Sunday I ventured down to County Kerry to do some hiking at Killarney National park. This is somewhere I had been three years ago when I cam but have wanted to return to. The landscape and scenery at Killarney are absolutely breathtaking. The town is situated just off the coast of a large lake connected to two smaller lakes and surrounded by Ireland's highest mountains.
I went with Agathe and her friend Estelle from France. We did a round trip hike of 16km (roughly 10 miles) beginning and ending in Killarney town with our furthest point being Torc Waterfall and the surrounding mountainside.
At this park you could hike all day and still not see half of the sights. You could easily take 3-4 days to hike all through the countryside here. I would certainly love to return and do a biking trip here but I do not know if I will have enough time.
One suggested trip is to rent a bike in Killarney town, bike to Ross Castle and take a boat though the lakes to the other side of the park where you can bike through the mountains through the Gap of Dunlow and finally back to Killarney town.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Beginning of the End
As May begins the general look and feel has been doom and gloom. Everyone is preparing for their final exams and papers knowing full well that they'll be leaving soon. On Saturday one of my best friends here, Audrey, left to return to France. It was hard to say goodbye for everyone. Audrey was always one to go to a pub to watch the Rugby match, and that being the case, that very night was the big rugby match between Munster (west Ireland) and Leinster (east ireland) for the Heineken Cup semi-final. Munster had only weeks earlier completely decimated Leinster yet that sad afternoon, with one fo their biggest fans gone to France they just couldn't do it. It wasn't even a good match to watch it was just sad to see them being run over but a far inferior team.
As the game stretched ona nd got worse and worse, so did the weather. We watched the match on a big outdoor screen seeing as it was Limerick's Riverfest weekend. by the end of the amtch the sky was dark, the wind was roaring and the rain began to fall. Sad day for Munster.
As the game stretched ona nd got worse and worse, so did the weather. We watched the match on a big outdoor screen seeing as it was Limerick's Riverfest weekend. by the end of the amtch the sky was dark, the wind was roaring and the rain began to fall. Sad day for Munster.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Easter Trip part 1
Agathe and I set sail (via bus..) from Limerick to Dublin a little before midday on Saturday. We got into the lovely capital city here around 3pm or half 2 maybe. We spent the afternoon just walking around the town and enjoying the parks within the city. We found a internet café that we used to print our boarding passes for the plane then set out to meet the Keanes for drinks and dinner. We met Michael Keane and his wife at the Mercantile Bar near Temple Bar in Dublin for a drink before going to dinner. Afterwards they showed us a splendid pub called Porterhouse where there aare hundereds upon hundreds of beers you can order. That was a lovely way to start off the vacation as most pubs in Limerick have a very slim selection of beer outside of Guinness, Bulmers (cider), Budwiser, Coors Light (for some reason people over here think that is good beer..) and Carlsberg.
The Keanes left to head home but Agathe and I stayed to listen to some of the live music. Out flight was at 6:20 am so we were planning to just head out to the airport and try to sleep there as best as we could. We took a Taxi to the dublin airport as we missed the bus we wanted to take by about 30 seconds. For being Easter Sunday morning the airport and out flight were a lot more crowded than I would have imagined but its still nothing like dealing with the crowds at O'Hare
The flight to Nice, France was short and simple. We landed in Nice around 10am their time (hour ahead of Ireland) making it just under a three hour flight. We picked up a bus from the airport into town along the Promenade Des Anglais and took in the sights of the Mediteranean. Finding our Hotel was simple however the room wasn't to be ready until 1 or 2pm so we dropped off our bags and set about walking into town. We had a breakfast of coffee and croissants (both were so much better in France then I've had anywhere else) then went and sat along the beach for a while. On the east end of the Promenade Des Anglais there is a castle/park area that you have to climb way up onto the hillside to access. I didn't count the number of stairs but it was enough to make the both of us rather tired by the time we got to the top. After that we headed back to the hotel to shower and have a nap before going out into town again
The Keanes left to head home but Agathe and I stayed to listen to some of the live music. Out flight was at 6:20 am so we were planning to just head out to the airport and try to sleep there as best as we could. We took a Taxi to the dublin airport as we missed the bus we wanted to take by about 30 seconds. For being Easter Sunday morning the airport and out flight were a lot more crowded than I would have imagined but its still nothing like dealing with the crowds at O'Hare
The flight to Nice, France was short and simple. We landed in Nice around 10am their time (hour ahead of Ireland) making it just under a three hour flight. We picked up a bus from the airport into town along the Promenade Des Anglais and took in the sights of the Mediteranean. Finding our Hotel was simple however the room wasn't to be ready until 1 or 2pm so we dropped off our bags and set about walking into town. We had a breakfast of coffee and croissants (both were so much better in France then I've had anywhere else) then went and sat along the beach for a while. On the east end of the Promenade Des Anglais there is a castle/park area that you have to climb way up onto the hillside to access. I didn't count the number of stairs but it was enough to make the both of us rather tired by the time we got to the top. After that we headed back to the hotel to shower and have a nap before going out into town again
Loosing Faith in my Immune System
School is over now except for final exams. I have already had three finals but have 2 more on the 8th and 14th of May. This weekend I was supposed to go to Dingle, Ireland for a hiking trip however Thursday night I became ill. Fever, swollen throat, aches and pains etc. Friday didn't show any significant improvement so I had to stay at home this weekend. I spent Friday in bed the whole day which is unfortunate in itself as my bed here in limerick is mighty uncomfortable.
Today it seems to be getting better, I've been able to be up and out of bed for the most part of the morning though my stomach is still tossing and turning.
On the upside I guess this gives me plenty of free time to update my blog with some stories from France and Italy
Today it seems to be getting better, I've been able to be up and out of bed for the most part of the morning though my stomach is still tossing and turning.
On the upside I guess this gives me plenty of free time to update my blog with some stories from France and Italy
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Excerpt from Europe
Agathe and I finally made it to Florence!
Its absolutly amazing.
the trip has had some small bumps but its going well.
We had to take two trains to get to Genoa yesterday with a lay over at a small border town called Ventimiglia
Then we got a train from there to Genoa. Genoa ended up being not so great. We could not find a hostel and the interet didn't give s any worthwhile budget hotels. So we decided to take a night train to Florence rather than a hostel.
Begin Adventure...
so we wait until 11:53 at ngiht to grab the train to Florence which first drops us in Pisa for a 2 hour Layover before another train to Florence. We weren't fast enough to get seats on the train (the kind with sleeper cabins for highr paying tickets and small 6 seat cabins for the rest) becasue many peple take up to many seats for themselves. So we ride at the very end of the train just laying in the cabin. Its not that bad actually. Then we get to Pisa and there doesn't appear to be a tilet in any part of the station that is still open. It's now 2:15 am so there is nothing open in ton either. We make a last ditch effort to try and see the Leaning Tower but we never made it as we were worried about missing our train. Turns out we were so close and just didn't know it. Regardless we are now utterly exhuasted and we grab the train to Florence which gets in at 5:15 am. The train ride is Freeeeeeezing cold. Apparently it got cold that night in Flornece and the Florence train station is also cold. We sleep on a bench until 7am when the passenger waiting room open up. Finally we can warm up so we sleep until 9:30 am or so, though very uncomforably.
