Ireland, day17

     We left Dublin and had a nice, long, two hour bus ride to Cahersiveen, which is basically on the west coast of Ireland.  The coach dropped us off at a lake, a very large lake and the water was black.  Absolutely black.  This was because of the peat moss at the bottom.  We boarded some boats and began to take a tour of the lake whose scenery was climbed as the most beautiful in all of Ireland.  I have to agree.  It was jaw dropping.  There was lots of wildlife, including coots, herons, and even two Japanese deer. (Are japanese deer invasive?)
     After boating, we tok a quick hike through the "Fangorn Forest."  It was a very old forest and lichen hung from the trees like beards.  I half expected the trees to come alive and crush the boats for all of the racket they were making.  We came up to a little cottage (standing next to it, it wasn't actually as small as it originally appeared) and ate a fine lunch consisting of sammiches (mine was tuna), cupcakes, chips(actual potato chips), and a Mars bar.  After reading/ hearing so much about Mars bars, I expected them to be something special.  Really though, they're just like a Snickers bar without the peanuts.

     Being sufficiently thawed out (Ireland was rather chilly) we split into groups of four and piled onto horse drawn buggies.  The scenery and the clopping of the horses hooves' was very peaceful.  I think I may have snoozed off couple times...  The scenery itself was of an equal stature, but it was a different kind of pretty than the scenery on the lake.  This had more to do with vegetation and the changes in altitude.  We passed over many bridges and brooks.  My favorite, however, was the many waterfalls that connected the many lakes.  So the horses wouldn't tire, we had to get out and walk a couple times, but it bad.

      The coach brought us to a school where we ate dinner.  It was the best cafeteria food I ave ever had.  After dinner, we learned some traditional Irish dances and were enlightened on what we would be doing the next day.  Being thoroughly informed, we turned in for the night.

Ireland, day 16

     We had a walking tour of Dublin, where rain is typical.  Trinity college was first on the list and they were exhibiting the book of Kells, but sadly we couldn't go see it.  Apparently, they found it in a peat bog, perfectly preserved. (once, they found a jar of butter that was safe to eat in a peat bog and had been there for hundreds of years)  The tour brought us to the base of the Millennium Spire, which was made so that wherever you were in Dublin, you could find your way to that spot in the event you got lost.
     The coach brought us to the GAA stadium.  The GAA stadium is the fourth largest in the world and you could have two simultaneous football (our football) games payed on it at the same time with room to spare.  The sport(s) it is truly made for, however, is Hurling and Gaelic football.  Hurling is a bit like lacrosse, but faster, even more physical, and a slightly different set of rules.  Its claim to fame is being the fastest paced game.  Gaelic football is football, soccer, basketball, rugby, and volley ball all rolled into one.


     An all day pass to the stadium (there are often 2-3 games a day) costs 5 euros and applies to all of the seats in the stadium.  It costs so little because the sports aren't professional, they're all hobbies.  So you could have a hurling star on the television, and he could be your teacher the very next day.  Pretty wicked.
     We ate at a place called Flannagan's (which was good, in a strange way) and then we had some free time to look at souvenir shops.

Wales and Ireland, day 15

     First destination; Penhryn Castle.  Objective; Rappel off of a 95' castle tower.  Well,here we were, back with the Kiwis, enjoying a lovely Welsh summer.  That ultimately translates to fifty degrees and raining.  We got into the full-body harnesses and thankfully, I was already used to standard climbing harnesses, but they were still a little strange.  The stairs to the top were long and steep and spiraling and seemingly infinite.  Our legs were jelly at the top.
     Initially walking down part of the wall was by far the scariest, but after that, it was basically controlled, super slow, free falling.  Piece of cake.  And it was amazing.  When everyone was back at the base, the Kiwis congratulated us on being a part of the 100 club, which is exclusive only to groups that have had 100% break the boards and 100% rappel down the castle wall.  I think thats pretty awesome, if I say so myself.  We ate lunch and piled back onto the coach, the sixth (and the last) country in sight.
     While on the ferry (It was at least as big as the enormous one we took to England) I chanced upon an adorkable brand by the name of Wacky Woolies that revolves around multi-colored sheep. :) Too cute.  Dinner was right after the ferry ride (which was about 3 or so hours) and consisted of chicken 'n chips.  Desert was battered and fried cream ball that were chilled and drizzled with fudge, they were delicious.



P.S.  You can see the Millennium Spire from the hotel room!

