April

4.30.2006

The return of katherine!

I made it!!! One month of solid traveling, not staying in a place for more than 2 days. While living out of a backpack for that long had it's advantages (ie. being able to carry it on my back round towns we were passing through) it was delightful to pick clothes out of my drawers and throw them on my floor after I wore them come Monday night. But what a trip!! I mean, WOW!!!!!!!!!!! My central European extravaganza with Willa was everything I had listed previously, plus Interlaken (in the Swiss Alps) and a few hours in Zurich. I have to say, Bruges and Prague were my favourite cities...well, rather, the most beautiful/picturesque which is what I love. Switzerland was magnificent, so clean, and fresh air, and open spaces leading upwards to snow-capped mountains and freezing rivers running off mountain sides. It was so beautiful and refreshing, thank goodness the weather stayed reasonably dry for us. I'm not going to post any pictures. 1. Willa still has the CDs we burned and 2. I have no time...3 essays and 2 exams in the next few weeks! and then a few more weeks and I'll be home! It's a scary, scary thought. I suppose we're never REALLY ready for some things in life... I don't think I'll ever be ready to come home, because there's still so much I want to see, discover and learn here! I shall just have to come back, that's all.

4.29.2006

ANNA'S HOUSE!!!! -- April 12-14th

From Prague I flew in to Stansted airport and took a delayed bus to Heathrow, pleasantly greeted by my housemate Anna! Her move was very kind to drive the 20+min trek to Heathrow, and for that I was veryyy thankful. Car travel is so much more relaxing. Anna let me sit in the front for the better view, aww, what a sweetie!! I just loved my time with the Speroni family in their town of Walton-on-Thames!! What a welcoming, chatty, and good-natured bunch of people! That night Anna and I cooked some vegetables while Anna's mom made the beef burgers. Her dad came home and parked himself reading the newspaper in front of the TV, what a multi-tasker! Dinner time!! It was sooooo nice to sit down over a good, home cooked meal and chat, without having to worry about staying too long like in a cafe/restaurant! Anna's younger brother Joe (gr.8) and dad had recently got back from Rome, so it was funny to listen to their stories and then bicker about Joe sharing his like 5 pound chocolate bar.

That night we met up fellow Tetley-ites, Ellie and Chris, who lived a short train ride away. We met in Weatherspoons (cheap pub with good food) in the nearby high street (aka main street). Staying longer than intended, Ellie and Chris missed their train after a dedicated jog to it (they even were on the platform as it pulled away!), so they stayed over at Anna's as well. Her dad stayed up until we got home, kind of like when my mom says she cannot fall asleep until I'm safe in the house.

The next morning, Anna, her mom, brother, and me, got ourselves together and headed a nearby National Trust family estate called Standen. It was a victorian home for a rather wealthy family. It wasn't too large, very livable, unlike those massive mansions of the rich who barely step foot in them. This cute house had darker wood panaling and uncomfortable looking Victorian chairs, but it has character because it was properly lived in, so you could tell it was just filled with loving memories by its former occupants. The ground were very green, with a large lawn, colourful flowers, a pond, and little pathways. Joe wanted Anna to race down the hill like when they were kids, but Anna wasn't up for it, so I did instead. Of course, I let him bet me. lol. We had tea and soup in the cafe over another pleasant conversation. On the drive home Anna fell asleep in the back, so her mom and I just chatted away the hour drive as I was sitting in the front seat again. That evening, we met up with another family over dinner at a Tudor pub on the river named, the Swan. I couldn't get over the number of swans on the river! There must've been at least 40 from what I could see. We had to scarf down our tasty pub food to make evening mass, only to be followed by yet another pub, but this one had a special entertaining factor...look below.

Ellie, sweetest girl EVER! and me!

Chris and Anna--so smiley!! (maybe it was all the Reefs they drank)

Standen House

Joe. I told him to eat it, but he wouldn't. I think he was tempted though. haha HI JOE!!!! ;) Anna told me you'll read this! :)

The local pub that is sketchy and people of Anna's area are too scared to go...perfect example of the weirdness: a paper-mache Jesus with flashing lights around and a paper-mache Santa praying in front. haha! It was funny though! We went to this pub after the 'Maundy' (Holy) Thursday mass we attended. Anna's mom, her friend and daughter were eager to come along and see this unique sight with their own eyes. A bunch of my housemates (Will, Chris, Faye, Laura, and Aleks) were in the same pub a week ago, laughing at the same thing. awwwww.