We had don a bit of rsearch on the internet in genoa to see where the hostels are in Florence so w decide to set out to find a Hostel. WE finally find one and it seems great only the roomas aen't ready until 2pm.
So we frshen up a bit then start exploring the town of Flornece which turns out to be absolutely beautiful. The weather turns splendid, sunny and warm with not a cloud in th sky. We are now back at the Hostel havng showered and taken naps.
will keep you posted and let you know how France was (amazing in short)
Its absolutly amazing.
the trip has had some small bumps but its going well.
We had to take two trains to get to Genoa yesterday with a lay over at a small border town called Ventimiglia
Then we got a train from there to Genoa. Genoa ended up being not so great. We could not find a hostel and the interet didn't give s any worthwhile budget hotels. So we decided to take a night train to Florence rather than a hostel.
Begin Adventure...
so we wait until 11:53 at ngiht to grab the train to Florence which first drops us in Pisa for a 2 hour Layover before another train to Florence. We weren't fast enough to get seats on the train (the kind with sleeper cabins for highr paying tickets and small 6 seat cabins for the rest) becasue many peple take up to many seats for themselves. So we ride at the very end of the train just laying in the cabin. Its not that bad actually. Then we get to Pisa and there doesn't appear to be a tilet in any part of the station that is still open. It's now 2:15 am so there is nothing open in ton either. We make a last ditch effort to try and see the Leaning Tower but we never made it as we were worried about missing our train. Turns out we were so close and just didn't know it. Regardless we are now utterly exhuasted and we grab the train to Florence which gets in at 5:15 am. The train ride is Freeeeeeezing cold. Apparently it got cold that night in Flornece and the Florence train station is also cold. We sleep on a bench until 7am when the passenger waiting room open up. Finally we can warm up so we sleep until 9:30 am or so, though very uncomforably.
We had don a bit of rsearch on the internet in genoa to see where the hostels are in Florence so w decide to set out to find a Hostel. WE finally find one and it seems great only the roomas aen't ready until 2pm.
So we frshen up a bit then start exploring the town of Flornece which turns out to be absolutely beautiful. The weather turns splendid, sunny and warm with not a cloud in th sky. We are now back at the Hostel havng showered and taken naps.
will keep you posted and let you know how France was (amazing in short)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Easterbreak plans
For Easter Break I will make my first appearance on Continental Europe
Easter Sunday - early morning flight from Dublin to Nice, France
2 nights in Nice at the Hotel Dante. perhaps taking a day trip to Villefranche-sur-mer for the beach as the beaches in Nice are rocks and pebbles not sand.
Train to Milan, Italy through the Alps on April 14th during the afternoon.
spending remaining days in northern Italy with no set agenda.
Possibly seeing Venice, Verona, and Florence.
Flight back to Shannon from Turin, Italy on April 18th late late late at night.
Also pending my exam schedule there are tentative plans to meet Maureen and her friend in Croatia at the beginning of May
Easter Sunday - early morning flight from Dublin to Nice, France
2 nights in Nice at the Hotel Dante. perhaps taking a day trip to Villefranche-sur-mer for the beach as the beaches in Nice are rocks and pebbles not sand.
Train to Milan, Italy through the Alps on April 14th during the afternoon.
spending remaining days in northern Italy with no set agenda.
Possibly seeing Venice, Verona, and Florence.
Flight back to Shannon from Turin, Italy on April 18th late late late at night.
Also pending my exam schedule there are tentative plans to meet Maureen and her friend in Croatia at the beginning of May
Trip to the North
This past weekend the Mary I international group took a trip to visit northern Ireland. We stayed two nights in Belfast and also took guided bus tour of other parts of the north. We visited the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dun Laois Castle, and the City of Derry where the Bloody Sunday incident took place.
I think Derry was one of my favorite spots, I have been there before but only briefly, this time i got to explore the city a bit more. We visited Bogside, the Catholic neighborhood in Derry, where the Bloody Sunday incident actually happened. Now there are a series of murals painted by local artists from the bogside commemorating what took place and calling for an end to the violence.
Also noted there were numerous marks of grafitti from the RIRA stenciled on the walls. This was a bit disturbing to see as they are the group claiming responsibility for the latest violence in Northern Ireland. Now its impossible to tell if the grafitti is new or if it has been there for years but if it is new grafitti then it really is a bit disturbing. In large letters on one rooftop there was written "RIRA Pride" which is scary if it is new.
The city of Belfast was a great spot as well. We saw the two sectarian neighborhoods and the political murals associated with each one along wiht the giant wall between the two neighborhoods still restriciting access.
We also walked throught the campus of Queens University Belfast which was gorgeous.
I think Derry was one of my favorite spots, I have been there before but only briefly, this time i got to explore the city a bit more. We visited Bogside, the Catholic neighborhood in Derry, where the Bloody Sunday incident actually happened. Now there are a series of murals painted by local artists from the bogside commemorating what took place and calling for an end to the violence.
Also noted there were numerous marks of grafitti from the RIRA stenciled on the walls. This was a bit disturbing to see as they are the group claiming responsibility for the latest violence in Northern Ireland. Now its impossible to tell if the grafitti is new or if it has been there for years but if it is new grafitti then it really is a bit disturbing. In large letters on one rooftop there was written "RIRA Pride" which is scary if it is new.
The city of Belfast was a great spot as well. We saw the two sectarian neighborhoods and the political murals associated with each one along wiht the giant wall between the two neighborhoods still restriciting access.
We also walked throught the campus of Queens University Belfast which was gorgeous.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Turning 21
Tomorrow I'll be 21 finally..
I have planned a pub crawl here in Limerick with some of my friends to tour the various pubs having live music tomorrow night, but the schedule is actually dependent on which pubs will really have music. A lot of them say they have music each Wednesday nights but which pubs will actually be having a session will be up to us to find out I guess.
We will try to go to Dolan's Pub, The Royal George Hotel, Nancy Blake's and finally The Locke Bar, all of which may have live traditional music tomorrow night. Then perhaps we'll end up going to Molly's which is the night club of choice of the erasmus students because its free entry. Actually a lot of us, myself included, have quite a bit of school work and essays due soon so we may not have such a late night after all
This weekend a group of 35+ of us are traveling to Belfast for a tour of Northern Ireland so we will continue the celebrations up north.
If any one wants to donate to the cause, there is a link for paypal donations on the top right of the page here. Thanks in Advance to any and all!
I have planned a pub crawl here in Limerick with some of my friends to tour the various pubs having live music tomorrow night, but the schedule is actually dependent on which pubs will really have music. A lot of them say they have music each Wednesday nights but which pubs will actually be having a session will be up to us to find out I guess.
We will try to go to Dolan's Pub, The Royal George Hotel, Nancy Blake's and finally The Locke Bar, all of which may have live traditional music tomorrow night. Then perhaps we'll end up going to Molly's which is the night club of choice of the erasmus students because its free entry. Actually a lot of us, myself included, have quite a bit of school work and essays due soon so we may not have such a late night after all
This weekend a group of 35+ of us are traveling to Belfast for a tour of Northern Ireland so we will continue the celebrations up north.
