Making More Friends

Whew! It's good to be back.

Our trip to the Cliffs was quick but fulfilling. It was really rainy and windy. I could hardly keep my eyes open for the picture in my last entry because the rain stung my face. BEAUTIFUL STILL. The Cliffs are always a treat.

The family that I'm with bought John and I fish, chips, soup, and Guinness! We tried to pay but they refused. I am going to like this wedding a lot… I can tell.

We got to the Park Lodge after a bumpy ride through the Burren and everyone was already drinking at the PLH pub. We had a Guinness or two and proceeded to help the Foyle's to serve the whole crew a dinner. John and I helped with serving and cleaning dishes… its the least we could do to pay back the crew for having us. Rory is sick so we get to stay in the cottages for a few days…another reason to pay the Foyle's back. This time, I am in Cottage 6. My friend Tom and John and I are all in the cottage together… its wonderful.

John and I finished dishes and played Rugby '08 (video game). I've still got it.. beat John twice in it now. Afterwards, we joined the crew in the PLH pub/lounge. We drank a lot with all of the people at the wedding. All who were once strangers are now seemingly lifelong friends. So glad to be here.

TOM AND JOHN BEHIND THE PLH BAR

Walked down to the ocean. The path down to the beach has changed a bit, but John and I agreed that it was for the better. Saw some cows grazing by Galway Bay! I gotta remember to bring my camera for these things. More pictures to come… I promise. Tonight John and I are meeting up with some Irish friends in Galway. It will be good to see them again... can't wait! Wedding tomorrow, too!

until next time... slainte

Makin' Friends

What a start to a trip!

I must tell you prior to beginning these blogs… I will be quite brief with these entries in comparison to last year's blog. I don't have a 3 hour class to spend time making entries while the irish professor drones on about the potato famine. I'm here to see friends now. So this time around… it's more pictures.. less words!

Anyway, I began my trip in Minneapolis. I arrived at my gate to site down and discover a young Asian lady sobbing in one of the gate's seats. She apparently was flying stand-by and missed her flight. Her English was sub-par at best.

I worked with a service desk to help send her on her way. As I thanked the nice lady behind the counter for helping us, she smiled and handed me three "free cocktail" tickets, saying, "Merry Christmas, and thank YOU!"

Bonus! Not one hour into my trip and I'm being offered free booze.

The flight to New York was entertaining. I met a lady on the flight that was heading to Jerusalem on some sort of faith journey. This lady explained that she spends lots of her travel time smuggling Bibles into restricted countries like China and Burma. She had been to 22 countries. Fascinating!

Met up with my buddy John in New York. We got our duty-free whiskey and waited for the flight. To make a long story short… our flight was delayed by 3 hours. We all mounted the plane and for some reason or another… had to dismount and go on another plane. DAMN! O well. I'm on vacation.. and it's Christmas time. It was hard for me to get upset.

Plane ride wasn't the best. Didn't sleep well, but that didn't matter. We poked out of the clouds in Shannon and there was … a GREEN Ireland! I did not expect this. They had snow 2 days before. It was rainy, but nonetheless… IRELAND/HOME.

I met a bunch of the wedding party's family on the flight over, and now John and I are heading to the Cliffs of Moher with a bunch of people we don't know. We will inevitably get to know these people very in the next few days. I can't wait! Pictures up soon.

Until Next time… slainte

I'm Goin' Back!

Hello family and friends!

Just about a year ago, I was mounting a flight in Heathrow Airport. As the plane took off, I recall thinking, "When will I be back to Europe?" Well, it seems as if I am returning sooner than I expected.

This summer I was able to purchase tickets to Ireland for leisure travel during winter break. Why am I going back? A few reasons...

1. Visit friends.

Me, Rory, John

For those of you who don't know... I studied abroad in Galway, Ireland during the Fall of 2009 (the older posts of this blog should detail my travels during my 2009 excursion). During my time in Ireland, our group stayed in cottages at the Park Lodge Hotel for the semester. The Foyle Family are the innkeepers for this hotel, and during my time there I was able to befriend this family. I also met and befriended a local cab driver, Rory, who I've kept in contact with since returning from Ireland. Rory was kind enough to offer myself and John (good friend, Study Abroad 2009 fellow adventurer, Ireland comrade) lodging when we return. John and I also befriended a few galway girls that attend (or attended) National University of Ireland - Galway. We will also be visiting John's Aunt and Uncle in Rosstrevor and an exchange student in Belfast that goes to my college.

2. A wedding.

One of my friends, Tom, is traveling to Ireland for his sister's wedding during this time. Tom's sister Becky is marrying Joe, who she met at the Park Lodge Hotel while they were both on study abroad programs. Becky and Joe returned to the Park Lodge for John Paul Foyle's wedding, where Joe proposed to Becky. Now, they are returning to the Park Lodge Hotel to tie the knot. I'm just there to crash the wedding.

3.... Um, the Guinness?

Yes, this is totally a leisure trip. Thankfully, the tickets weren't terribly expensive, and Ireland has become a country that I am very passionate about. While over there, I am interested in exploring a work visa for a few months. I can't be sure of this, however, as Ireland's unemployment rate is +15%. The Euro is relatively low, and while there's snow over there, I'm still ready to go over and see my friends.

John, Tom, and I are all very good friends that all go to the same college, so this is going to be a very special trip for me. John and I are also taking a side trip to Madrid, Spain to visit a few collegiate friends there as well.

The Itinerary

Arrive December 26

December 26 - January 3: Galway, Ireland

(Becky and Joe's Wedding on Dec. 28)

January 3 - January 5: Rosstrevor, Northern Ireland

January 5 - January 7: Belfast, Northern Ireland

January 8 - January 13: Madrid, Spain

January 14 - 15: Galway, Ireland

January 15 Eve: HOME

I hope that is enough background information for you... enjoy the posts to come!

Slainte,

Thomas