Wales, day 14

     Whoo hoo! We to sleep in!  And there was an awesome breakfast! Bacon! Toast! Pastries! Eggs! Fruit! Sausages! Cheese! Muffins! Marmite... ok.  The moment was ruined.  Oh well.
     We packed up and started driving to Wales, a country where there are more sheep than people.  They aren't kidding.  By the time I saw my first person, I had already seen at least 500 sheep.  The long ride was worth it if nothing more but for the scenery.  At first, it was a bit like the Shire, and then it morphed into the rocky region where Frodo and Sam first meet Gollum.  The scenery changed yet again and I could almost see the wargs coming down from the cliffs...
     For lunch, we stopped at a traditional Welsh restaurant and traditional it was.  We were served shepherds' pie, potatoes, peas, and mashed carrots.  For desert, we had ice-cream and some sort of cake and it was possibly the most delicious thing I have ever had.
     After that we met up with a Welsh instructor and learned the count off (we count off so we know that everyone is there, I'm number 17) in Welsh, which is arguably the fourth hardest language for an English-speaing person to learn.  The fist being Icelandic, but thats beside the point.  My number (17 in case you've forgotten) is uindeigsyth (pronounced ian-die-g-scythe.)
     We ate dinner  and met up with the Kiwis from New Zealand.  They were from a group called 'Full On' and its all about self esteem, goals, and how to reach them.  We talked about that for a bit, and then did some stretching.  I would like you to do this right now.  Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and outstretch your right arm so its pointing away from you.  Try to point around in a full, clockwise circle, or at least as far as you can.  Don't move your feet.  Remember where you are pointing.  Go back to your starting position and repeat, except this time, close your eyes and think things like, "I am limber..." Stretch as far as you can, and then some.  Open your eyes.  Be amazed.
     One of the Kiwis demonstrated breaking a board, and then he asked for volunteers.  No one did.  It followed like this;

     "No one?"silence.... "Well then.  I guess we all have to do it then." And we did, to none other than Eye of the Tiger. :)  I guess that would be the RAS in motion.  The RAS (Reticular Activating System) basically tries to prove you right.  If you say I can't, or I can, you're right either way.

London, day 13

     A tour of London started off the day.  We drove around London, touring various important buildings, looking at olympic preparations, seeing places where famous films were shot, such as Sweeney Todd, National Treasures 2, and Sherlock Holmes.
     In National Treasures 2, there's a car chase in front of a church and you will see thirty or so catholic priests standing in front of it.  This is mildly ironic for the church is a protestant church.  To the left of those steps, there is a door that Sherlock Holmes kicks in to stop Lord Blackwood, though in real life, it leads to couple mops and a bucket.  There was also the opera Holmes goes to in an attempt to foil Moriarty.  As one more famous place, we went to the Leadenhall Market, which is where Diagon Alley is filmed, again being Harry Potter.
     After that we went to Buckingham Palace (the queen was not home) to try again for the Changing of the Guard.  Thankfuly, The rain had just stopped so they were able to proceed.  The whole thing was far more elaborate than what I ever expected, thats for sure. (Quick Quip; If the guards do not meet the standards for their attire, they have to spend a day in jail!)
     We ate lunch and drove to Warwick castle, one of the better castles in Europe.  We listened to a wench and an archer argue about going to Singapore, apparently they were supposed to be madly in love. ;-)  We were retrieved by Master J (a knight) who expected us to follow his orders to the letter.  He was to introduce us to the wonderful castle and all of its defenses, which were extensive.

1. A deep trench that made a very steep incline to the castle
2. The trench was filled with hundreds upon hundreds of wooden sticks, sharpened to a point.
3. All sewage was emptied into the trench.  You would get stabbed and quietly die in human waste.
4. A drawbridge.  You could get this down if you threw enough men at it, but there would be archers and other people throwing stuff down on you.
5. A heavy portcullis, it required four men to lift it and there would be people stabbing at them through the portcullis, but if course if you there enough men at it, you would get it open
6. Only to have heavy oak doors shut in your face.
7. Then, if you throw enough men at it, it would be broken down and you would come to where you come to die, which is basically a 'hall' without a roof and there would be arrows raining down as well as pitch and other unpleasantries.
8. A second, heavier portcullis would slam shut and, if you threw enough men at it, you would get it open.
9. To have two sets of even heavier oak doors slam in your face.
10. You would need a battering ram, but the street was cobbled and littered with bodies, making it nigh impassible.  Keep in mind that pitch and rocks was still raining down.  When, by throwing enough men at it, the doors fell, the battle hadn't even started yet and you were lucky to have 20% of your army left
11. You would be greeted by well rested pikes man, knights, and archers.  You on the other hand would be exhausted and disorganized.  Good luck.