If any one wants to donate to the cause, there is a link for paypal donations on the top right of the page here. Thanks in Advance to any and all!
Grand Slam!
On Saturday Ireland Beat Wales in the final match of the Six Nations Rugby Cup 17-15 to complete their first Grand Slam since 1948. Needless to say pubs all over the country went wild that evening as it happened. They let the match go right till the last second to confirm the win as they conceded a penalty to Wales in the last second of the game. Wales kicked a penalty kick from 48 m out (having earlier in the match scored a penalty from 49m) with only a few seconds to go which would have made the final score 18-17 for Wales however the kick fell short and Ireland Won!!!
I watched with a few friends in The Bank pub here in Limerick and the atmosphere was outstanding. Limerick is the Rugby center of Ireland and many of the players form the National team play for the regional team here, Munster, and thus do their training here at University of Limerick. So they should be coming to town soon to have a parade and celebration.
I watched with a few friends in The Bank pub here in Limerick and the atmosphere was outstanding. Limerick is the Rugby center of Ireland and many of the players form the National team play for the regional team here, Munster, and thus do their training here at University of Limerick. So they should be coming to town soon to have a parade and celebration.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Home Recordings
This is the first recording my friends and I have done while here in Ireland.
Agathe wrote the lyrics, the song is called Rastaman. Ben and I play guitar and Ben and Agathe do the singing. We recorded this in my flat with my Macbook.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
School closed!
Thursday at college it was announced that school would be closed and all classes canceled until the following Wednesday due to a viral epidemic causing many student to get sick. what was originally thought to be food poisoning from a dance the school hosted has now spread to the school itself making it unsafe until it has been cleaned.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F1_0_s_4_0_t&usg=AFQjCNE29xm-3H0mvgpHEfKth3OY5t78MQ&cid=1314585741&ei=9hW9SajUJajAwAHf-N3FAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fnational-news%2Fvomiting-bug-strikes-students-1672773.html
unfortunately for me I have no Friday classes, only one class on Mondays, and Tuesday is Patrick's Day so there is no school anyway so I only miss one class due to the outbreak.
None of my friends were sick but there were plenty of people at the nurses office all day Monday through Wednesday before they decided to close school down on Thursday.
On a note unrelated to the current viral epidemic, I contracted a Staph infection somewhere along the line leading to Impetigo, which is a skin rash. It came out on my face about a week back. I was given a prescription for antibiotics and skin cream and all is well now.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F1_0_s_4_0_t&usg=AFQjCNE29xm-3H0mvgpHEfKth3OY5t78MQ&cid=1314585741&ei=9hW9SajUJajAwAHf-N3FAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fnational-news%2Fvomiting-bug-strikes-students-1672773.html
unfortunately for me I have no Friday classes, only one class on Mondays, and Tuesday is Patrick's Day so there is no school anyway so I only miss one class due to the outbreak.
None of my friends were sick but there were plenty of people at the nurses office all day Monday through Wednesday before they decided to close school down on Thursday.
On a note unrelated to the current viral epidemic, I contracted a Staph infection somewhere along the line leading to Impetigo, which is a skin rash. It came out on my face about a week back. I was given a prescription for antibiotics and skin cream and all is well now.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Return of Troubles in the North
I'm not sure if it has filtered over to the news in the States yet or not but anyway:
The Trouble in Northern Ireland has started again, a group called the RIRA (Real IRA) has claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of two British soldiers in County Antrim northwest of Belfast over the weekend on March 8th. The soldiers were leaving their army barracks to accept a pizza delivery when they were ambushed. 4 other people were injured including 2 other military personel and the pizza deliveryman.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/two-soldiers-dead-in-northern-ireland-army-base-shooting-20090308-8s5d.html
The Trouble in Northern Ireland has started again, a group called the RIRA (Real IRA) has claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of two British soldiers in County Antrim northwest of Belfast over the weekend on March 8th. The soldiers were leaving their army barracks to accept a pizza delivery when they were ambushed. 4 other people were injured including 2 other military personel and the pizza deliveryman.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/two-soldiers-dead-in-northern-ireland-army-base-shooting-20090308-8s5d.html
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Snow!
Last night it snowed maybe 2 inches or so, which is quite a lot for Ireland.
The students in our housing complex all went nuts over the snow so of course a snow ball fight happened immediately and continued until security came to break it up claiming we were being obnoxiously loud.
The students in our housing complex all went nuts over the snow so of course a snow ball fight happened immediately and continued until security came to break it up claiming we were being obnoxiously loud.
London Awaits
Thursday morning I am flying to London with my friend Maggie who goes to UL. She and I are just staying in London for a few nights and will be returning to Ireland Saturday evening as I have water polo.
We will stay in a hostel Thursday night and then stay with a friend of Maggie's who studies in London on Friday night.
We will stay in a hostel Thursday night and then stay with a friend of Maggie's who studies in London on Friday night.
Unfortunate Results
Over the weekend I played in the Inter-Varsity Water Polo tournament with the UL water polo team. It was hosted by NUIG in Galway.
Unfortunately Our men's team failed to make it past the group stages and into the semi-finals. We tied our frist match 8 a piece with Trinity College Dublin, then we lost to University College Dublin 9-8. Then Trinity went on to beat UCD 9-7 or so, don't remember the final score, so we got knoced out of our group.
It was depressing because it was the best water polo we had played all season long. We were actually winning 8-6 over Trinity with 2 mins left to go in the game. Then we blew it. We gave up an ejection (man advantage foul) to Trinity with 17 second left in the game and the tied it up.
We were down by two points to UCD with 2 mins to go in the amtch, and brought it to a one goal defecit. We stole the ball or forced a turnover 2 times whilst UCD just tried to kill the time on the clock but we couldn't get the last goal to force the draw.
On a happier note, however, The UL Women's team took 2nd place in the tournament losing to Trinity in the final 6-5 havign previously lost in the group stages to Trinity 6-1.
This weekend we play Trinity for a league match sunday morning, so we will be looking for payback.
In the National League, we are currently tied for thrid place. We play the teams ahead and behind us this weekend, so we can possibly move into 2nd place in the League with two wins this weekend. However, the team ahead of us has one or two matches in hand so they will have to opportunity to regain the lsot points later in the season.
Unfortunately Our men's team failed to make it past the group stages and into the semi-finals. We tied our frist match 8 a piece with Trinity College Dublin, then we lost to University College Dublin 9-8. Then Trinity went on to beat UCD 9-7 or so, don't remember the final score, so we got knoced out of our group.
It was depressing because it was the best water polo we had played all season long. We were actually winning 8-6 over Trinity with 2 mins left to go in the game. Then we blew it. We gave up an ejection (man advantage foul) to Trinity with 17 second left in the game and the tied it up.
We were down by two points to UCD with 2 mins to go in the amtch, and brought it to a one goal defecit. We stole the ball or forced a turnover 2 times whilst UCD just tried to kill the time on the clock but we couldn't get the last goal to force the draw.
On a happier note, however, The UL Women's team took 2nd place in the tournament losing to Trinity in the final 6-5 havign previously lost in the group stages to Trinity 6-1.
