Bulls in Ireland

Entry No. 11 | July 30, 2011
It’s been over a week in Ireland and we just got to experience the drizzly weather I had been anticipating since day one. One day was enough though; today was just too cold and too wet.

After what seemed like forever traveling on the bus, we made our way to the early Christian Gallarus Oratory in Smerwick. The stone structure looked like an upside down boat and was the perfect shield from the wind and the rain. Of course the one day it decides to be crummy weather, I forget my rain jacket.

Later on we visited Inch Strand on the Dingle peninsula. I wasn’t as brave as my classmates who decided to wade in the ice-cold Atlantic water. Instead, I took the time to sit on the sand and soak in my surroundings, breathing in the salty wet air that reminds me so much of my parents’ home back on North Redington Beach.

Hundreds of pictures later, we went and looked at the Blasket Islands exhibit. In the 1920s and 1930s the Blasket Island writers produced several works of literature that are now classics. They wrote all of their stories in the Irish language and talked about the people living on the island as well as the amazing scenery. We also spent a lot of time in Dingle, shopping and walking around.

When we got home to our bed and breakfast, the majority of us had a night in and ordered pizzas and spent hours just talking. While I only met my classmates a week ago, I can tell that these are people I will keep in touch with for years to come. Tomorrow is our free day, I think I’m going to attempt the 12 mile bike ride….We’ll see how that goes tomorrow.

Goodnight Ireland, I love you.
Alexa

 

Entry No. 10 | July 30, 2011
The days just keep getting better and better…

Also today we had real Irish weather as compared to the unusual sunshine that we’ve had the whole trip. The scenery is unfailingly jaw-dropping.

-Amelia

 

 

 

Entry No. 9 | July 29, 2011
Today was definitely a day for pictures. We started out in Ireland’s National park then moved on to see the Kenmare Stone Circle. The stone circle features one large stone that is surrounded by several smaller ones that were built during the Bronze Age. The circle is believed to originally been used for ritual purposes. It was interesting to think that by the time that these stones were being placed, Newgrange was already considered an ancient monument to them. Having that in mind, it gave me a better idea of just how far back Ireland’s history goes.  Off to the side of the stone circle was a tree filled with random every day items. My first instinct was that someone had done it as an act of vandalism but then we discovered that it was a wishing tree.  Lucky enough, I had a small drawstring bag in my purse that I filled with flowers so that I could leave my wish along side the dozens of others.

Afterwards, I had the pleasure to share a table for lunch with an older man who has lived in Killarney his entire life. We got to talking about the USA, Disney World, the cold winters and before I knew it we were splitting my French fries like old friends. We parted ways, and like a true Irish gent he left me with saying “I’d be wide eyed for a kiss.” Sorry grandpa, but not today. 

We then made our way up the mountains and saw some of the most beautiful scenery since arriving in Ireland. We stopped in Ladies View, which got its name from when Queen Victoria came to visit Ireland and her ladies in waiting were taken to that specific spot to see the view. The view overlooking the water was so absolutely astounding that I had to take enough pictures to fill every wall of my apartment when I get home.

One hundred pictures into the day, we still had the Torc Waterfall in Irelands National Park to visit. The waterfall was massive, and while my classmates made it to the top, I had fallen after 5 minutes of being there. Sure, not a whole lot of people can say that they have fallen in the Torc Waterfall in Ireland…but dry shoes are still nice. 

When we returned back to our cute little bed and breakfast, we had just enough time to get ready for a poetry reading that would take place downstairs. We got to listen to John W. Sexton and Eileen Sheehan read their poetry as well as pick their brains on their writing process. While Eileen Sheehan has a very clever almost spell like poem about her sister, most of the poems were very emotional and brought me to tears. I loved how honest they were with their poetry, touching some very personal moments in their lives that I was honored to have gotten to listen to. Besides the tear jerker moments, today was an absolutely beautiful day, fingers crossed for more rain-free weather like today.

-Alexa

 

Entry No. 8 | July 29, 2011
I feel like crying because I don’t live in Killarney. That is all.
PS. Today was my new favorite day.
PSS. Today I also fell into a waterfall, clothes and all.
PSSS. I found my makeup! On the down side I realized I forgot my camera charger so I’m at the mercy of fellow photographers.