     We ate dinner and started our training to be a soldier of Warwick Castle.  Master J started us off with the fine art of swordplay who taught us page one of a five hundred page guide book to the finer arts of sword fighting.  Then we were handed over to professional pikes man who came straight from Scotland who taught us how to stay alive in battle and even had a little mock up battle.  After that, we were back with the archer who told us of his trade and taught is the 3 M's of armor. (Material, mail, and metal) Since none of had very high paying jobs (we were rookies, he an archer) coming to get decent armor was unlikely, or you could find some on the battle field.  Witty.

     As a final surprise, we were treated with one of the world's largest trebuchets (18 meters high, weighing 22 and a half tons) fire a fire ball into the gathering darkness.  Best day ever.

London, day 12

     We started off the day at 'The Old Building,' how original.  There we met with a former member of the British Parliament.  He explained a brief history of their evolutionary government.  Basically, an evolutionary government means that they don't start from scratch and they just keep adding to/ revising their constitution.
     After heading back out, we were able to peer in through the doors of the Australia House, which is where Gringotts was filmed in the Harry Potter movies! By seeing bits of the tiled floor and a chandelier, it was a Harry Potter fan's paradise!
     We hopped back onto the coach and headed over to the Medieval Banquet.  It was underground, chilly, and illy-lit, so it was like stepping back into the time of King Henry the VIII, who in a matter of fact, was dining with up.  We dined on traditional medieval food (fresh bread, roasted veggies, and a whole chicken leg) which meant that it was all finger food.  I think it was silly that we were eating with the king, but drinking Coca Cola...
     As we were walking to the tower of London, we saw the Queen's boat docked in the channel.  When we finally got to the tower, we stepped back in time a second time.  You could almost see it being guarded against siege, except the fact that the moat was now full of clover.  Our first attraction was the Royal Ravens.  Not only were there the ones in cages (if the ravens leave, the kingdom is rumored to fall) but there were at least ten others hopping about and snacking on tidbits left out for them by the Beefeaters. With 6 oz. of raw meat a day, an occasional egg or whole raw rabbit, it looked like the ravens had it better off than many of us.
     We found our way to the crown jewels.  They were very pretty, but we all started snickering when we saw one of the 'Holy Hand Grenades' from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  They actually have at least two...  We attempted to find the torture chamber, but somehow ended up in the Bloody Tower instead.  Talk about one narrow spiral staircase.
     Then, we took a tour of the Thames. We saw the Shakespearian theater and the bridge that the Death Eaters destroy in part 7A of the Harry Potter movies, this is a fine day indeed for nerds.  There were also tons of other bridges, like the London Bridge and the remains of the old London Bridge.





     We ate dinner at a strange Chinese restaurant.  Then, we strolled through London looking for the theater Thriller Live would be playing.  It was Gay Pride Day and moving through some of the crowds was a little scary, but we found the theater.  Thankfully.   The performance included hits from the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson himself.  Of course as the finale, it was none other than Thriller that was played.

London, day 11

     With breakfast and dinner alone, I am truly beginning to love English cooking.  The breakfast was delicious, yet again with such common breakfast foods.  We finished packing everything up to head into the main land of England (or Britain, or Great Britain, or the United Kingdom... how many names does it have?)  We took a mini ferry all of seventy five feet (over a body of water) and then got onto the next one which was at least the size of the huge one we originally took to England.  We arrived in Southhampton and caught the coach to London.

     It was drizzling, but the sun came out when we got to the London Eye.  We waited in line for a bit, but it was no where near as long of a wait as it was for the Eiffel Tower.  Getting into one of the pods was like getting onto a moving sidewalk that moved left and right, for the ferris wheel (basically what the London Eye is) never stopped moving.  

     From the very top, you realize just how big London is.  It seemed to stretch on infinitely.  Similar to the Eiffel Tower, you could see many of the city's attractions.  Including Big Ben, the Tower of London, Abbey Road, the Shard (The tallest skyscraper in Europe), and much much more.  We hopped off and took a quick coach ride too the restaurant for dinner. (we ate lunch on the coach).  The traffic was bad (isn't it always in London?) so we had to walk the remaining distance, but it was definitely worth the food.  

     We headed back to the hotel, the sky cloudless.  The weather was wonderful.