This weekend we play Trinity for a league match sunday morning, so we will be looking for payback.
In the National League, we are currently tied for thrid place. We play the teams ahead and behind us this weekend, so we can possibly move into 2nd place in the League with two wins this weekend. However, the team ahead of us has one or two matches in hand so they will have to opportunity to regain the lsot points later in the season.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wish came True
Earlier in my trip I visited Blarney Castle in Co. Cork.
Kissed the blarney stone, hiked around the castle grounds and took part in a tradition called the Wishing Steps.
Now I can say my wish has come true. So if ever you find yourself at Blarney Castle, ask someone how to get to the wishing steps, read the instructions and try your best!
Kissed the blarney stone, hiked around the castle grounds and took part in a tradition called the Wishing Steps.
Now I can say my wish has come true. So if ever you find yourself at Blarney Castle, ask someone how to get to the wishing steps, read the instructions and try your best!
Ok. Go ahead. Laugh.Now that that's over, I think this is the only picture I will post from this night. You don't need to see the rest, this one just about sums it up. My friends and I dressed as the Power Rangers for a costume party. And yes, we went out to a night club dressed like this afterward. A one time only experience
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The band Formerly Known as SacreBleu!
Tuesday Night Agathe, Benjamin and I played guitar on a radio show for our campus radio station, 99.9 Wired FM.
Agathe and our friend Jonathan have a 30 min radio show about french music on tuesday evenings at half five. So this week we decided to do live music.
After polling our friends for a name for a group, Juan from Spain decided on the title SacreBleu. We then had the idea to keep the number of people who knew it was us to be playing on Tuesday to a minimum, and thus we fabricated a story about how the band was an up and coming group from France. We told the majority of our friends to tune into Agathe's radio show on tuesday to check out this new band who would be reallt great.
To fill time on the show Agathe and I had written a short history of the band, how we met etc. so Jonathan could interview us on the air. Jonathan announced over the air that Agathe could not be present for the show that day as she was on the road seraching for new music, leaving her free to play the part of Girly from SacreBleu. The band members were Curly (myself) , Girly (Agathe), and Gotee [goaty] (Ben) *Ben has a large black gotee.
We played a four song set beginning with two well known French songs sung in French, Champs Elysees and Aicha.
Then two popular modern french songs sung in English, New Soul by Yael Naïm and On my Way by Cocoon.
Our plan worked fine except for no one really listens to our school radio station anyway, so it was more for or own fun, but also we actually had intentions to be a real 'band' afterwards.
However the following morning we were struck with terrible news, and really just lack of research on our part, but it turns out there are already several bands named SacreBleu or Sacre Bleu, so alas, our band dissolved.
We are tenatively reformed under the name by Jove! which is a loose translation of Sacrebleu into english. We went to a local open mic night at white house pub to see if it would be worth playing sometime. It was there we realized we needed our own music. Luckily, Agathe to the rescue, Agathe has a brilliant mastery of language and poetry. So we took some of her poetry and lyrics she had previously written and put them to tune for the first time. We now have one original song ready to play (ready in a loose sense of the word) called Williamites.
Agathe and our friend Jonathan have a 30 min radio show about french music on tuesday evenings at half five. So this week we decided to do live music.
After polling our friends for a name for a group, Juan from Spain decided on the title SacreBleu. We then had the idea to keep the number of people who knew it was us to be playing on Tuesday to a minimum, and thus we fabricated a story about how the band was an up and coming group from France. We told the majority of our friends to tune into Agathe's radio show on tuesday to check out this new band who would be reallt great.
To fill time on the show Agathe and I had written a short history of the band, how we met etc. so Jonathan could interview us on the air. Jonathan announced over the air that Agathe could not be present for the show that day as she was on the road seraching for new music, leaving her free to play the part of Girly from SacreBleu. The band members were Curly (myself) , Girly (Agathe), and Gotee [goaty] (Ben) *Ben has a large black gotee.
We played a four song set beginning with two well known French songs sung in French, Champs Elysees and Aicha.
Then two popular modern french songs sung in English, New Soul by Yael Naïm and On my Way by Cocoon.
Our plan worked fine except for no one really listens to our school radio station anyway, so it was more for or own fun, but also we actually had intentions to be a real 'band' afterwards.
However the following morning we were struck with terrible news, and really just lack of research on our part, but it turns out there are already several bands named SacreBleu or Sacre Bleu, so alas, our band dissolved.
We are tenatively reformed under the name by Jove! which is a loose translation of Sacrebleu into english. We went to a local open mic night at white house pub to see if it would be worth playing sometime. It was there we realized we needed our own music. Luckily, Agathe to the rescue, Agathe has a brilliant mastery of language and poetry. So we took some of her poetry and lyrics she had previously written and put them to tune for the first time. We now have one original song ready to play (ready in a loose sense of the word) called Williamites.
Carnival!
Friday night, my two friends Lucia and Gaël, Dutch and Belgian respectively, hosted a party for the international students.
The theme was Carnival! which is essentially the Dutch/Belgian equivalent of Mardigras. Everyone dressed up in costume; my friends Agathe, Jen, Christophe, Benjamin and I went as a group costume, The Power Rangers. It certainly made for an interesting night as later we moved the party to Molly's which is the local night club we frequent. So we went out on the town still dressed as power ranger.
I may or may not post pictures of this.
The night culminated in a sleepover at Agathe and Jen's flat where we moved all the mattresses into the living room. We spent the next day thoroughly exhausted and though it was lovely weather, we laid in Agathe's living room and watched movies all day, moving as infrequently as possible.
The theme was Carnival! which is essentially the Dutch/Belgian equivalent of Mardigras. Everyone dressed up in costume; my friends Agathe, Jen, Christophe, Benjamin and I went as a group costume, The Power Rangers. It certainly made for an interesting night as later we moved the party to Molly's which is the local night club we frequent. So we went out on the town still dressed as power ranger.
I may or may not post pictures of this.
The night culminated in a sleepover at Agathe and Jen's flat where we moved all the mattresses into the living room. We spent the next day thoroughly exhausted and though it was lovely weather, we laid in Agathe's living room and watched movies all day, moving as infrequently as possible.
UL climbs the ranks
Heading into the intra-varsity Tourney, our polo team has climbed the ranks of the National League Division Three.
This weekend marked 5 wins in a row for the team as we beat University College Cork 10-4 Saturday night and played Blackrock again this morning securing also a 10-4 victory.
Our team should now be sitting at 4th or 3rd place in the league of 9 teams. We should qualify for the play offs and may be able to finish in the 3rd spot but the top two spots are fairly secured already.
This coming weekend is the Intra-Varsity Tournament hosted by NUIG (National University of Ireland - Galway) at their brand new sports complex. The tournament will have universities form all over Ireland but the big teams will be Queen's University from Belfast, DIT Dublin Institute of Technology, NUIG, and perhaps DCU or UCD (I always confuse the two) Dublin City University or University College Dublin.
Depending on the group draw for play on Friday we should have an ample shot at progressing pretty far into the tournament. There are some teams there we know we can beat and some we know we can atleast keep up with so the matches should be great. And for all else, The night life in Galway is brilliant.