 

 

 

Entry No. 7 | July 28, 2011
At 7:15 a.m. we said our final farewells to Dublin and boarded the bus to the train station. After 2 hours of traveling out into the country we arrived in Cork, the second largest city in Ireland. I wish we had gotten the opportunity to stay a little longer, Cork is far less geared toward tourists and the city wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as Dublin.

After a quick lunch at a local pub, we gathered back onto the bus to head toward Blarney to see the Blarney Castle. The castle was built nearly 600 years ago and the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life up to date. As a naturally clumsy person, I’m not entirely sure how I was able to make it to the top of the tower, praying that each step of that tiny stone spiraling staircase would not be my last. Leading off from the staircase were separate rooms and descriptions of what they most likely looked like in their original condition. Eventually we made our way to the top where the famous Blarney Stone is.  Kissing the stone is supposed to give that person the gift of eloquence, so of course I hopped right on to that band wagon. Kissing the stone was a lot more terrifying than I had anticipated. They pretty much let your head dangle over the edge of the castle for the longest 3 seconds of your life. I could have spent all day at the castle soaking in the view and strolling through the gardens overgrown with wild flowers.

But sadly, all good things must come to an end and it was time to board the bus to Killarney where we will be staying for the next week. While I was sad to say goodbye to the busy city life of Dublin, the amazing scenery out here in the country is the perfect change of pace.

-Alexa

 

 

 

Entry No. 6 | July 26, 2011
Up until a few days ago, I was a world traveler trapped in the body of a forever Floridian. I’m an upcoming sophomore journalism student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg wanting to see the world, and now that I’m in Ireland the thought of ever going back leaves me with an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. 

After months of anticipation and 14 more or less hours of traveling, my first day was spent on top of a double-decker bus in all my tourist glory. Draw dropped and camera slung around my neck, all I needed was a Hawaiian shirt.  In that brief bus ride I had pass by hundreds of years of history and still had 18 more days of Ireland ahead of me.

So far my favorite place has been Newgrange, a 5,000-year-old ancient temple that archeologists have classified as a passage tomb. The monument itself is a complete balancing act, with stones strategically placed to create the spiraled stone ceiling that has made the spiritual site water proof for the past thousands of years. However, the mystery is how the stones got there. They estimate that the tomb itself must have taken multiple generations to move all of the stones, which are native to other parts of Ireland. Once the massive stones were transported, they were carved with intricate circular designs during the daylight then assembled together, because apart from one day of the year, the tomb is pitch black.  The passage and chamber of Newgrange is illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise and lasts 17 minutes. Through what’s called the roof box located above the entrance, a beam of light points directly to the most important recess where they would place cremated remains.  Apart from the sacredness of the tomb, the location of where it was placed is absolutely breath taking.

Our classroom sessions began on the third day. There is something about the ancient building, the brisk air and cobblestone campus that give off such a collegiate feel. In class we talked about mass communications and their impact on society. We were asked to buy an Irish magazine and newspaper to see the difference in Irish mass media.

During the past few days we also have gotten to see some amazing artifacts held in Irelands museums. In the National Museum of Ireland, we got to learn about the bogs, which are arched masses of peat formed by the accumulation of dead plant material, which retain large amounts of water. People would hide their belongings in the bog, and as years passed the artifacts remained completely unchanged since the waterlogged bog let in no air. The bog ended up being a perfect preservative for bodies. Because the internal organs were also intact, the scientists on the project could even say what that person has had for breakfast the morning they had died. My favorite “bog body” was that of a 25-year-old man who was recovered with a full head of curly hair, which they said remained intact because he has styled it with gel that morning. We also went to the Dublinia and learned about the Vikings throughout history, while the wax life size mannequins were a little hokey, the skeletal remains on the 3rd floor were pretty interesting.

Today we got to see the Book of Kells, a 9th-century gospel manuscript. We also got the opportunity to walk through the old library, which was draw droppingly beautiful. It put into perspective just how old Trinity College is and all the great people who had been in that same library before me.
 
