I can’t believe my trip is halfway done! I knew time would go by quickly, but I didn’t think it would go this fast.
This week has been a little more relaxed. On Thursday, we had a scheduled fairytale and folklore storytelling where we were told tales of fairies and leprechauns. It was pretty enchanting. Dinner afterward was delicious. I had Irish brown bread and shepherd’s pie.
Friday was a really fun and relaxing day. A lot of people were either off from work or were working remotely, so I got to spend time with friends unexpectedly. I played basketball in the morning and then went shopping in the city. We revisited Milano’s for dinner and got gelato from Gino’s for dessert. It was really good, and we were really hungry from walking around.
Saturday, we visited Blarney Castle, and I kissed the Blarney Stone! I waited in line for about an hour, but I’m glad I can say I did it. I wasn’t nervous to kiss it, but while climbing the castle stairs, it could get a little tight and a little creepy. The kiss happened so quickly. Kissing the stone means you will be great at flattery. I guess we’ll see!
We also visited Cashel and Cahir Castle. Both were very pretty, and I always enjoy learning about the historical context. At Cahir, I learned a little bit about why castles are constructed the way they are, including doorways being different shapes and sizes and the way spiral staircases were constructed to make right-handed knights fight with their left hands. Saturday was a long day, beginning at 6:30 AM and ending close to 8:00 PM, but it was very fun.
Saturday night, most of us went to The Academy, which was a really fun experience. The music, vibes, and people were great, and it was a fun night after a long day of traveling.
Sunday was more of a chill reset day where we hung around our apartment. We were planning on going to brunch, but that was postponed for another weekend.
Monday, we had morning class, and then visited Kilmainham Gaol in the afternoon. It was a really neat experience, and I learned a lot about the history of Ireland along the way. After the museum, we visited Phoenix Park and walked around for a few hours. It was extremely hot; even though it was just 75°F, we were all getting quite heated. We visited a small café and returned to the city to eat at the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, which was very delicious after walking around in the heat all afternoon. We got milkshakes, which complemented the burger and fries well.
We headed back to our apartment and hosted a game night, which has become a weekly tradition on Monday nights. Instead of cards, we opted to try Catan, but it was too difficult for me to understand, and I ended up playing Skribbl.io with some others, which is similar to Pictionary. We had a lot of fun and didn’t call it quits until midnight!
Tuesday after work, my apartment and a couple of friends headed to the campus theater to watch Inside Out 2. This has been something we’ve wanted to do for the past couple of weeks, so we were really excited. The movie was a big part of our childhood, so we were eager to see the sequel now that we’re older. It was a great movie and was a really fun way to relax and unwind after work. It was really funny seeing all ten of us in one theatre. We took up a lot of room!
I can’t believe we’re halfway through, and while I miss my friends and family at home, I am sad that we do not have much time left. This has been a great experience so far, and I anticipate it will continue to be. I’m super excited for the next month and will be sure to soak in every moment!