This weekend marked 5 wins in a row for the team as we beat University College Cork 10-4 Saturday night and played Blackrock again this morning securing also a 10-4 victory.
Our team should now be sitting at 4th or 3rd place in the league of 9 teams. We should qualify for the play offs and may be able to finish in the 3rd spot but the top two spots are fairly secured already.
This coming weekend is the Intra-Varsity Tournament hosted by NUIG (National University of Ireland - Galway) at their brand new sports complex. The tournament will have universities form all over Ireland but the big teams will be Queen's University from Belfast, DIT Dublin Institute of Technology, NUIG, and perhaps DCU or UCD (I always confuse the two) Dublin City University or University College Dublin.
Depending on the group draw for play on Friday we should have an ample shot at progressing pretty far into the tournament. There are some teams there we know we can beat and some we know we can atleast keep up with so the matches should be great. And for all else, The night life in Galway is brilliant.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
First International Water Polo Debut
Today I played my first international match in Water Polo
I am playing for the University of Limerick as Mary I (my college) is an affilliate school of UL so I'm elligible to play on their teams.
We traveled to Galway today to play a match against Blackrock which is the third division team for Corrib Water Polo Galway.
We won 12-9, chances are looking good for a top 4 finish in the league this season. They are now on a 3 win streak and we have two games next weekend at home they think we will win both.
In Galway we had only 8 players, leaving one sub, but at our home games we'll have a full team.
I am playing for the University of Limerick as Mary I (my college) is an affilliate school of UL so I'm elligible to play on their teams.
We traveled to Galway today to play a match against Blackrock which is the third division team for Corrib Water Polo Galway.
We won 12-9, chances are looking good for a top 4 finish in the league this season. They are now on a 3 win streak and we have two games next weekend at home they think we will win both.
In Galway we had only 8 players, leaving one sub, but at our home games we'll have a full team.
Monday, February 9, 2009
One (top left): Audrey, Tiphanie, Oscar; France France Portugal
Two: Me and Juan (Spain)
Three: Me and various Erasmus students plus Jen (girl next to me) she is Agathe's flatmate from Cork Ireland
Four: Erasmus students at birthday for Mylene (girl in middle with teal shirt looking to her left shoulder)
Five: Erasmus group at beach near Cliffs of Moher
Six: Agathe and Christopher both from France
RAG Week Day 1
Today was the beginning of our school RAG week
my friends and I went to our morning classes, which was only one for me, then skipped those in the afternoon and went out to the pubs near campus
There were hundreds of students at Scotts bar and the surrounding area. There was 9" pizza for 2 euro all afternoon and the off license (liquor store) next to the pub had all sorts of deals for the students, so everyone just spent the afternoon and early evening there. There was live music in Scott's pub and in between a few DJ's from our school spun music.
This evening however, I had training for water polo. I got back around 11:20pm and everyone was just heading out for the night to Trinity Rooms (night club) as there was a student event tonight and a local hip hop group is performing. In sold my ticket to my friend Audrey (France) as I was going to be far too tired to go out after training tonight.
my friends and I went to our morning classes, which was only one for me, then skipped those in the afternoon and went out to the pubs near campus
There were hundreds of students at Scotts bar and the surrounding area. There was 9" pizza for 2 euro all afternoon and the off license (liquor store) next to the pub had all sorts of deals for the students, so everyone just spent the afternoon and early evening there. There was live music in Scott's pub and in between a few DJ's from our school spun music.
This evening however, I had training for water polo. I got back around 11:20pm and everyone was just heading out for the night to Trinity Rooms (night club) as there was a student event tonight and a local hip hop group is performing. In sold my ticket to my friend Audrey (France) as I was going to be far too tired to go out after training tonight.
Ireland Wins!
Saturday was the beginning of 2009 Six Nations Rugby
Ireland V. France in Dublin
Ireland Wins 30-21!
The match was brilliant and the craic at the pub where we watched was massive.
(craic, pronounced 'crack' means fun) I'm sure there's an accent on craic but I am not sure how to type it on here.
Ireland V. France in Dublin
Ireland Wins 30-21!
The match was brilliant and the craic at the pub where we watched was massive.
(craic, pronounced 'crack' means fun) I'm sure there's an accent on craic but I am not sure how to type it on here.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Maxwell! You need to get fit.
I began water polo this week. I am playing at University of Limerick. Technically my school is part of UL and then as such I am a UL student I am eligible to play for their club. I went to the first training Thursday of last week but was not ready to play, I was exhausted that day and dehydrated, on top of that we mostly just swam that training so I looked pretty bad. The coach said to me, "Maxwell! You need to get fit."
However, things picked up after that, I started this week fine with training on Monday. I was rested and hydrated and played well. I think I am a bit out of shape conditioning wise compared to many of their players but am on par skill wise or above most of them. We have a few really good players but overall there is a lack of cohesion on the team. Enough people do not know whats going on that when we scrimmage it pretty ugly and mainly just involves a lot of swimming back and forth due to turnovers.
Beginning on Valentines day we have matches each week. We have 2 club matches for the first 2 weeks then Intra-Varsity matches begin between the universites. UL Mens' Polo is National League D3. Their Womens' Polo is D2 and at that they are easily the best in D2 and should win it all this season.
The team is also trying to organize a tour for a few games on the Continent in possibly Poland or France against a foreign club.
However, things picked up after that, I started this week fine with training on Monday. I was rested and hydrated and played well. I think I am a bit out of shape conditioning wise compared to many of their players but am on par skill wise or above most of them. We have a few really good players but overall there is a lack of cohesion on the team. Enough people do not know whats going on that when we scrimmage it pretty ugly and mainly just involves a lot of swimming back and forth due to turnovers.
Beginning on Valentines day we have matches each week. We have 2 club matches for the first 2 weeks then Intra-Varsity matches begin between the universites. UL Mens' Polo is National League D3. Their Womens' Polo is D2 and at that they are easily the best in D2 and should win it all this season.
The team is also trying to organize a tour for a few games on the Continent in possibly Poland or France against a foreign club.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Weekend of Exploring
Most of the Irish students took off for the weekend to go home to work so once again it was the internationals who banded together. Friday night Agathe cooked a carrot-coconut soup and I made a veggie Curry to go with it. After dinner we decided to go to 2 pubs we had not been to yet. I wanted to go to W.J South's because it is a bar mentioned in Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt which is set here in Limerick.
South's turned out to be a really nice place, very swanky, we felt a bit under dressed. It was very low key in comparison to the other pubs we usually frequent. It was nice to be able to sit with just the group of 4 of us and have a conversation without shouting; so in that sense I feel it was a great place to begin the night at for a casual pint. And about the pint, it was rumored that South's was where you could get the best pint in Limerick. The verdict is that yes indeed that was the best pint I've had since I've been here however the only way to see if it is the best is to go to every pub in Limerick.
After South's we went to a pub called The Bank, one we have always walked past but never ventured into. The Bank had really great music; the band even did requests so of course we had them play Galway Girl. Towards the end of the night the group played an epic song that took maybe 15 mins to complete which had just about one verse from every popular Irish song from Whiskey in the Jar to Irish Rover to I'll Tell me Ma.
