Monday, April 27, 2009

Remember when we were in Ireland?

Some things/people/places/moments that will always remind me of our trip to Ireland...

CLUB ORANGE
Orange pop with "real" orange bits!



STONE WALLS



CIDER



THE PUB



LIVE MUSIC
*Play the video*
We all live in a yellow submarine, Gus O'Connors Pub in Doolin



DAIRY
Delicious milk, cheese and yogurt



WALKING...EVERYWHERE!



WATCHING TV
Two and a Half Men, Friends, Survivor Man, nature shows, and horrible UK soaps



SKYDIVING
What do you do when your sitting at home, bored and drinking with a bunch of friends? Skydive!



CHURCH BELLS
*Play the video*
St. Patrick Cathedral bells




SHEEP, COWS, AND HORSES




COBBLED STREETS



SPAR
The convenient store with everything!





GREENNESS



“KNACKERS"
Members of the Irish traveling community with nothing better to do than steal hub caps off cars, wear tattered clothing or pointlessly beat businesses signs with sticks. The term "Knacker" can also represent a person who wears nothing but Nike, Adidas or Puma gear, stands on the corner of the local McDonald's all evening trying to intimadate young children who walk by. Generally, all members of both Knacker sub-divisions display complete ignorance of all civilisied culture (Source: Urban Dictionary).



SOCCER AND RUGBY



HOSTEL TOAST




DRINKING JENGA
Also known as Timberrrrrrr



STRIPED HOODIES
Matt is "famous" for wearing this almost every day of the trip



THE BLACK STUFF
Dad enjoying a pint of Guinness



CAPTAIN MORGAN
My new favourite bevvy



ADIDAS
Tracksuits and running shoes = staple clothing items in all Irish boys closets



COLOURED DOORS



SEAN PENN
One word: poop



CHEAP PASTA DINNERS



DR. OETKER FROZEN PIZZA
Eaten AT LEAST once a week. Cheap and delicious!




ORLA KIELY
Irish designer that I love, love, love, loooove!




CHINESE NOODLES
Matt and I would eat them uncooked, break up the noodles and sprinkle the soup powder on them. Yummy!



TWEED HATS




ST. PADDY'S DAY



BAD TEETH



IRISH GIRLS
With orange tans and too much makeup




GOING OUT ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS...
…and Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights too!




BLOGGING



JOB HUNTING



CELTIC CROSS



BUSKERS AND STREET ENTERTAINMENT
*Play the video*
Live tunes on Grafton Street and Brian drumming away in Galway



THE GARDA



FREE THINGS
Butter, shampoo, mustard and mayo packs from restaurants, candy found in a pub...we take it all!




PENNEYS
Probaby what I'll miss the most - cheap shopping at Penneys!


SURPRISE!

In case you haven't already heard, Matt and I are home! We were running out of money and decided it was time to head back to Canada. We kept it a secret from our family and friends and it was great to surprise everyone. Our last 10 days spent in Galway were amazing and it was the perfect way to end our Irish adventure. I spent time shopping and strolling Galway's quaint streets, Matt and I rented bikes and toured the city and the coast, and our Dublin friends came for one last night out on the town which was a total blast! It was bittersweet leaving the whole traveling experience behind, but I have a feeling it won't be the last of our travels! Enjoy some pictures from our last month in Ireland...


At Simon's art opening


The artiste himself - Simon!


Trying to figure this one out...


I liked this piece. You walked into a dark trailer and when you put your hand on a button, the room lit up to reveal these plants in styrofoam cups.


Simon's sheep


The Clarence Hotel, co-owned by Bono and The Edge from U2. I walked past this almost every day for 6 months and only just realized that this was their hotel.


A sunny Dublin day


A visit to the Irish Museum of Modern Art


Matt looking very statuesque


A visit from Jeffer! Us outside Dublin Castle.


Irish Open poker tournament - we were in the background on TV!


I went to Christchurch on Easter Sunday for mass. It really made me miss home, the choir was breathtaking, and I felt my Grandma and Grandpa there the whole time.






My Dad taught me well! Easter dinner - ham and scalloped potatoes.


A DUBLIN FAREWELL!

One last Kinlay House visit


Kinlay girls


Bye bye Kelly from Ottawa, Canada


Bye bye Megann from Portland, USA


Bye bye Ivy from Toronto, Canada


Bye bye Claire from Newcastle, Australia


Bye bye Nathan from Christchurch, New Zealand


Bye bye Vaughan from Christchurch, New Zealand


Bye bye Alex from somewhere, Belgium


Bye bye Matt from...oh, wait a minute, he's coming home with me!


GALWAY BAY: The Last Horrah!

A beauty day in Eyre Square


Cider in the park. Life is grand!


Me and Dee and our 2 Euro heart shades


Bye bye Dee from the middle of nowhere, Australia


A stroll along the prom




Salthill







A friend we met along the way












A holy well that supposedly cures eye and ear ailments. That's me pretending to drink what kinda smelled like toilet water.


Rainy 3.5 hour bus ride to the Dublin airport


Bye bye Ireland!


Hello Canada!


Writing this blog entry and looking back at my pictures has actually been pretty emotional. It makes me miss Ireland already and really appreciate my time there. Why is it that when you're away from home you miss it so much that you want to come home, but once you're home you want to go back to where you were? Where to next?!