Blogs from Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland, Europe
May 17th 2012
I have officially lived in Dublin now for the past 2 months, and every week I postpone creating a blog. I'm never any good with words, and I hate reading my writing later on. I just think it's time I had a blog, especially since I'm now debating on not even going back home to Vegas after my visa expires. I am SO behind on everything, so I'll start at the very beginning of this adventure! I graduated last December with a Bachelor's of Social Work. I've always wanted to travel, but I kept putting it off, its expensive! So I decided I would stay at my university for my Masters degree, I really don't enjoy living in Las Vegas, I just feel like there is so much out there and I get this claustraphobic feeling ... read more
May 15th 2012
May 14 Monday – Preparing to depart Not much to talk about today. Pretty much took care of last minute details before heading west to Ballinasloe tomorrow around noon. I will take the #20 bus which goes to Galway but stops on the way at Ballinasloe. It cost 14 Euros one way and 17 round trip. The weather has went from beautiful one minute to raining the next all day. The only constant has been a cold wind which keeps blowing. I talked to Christie on my phone and he said to call him when I left Dublin tomorrow. I am not looking forward at all to repacking that heavy backpack and toting it tomorrow. It came in at just under the limit when the airline weighed it at 46 lbs. Well…..guess I will go empty ... read more
May 15th 2012
Tuesday May 15, 2012 - I took the #20 bus from Dublin to Ballinasloe today. It was a lovely spring day and the bus ride was pleasant. My cousin Noel came to the bus stop to pick me up and took me to my other cousins Christy and Brian’s house. Christy immediately gave me a huge plate of Ham, turnip, and potatoes with tea. I ate as much as I could and visited with them for a few hours while showing them some pictures on my computer. Noel’s wife Maggie came over and we all visited a bit while drinking tea. Noel has generously volunteered to take me to several places over the next few days.... read more
University College of Dublin Veterinary Hospital
Published: May 16th 2012Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin
May 15th 2012
Hi everyone! This is Kelli Matheny, and I will take the next few minutes to tell you about our day. We arrived in Dublin tired, but excited to begin our activities. We first traveled by bus to the University College of Dublin Veterinary Hospital where we were greeted by Professor Emily Hill. She explained how she started her studies as a human geneticist, but found a way to combine both her love of genetics with her admiration of horses. In 2004, she set up a program to analyze genes in the horse that specifically contribute to performance traits. She and colleges developed a test that utilizes the genetic make up of an individual horse to determine which length race that horse is best suited for. We then were able to eat lunch in the veterinary hospitals ... read more
May 13th 2012
Saturday May 13 – Ireland Day 3 – Dublin Another good but tiring day. I got up around 9AM and my roommates were all sleeping still so I got dressed quietly and went to the computer station of the hostel. I invested a few hours going through my pictures and doing my blog for Friday. After I finished I went back to the room and everyone was up and gone so I didn't have to worry about noise and I locked away the stuff I would not need while touring in my under bed locker and loaded up what I needed in my messenger bag. This of course included a refill of my 20 Ozarka water bottle I had brought from home. I refill and reuse it every day. Not sure what bottled water cost here ... read more
May 13th 2012
Sunday May 13 – Dublin - Today I just kind of roamed around pretty much and went to the National Museum of Ireland. It was too windy and cold to be too comfortable in it so I went to the museum. I also went by the Basarus bus station to check on taking the bus to Ballinasloe on Tuesday. So that is the plan at the moment. I bought a phone and will set it up tomorrow and call my cousin Christie. I have had a good time here and look forward to seeing the rest of Ireland at my leisure. I will probably spend my last week here in Dublin as well before returning to the States for a bit. I explored Dublin a bit today and found out where the regular people shop. Henry ... read more
May 12th 2012
Friday May 11 – Dublin day 2- Friday was a long day. I took the LUAS to O'Connell St. and ate breakfast at the kylemore restaurant by the Spire. It was quite a large breakfast and cost 9.95 Euros ($13.93 ) . No free refills on the coffee though....that would have been 2.65 E ($3.71). So I made do with only one cup. After breakfast I bought a combo LUAS/Bus daily pass and took the 140 bus down O'Connell Street and across the Liffey. After crossing the Liffey the bus went by Trinity College. I should have pushed the “stop” button there. I would have gotten off there by Trinity College and at the North end of the pedestrianized Grafton Street. The bus turned left and went down Nassau Street and then turned right on Kildare ... read more
May 11th 2012
May 10 Thursday - I arrived safely in Dublin about 7AM this morning. It was raining and about 45 degrees. I caught the Airlink Bus into Dublin and took it the long way around to Heuston Station using it to have a look at the city. It really is amazing how those bus drivers can weave in and around traffic on those narrow streets. And the little cars and bicycle drivers have absolutely no fear of death and constantly pull directly in front of the bus, and “hog it out” at intersections. Once I got to Heuston station I got on the LUAS train and when it started moving I found out I was going the wrong way and had to get off on the next station and come back, and continue on to my stop ... read more
May 9th 2012
May 8 Tuesday – 01:10 AM - It’s hard to believe that this time Thursday I will be in Ireland. I’ve been doing weeks of homework on Dublin and Ireland and tried to attend to every detail so here I go. When I get to Dublin about this time Thursday I will take the Airlink bus 747 to Connolly Station where I will transfer to the LUAS Red line to Smithfield Station. From there I can walk to the Generator Hostel on Smithville Square. Once at the hostel I can drop off my backpack and do some rat killing while I wait for the 2pm check in time. Since I am a hostel virgin there will be quite a bit of just checking things out. Actually now that I have looked at things a bit ... read more
May 7th 2012
Useful web links - http://www.inyourpocket.com/ireland/dublin - packed with useful info....http://goireland.about.com/od/dublincityandcounty/tp/dublin_free.htm - free attractions in Dublin and the Dublin area......http://goireland.about.com/od/preparingyourtrip/tp/ireland_free.htm - Top 10 free attractions in Dublin...http://www.dublintourist.com/budget_dublin/top_attractions.shtml - Top low cost Dublin atractions.....http://www.hostelworld.com/travel-features/157/15-things-to-do-for-free... read more
