Galway is a lovely little city - bustling streets with street musicians and artists every ten steps. Brilliant Irish music available everywhere. We made friends with a couple of Aussie girls who we met in our Belfast backpackers, and coincidentally were staying in the same backpackers in Galway too!
I left the boys alone for a day while they wallowed in a hangover and cruised over Inis Mor - one of the Aran islands. Beautiful place with so much history and its seems they haven't moved much through time! still very quaint villages (a village can be made up of just 8 houses) and classic Gaelic people. Very cold though - luckily the islands are famous for their woollen jumpers and other wares, so I invested in some Aran island socks to get me home with risk of hypothermia.
We've now made it to a very small town, in the middle of Ireland, called Banagher. My old flatmate from Whiti, Keelim, lives here and is showing us around. Ironically the smaller the towns seem the get the bigger our nights turn out! Not much rest for the liver as yet :)
Keelim might be taking us up the River Shannon for a cruise later this evening. Then tomorrow we head to Dublin for one more night of rest before scooting over to Aberdeen for some Angus cattle farming!!
Loving it x
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
ireland - my liver will be ruined
its true, manchester does do a fantastic curry. it was a lovely last night with anna and the lads cruising Curry Lane and gorging ourselves silly.
Dublin also hides some hidden truths - it IS really expensive to do anything there, AND the irish DO like to drink, alot. Our first few nights in Dublin did involve a fair bit of drinking to be sure. The liver is at rest now though with a couple more nights in Belfast before heading to Galway.
Dublin can be summed in up with a few activities, other than the aforementioned drinking we also did a lot of strolling about; some of that accidently when I led the gang in the wrong direction home after our quick (hungover) visit to the Guiness brewery. We headed out of the city and down to the cute port town of Don Laoghaire (said 'don Lerry') for the annual Redbull Flugtag. Google it if you dont know it. Crazy stuff. Lots of people and extreme gale force winds rattling the bones. Not a good day to be wearing jandels for sure.
We've now made it to Belfast. Elliot has a friend that lives here so she showed us to one of the only pubs thats open on a monday night - coincedently a gay pub that was showcasing drag queen kareoke for the night! Sam and Elliot got in the action and sung a lovely duet "time after time" :)
hilarious. Oh, before that we checked out the Crown. the oldest pub in Belfast. AMAZING. Very ornate and overly decorated with carvings, stained glass, and excellent atmosphere.
We cruised up to the Giants Causeway yesterday - absolutely beautiful. Walked along the rope bridge and stopped in the gift shop at the Bushmills distillery. Today we are getting some more history and doing a wee tour around the city whilst getting a guide to tell us about the political/religious history around northern ireland. should be interesting.
Galway tomorrow.
Dublin also hides some hidden truths - it IS really expensive to do anything there, AND the irish DO like to drink, alot. Our first few nights in Dublin did involve a fair bit of drinking to be sure. The liver is at rest now though with a couple more nights in Belfast before heading to Galway.
Dublin can be summed in up with a few activities, other than the aforementioned drinking we also did a lot of strolling about; some of that accidently when I led the gang in the wrong direction home after our quick (hungover) visit to the Guiness brewery. We headed out of the city and down to the cute port town of Don Laoghaire (said 'don Lerry') for the annual Redbull Flugtag. Google it if you dont know it. Crazy stuff. Lots of people and extreme gale force winds rattling the bones. Not a good day to be wearing jandels for sure.
We've now made it to Belfast. Elliot has a friend that lives here so she showed us to one of the only pubs thats open on a monday night - coincedently a gay pub that was showcasing drag queen kareoke for the night! Sam and Elliot got in the action and sung a lovely duet "time after time" :)
hilarious. Oh, before that we checked out the Crown. the oldest pub in Belfast. AMAZING. Very ornate and overly decorated with carvings, stained glass, and excellent atmosphere.
We cruised up to the Giants Causeway yesterday - absolutely beautiful. Walked along the rope bridge and stopped in the gift shop at the Bushmills distillery. Today we are getting some more history and doing a wee tour around the city whilst getting a guide to tell us about the political/religious history around northern ireland. should be interesting.
Galway tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
so much seen, in so little time!
