Goodbye Ireland, Thanks For All the Guinness!

08/16/2010

Today I went on the Whiskey Factory tour where we saw different stages in the production of Irish whiskey.

The factory used some very large distilling equipment.

The whiskey is aged in barrels (color changing over time) for seven years because, as the Jameson motto goes, "not a drop is sold 'till it's seven years old."

At the end of the tour I got to be one of the tasters and received a certification for being a participant. Afterward two German fellas told me about a free Pub Crawl that night. After the tour I headed over to the Mess RS pub for the crawl. During the crawl we went to a pub where they gave us free shots and another where they have beer pong in the basement. Along the way I had my first creeper moment in Europe as a strange girl tried to lure me away from the group. No doubt we would end up down some dark alley where a gang would be waiting to mug me.. no thanks.

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08/17/2010

SCOTLAND

Today I paid the hostel five euro so I could stay in 'till 1p then packed up and headed for the bus to the airport.

On the plane ride over to Edinburgh I met a local named Peter and he told me how to get to my hostel and how much the bus would cost. In Edinburgh I found my hostel where I met some Spanish people and we all went out. I got some practice speaking Spanish over a few drinks as I tried to keep up with the quick dialect - a preview of things to come when I get to Spain.

Intensity Rising

Ireland Tour Day 7:

The Troubles

This morning we went on a black cab tour where we learned about the troubles and how they were influenced by Nationalist and Loyalist conflict.

Nationalist are those who would like Ireland to be a single republic and Loyalists are those who would like Ireland to be part of the UK.

As well as political, or "secretarial," struggles there is also a coinciding split of Catholic (Nationalist) and Protestant (Loyalist).   The "troubles" became so bad that the English were wearily invited to come help even though they have a history of overstaying their welcome AKA taking over.

The English immediately made it worse with interment camps for anybody with Irish influences followed by killing a group of protesters 38 years ago.  Some Irish leaders were put in prison for their ideals and when they were forced to join the general population of prisoners they refused to wear prison uniforms and went on hunger strike until they died.

These things and more lead to many problems that are just now lightening up with four years of no bombings excluding one just two weeks ago in Derry and even yesterday in Lurgen. These are actually apparently the first in years. Other history of course includes: the potato famine (where potatoes were all plagued due to similar genetics and therefore similar vulnerability) and mythical stories/superstitions with Finn McCool and faeries and such.

Later YK and I were out and on the way back we passed a Loyalist (presumably IRA maybe even the Provisional IRA) freedom fighters building with a picture of a guy with a gun. I stopped just in time to see a bottle rocket shot at a group of passersby...

After Belfast we left and stopped at another cemetery on the way back.

Back in Dublin Mike and I got beds at the Avalon Hostel and went to Temple Bar. There we heard some traditional Irish music (even some in Gaelic) and saw a little girl doing an epic Irish jig.

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Castles and Giants

Ireland Tour Day 6:

Today we went to Dunluce Castle and explored the ruins of a formerly contested habitation.

The castle affords some pretty nice views of the cliffs and an interesting cave down underneath.

Our next stop was the Giants Causeway - an amazing geological formation fabled to have been built by giants.

The step-like formations allow for easy access and fun climbing opportunity.

After a while we walked along the path until we found another leading up the cliff side.

At the top we were able to see down over the whole causeway.

Next we went to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

Finally, we went over to Belfast for the night.

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Turning Up The Intensity

Ireland Tour Day 5:

This morning we left at 8:30a for Derry and stopped at Westport on the way to Drumcliffe.

At Drumcliffe were a cathedral and the grave of George Yeats - a famous Irish poet. According to one of his poems, it was one of Yeats' final wishes to be buried here:


"Under bare Ben Bulben's head
In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid.
An ancestor was rector there
Long years ago, a church stands near,
By the road an ancient cross.
No marble, no conventional phrase;
On limestone quarried near the spot
By his command these words are cut:

Cast a cold eye
On life, on death.
Horseman, pass by!



When we got to Derry we went on a walking tour with lots of murals and chaotic Northern Irish history. Afterward YK and I went to a restaurant in the main square where we got a couple stakes, chips and a bottle of Rose for £10. I also got a free hat from the bar attendant while playing the souvenir game - our guide told us to try and get a free souvenir from whomever would give us one, best souvenir wins.