While it’s only been five days, I’ve already decided I never want to come back to Florida. I’m jealous of this amazing city and the history that made it what it is today. I’m jealous of the huge fields of green. I’m jealous of all of those that get to experience this everyday. While I know they say that the grass is always greener on the other side, In Ireland, the grass IS greener.

-Alexa

 

Entry No. 5 | July 25, 2011
An sean phort ceann go deo na ndeor!
(They all tune the same forever and ever)
-Gaelic

Had a Gaelic lesson this morning from a renowned teacher and one of Dr. Rick's good friends. A lovely man and a lovely language. He recited a stanza of a poem and it was beautiful, as is the Gaelic way of thinking. They used to say in Irish -- 'Ta bron orm' meaning 'Sadness is upon me.' This means that they believe that sadness is something you can take off and is not a part of one's soul or mind.

We got out pretty early from our lesson which enabled Kristen and I to shop during lunch. We definitely utilized our time and I managed to get quite a few souvenirs. Some were even for people other than myself! I really love the stores here -- they're all so unique and there are definitely some good sales.

Grabbed a bagel and then went back to class where we discussed Irish movies and the impact they have. We then tramped across town to the Dublinia Museum. On the way there I racked Dr. Robin's brain regarding the details of the trip. We really take it day by day here which is so different from what I'm used to. I'm used to planning things so far in advance up to the very last detail and falter if things don't go exactly as planned. I was told by Dr. Rick that we'd have to be Type B personalities here. Too true. We only really know the details of what we will be doing the next day on the day before, which is a blessed change of pace. Everything is more of a "Hey let's go do this since we are here," or "Hmm let's stop here instead actually, it looks fun."

Anyway, the Dublinia Museum was different. The most interesting part was the room about the Black Plague. There were tons of mannequins everywhere, and these particular mannequins were lying on a wheelbarrow. It was just something that really caught my attention. There was also a mannequin demonstrating how people of that age went to the bathroom, grunting and panting included. I kid you not.

When we began to leave the museum, we entered an old cathedral. It is indescribable. It was ridiculously amazing to be standing where people from that era stood and the stone walls and stained glass just made it so alive. Can't wait for St. Patrick's tomorrow, if it's anything at all like the exit of the museum.

Sabra, Pam, Kristen and I then went shopping again to the places we'd missed, then met up with the rest of the group to go to Gogarty's. Gogarty's is a pub with live music. It was quite popular so there was no room where the Irish players were, so we had to go upstairs. I went down to go to the bathroom and was stopped by an old man. He offered his hand to me to dance and of course, I accepted. I am ashamed to say that he was a much better dancer than me and that I had no idea what I was doing. He was light footed and was dragging me about, trying to get me to go where I was supposed to in that certain dance, and obviously I was just not having it. I was too busy cracking up and trying very hard to figure out where my feet were supposed to go. At the end of the song I took a bow and the audience cheered quite fiercely and the Irish players made a comment calling us Fred and Ginger; Quite an experience.

I ordered a hamburger. It came with onions inside of it and no bun...Interesting. And excellent!

After Gogarty's the same four of us as before meandered through town looking for shops, enjoying the super late sunset. We stopped at a Spar's and I got my first Mars Bar! It tasted very much like a Three Musketeers but with caramel. I understand they're quite popular here, however, I will continue to experiment with all the different candy and chocolate. You know, just for those interested...

The sun set around 10:30 and Sabra, Pam, Margaret and I went on a run just in the Trinity grass track. A man told us to take our shoes off if we were running in Ireland because the grass is so soft. So we did. And he was right. I'm sure we looked like proper idiots running around without shoes, but it was worth it.

Many laps later, we sat and talked and took pictures and just relaxed. There aren't any stars in Ireland unfortunately. It's too cloudy.

But that is about the only complaint I have about Dublin so far!

-Amelia

 

Entry No. 4 | July 25, 2011
Today began with a classroom session of Dr. Wilbur and a classroom session, which honestly I would have slept through were it not for my back pain keeping me awake. After the class session Delaney and I wandered around until our next classroom session at 2 p.m., which was actually an assignment for us to do (that was assigned during class at the National Museum of Ireland).

