Blogs from Cork, County Cork, Ireland, Europe - page 24

5 weeks to go, 39 dayz until take off!!! But sure who’s counting. Up the walls with getting everything ready for my next adventure but looking forward to the trip in full anticipation. So this is it - after 11 years abroad I'm off yet again further a field then ever before! So I hope I'll get to see some of you on my travels. To all my friends and family that I'm leaving behind this is the place to get updates and signs of life! Enjoy! Julia ... read more

We woke up to a beautiful sunrise this morning as the ship glided into Cobh harbor. The town looked pretty in the morning light and we laughed as we passed a bunch of young guys up on the hill, swaying arm in arm, singing at the top of their lungs, trying to get the attention of the ship’s passengers. We enjoyed our breakfast on the verandah in the cool, fresh air. It was shaping up to be a lovely day. We disembarked and quickly found our private driver guide for the day, Kevin, from Butler’s Buses. After greetings all around, we headed for Blarney Castle. On the way, Kevin filled us in with information about the town of Cobh and County Cork. Cobh was the last place the Titanic stopped before making her fateful crossing across ... read more

Been wandering around now for upwards of two hours trying to find the bay. A bay. Any body of water larger than a river. The utter lack of streetsigns once one leaves the city proper is making this rather difficult. After a time I had only the general cardinal directions to help me - and once I found myself in suburbia, they were no help at all. I've plopped down in the 'Douglas Community Park' to enjoy the shade before I try to find my way back to the part of the city I know. Next time I try this, I think I'll just follow the river. Now this is not to say I'm not enjoying myself - on my walk I got into a richer part of town: all the houses were gated, set back ... read more

Today I actually got up the guts to go a little farther away from my apartment. I would say that I traipsed around the SW third of the city for about 3 hours. I had three goals in mind when I set out, which were accomplished in the first 15 minutes: find sugar (something I forgot to purchase yesterday), a headset for my computer (since my bloody bluetooth doesn't seem to want to work properly), and the post office. To minimize my tourist-y appearance, I wore my run-down shoes, neutral colors, my school bag over my shoulder, and carried my camera in my hand instead of around my neck on a strap. Not sure how well it worked, but since I hardly ever open my mouth, I should be able to blend in. Right? Anyhow, I ... read more

After a very long journey from Cambridge via 4.5 hour train and then 2.5 hour ferry, I made it to Dublin. I got a train and then the appropriate bus to taking me to my host Djamal's house. I arrived close to 8pm and was exhausted from all of the travel. He has a very small flat and there was another couch surfer there as well. We all stayed up talking a bit and I went to sleep on the love seat about 10pm. The next day I woke up early and took my time to get out, leaving the house to gry skies and rainfall by 10am. I walked down to the city center on O'Conell street and continued to Trinity College. After being in Cambridge, Trinity college in Dublin had nothing on campus beauty. ... read more