Well, we've done so much in the last few days I'm bound to miss something out, but here goes!!
We hopped on the train to Manchester - only to realise we'd booked on the day after the FA Cup Final so the train was full of Manchester City fans drinking, singing, and celebrating their victory. Pretty entertaining.
We got to Manchester and experienced our first real rainy day since we've been here....and have been experiencing days of rain for the last three....but they havent been torential and we've been really lucky at getting a few bursts of light sprinkle while walking about the sights.
Our beautiful, welcoming, and enthusiastic tour guide - miss Anna Murphy- has been VERY obliging in driving us to the far reaches to see some of the best bits that Manchester area has to offer. We first travelled south west to Northern Wales to check out Castle Conwy (which has been there since the 12th Century), and a lovely village called Chester. Lots of character and a cool feeling of 'real' England. We also got to see and explore the 2m square smallest house in Britain. We passed an amazing castle on the way to Conwy and when we asked about how we could get to it we were told that its "only 200 years old" so probably not that interesting to look at and was privately owned anyway....imagine.
On the way home, we finished the day off with traditional English fish, chips, and mushy peas.
Today we travelled north and explored some bits of the beautiful Lakes District. We saw Lake Windermere (famous for Beattrix Potter) and Lake Conniston. Very cute viallges, with amazing scenery in between. We thought we'd seen some lovely countryside yesterday but this was just amazing. Lush green forests and paddocks, speckled with sheep, cows, stone walls and amazing buildings.
We quickly visited the Trafford Centre on the way home - a huge, elaborately decorated shopping mall. The food court was like being on a cruise ship with a band playing classic 'love boat' music and oldies dancing. There was lion statues at every entrance, marble staircases with gold trims, roman statues and frescoes painted on most of the ceilings - the most intense mall we've ever experienced!
Tomorrow we are sorting out our trip around Ireland and having an organising day in Manchester city - time to buy some wellingtons for wwoofing! We might be ending the night with a famous Manchester curry, beer, and pub quiz!!
We hopped on the train to Manchester - only to realise we'd booked on the day after the FA Cup Final so the train was full of Manchester City fans drinking, singing, and celebrating their victory. Pretty entertaining.
We got to Manchester and experienced our first real rainy day since we've been here....and have been experiencing days of rain for the last three....but they havent been torential and we've been really lucky at getting a few bursts of light sprinkle while walking about the sights.
Our beautiful, welcoming, and enthusiastic tour guide - miss Anna Murphy- has been VERY obliging in driving us to the far reaches to see some of the best bits that Manchester area has to offer. We first travelled south west to Northern Wales to check out Castle Conwy (which has been there since the 12th Century), and a lovely village called Chester. Lots of character and a cool feeling of 'real' England. We also got to see and explore the 2m square smallest house in Britain. We passed an amazing castle on the way to Conwy and when we asked about how we could get to it we were told that its "only 200 years old" so probably not that interesting to look at and was privately owned anyway....imagine.
On the way home, we finished the day off with traditional English fish, chips, and mushy peas.
Today we travelled north and explored some bits of the beautiful Lakes District. We saw Lake Windermere (famous for Beattrix Potter) and Lake Conniston. Very cute viallges, with amazing scenery in between. We thought we'd seen some lovely countryside yesterday but this was just amazing. Lush green forests and paddocks, speckled with sheep, cows, stone walls and amazing buildings.
We quickly visited the Trafford Centre on the way home - a huge, elaborately decorated shopping mall. The food court was like being on a cruise ship with a band playing classic 'love boat' music and oldies dancing. There was lion statues at every entrance, marble staircases with gold trims, roman statues and frescoes painted on most of the ceilings - the most intense mall we've ever experienced!
Tomorrow we are sorting out our trip around Ireland and having an organising day in Manchester city - time to buy some wellingtons for wwoofing! We might be ending the night with a famous Manchester curry, beer, and pub quiz!!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Walkabout
My feet are sore.
Today we walked down to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard. HUGE spectacle. Masses of people hanging around for it, irate guards/security moving people along to let it run smoothly....HIGHLIGHT we saw the Queen drive past! and we saw Prince Charles drive past, and we saw a squirell in the park! very cute. The squirell, not so much the Royals.