National Museum of Ireland
The museum was cool, the exhibits weren't overwhelming and you can actually finish the museum in one day. The highlights by far were the bog men, bodies that were found in bogs and were perfectly preserved and are now on display there. One was so well preserved that his red hair was still in tact, and looked very similar to Conan O'Brien. My favorite was the Viking exhibit, which was rather extensive with Viking weaponry and tools they used in their trades of fishing and weaving. The only bad exhibit was the Egyptian one they just added. It wasn't extensive, which I can forgive, but it seemed like it was rushed to be added.

After that we went to the GOP (Post office) to see where Michael Collins got shot at during the Easter Rising of 1916 and took a few pictures of where the bullet holes are still present from the machine gun fire. Then we took the light train (a glorified Disney monorail) to the Brazenhead to eat diner, and walked back to Trinity, where my night got even more awesome.

Bruxelles Basement Bar
This by far has been the most fun I've had thus far on this trip (granted my massive back pain hasn't been a major contributor to the fun factor, either). I got that tip from the guy in the Sound Cellar the other day suggesting Bruxelles to me and said "it's the only place we (metalheads) still own." I was dumbfounded when I found the place and saw the outside. It was mostly rich college students and tourists like every other restaurant off of Grafton Street. I saw the stairs off to the side heading to the basement and prepared myself for disappointment, only to not be. I walked into the place, low and behold... metalheads! I was so relieved, especially because there were only a handful of people in the bar, so I knew it wasn't touristy.

"Chronicles of Riddick" played on the plasma on the wall while metalheads played pool (and they actually shake hands and show good sportsmanship after the game). A Jack and Coke properly mixed and placed upon my lips makes this atmosphere even better. Most important of all, the introduction of a brand-new favorite drink for me. Apparently these guys had a spare slushy machine just sitting in the back room, and since they are Irish, they decided to put alcohol in it. More importantly, they put my drink in it…that's right, they had JACK & COKE SLUSHIES!!! I officially entered heaven, my back quit hurting, and it was miraculous.

I also met this great Irish couple that are metalheads, Aido and Heidi. Heidi is obsessed with Slayer. Aido is obsessed with Amon Amarth. They invited me to drink with them after obliterating any hope of anyone else using the juke box that night (which nice bit of trivia here, apparently that basement bar was the first bar in Dublin to get the digital jukebox, and also this jukebox was amazing, because unlike in American ones, you could literally find almost any song you could think of, including metal artist). Concert experiences were shared, Sláinte was yelled numerous times as we toasted, and memories were made with my new friends. Eventually I had to depart and leave my new friends, but it's all good, that's what facebook is for, and why it's important to always have a writing pad with you.

Tonight I go to see a metal show for a band called Neurosis, and I can't wait.

-Will

 

Entry No. 3 | July 24, 2011
I would like to touch on a few things I have noticed here before continuing on with my activities for the day:
1. Crosswalks -- when the timers go off, the sound effects they make are similar to that of an old school Galaga machine, and I now have an urge to find an arcade while here and get my game on. The Irish also have the ingenious idea of idiot-proof instruction placement on the pavement for all pedestrians to see. This needs to be something America adopts.
2. Their product name brands kick our name brands tails!

That being said, I am going to have to separate this blog into sections, because I took too many pictures and paid too much attention to the tour guide. Not my normal protocol for going to tourist traps but hey, there was nothing else to do and it kept my mind off my back pain.

Newgrange
Our first stop was Newgrange, one of the oldest manmade settlements still in existence, predating the pyramids by at least 500 years. To get there we had to drive an hour out of Dublin, so we woke up to take a nap, in essence. We went to the visitors center first, which aside from entertaining myself by finding ornery things I can use to make bad jokes, was nothing really special. We eventually got to Newgrange after another hour waiting in the visitor center. Unfortunately, they did not allow us to take pictures inside of the building, but we were shown where the light is supposed to be shown through the light box above the entrance door on the winter solstice. In the chamber there was also quite a bit of problems with vandals back in the day, some rather famous. One such is from a priest named T.B. Naylor who defaced the inner chamber of Newgrange by carving his name and the year 1894 into the stone. Yes, that's right; the church vandalized a pagan holy site….oh the irony.... The view around the settlement was breathtaking, so of course we have to exploit it being tourists and all by taking about 20 group photos in the front (courtesy of Dr. Wilbur photography, Ltd.). I also took a short nap on the grass of the hillside at the settlement. Irish grass is amazingly soft and great for just lying on the ground and taking it easy. No wonder most of the Irish like to relax in fields so often.

