(Post #13) Two Trips Make for a Great Week!

(Tuesday, March 29th) Happy beginning of the week! (at least for me as I usually am traveling

or hanging low on Mondays 😊). Today I had classes and everything was pretty normal. The highlight of Monday through Wednesday of this week is that the parents of my friend Asia were in town! It was my first time meeting Mr. And Mrs. Buford, but they were so sweet and insisted on taking me out to dinner with Asia. It was nice to have some parents around! It does sure make me miss mine though- they are doing well back in Minnesota though! The first time I had dinner with the Bufords it was tapas, the second night it was at a hotel with fancy seafood, and then the third time was at the local market.

(Wednesday, March 30th) Today was a fun day to take a day trip! Asia’s parents picked us up and we first drive to the town of Setenil which is built into cliff overhangings and looks so cool. It was a little rainy and slippery, but it really was a great visit. Asia’s dad was driving stick-shift though through all the hills and I have to applaud him because that is not easy!

We next made our way to the city of Ronda where bull-fighting became popular many years ago. They have an old bull-fighting ring and also a very famous bridge that took 40 years to build. We walked around and got lunch on the side of the cliff overlooking the bridge- it was windy/chilly but a great experience. Asia and I then walked all the way down the cliffs to different viewpoints thinking her parents could drive down and pick us up, but they could not find the road so we were in for a nice surprise (and exercise) as we made our way back up the hill. The blooming flowers and views definitely made it more enjoyable and bareable thoough. Also, driving through the hilly landscapes through Southern Spain was an adventure itself, the natural views are unreal. The day started out rainy but thankfully by the time we reached Ronda, it was very sunny.

(Thursday, March 31st) Today for my first class, we headed to the Triana Market. It was rainy

but also an experience because there are lots of animals and cuts of meats that I do not normally see at markets in the United States. It was a little graphic, but it also is just the normal culture here. After, I had my other classes and it was nice because two of them were from home today so I was not running around in the rain as much. On this night, I went out with some friends by the river and I met some new wonderful people! One Spanish student was named David and he had his guitar and loved to sing. I found out that he is a huge Bob Dylan fan and he freaked out when he learned that Bob Dylan and I are both from Minnesota which was funny.

(Friday, April 1st) Good morning! Today was a travel day. I headed to the airport and went on my merry way to Ireland! I got lucky because I had one of the front rows all to myself and had lots of leg room. I slept and also played with a little boy that kept walking up to me. I arrived into Ireland and was so excited! The culture shock began almost immediately as I got on a bus and forgot that they drive on the other side of the road, but it was so cool at the same time. I got dropped off downtown and first went to a jewelry store to get a new Clauddagh ring. I lost my original one that I got off amazon, so I thought what better place to get a ring from Irish tradition than in Ireland!

I then walked around St. Stephen’s park, the Dublin Castle, Trinity College, and Ha’Penny Bridge. I also saw Temple Bar, and then met up with my friends Shannon and Ania just in time for fish & chips. Shannon and Ania flew in from Germany. We spent the night at the airbnb and it was the most adorable thing because it was located within a very classic UK-looking neighborhood.

(Saturday, April 2nd) Happy Saturday! Today was the best, we went into town early to start

our 12 hour tour. We got on the green bus with a tour guide named Pudge (a nickname for Porrick) and then we headed 2 hours towards the Cliffs of Moher! The ride alone was amazing because of all the green rocky views and of course- THE SHEEP! I loved seeing the sheep and cows right along the coast. It was sprinkling but it also felt very Irish. We first visited the Dunguaire Castle and it is so cool to see old castles since we do not have those in America.

We next went to the baby cliffs of Moher which just got me even more excited. This whole weekend I was playing Irish Sea Shanties to get into the mood. When we arrive at the cliffs, I was absolutely blown away. I have seen so many pictures of course, but there is nothing that compares to seeing them in real life. We walked around for 2 hours, but I wish I had even more time! I would already love to return and I recommend to everyone to put these cliffs on your bucket list! We next headed to another castle and then a spot to get some dinner. We rested on our way home and then spent the rest of the night at a pub having fun meeting local Irish and dreading having to go home already tomorrow!

(Sunday, April 3rd) Good morning! Today I got up early and headed to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Eucharist. Here the mass was an Anglican service, and it was quite interesting to see something similar to Catholic mass, but also with its own twist on things.

I ate breakfast at the Hairy Lemon which is a very fun restaurant, and then I said goodbye to

Shannon and Ania before heading to the airport. The last icing on the cake was that while I was taking the normal local Double Decker bus to the airport, I got a front row view on top so I loved to see everything one last time. My flight home went fine and I spent the night at home as I was very exhausted from the great weekend that we just had. Another successful weekend it was!