We then braved the tube for the first time - found it way easier to understand and use than all the hype makes out - and went to explore the Tower of London. MASSIVE PLACE. Beautiful buildings, beautiful grounds, amazing history.
Later we went to the Tate modern and used our last scrap of energy strolling around looking at art.
Very cultured day. very tired now.
Tomorrow we move backpackers and head out to Shepherds Bush. We might just try find our way to Abbey road for a much wanted photo op.
Loving it x
Today we walked down to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard. HUGE spectacle. Masses of people hanging around for it, irate guards/security moving people along to let it run smoothly....HIGHLIGHT we saw the Queen drive past! and we saw Prince Charles drive past, and we saw a squirell in the park! very cute. The squirell, not so much the Royals.
We then braved the tube for the first time - found it way easier to understand and use than all the hype makes out - and went to explore the Tower of London. MASSIVE PLACE. Beautiful buildings, beautiful grounds, amazing history.
Later we went to the Tate modern and used our last scrap of energy strolling around looking at art.
Very cultured day. very tired now.
Tomorrow we move backpackers and head out to Shepherds Bush. We might just try find our way to Abbey road for a much wanted photo op.
Loving it x
Monday, May 9, 2011
london
LONG HAUL FLIGHTS SUCK- god bless blind folds, neck pillows and valium...thats all i have to say.
but we are here! yay!
we spent yesterday with bleary, stringing eyes wandering around the red light district of soho and checking out all the interesting people before crashing hard onto our pillows at about 8pm.
woke up early (4am), dozed until about 6am, then got up, showered, and wandered to Tesco for a few bits of fruit and other essentials. Bought yoghurt and muesli for breakfast only to remember on the stroll back to the backpackers that I forgot the cutlery set Mum got me, and I dont have a bowl.....will have to do some sneaky 'spoon lifting' today....
off on a bus tour of the top sights today to see all the typical tourist stuff and figure out which ones we want to see more of.
right - im off to find a spoon.
x
but we are here! yay!
we spent yesterday with bleary, stringing eyes wandering around the red light district of soho and checking out all the interesting people before crashing hard onto our pillows at about 8pm.
woke up early (4am), dozed until about 6am, then got up, showered, and wandered to Tesco for a few bits of fruit and other essentials. Bought yoghurt and muesli for breakfast only to remember on the stroll back to the backpackers that I forgot the cutlery set Mum got me, and I dont have a bowl.....will have to do some sneaky 'spoon lifting' today....
off on a bus tour of the top sights today to see all the typical tourist stuff and figure out which ones we want to see more of.
right - im off to find a spoon.
x
Monday, May 2, 2011
Dental check up
A final dental check before I leave.
All done in about 30mins!!
One filling - "I think, we'll try to do this without an injection so its quicker, does that sound alright with you?"
"MRGFIBHHHHH"
"Good, lets go then."
Teeth cleaned and polished - "I can see that you enjoy scrubbing your teeth, so you might just want to be aware of that, although I couldn't ask for anyone better at brushing your teeth. Good good."
"MMmrfgggff"
Two wisdon teeth out - "Now, I could just take one out and then bring you back tomorrow and do the other one, or we could just get them both out of the way today if you're feeling brave?"
"Bfghgkhhhh"
"Good, lets go then"
"Oohh, wow, look at this. We've managed to pull out some bone on this tooth. It was really stuck in there!"
"OK, you're all good to go now. You might want to take some painkillers in about an hour before those injections wear off."
"Brggfffffff"
6 more sleeps!
Well, I've started to get excited.
It took a while coming but the restlessness has started to sink in....along with a head cold that is turning my brain to porridge! We are making plans, booking trains, booking flights, booking backpackers.......wondering how far our pounds are actually going to go....I am ever more thankful of that nannying set up in Turkey, to ease the pressure on the wallet.
"The dollar is really good now, its a great time to travel..." says the bank teller smiling, as my $3000NZD gets converted into $1457GBP.Sad face.
Only a few more "farewells" and "see ya laters" left to do, and my twin brother, little sister and I, hop on a plane for one of the best experiences of our lives.
Welcome to my adventure.
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