Monasterboice
Monasterboice is an old abandoned monastery no longer in use that only exists now as a graveyard. The only way you can be buried there now is if you happen to have a relative already resting on the grounds. The church has some very tall crosses with very intricate designs. The round tower is still standing where it did 1,000 years ago with its door still pointing towards the most important structure in the monastery at the time, the chapel. These grounds are covered with amazing and elaborate Celtic crosses. If you ever needed inspiration for a cross tattoo design, this is definitely a place to research. One of the other gimmicks on this trip was to take your boarding time sticker they put on you and place it on a poster at Newgrange. Unfortunately for those who miss that poster, at Monasterboice they found….another place to stick them.

After all of that travel, we drove an hour back to Dublin and since it was my classmate Margaret's birthday, we all decided to go out with her to celebrate. We walked all the way from Trinity to Brazenhead (The oldest pub in Ireland) which is a fairly long walk, only to find that they had quit serving food 15 minutes prior to our arrival. We went back to temple bar and ate at a restaurant named Mexico to Rome. They had bacon and egg cheeseburgers which made me very happy, unfortunately, their ability to bartend did not. I got a cocktail called a "Dragon Slayer" which was WAY too weak for the price I paid. I ordered a Jack and Coke next round, only to find out they don't mix drinks and just hand you a can and glass, basically. While getting massively ripped off by our wait staff, I looked out the window to see my friend Charlie from Lakeland, Fla., walking by. I rush outside, tripping over a chair in the process, to catch up with him. The odds are astronomically small when for that to happen, but it did, and it is awesome.

Until next entry!
Will

 

Entry No. 2 | July 19, 2011
Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!
I am ecstatic to report that in a few days, I will be in Ireland -- land of the leprechauns, four leaf clovers, and vast amounts of Irish luck!

This upcoming trip to Ireland will be my first time out of the country; needless to say, I am completely psyched. Getting the opportunity to study abroad for 6 credit hours (mass communication and society and professional writing) whilst touring somewhere I’ve wanted to go ever since joining the Irish Dancers Club at my middle school is quite thrilling.

After having a group meeting at an authentic Irish pub in Tampa, I’ve determined that this trip is going to be amazing.

My group of 18 and I will be leaving July 21 on an overnight flight to Dublin, where we will be staying for about a week at Trinity College. Throughout the course of three weeks, we will be making our way around to Cork, Killarney, Tralee and Galway. On the way we will be doing things such as classwork (there’s no getting around that one, you know), motor coach tours, visiting museums, seeing plays, and “visiting” pubs to name some activities. Some things that are currently planned include: a double-decker bus tour to Newgrange; lectures from prominent Irish poets, authors, and musicians; shopping; bicycle tours; poetry readings; seeing the touristy things like Blarney Castle and an authentic Medieval Banquet.

I have spent the last few weeks researching everything we will be doing in Ireland, everywhere we will be going, making lists of things I will need to bring, and making lists of things I want to buy. My boss doesn’t like this, but I am completely unsuccessful at hiding my current enthusiasm and excitement.

Shout out to Tom & Julie Hoffmann for being excellent sports and a huge financial asset!

-Amelia

Entry No. 1 | July 13, 2011
Hello, my name is Will. I am a mass communications major on the production track in my senior year and will be graduating in the fall.

I chose this trip for a few reasons. First off, it was the only mass communications study abroad trip offered by USF. Secondly, I have always been intrigued by Ireland because it is a culture revolving around rebellion, fighting and drinking. Lastly, it was the only trip I could afford given my income. Everyone I have ever spoken to that was in college has said the same thing about study abroad programs: that if they went, it changed their lives and it was worth every penny. Everyone who had the opportunity and did not go only told me of the regret they had for not going and wish they would have. I intend to not make that mistake and hopefully make this trip one I will never forget.

-Will