It was here at the Bank I realized that they don't do whiskey sours here which is unfortunate though probably better for my bank account.
I called it an early night becasue I had to get up quite early in the morning the following day. I met my friend Maggie Faul (from STL studying at Univ. of Limerick) and her friend Maura (from Jersey) at the bus station where we caught a bus to Cork City, the second biggest city in Ireland. We explored the Cork City Centre for a bit under 2 hours before catching a bus to the nearby town of Blarney. Here we toured the castle and kissed the blarney stone. then we did some hiking around the castle grounds where the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. We did a tradition there called The Wishing Steps, which is a very steep, slippery, long set of stone stairs where they say if you can walk up and down them backwards with your eyes closed while thinking only of your wish then it will come true. The three of us each did it, I will keep you posted on if my wish comes true or not.
We ate lunch which we packed for the trip in the town of Blarney then headed back to Cork where we were just in time for the next us to Limerick.
South's turned out to be a really nice place, very swanky, we felt a bit under dressed. It was very low key in comparison to the other pubs we usually frequent. It was nice to be able to sit with just the group of 4 of us and have a conversation without shouting; so in that sense I feel it was a great place to begin the night at for a casual pint. And about the pint, it was rumored that South's was where you could get the best pint in Limerick. The verdict is that yes indeed that was the best pint I've had since I've been here however the only way to see if it is the best is to go to every pub in Limerick.
After South's we went to a pub called The Bank, one we have always walked past but never ventured into. The Bank had really great music; the band even did requests so of course we had them play Galway Girl. Towards the end of the night the group played an epic song that took maybe 15 mins to complete which had just about one verse from every popular Irish song from Whiskey in the Jar to Irish Rover to I'll Tell me Ma.
It was here at the Bank I realized that they don't do whiskey sours here which is unfortunate though probably better for my bank account.
I called it an early night becasue I had to get up quite early in the morning the following day. I met my friend Maggie Faul (from STL studying at Univ. of Limerick) and her friend Maura (from Jersey) at the bus station where we caught a bus to Cork City, the second biggest city in Ireland. We explored the Cork City Centre for a bit under 2 hours before catching a bus to the nearby town of Blarney. Here we toured the castle and kissed the blarney stone. then we did some hiking around the castle grounds where the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. We did a tradition there called The Wishing Steps, which is a very steep, slippery, long set of stone stairs where they say if you can walk up and down them backwards with your eyes closed while thinking only of your wish then it will come true. The three of us each did it, I will keep you posted on if my wish comes true or not.
We ate lunch which we packed for the trip in the town of Blarney then headed back to Cork where we were just in time for the next us to Limerick.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Pictures of Limerick City
Here are a few pictures snapped from the neighborhood surrounding my campus
RAG Week
Coming up for the third week of the semester is RAG week at Mary I
it stands for Raise a Grand week and it is for raising money for charities.
There are events planned all week and students buy a rag pack of tickets that allow them entrance. They are 30 €
Basically what it amounts to is no one goes to class and just drinks all day. There are concerts each night, The Strangelets, The Saw Docotors, The Coronas, The Prodigy etc. And then themed after parties at the night clubs. Scotts bar right near our campus is kicking off the week by providing free beer and pizza during Monday
our student lounge on campus will have a bar from 1-6 pm each day of the week as well.
it stands for Raise a Grand week and it is for raising money for charities.
There are events planned all week and students buy a rag pack of tickets that allow them entrance. They are 30 €
Basically what it amounts to is no one goes to class and just drinks all day. There are concerts each night, The Strangelets, The Saw Docotors, The Coronas, The Prodigy etc. And then themed after parties at the night clubs. Scotts bar right near our campus is kicking off the week by providing free beer and pizza during Monday
our student lounge on campus will have a bar from 1-6 pm each day of the week as well.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A few Friends
From Left to right:Agathe (France)
Christophe (France)
Jonathan (France)
Stephanie (Belgium)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pictures?
I know many of you probably want to see some pictures. Soon I will go and take some. Lately I have been forgetting to bring my camera when I go out, I don't persay want to look like a tourist.. Limerick is not the most safe town, infact its the dodgiest in Ireland.
I have free time now that classes are running, we are not out and about all day everyday so I will go to take pictures of my town and of my campus.
I have free time now that classes are running, we are not out and about all day everyday so I will go to take pictures of my town and of my campus.
Tentative Schedule
So they do things differently here as registration for classes. Where in the states we are sued to the schedules being set in stone in advance and registering well before the semester begins, here you have until the end of first week, or second week for internationals, to register. So you can go to many classes the first week and find the ones that are suitable.
Tentatively I am going to be taking 4 modules (classes) and auditing one other one.
Irish Poetry and Prose 18th and 19th Centuries
Global Environment Change
Urbanization, Urban Growth and Planning
Gaelige: ab initio -----> Introduction to Gaelic -----> Irish Language!
I will be auditing (sitting the class but not being registered or taking the exams)
Abstract Algebra, which is the only math class left for me to take for my major.
Tentatively I am going to be taking 4 modules (classes) and auditing one other one.
Irish Poetry and Prose 18th and 19th Centuries
Global Environment Change
Urbanization, Urban Growth and Planning
Gaelige: ab initio -----> Introduction to Gaelic -----> Irish Language!
I will be auditing (sitting the class but not being registered or taking the exams)
Abstract Algebra, which is the only math class left for me to take for my major.
Weekend Without the Irish
Weekend without the Irish —
The Irish students were still on break as we moved into our flats at City Campus.
Also, they tend to go home on the weekends. So this first weekend our flats were relatively empty so all the international students banded together.
I have made great friends with a lot of them. On Friday night we went to Doolan's pub to see some traditional music. All together there are probably 40-50 international students so we tend to ravel as a big group, but it soon thins out as the night progresses as those who like the late nights stay out to drink but many retreat to their beds. My friend Agathe and I tend to be in the group that finishes out the night.
After leaving Doolan's as it was closing time we went back to our flats at City Campus. That night it was the birthday of Gael, a student form Belgium who lives in the flat below me. We returned to his flat and continued on our night. Agathe brought up her guitar as I told her I'd buy her a drink if she let me use it. I wasn't able to bring a guitar over for the journey it was too much hassle. Our friend Shane played first and he is a brilliant guitarist though is main instrument is the Double Bass. He was able to play Hotel California after just a minute or two of trying to figure out the song. Accompanying Shane was Thomas from Oklahoma on vocals so the thick accent worked well.
We finally left Gael's just after 5 in the morning.
Saturday I went to meet my friend Maggie, ( from Saint Louis but studying at University of Limerick) down in City Centre but we missed each other. To remedy the situation I went and purchased a mobile. There is a company here that is pay as you go and free calling between their companies mobiles so that all the international students buy them and we can call each other cheaply. Later in the day I was able to meet up with my friend down in City Centre after she finished the tour of King John's Castle. We came back to my flat and Maggie met my international friends. Then she had to depart to meet her flatmates. Agathe stayed to watch a movie with me so we watched 10 Things I Hate About You (popular in France apparently). Then we cooked pasta for dinner for a few of our friends and baked a chocolate cake for Gael.
