Did Someone Say Red?

check it out:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Hedgehog19/Study%20Abroad/763016b1.jpg

Alright, so I'll admit that it's fading somewhat, but boy was it awesome at first!

I'm sorry I haven't been keeping this blog up in the last few days- the computers here are pretty lousy, and I'm never really in the mood to write this stuff. Therefore, the following entry will be summarized Bridget Jones style...

Wednesday. Bus tour to Glendalough and Powerscourt Gardens. Started an hour late. While in bus station, our school group harassed at length by a drunken bum. No air conditioning on bus. Not happy. Powerscourt Gardens mind-blowingly gorgeous, especially the Japanese Garden. Viewable at:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Hedgehog19/Study%20Abroad/Japaneese_garden.jpg

Seriously, beautiful! Glendalough pretty also. Ate good food, wandered around monastic ruins. More bus. Saw where castle was built for movie "Reign of Fire." Went to bog in the Wicklow Gap. Tried to sleep despite "traditional" Irish music blaring. Spent evening doing homework and writing. Lots of cappucinos- very hyper. Got homework done by 4 am. Way too much fun. Seriously. I was that giddy. Specific reason? Personal optimism, with happy blend of scenery and warm-and-fuzzy e-mails. ^_^

Thursday. Got up at 8 (that's 4 hrs sleep, in case you're counting). Went for short run, then went out in a field and did Yoga. Possibly the single most pleasant activity on this trip. Puffy clouds, cool breeze, warm sun. Trip the light fantastic. Seriously loving study abroad; excited to go home to Colorado and Arizona. Anyway, went to Lynch's class. Bored class to tears with presentation on the Elgin Marbles. More's the pity. ^_^ Alex patronized me by saying it was interesting. Thank-you, Alex. After class, went into Dublin. Abandoned original plans, because Matt was with us (Diana, Mel and I)and needed to leave for airport soon. Went to pub, had Guinness. Sweet, sweet Guinness. Went to Tourist office- I bought a tour ticket. More on that later. Mel, Diana and I got good lunch at The Queen of Tarts. Very good place. Went back.

Friday. Got up VERY early and got cab to Heuston Train Station with 11 other students. Went on RailTour. AWESOME. Two hours on train to Limerick in western Ireland. Bus to Bunratty Castle. Cool place. Raining while on top of towers. Beautiful views of the River Ratty. Can't compare to the white beaches of Lahinch, or the windy and spectacular Cliffs of Moher, where we went next. Breathtaking. Ocean is a cold, clear dark blue/aquamarine color. Sweet, sweet coffee at Cliffs. Nectar of the Gods. Went to Gus O'Connell's pub in a small town. Drank a Guinness. Nectar of the Gods. Yes, I know that I just said that about coffee, but I argue that they're the same beverage. ;-) Drove out to the barren, a landscape of bare rock running right to the sea. Wandered around, right up to cliff edge. Shorter cliff than at Moher, though. Pounding, spraying surf. Found a small stone with two fossilized shells in it. Still on my desk. On bus, struck up lengthy and lively conversation in Spanish with some women from Seville. I spoke better than I expected. Nice people. Talking with them and hearing the difficulties they've experienced makes me grateful that English is my first language. Much easier to travel abroad. Bus rounded Black Head, went around Golway Bay to Golway. Lots o' cows and sheep. In Golway, dashed off to shopping mall. Snuck into bathroom (didn't have 30 cent to pay for toilet). Old city wall and one tower are built into the mall. Crazy cool. Hopped train to Dublin. Played hearts. Lost at hearts. Good times. ^_^ Got back to campus around 10. Slept like a rock.

Saturday. Continued to sleep like a rock until noon. Ate some rice, went to computer lab briefly. Got curry chips from Leo Burdock's, and ate them on the lawn of Christchurch Cathedral. Went shopping with Stephanie. We each bought two things. I spent 10 euro. She spent around 500. I shudder to think what her credit debt is like. Luckily, her father is a personal injury lawyer. Makes excessive spending slightly less of a problem. Even so, I pity her future husband who will have to deal with her bringing home Louis Vuitton purses and Versace sunglasses like she did on Saturday. Shopaholism is a disease. Came back Saturday night. Went for another run, then did yoga in the field. Exceedingly pleasant. Slept like a babe.

Sunday. Got up early. Diana, Mel, "Drunken Matt" and I went to a free breakfast outside of the GPO on O'Connell Street to kick off the Bloomsday activities here in Dublin. Mmm, massive quantities of meat in a baguette. Went to Carroll's- massive souvenir shop. Some fun stuff. Went shopping. Bought small backpack to carry lunch/waterbottle/umbrella/wallet etc in while walking accross Scotland with Jessamine. Walked to Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery. Tasted Mel's "Irish Coffee." Tasty. Shopped some more. Went back to UCD. Very hyper. Begged Mel to go to Temple Bar with me. Yay! Got tipsy, went back to UCD, massive group (me the only one not entirely sober) hung out in Alex/Matt Neff/Coleman/Jason's room. I stole Alex's hat and started rapping. Still have the hat.

Monday. Today. So resentful of being dragged to the early class by my roommates instead of being able to go running then go to later class (the one I'm actually in). Ate darn good chicken and bacon tikka sandwich. Rode bus into town. Caught bus to Kilmainham Gaol. Seriously disturbed when Alex tackled me in the museum while I was reading about someone being hung. Didn't know he was there. Went on tour. Awesome place- very interesting. Very good elaboration of info on Irish rebellions touched on in class today. Went to Beshoff's Fish and Chips for lunch. Tres yum. Returned, made beeline for computer lab. Such an addict. Now talking to Steppie online, and laughing at the jokes she's cracking about the Indian guy sitting in the row in front of me who's looking at porn online. Funny stuff.

Alright, I think that covers it for now. Perhaps tomorrow I'll get around to writing a bit about classes and whatnot. Right now, dinner and sleep.

Good times. ^_^