Hello everyone!
Some of you have been asking why you have not received any of my messages . . . and it's because it haven't sent any!! It's been pretty crazy here with keeping in contact with family and paying for all my internet! In general though I have had some amazing weather, and in over two weeks I don't think it's rained more than 3 days, and only for brief periods! It's been hot and sunny, and I am working on a great short tan ;)
Since I wrote last I was in London. On my last day I spent some time in Candem town and walked up to Primrose hill to see over all of downtown london. This is where I hung out with me new aunt Paula and cousin Iona with her boyfriend chris! They were great people, and gave me lots of good tips about the area. It's amazing how many people were in Primrose park drinking wine on their picnic blankets . . . I wish I could do that in Saskatchewan!
Then I was off to Dublin via Gatwick airport. My train was actually delayed and I ended up missing my flight to Dublin by 5 MINUTES!!!! It was a terrible experience . . . like when the people on Amazing Race start losing their cool. I managed to get another flight for an extray £120 (ridiculous) for later in the day, but my original flight was only £21. Obviously not a high point of my visit to London!
In Dublin I stayed with my new Aunt Anne Kelly. She was very very sweet to me and I had my own bedroom, bathroom and slippers! We had Irish breakfasts everymorning (sausage, rashers, eggs, toast, tea/coffee and smoothies) and lots of wine, cheese, and crackers EVERY evening! My favorite things! In Dublin Anne lived South of the River Liffey in Blackrock, and I had to take the "DART" from downtown to her house everyday. I have 3 nights there including an awesome whirlbath, and having dinner with Anne at "the Bank" (a a pub that is built in in OLD bank on O'Connell Street right downtown). I also saw all of the tourist hots spots in Dublin and drove around the country side with Anne. We saw some beautiful gardens in Glendalough and Powerscourt gardens, Sally's gap, and near the Dun Laoghrie pier and "forty foot" gentlemans swimming area (haha look that one up). We went to a great pub called Johnny Foxes for some awesome seafood and irish brown bread (which is like bran, it's delicious)! There are really too many things to write about Dublin, so I will keep going!
From there I went off to Killarney, the south west of Ireland. It's a small town of about 12,000 residents but there is a beautiful National Park there. I did a 45 km bike to the gap of Dunloe and to Muckrose House & Abbey, and then to Ross Castle. It was tough, but the scenery was worth it. The next day I took a bus tour around the Ring of Kerry and saw some great coastal scenery. Ireland is beautiful, there is so much to see I will have to go back! After Killarney I was back to Dublin for one last night with Anne in Dublin and then off to Belfast!
Belfast is ugly. Simple as that. It's a day trip if you ever feel the need (like I did) but aside from it's cool political history, it's not really for sightseeing. I walked through some botanical gardens and down to the River (which I can't remember the name of right now) but other than that there is not much to do but eat and drink. My hostel here (Paddy's palace) was cheap and clean; just like it shoudl be! No frills but I have a good quiet room and I was pretty comfortable. The full day I had there was a trip out to the Giants Causeway and a rope bridge near by (nothing like Capilano though) and then onto Derry for a big political history lesson. If you are ever in Northern Ireland, the giants cause way is totally worth it!
From Belfast I took a ferry over to Scotland and then a train to Glasgow (with a quick walk through town, not very pretty really) and then right on to Edinburgh. I have been taking pictures of all the pubs and restaurants I have been eating in so hopefully when I am not as tired as I am right now (since walking is free!!!!) I can write more about them! There are awesome pubs in Ireland, I am not sure how the other places I visit will hold up!
Edinburgh has been great, but it's sure busy. I am staying in a dorm at the University and it's great because I have a full hot breakfast included in my room price (£20) with coffee and all that included too! The campus is very close to downtown, but where I am is a bit more south and right next to Arthurs seat (a volcanic mountain). I climbed up it two nights ago (and it's deceivingly steep) and celebrated with a strombo at the top! Great views but it sucks when you realize you now have to scale your way back down!! Yesterday I saw all the major sights in town (ie. the castle, Royal mile, Holyrood house, Grassmarket for lunch, Cowgate, Scottish Parliament, Real Mary King's close, National Museum of Scotland . . . and a few more. You can see how it all becomes a blur!! Today I took a bus to no man's land to see Rosslyn Chapel south of the city. It is the small chaped made famous in the Da Vinci book and movie. It was beautiful and included a tour with all the myths of the crypts below and stuff like that!
For the rest of the day I sort of explored and tried not to get lost (even though you see more when you do). I went to the National Gallery, got some gross salad from Marks & Spencer (which was reduced in price, so I should have known) and walked up Calton Hill and took lots of pictures and relaxed in the sun. Tonight I am going to have dinner with a Canadian friend from Nova Scotia who came to check out the Vet school here. Hopefully we can find some good scottish music . . . and hopefully it lives up to Ireland!
I am pretty tired so I haven't been my whitty self in this entry! I hope everyone is doing well, I have so many people I would like to email but this has taken me so long I will have to wait until I can stand buying more internet minutes.
Keep working hard Jaime!!
Cheryl, you may enjoy Scots, but good luck understanding them!!
Miss, thanks for the favor, got your doggy yet?
Gooey, how is everything going with the basement/cabin?
Kayll, little mesh bags are awesome!! Thank you!!
Julie B, thanks for the sweet message. I will enjoy the freedom!
Lindsay, how is the new job? I would love to hear about it more, it sounds so awesome! Send me an update about your Community Experience too!!
Bev, how is Ile a la Cross for you? Had any snow yet, haha!
Auntie Pam, thanks for the emails!
Cheryl M, let me know how Dillon went! Hopefully you got to do some outdoors things!
Tom, I am going to Paris next. Any advice?
Gotta go get freshened up now for my night on the town in Edinburgh! Tomorrow morning I am going up to Inverness to see the Lochness and some castles (including Glencoe and the "battle of Culloden" area, that's for your Cheryl Ann). I hope there is good weather! You'll hear from me sooner than later next time!
Love, Amanda xoxo
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