While we were eating some of the Loyalist locals lit up a bonfire covered in flags - a likely symbol of their political stance against independence.

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Aran Islands

Ireland Tour Day 4:

Today we went to the Aran Islands (Inis Mor). After we arrived we rented some bikes and headed out to Dun Aengus.

There we did the Cliffs of Moher thing and looked over the edge down at the birds flying below us. Dun Aengus itself is a very interesting prehistoric site. As one of the most famous barbaric fortresses in Europe it has expansive ruins and some very impressive views.

On the way back we stopped at a beach.


After we got back to Galway I passed out at the hostel (Kinlay House) and woke up four hours later to go wander about.

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The Superstition of the Irish

Ireland Tour Day 3:

Today we went to a cemetery where I jumped up and touched a pagan fertility symbol... apparently I'm pregnant now.

Next we went to the Poulnabrone Dolmen (The Well of Sorrows) - a burial chamber dating back about 4000 BC.

Our next stop was a fairy ring.

According to our guide fairy rings contain evil little faeries with teeth that will plague your existence if you enter. One of our crew entered and, sure enough, we found ourselves stuck on a narrow road three times trying to squeeze passed a bus and two very wide trucks - coincidence? Well, yeah probably.

Finally we arrived at the Cliffs of Moher where we were able to lean over the edge and peer down at sea gulls flying below.

That night we ate at Buscar Browns in Galway which was very good; I recommend the Beer Basted Fish & Chips - good value.

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Coasting up the Coast

Ireland Tour Day 2:

This morning on our way to Dingle we stopped at a few places.

One of our stops was the Fahan Beehive huts - ancient domiciles from around 1000BC.

The next was the westernmost point of Europe.

After stopping in Dingle we headed for Ennis where we had lessons in Gaelic and stayed at the Rowan Tree Hostel.

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Greener Pastures

Ireland Tour Day 1:

Today I woke up at 4a and waited until 9a to leave with Alana and Alex to catch the Shamrocker bus to Abbey-Leix. 

There we got some snacks and headed for the Rock of Cashel.

Next we went to Blarney Castle and kissed the Blarney Stone for the "gift of gab". 

According to Monsignor Fulton Sheen, "Baloney is flattery laid on with a trowel. Blarney is flattery laid on with the lips; that is why you have to kiss a stone to get it."

After Blarney Castle we visited the Mitchelson Caves where we saw stalactites, stalactites and other cave related wonders.

Finally we went to a hostel called Neptune in Killarney where we cooked up some pasta with a guy named YK from Singapore.

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Flying and Crashing

08/07/2010

On my way to the Land of Ire the first plane gave me a seat with more room and two extra seats allowing me to lay back, strech my legs out, and watch a movie all the way to Toronto.
The second plane fueled the wrong tank so we were delayed a bit while they worked to switch the fuel to the correct tank. They had extra food and asked me if I wanted seconds and, of course, I happily accepted. During that flight I met a nice couple who then paid for our taxi to Temple Bar.

After arriving I headed over to Citi Bar and Club for some delicious Bangers & Mash (sausage and mash potatoes) and a Bulmers Cider. Next I walked around looking at some of the old buildings.

I got hungry again so I ate at a place called "Gruel" where they're family run, use ingredients from the market and serve fresh baked bread. Then I went to the Old Jameson Distillery for a sample.

Finally I walked to Dame Street for a haircut then crashed back at my room only to be awakened a few hours later to go on a pub crawl. At about 3a I grabbed a bite to eat at Hungry Harry with some other pub crawlers and headed back to the hostel.

08/08/2010

Today I made breakfast for myself and a friend using the hostel kitchen. He told me about his travels around Europe over the last 82 days (70 days longer than initially planned). Apparently he was beaten and robbed while on the islands of Bizo off the coast of Spain but still continued to travel. After eating we decided to go check out the Guiness Factory.

The Guiness Factory was quite large and had some pretty massive "Coppers" which hold 600 barrels or 172,800 pints!

At the end of the tour we went to the top and had a couple pints overlooking the city.

After the Guiness Factory we went to Citi again where I had another plate of corned beef with Bangers and Mash. I was so tired that I kept passing out mid-sentence so after Citi I went back to the hostel and passed out cold.