Gael had another party at his flat but this time much larger. We learned a german drinking game involving dice and lying (similar to our card game B.S.)
Round 1 am we left from Gael's flat and went to a late nite pub that has very loud music and dancing so we all danced until they closed round 3 am. The music was mostly American, they really like Kings of Leon here and their new song Sex on Fire is very popular.
Sunday was Rugby Day. We Watched the match at Clohnessy's which is a pub run by a famous rugby player. Ireland is divided into 4 sections. Limerick lies in the section Munster. The Munster Rugby Team is the best team in all of Europe. We watched them play a French team, Mont Aubain perhaps? , and they won pretty handily. The match was the quarter final in the Heineken Cup.
Sunday afternoon we were all tired. We met our flatmates as they returned to school. My flatmates are grand. Fiona, Michelle and Emma. They are very nice, friendly and outgoing. I left them after a bit so I could return some things to Agathe as she had left them for the baking of the cake at my flat. I again bargained with her that if I returned her whisk we could play guitar again. So we did that as well, and it turned into a lot longer of a playing session then I imagined. We then invited friends over to watch a dvd as we were too tired to go out for the fifth night in a row. Agathe and I decided to cook for ourselves as well. However our guitar playing went long, and we began to cook right as our friends arrived. It also turns out that most of the international students came, so as we thought it would be only 5 or 6 friends coming, it became 20. Agathe and I made Rissoto with onion, tomatoe, zuchinni, garlic and sour cream.
We watched Oceans 11 and turned in for an early night as we had classes the next morning bright and early.
The Irish students were still on break as we moved into our flats at City Campus.
Also, they tend to go home on the weekends. So this first weekend our flats were relatively empty so all the international students banded together.
I have made great friends with a lot of them. On Friday night we went to Doolan's pub to see some traditional music. All together there are probably 40-50 international students so we tend to ravel as a big group, but it soon thins out as the night progresses as those who like the late nights stay out to drink but many retreat to their beds. My friend Agathe and I tend to be in the group that finishes out the night.
After leaving Doolan's as it was closing time we went back to our flats at City Campus. That night it was the birthday of Gael, a student form Belgium who lives in the flat below me. We returned to his flat and continued on our night. Agathe brought up her guitar as I told her I'd buy her a drink if she let me use it. I wasn't able to bring a guitar over for the journey it was too much hassle. Our friend Shane played first and he is a brilliant guitarist though is main instrument is the Double Bass. He was able to play Hotel California after just a minute or two of trying to figure out the song. Accompanying Shane was Thomas from Oklahoma on vocals so the thick accent worked well.
We finally left Gael's just after 5 in the morning.
Saturday I went to meet my friend Maggie, ( from Saint Louis but studying at University of Limerick) down in City Centre but we missed each other. To remedy the situation I went and purchased a mobile. There is a company here that is pay as you go and free calling between their companies mobiles so that all the international students buy them and we can call each other cheaply. Later in the day I was able to meet up with my friend down in City Centre after she finished the tour of King John's Castle. We came back to my flat and Maggie met my international friends. Then she had to depart to meet her flatmates. Agathe stayed to watch a movie with me so we watched 10 Things I Hate About You (popular in France apparently). Then we cooked pasta for dinner for a few of our friends and baked a chocolate cake for Gael.
Gael had another party at his flat but this time much larger. We learned a german drinking game involving dice and lying (similar to our card game B.S.)
Round 1 am we left from Gael's flat and went to a late nite pub that has very loud music and dancing so we all danced until they closed round 3 am. The music was mostly American, they really like Kings of Leon here and their new song Sex on Fire is very popular.
Sunday was Rugby Day. We Watched the match at Clohnessy's which is a pub run by a famous rugby player. Ireland is divided into 4 sections. Limerick lies in the section Munster. The Munster Rugby Team is the best team in all of Europe. We watched them play a French team, Mont Aubain perhaps? , and they won pretty handily. The match was the quarter final in the Heineken Cup.
Sunday afternoon we were all tired. We met our flatmates as they returned to school. My flatmates are grand. Fiona, Michelle and Emma. They are very nice, friendly and outgoing. I left them after a bit so I could return some things to Agathe as she had left them for the baking of the cake at my flat. I again bargained with her that if I returned her whisk we could play guitar again. So we did that as well, and it turned into a lot longer of a playing session then I imagined. We then invited friends over to watch a dvd as we were too tired to go out for the fifth night in a row. Agathe and I decided to cook for ourselves as well. However our guitar playing went long, and we began to cook right as our friends arrived. It also turns out that most of the international students came, so as we thought it would be only 5 or 6 friends coming, it became 20. Agathe and I made Rissoto with onion, tomatoe, zuchinni, garlic and sour cream.
We watched Oceans 11 and turned in for an early night as we had classes the next morning bright and early.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Erasmus and Insomnia
Things are swell here.
I have met a lot of new friends; they're really great people. Most of them are Erasmus students.
Erasmus is a study abroad program in Europe. Many of them are French, some are Belgian, and there are others from elsewhere.
Agathe (pronounced 'a got') has been very welcoming. She is here for her second semester as she was here in the Fall. She is from France and has helped us adjust as much as she can. We went out to the pub together last night; it was good craic (pronounced crack, gaelic for fun).
I have not been able to sleep well. The beds are not comfortable at all. But I think it has more to do with the time change than the beds.
We have orientation this morning where we will tour campus and choose classes, which begin Monday.We are meeting to walk to campus at half 8; its just about 8 am right now over here.
Hope all is well back home. I will try to get some pictures up soon; the internet here is a bit dodgy.
I have met a lot of new friends; they're really great people. Most of them are Erasmus students.
Erasmus is a study abroad program in Europe. Many of them are French, some are Belgian, and there are others from elsewhere.
Agathe (pronounced 'a got') has been very welcoming. She is here for her second semester as she was here in the Fall. She is from France and has helped us adjust as much as she can. We went out to the pub together last night; it was good craic (pronounced crack, gaelic for fun).
I have not been able to sleep well. The beds are not comfortable at all. But I think it has more to do with the time change than the beds.
We have orientation this morning where we will tour campus and choose classes, which begin Monday.We are meeting to walk to campus at half 8; its just about 8 am right now over here.
Hope all is well back home. I will try to get some pictures up soon; the internet here is a bit dodgy.
More frist day
Apartment is awesome! my roommates are three girls. Though none of them are here yet.
Got to the apartment freshened up and dropped my stuff off then it was off to shop a bit to grab a few essentials with Catie.
Did some rudimentary grocery shopping at Lidl (Aldis). Groceries = college food = ramen noodles, spaghetti o's, Kidney beans, Tuna and beer.
After shopping, unpacking, cleaning, and eating I promptly flopped down and passed out in an not so comfortable position on my bed. Woke up about 20 mins later with crazy cramps, drank some water and went right back to bed
but I did remember to set an alarm to wake myself in 2 hours.
Catie was too exhausted to go out at night so I went out alone for a quick pint with intentions to meet someone later. My downstairs neighbor had invited me out for diner but I was waiting for Catie before she decided to stay in. I was going to meet him at Dolan's pub later in the night, this was somewhere I had read about and thought I knew the location.