UKSA, day 10

     Breakfast was superb.  After munching on toast, eggs, bacon, cereal, milk, and apples, we headed down to the changing rooms to retrieve our wetsuits.  We met up with our instructors for the first activity of the day; sailing.  The sail boats we were using were easy to use, easy to handle, fairly forgiving, and virtually indestructible.  Perfect for newbs.  We were given a crash course on how to set them up, how to steer them, how to take them down, and other sailboat knowhow.

     They took us to a calmer part of the channel where we could rip the sailboats.  When we were done setting them up, we paddled.  And paddled.  And paddled.  Unfortunately the  usually windy Isle of Wight had decided to be un-windy for a day.  To keep spirits up, they introduced us to a game called Pirate.  The objective is to capsize other sailboats and to be the last one capsized.  My partner and I were determined not to get wet, so we were fleeing more than anything else.  As we were paddling away we heard the leader calling, "Oh Muriel..... Britney....." the vowels were drawn out and Britney remarked, "Oh no.  I can hear the banjos playing..." One of them hopped aboard, and, well, it was only a matter of time before we tipped.  We came back to the main area soaking wet and ate lunch.  
     Immediately after that, we went kayaking, which was lots of fun.  We paddled to a more open part of the English channel and played a game called Gladiator.    This game is rather simple.  Basically, you and your partner (this only works with two person kayaks) stand up without physical contact.  If you succeed at this, rock the kayak until one (or both) of you falls off.  Last person standing wins.



     After that, we had a random discussion about weather, New York City, accents, America, Britain, and Genghis Khan.  We pretty much had his whole history told to us on the water, it was pretty awesome.  Then, we paddled back and ate dinner. (Hamburgers and delicious cake.)  We took a quick hike up to a football field and played various relay races.  My favorite being bridge, tunnel, and turn around.  After we were officially all worn out (like we weren't already) we hiked back down and flopped into bed like a bunch of dead fish.

England & the UKSA, day 9

     We woke up bright and early and got everything packed together... again.  We docked about an hour later and took a shuttle to the Customs office.  We were in England, I couldn't believe it.  After that, we took yet another ferry, this one a mere inkling to the first, to the Isle of Wight, where the UKSA calls home (the United Kingdom Sailing Academy.) Upon arrival, we ate a quick breakfast (cereal and toast) and were briefed with the rules and regulations of the facility.  Wet suits were distributed and then it was time for lunch.  It was strange that Breakfast and lunch were so close together, but thankfully they were both relatively light.
     After squeezing into our wet suits, we divided into teams for various mini-games.  Each of the games were designed to get you soaking wet, and let me tell you one thing.  The English Channel is COLD.  The wetsuits helped, but they didn't get all of the cold away.  After that, we took a dock plunge, which is basically jumping off of the docks and swimming back to shore.  The swimming part was quite motivational.
     Peeling off wetsuits is much easier that putting them on to say the very least.  We ate dinner, nice warming stuff to our relief.  Then, we watched Jumanji.  As soon as our heads hit the pillows, I think everyone was dead asleep.

France, day 8

     A tour guide joined us early on and accompanied us on the tour of the D-Day invasion sites, giving us the history of them.  It was a cold and rainy day.
     The Germans were convinced that the Americans were coming into a different area of France other than Normandy, as it was far more convenient.  The USA originally planned to come into the beach at high tide.  Unfortunately, there were obstacles that could only be moved at low tide.  Giving this lots of thought, they decided to land at low tide, but as it was rising so the infantry wouldn't have to walk as far.  As they were landing, some of the Germans noticed and requested troops that had been deployed in the north.  The Germans thought it was a ploy and refused.  By the time they realized that it was the ploy, it was too late.  All major roads and rail roads had been bombed, making it almost impossible to travel south.  The D-Day invasion had begun.
     Omaha beach had been known as Bloody Omaha.  It was the most dangerous as it was mostly cliffs, bluffs, and pebbles instead of sand.  It a shot was fired at the pebbles, it wouldn't sink harmlessly into them, as it would at the other sandy beaches.  Instead, it would turn into razor sharp shrapnel, which accounted for many of the casualties.  Even though Omaha was well defended, they couldn't keep bombers away very well, i.e., the soiled part of the beach was cratered like Swiss Cheese.
     On the day of the invasion, the waves were up to five feet in height, making it difficult to land 24,000 soldiers.
     After touring the beaches, we actually were able to go to the graves at Normandy.  It was mindbogglingly massive.  It was erie to think that there was a body underneath each and every one of those headstones.  At the grave site, there are 9,387 graves. One Scottish, one British, 5 Canadian, 1 Mexican, and one from WWI.  As we moved out, the tour guide had one last quick quip; while they were digging the foundations for a house, they found a fully dressed German soldier, perfectly mummified by the salt.  Funny how things work out like that sometimes.
      Then, we explored the museum at Caen, which housed many artifacts of WWII, mainly of the D-Day invasion, though.  There we were able to reinforce what we had already learned with the tour guide with visual aides, which helped greatly.  We were able to peek into what it would be like living during that time frame, and also many of the inner workings of the war, on both sides.  It was a very rough time.

