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Day 1- May 17, 2009
We arrived in Ireland at 6:00 am their time, which would be like 1:00 am EST. I did not sleep well on the plane. It was cramped for an international flight. The first day was a daze because of my jet lag.
We took a bus into Dublin and dropped off our luggage at the Harcourt Hotel. We ate "a full Irish breakfast." I tried white and black pudding (blood sausage).
We arrived at St. Patrick's Cathedral around 9:00. The cathedral is Episcopalian/Anglican because of Henry VIII. The church was beautiful with many stain glassed windows depicting the life of Saint Patrick. Jonathon Swift, Irish writer of Gulliver's Travels and a Modest Proposal, was a priest there and we saw his grave.
Next we went to Kilmainham Jail. Look it up online. A lot of the leaders who tried for Ireland's independence were executed there. It was cold and eery.
By the time my tour of Kilmainham Jail was over, I was ready to sleep.
Our guide took us on a bus tour through The Phoenix Park, Ireland's National Park and the largest park in Europe. The president of Ireland
and the American Ambassador has mansions in the park. There's also a monument to the Duke of Wellington who won against Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo. My professor asked us what battle took place in 1815, and I answered correctly. He owes me a pint of Guinness.
We were luckily able to return to the hotel and nap before dinner.
We had an Irish dinner at the Camden Court Hotel. I had a salmon salad, pan-seared chicken, mashed potatoes, and lemon cheesecake. It was so good.
After dinner, some of the girls went out to explore Dublin. I walked down to some shops on Grafton Street and bought Diet Coke and a watch.
I finally went to bed at 11:00 pm.
Day 2- May 18, 2009
I felt much more rested today.
Our first stop today was at St. Patrick's Teaching College. It is where primary and secondary teachers are educated. We had a former primary school teacher lecture us on the primary education system in Ireland. He also played gigs in between his speaking points.
During our visit at the Teaching College, my professor, Natasha, and Batt, our guide and Kent State representative in Ireland, asked me if I would be interested in studying for a semester at the St. Patrick's Teaching College. I think that it would be an interesting experience and I cannot wait to see where this island may take me.
After the visit at the College, we were free for lunch. We ate in Dublin Centre and did some shopping. Dublin has a lot of British Shops. I shopped in River Island, Top Shop, Miss Selfidge, Marks & Spencer, and maybe a few others today. In Galway, there will be more Irish shops.
After lunch, we did a walking tour of Dublin with Batt. We went on Fleet St. and were in the Temple Bar area. We then visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells. I have seen the Book of Kells in textbooks before but I am suprised with how beautiful they are in person.
We had dinner at a restaurant that is connected to our hotel, called "Little Ceasar's" which had italian food. I must have had a plate of spaghetti that weighed 2lbs but I ate every bit of it.
Tonight, we went to a pub called the Oliver St. John Gogarty in Temple Bar. It had live traditional Irish music upstairs. I drank a pint of Smithwicks, an Irish ale, while listening to them.
I'm trying to pick up Irish sayings and some Irish (Gaelic.) The Irish really don't pronounce "h"'s. Three is said "tree."
The Irish are very hospitable to us. The best part of today was probably when I was asked for directions, not once, but twice! I must look Irish or native!
Chancing my arm is an idiom that originates from a feud between two dukes. One duke cut a hole in a door and stuck out his arm to shake the other duke's hand, risking it to a sword. They made-up (briefly.)
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Constance
non-member comment
Sounds like you're having a blast already!
It was great to hear from you today... I'm glad you're enjoying every minute (and blogging about it)! If you're being asked for directions, I'm sure you look like a natural... or maybe it's the green trenchcoat. Haha. Enjoy your last day in Dublin!