Turns out I really didn't quite know where it was so I just meandered about by myself in the rain until I came past a small pub called The West End, I decided to stop in for a pint an turns out there was an important football match on so I caught the tail end of it. The team I was rooting for wan but did not deserve to. Tottenham Hotspur advanced to the final of the Carling Cup by beating Burnley on 6-4 aggregate but really Burnley should have won and advanced. The final is against Manchester United.
Had some red kidney beans as late night snack and watched the first half of Eastern Promises before turning into bed at 11:30.
Got to the apartment freshened up and dropped my stuff off then it was off to shop a bit to grab a few essentials with Catie.
Did some rudimentary grocery shopping at Lidl (Aldis). Groceries = college food = ramen noodles, spaghetti o's, Kidney beans, Tuna and beer.
After shopping, unpacking, cleaning, and eating I promptly flopped down and passed out in an not so comfortable position on my bed. Woke up about 20 mins later with crazy cramps, drank some water and went right back to bed
but I did remember to set an alarm to wake myself in 2 hours.
Catie was too exhausted to go out at night so I went out alone for a quick pint with intentions to meet someone later. My downstairs neighbor had invited me out for diner but I was waiting for Catie before she decided to stay in. I was going to meet him at Dolan's pub later in the night, this was somewhere I had read about and thought I knew the location.
Turns out I really didn't quite know where it was so I just meandered about by myself in the rain until I came past a small pub called The West End, I decided to stop in for a pint an turns out there was an important football match on so I caught the tail end of it. The team I was rooting for wan but did not deserve to. Tottenham Hotspur advanced to the final of the Carling Cup by beating Burnley on 6-4 aggregate but really Burnley should have won and advanced. The final is against Manchester United.
Had some red kidney beans as late night snack and watched the first half of Eastern Promises before turning into bed at 11:30.
Flight to Ireland and more!
January 20 – Chicago:
Eat lunch at Thai grill. Kill time with my replacement roommate until Nora picks me up for the flight. Bags don't seem too heavy as at this point I'm relatively rested and energetic.
Flight is on time, take off at 6:30 PM, with no troubles getting through security. In fact this is the first time I've gotten through security without getting the extra security check, I guess I used to be on some list suggesting I may pose a domestic threat to the country...
After boarding the plane it comes to my attention that I actually didn't have a flight direct to Shannon, rather it stopped in Dublin first. I had all intentions of sleeping on the flight however that was never the case. Food is lack luster, special request lacto-ovo- vegetarian meal, and in flight movies fail to amuse.
Flight to Dublin luckily doesn't seem too long which is nice because I couldn't sleep.
Land at 7:25 am Dublin time = 1:25 am CST. Bad weather in Dublin = lay over for plane de-icing. Still arrive right on time in Shannon on the shortest flight ever at 9:25 am. Literally I think the Dublin to Shannon flight takes longer to taxi, take off, land, and taxi again then it spends actually in the air, maybe 20mins air time?
Line to enter country an Shannon is a bit long. Convert $600 to € gives €431.xx
Bus to Limerick transit hub costs €6.80 and is a quick trip, quicker than expected. Note during trip I have seen the biggest hills in quite some time, Chicago is flat.
At customs I met up with a friend from Loyola, Catie Houlihan and we traveled together to Limerick. We are attending the same school and staying in the same apt. complex.
Not quite oriented right as we begin the trek to our apt complex and we walk the right direction but the wrong street. At this point we are unbelievably exhausted and have to stop every two blocks or so to rest. We are tired, wet, sore and hungry. Taxi would have been a good choice, but better would have been closer inspection of a better map than we had at the time. (note today on the adgenda is go buy a decent map. Limerick doens't have the nice grid system we are used to in Chicago and the streets are not labeled as frequently or clearly as we are used to) We were initially real close to our apt but we took the long tiresome route and ended up detting directions from a nice stranger.
Eat lunch at Thai grill. Kill time with my replacement roommate until Nora picks me up for the flight. Bags don't seem too heavy as at this point I'm relatively rested and energetic.
Flight is on time, take off at 6:30 PM, with no troubles getting through security. In fact this is the first time I've gotten through security without getting the extra security check, I guess I used to be on some list suggesting I may pose a domestic threat to the country...
After boarding the plane it comes to my attention that I actually didn't have a flight direct to Shannon, rather it stopped in Dublin first. I had all intentions of sleeping on the flight however that was never the case. Food is lack luster, special request lacto-ovo- vegetarian meal, and in flight movies fail to amuse.
Flight to Dublin luckily doesn't seem too long which is nice because I couldn't sleep.
Land at 7:25 am Dublin time = 1:25 am CST. Bad weather in Dublin = lay over for plane de-icing. Still arrive right on time in Shannon on the shortest flight ever at 9:25 am. Literally I think the Dublin to Shannon flight takes longer to taxi, take off, land, and taxi again then it spends actually in the air, maybe 20mins air time?
Line to enter country an Shannon is a bit long. Convert $600 to € gives €431.xx
Bus to Limerick transit hub costs €6.80 and is a quick trip, quicker than expected. Note during trip I have seen the biggest hills in quite some time, Chicago is flat.
At customs I met up with a friend from Loyola, Catie Houlihan and we traveled together to Limerick. We are attending the same school and staying in the same apt. complex.
Not quite oriented right as we begin the trek to our apt complex and we walk the right direction but the wrong street. At this point we are unbelievably exhausted and have to stop every two blocks or so to rest. We are tired, wet, sore and hungry. Taxi would have been a good choice, but better would have been closer inspection of a better map than we had at the time. (note today on the adgenda is go buy a decent map. Limerick doens't have the nice grid system we are used to in Chicago and the streets are not labeled as frequently or clearly as we are used to) We were initially real close to our apt but we took the long tiresome route and ended up detting directions from a nice stranger.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Train trip disaster
So I left Saint Louis today for Chicago via train.
Our train made it to Carlinville IL before it hit a Garbage truck and partially derailed.
I am fine and no one on the train was seriously injured however the driver of the truck is still in the hospital.
A full story can be read here
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=164862
Our train made it to Carlinville IL before it hit a Garbage truck and partially derailed.
I am fine and no one on the train was seriously injured however the driver of the truck is still in the hospital.
A full story can be read here
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=164862
Saturday, January 3, 2009
My trip to Ireland
I am going to be studying abroad this semester in Limerick City, Co. Limerick, Ireland at Mary Immaculate College. (Mary I for short)
I am leaving from Chicago on January 20th on an overnight flight and will be arriving at Shannon Airport around 9:30 their time.
I'll know a few people when I get there. A friend of mine from Loyola will also be going to the same school in Limerick while my friend Maggie from Saint Louis will be going to a different school, University of Limerick, in the same town. I met a few students from Mary I this semester as they studied at Loyola.
If all goes well I hope to try and play some water polo with the club team at University of Limerick while I'm there. Also if I get the chance I'd like to do some traveling hopefully to Prague, Norway, Croatia and more.
I will keep everyone posted with information on here now and then as well as post pictures from my travels.
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