     We went to get dinner, another weird buffet place, but much much better this time, and then headed to the check in for the ferries.  We waited around for quite a while and then were able to board.  The ferry was absolutely enormous.  When I heard them say it was huge, I thought they were exaggerating it.  Walking up to it though... they were sugar coating it.  Well, so long France, we're off to England!

France, day 7

     We ate breakfast and packed everything up from the hotel and piled onto the coach.  The coach pulled up to the base of the Iron Lady for the second time.  This time, it wasn't for photos, or at least, not for photos from the base.  After waiting in line for two hours, we were finally at the ticket booth.  Due to scheduling changes, there was only time for the second floor, but it was going up the Eiffel Tower, nonetheless.

     The elevator to get there was oddly diagonal, similar to the elevator in Willy Wonka (except that it wasn't completely made of glass).  Getting there, the view was amazing.  You could see all of Paris, which extended as far as the eye could see, and all of the sights we saw yesterday; plus some.  You could even see the hill we ate dinner on yesterday.  It was quite windy and even chillier than the previous morning.

     Then, we ate an absolutely delicious lunch of bread (the French love their bread), potatoes, and beef steak.  For desert, we had mousse brownies that were even better that the mousse we had in Belgium.  Crazy good.  We drove past Notre Dam which was stunningly beautiful and old.  

     After another long bus ride, we arrived at the hotel.  From the outside, it looked quite posh, but upon stepping into the rooms we were reminded yet again that Europeans value functionality before beauty.  After putting up our baggage, we ate dinner.

Paris, day 6

     As we traveled through paris, I got the overwhelming craving to see the Da Vinci Code.  We passed the church Silas killed the sister in and later, we would be going to the Louvre.  Paris itself, is divided into twenty districts.  The first being the heart of Paris and the remaining nineteen spiral outwards like a snail.  Inside of the official city limits, there are roughly 2 million people.  Outside of the limits, however, there are 7 million more.  Nine million people in a city, which is almost a sixth of France's total population.  And I thought major cities in the United States were big...
     We circled the Arc de Triumph, and honestly, I was more excited about that that the Eiffel Tower itself.  After that, we stopped at the base of the Iron Lady (Eiffel Tower) and took lots and lots of pictures.  Boy, is it a whole lot bigger than what it look like in photographs.  Apparently, the tower was supposed to be destroyed three or four years after it was built, but it was saved with the idea of putting weather stations on the top of it as it was the tallest structure in Paris, and, coincidentally, the entire world.
     On the weather subject, Paris is rather chilly in the morning.  Windy as well.  It's a strange notion to be shivering outside on the first of July.
     After that, we visited with the glass pyramids of the Louvre (Hello Mary Magdalene). Then, we ate lunch at a strange little buffet.  With sustenance attained, we made our way to the Louvre.  We picked up maps, and while I was staring at mine, realization dawned that a good portion of the Louvre is underground.  Wicked.  Then we went up a few flights of stairs and were greeted by the Winged Victory and continued on to the ever so famous, Mona Lisa.  The crowds were crushing.  Slowly, the crowds cycled about and we were at the front, close enough to get a picture.  The Mona Lisa was behind a special mirrored glass which prevented both flashes and people from harming it.  After that, we ventured to Venus de Milo, the Coronation of Napoleon (a humongous painting), and many, many more truly awesome works of art.
     We ate dinner on the Hill, the tallest geographical point in Paris.  There, we were treated to Escargot and frog legs.  Escargot is delicious and garlicky, and frog legs taste just like chicken, nothing icky about either of them.  We had past for the main meal (again, delicious.)  Flan was served for desert, and that was the strange part of the meal, oddly enough.






     After almost a week in, it still hasn't quite hit that I've seen the Eiffel Tower, eaten Belgium chocolate, in Belgium, I've been within ten feet of one of the most famous works of art, and that I'm even in Europe at all, really.  Its just like being away from home for a bit, but not really over two thousand miles at all.