Dublin was the start of our 4 month backpacking trip!! The plane ride thankfully went smoothly, no turbulence! We were picked up by the Paddy Wagon-a large and green, so Irish bus. We're super money conscientious, which is how our adventure is going to last so long, so we are booking with places and companies that offer a lot for a good price!
The Suitcase!!!
About to board the plane
Plane over Dublin!
The Paddy Wagon Bus that picked us up from the airport :) Highly recommend if you are going to be hosteling about in Dublin. The pick up alone will save you a nice chunk of money$$ and you get free walking tours and a free day tour! However, my FAV. part about hostelin' it is meeting people from all OVER the world, which is exactly what happened :)
Dublin!
Irish foot shot, naturally.
Genuine Irish stew at the Porterhouse (there are two in Dublin, one is this deliciously divine restaurant, the other is a deliciously stocked beer house, 4 stories! So awesome, we went to that one as well on another night). We were so jet lagged we fell asleep at the restaurant waiting for our bill.
Seafood chowder. yum.
Meet Ben: Ben was our very own Aussie. Met him the first night in Paddy's Palace, I was skyping with my friend..the jet lag had already taken over, didn't know the day of the week. Then from across the room, I hear the answer "it's Tuesday"...So began an instant friendship with BEN.
BusFUN
one trail of Glendalough
Old Glendalough church
Alana being intrepid in a stream!
The Paddyyyy Wagon!
Glendalough
Ben discovered color saturation on my camera...my life hasn't been the same since. I'm obsessed with the feature now.
Ben, Alana and I having a Kilkenny beer in Kilkenny!
Hanging in Kilkenny
At Kilkenny Castle :)
"Camera Saturating" by the Kilkenny Castle
Locks for love-Dublin
So a Canadian, American, Ca-American and an Australian walk into an Irish pub...
Temple Bar, went there for two nights. fun fun. The first night we went out dancing...but before we even got to the Temple Bar area-I popped/sprained..straight up destroyed my ankle, while walking over a treacherous uneven tile. I heard a pop and it was really bad. However, I also really wanted to go out and have fun as one of our German friends' Charly, was leaving the next day. I had to YOLO.
So that night my ankle was fine but when I woke up the next day it was larger than a GOLF ball...it was bad and ugly, bugly. I was a gimp for about 2 weeks, which is pretty long for that to heal but it makes sense because we were/are nonstop wherever we go. The next day we went to an Irish Pharmacy, Ben, who is seriously such a knowledgeable man's man helped me out and I got a foot brace and an anti-inflammatory cream. Godsend! So that helped a bit.
Natural History Museum of Ireland. Basically a wide variety of exotic taxidermied animals. From Grizzly's from Alaska to kangaroos from Australia. We also visited the National Ireland Museum. Learned about the ancient Irish people and there was a big focus on preserved Irish bodies that had been murdered, sacrificed and or assassinated, either way endured an unpleasant death and thrown into the "bogs". So they had about five different people/bodies on display, it was creepysad but interesting.
Ben and Alana on St. Stephen's Green. We all had a wee nap in the LUSH grass.
St. Stephen's Park
Ben having a snack, Alana.
St. Stephen's Green was so relaxing. It hit me then that I can do that whenever I want for the next four months. No constraints. Though it was odd for a second that I don't have work the next day or the next day after that and so forth, which is weird for me since I have been working and have had a job since 17. With the last two working years being waking up before the sun and getting home without the sun, I don't miss that aspect whatsoever. I love being able to enjoy the DAY. Laying there in the super green grass I had a sense of peace, reflection and reality. Truth: unemployed in a scary somewhat inconsistent economy. Truth: saved up my money and I am seeing beautiful Europe and having amazing adventures for the next few months of my life. So it made me happy :); Truth: also miss my crazy family but I've always wanted to take a long trip and enjoy and experience this oyster of a world.
LOVING life!
Happy in Dublin!
Our Dutch boys/hostel roomies!! We loved them. They were a blast and we all got along great...little did we know we would see them very soon (to be read in my Netherlands post)
Reunion under le Eiffel Tower, how cinematic;) <3 amazing day
We have a secret..Paris we love you!
amazing aerial view only to be seen atop le eiffel tower :)
If he jumped it would've had a parachute of his jacket!
Yes, it was THAT windy!
The sun was glistening, the water, everything- it was perffffection!!
Conquering Paris!
Jose and Kaylyn :)
Bffls
Some of the group!!
Couldn't believe I was in the Eiffel Tower :) Taking it all in <3
Seine River Cruise :)!!
Under the bridge, the algae water marks are just a reminder to how historic Paris is
The Famed Versailles!!! One of my dreams coming true!!
Alana in the beautiful Hall of Mirrors
My turn :) I was in heaven I ADORE chandelliers :)
The romantic gardens. That day they were actually filming something there. They had actors dressed in Victorian appearing costumes. It was neat.
LOVED the checkered black and white tile. Such an amazzzzing experience. Alana and I almost missed the tour bus to go to Versailles. We somehow managed without knowing any French, waking up late and figuring our way out on their subway system! It was meant to be :)
Mark in awe of the beautiful structure glowing at night :)
Alana and I :)
At night they light up the tower for a bit. It's almost like a light show, with bursts of flashing light. So perfect!
Notre Dame, Quasi moto are you home?
Steve trying to figure out where to go next
I'm in Louvreeeee ;)
Mommy and me about to get our museum on!
Yup we saw her!
Breathtaking art from the floor to the ceiling.
Paris, France- said to be one of the most romantic & magical places on Earth! And I'd have to agree :). The first thing we did was go right to the Eiffel Tower. I didn't bring a phone so I borrowed my friend Adam's to call my mom and see where she was in France (she was there with a friend) and it turns out she was at the Eiffel Tower! It was such a special moment. We ran to each other literally under the Eiffel Tower. It was magic and I had missed her so much because I had been abroad for almost a month at this point, the longest away from her! And to meet up at such a famous landmark it was almost too much!
After our awesome cold windy Eiffel Tower trip we took a Seine river cruise but NOT before trying a deliciously divine nutella crepe (very Parisian) from a crepe stand on the river. Oh my gosh. Best chocolately taste. ever!! Everyone was quite satisfied and nice and full before our river ride:)
I have to say Paris has fascinated me really since I was in high school and learning about the "romantic" "passionate" French anti-monarchic Revolution. And of course you can't learn about that without learning about the magical Versailles King Louis the XVI 16th and Marie Antoinette's residence. I had heard about the famed hall of mirrors and gardens but to see something that you have wanted to see for a while in person was a wonderful experience. Besides those hallmark places of Versailles, Versailles as a whole was so over the top (although it has nothing on Russia's palaces!).
My mom and I went to the Louvre together that was amazinnnggg!! We saw the Mona Lisa (quite small in person btw!) Venus de Milo, Hammurabi's code!! So many iconic figures that have surpassed generations. ahh to go back. I loove museums and so does my momma (where I get my love for learning from). It was a magical day. I'll post more info and pics for Paris part duex..like I how I found my mom in Paris the next day sans French Lang knowledge and a phone :)..
MUST DOs:
-Versailles
-Notre Dame
-Sacred Heart
-Eiffel Tower (at night :)
-Champs elysees
-The Louvre
-Eat a Nutella Crepe
-Have French fries (hehe)
-Buy a beret (i wear mine when I paint for inspiration)
-Go to a cafe and people watch for a night (my mom and I and her friend had the best night doing just that)
-Take a Seine River cruise
-In Nice France. Hang in the square and go to the beach and beware the jellies but enjoy the life!! Definitely more laid back than Paris.
