Sadly, after just under five days speaking English with people that didn't even have the same accent as me, my host family says I have my English accent back when I speak French. Oops!
It was strange to be in English speaking countries (Ireland and Scotland) the last several days. I kept translating questions in my head, and then I realized there was no need! I also noticed that even their culture is more closely related to ours back home than the other countries I have visited. It felt like a little taste of what returning to home will be like.
Skylar and I spent last Tuesday night in Paris, and left our hostel at 5 a.m. to start the journey that would take us to Ireland. We spent the day exploring Dublin, which included a tour of the Guinness Storehouse where I poured the perfect pint. Even Skylar, who does not like beer, thought the tour was worthwhile.
Me being terrified I was going to spill Guinness everywhere. Notice the instructor is laughing at me... |
Didn't spill! Officially greatest Pour Master ever. |
We found our way to St. Patrick's Cathedral, and, as an SPC alum, I was obligated to stike a pose in front of it. I have now been to the one in Ireland, New York, and most importantly Kentucky.
We spent the night in our hostel, right down the street from the famous Temple bar, and were up early again the next day to explore the countryside. We made the excellent decision to take a guided tour of Wicklow National Park, which is just outside of Dublin.
First important discovery on this trip: I love sheep. I love them. Better yet, we came in the season where they all just had babies, so we got to se precious little lambs everywhere.
This picture is actually from Scotland, but I loved Irish and Scottish sheep equally. |
Our guide/driver knew EVERYTHING about Ireland. We not only learned about the land, but the history and culture too. He made lots of loving jokes about the English, and had many insights of life and the Irish way of living. We hiked to hidden lakes, and looked down upon green valleys filled with sheep. One of the best experiences was drinking fresh water from a stream. We ate Irish stew, practiced the Irish sport of hurling, and enjoyed rainbows after the frequent rains. I don't think I can adequatly describe how beautiful Ireland was. So I will just say this: no picture you have ever seen of Ireland does it's beauty justice, none.
They say the rivers look like they are flowing with Guinness. I tried it. They are not. It is water. |
Happy, happy, happy to be in Ireland. |
After by far the easiest night of travel ever, we found ourselves the dramatically dark city of Edinburgh. We had to ask directions to our hostel at a fish and chips shop, and found it was right next to the city's dramatic castle. We woke up the next day, and grabbed some tea and breakfast at The Elephant Cafe, and then went on a walking tour of the city. The tour was really great, I would recommend it to anyone going somewhere where they are unsure what to do. You paid what you wanted (they called it a 'tip' for your guide), and they really were able to show you the city and suggest things to do afterwards. Without it I don't think we would have known what to do with ourselves. The tour was informative but light, and I left feeling like I had gotten to really know the city.
We learned on the tour that in medieval times they would nail 'criminal's' ears to this in punishment. |
We took another bus tour the following day, this time to the West Highlands. The tour was bigger and therefore a little less fun, but the guide was spunky and wore a kilt and recounted to us all four times he had been on TV in his wonderful Scottish burr.
Scotland was equally as beautiful as Ireland, but I think the difference lies in that Scotland seemed darker and more shrouded in mystery with all its misty mountains. Ireland, to me, seemed a bit lighter and open. Both were definitely worth exploring.
Our guide kept calling, what I considered to be a mountain "hills." This is just the top portion of a "hill" |
Highland Cow |
Haggis |
I have mixed emotions that alternate between excitment for home and depression toward leaving all my adventures behind.