is where they brew Smithwick's & Kilkenny beer!  It was raining a bit & really crap weather but, I enjoyed wandering around & then watched some rugby in a pub where they were holding auditions for a reality tv show upstairs.

these colorful doors are real popular on a lot of the row houses I saw in Ireland

cute & colorful Kilkenny

best door photo

Irish skaters

my surly Irish tour guide

the black abbey

St. Patrick

Kilkenny castle

and my last view of Dublino, before I headed off to the airport

There you have it, my last blog installation for now.  Thanks for those of you who've been keeping up with me!!  I hope you have enjoyed it!  It sure has been fun improving my photography & sharing it here.

Here is a pic of my baby niece Sophia, she's just one year old & super adorable.  I'm happy to be spending the holidays with my family this year, it has been about 5 years since I've been in the midwest for the holiday season.  Nice to get in the christmas spirit!

I wish you all a happy & wondrous holidays!!  May all you dreams come true in the upcoming new year & I hope to reconnect with you one day soon.  :)

Big hugs & un bacione xx
Ciaoooooo!!
Anni

Sophia!