4.28.2006

KIRSTEN'S VISIT to the motherland!

I enjoyed seeing the White Cliffs of Dover, and the extensive, historic Dover Castle. We also managed to fit in Canterbury and it's world renown Cathedral. They weren't letting more people in by the time we arrived, but I found a way in through the back door and we had a few minutes before it officially closed and kicked the tourists out. London was the same as I remember, still enjoyed walking along the Mall and St. Jame's Park..all the tulips were out, absolutely piles of them, so that was beautiful. We head to Salisbury which I loved! So old and green and historic! There was a free tour of the cathedral (highest spire in England) which was really neat. We took a bus to an old hill fort and the foundation remains, also very fascinating!! The view was amazing from up there!! 360 degrees rolling countrysides..I really love the Cotswolds! Just like the scenery in Bath.

We then got a bus to Stonehenge...at first sigh over the hill the stones looked MASSIVE! Once up close, it was how I imagined them...though I didn't imagine 2 busy highways to be right beside it!!! Ruined the atmosphere. Thankfully they'll be making tunnels for the highways in the near future to bring back to 'atmosphere.' There were alos loads of small/large mounds around...I found out they were all burial mounds..WOW! We frolicked among the stones and took a gazillion pictures from every possible angle! It was fun! The security guard said they get up to 25/30 jumpers a night!!! I would not want that job! The following day we went to Nottingham to hang out with Kirsten's friend, Beata for the night. We went out for dinner then stayed in that night with some rum and coke, listening to cheesy polka music, but with Beata's enthusiastic conversations, it's hard not to enjoy yourself.

It was surreal to return to Ireland, after being there only 2 months ago. It was green and remote as I remembered, except this time we were on the West coast of the Republic of Ireland, supposedly the "real, more primitive" Ireland. Tha'ts for sure on the Aran Islands...a Gaelic community off the coast of Galway. They speak English, but theur first language is Gaelic. We took a mini-bus tour around the small, stoney island (8mi by 1mi). It literally was a pile of rock, and in order to create open areas, the rocks were piled to make long/square/round/asymetrical walls leading to no where and surrounding sometimes just more rock!!!! They estimate that if they were to make a solid stone wall using all of the rocks on the island, it would be over 3000miles long! The island only received electricity 30 years ago and it's main source of income is fishing and tourism. We stayed in a small village on the coast near the islands named Doolin. It reportedly had the best traditional Irish music around, and we checked it out both nights. I just love listening to the music in the pubs, it can be so relaxing, and just put you in a good mood. Next on our list was south, through Limerick and west to the Dingle Peninsuela. Here was a mountainous region on a small, narrow peninsuela, so you can imagine it was spectacular views. The bus windows were so dirty that the pictures did not turn out so well...but the town of Dingle was so sweet and quaint! It was also on the water, with a beach, coves and caves. We had limited time here because the tours were not at the right time for us so we did not stay long.

Through the hustling, somewhat dirty/unfriendly town of Cork (sorry, but that was my impressions at first) we ended up at the lovely Blarney Castle. And yes, we did kiss the Blarney Stone. It supposedly gives you the gift of eloquence. The grounds were absolutely beautiful! There were Druid stone circles and fairy trees and it was very mystical and extensive. Too bad we didn't have more time! Well off we were again, we managed to make it to Kilkenny that night and find a hostel. It was in a sketchy dark alley, but there was a church next door, so it couldn't have been that bad. I liked Kilkenny. We visited the castle, which really was transformed into a 3 sided stately home. It was sold in 1948 for a meer 50quid ($100)!!! By this time it was in ruins and needed lots of work, but STILL!!!! They reconstructed the place nicely and our tour guide was great! She was very clear and the things she talked about were of great interest (well maybe not of GREAT interest, but VERY interesting to me)....like about what certain pieces of furniture were used for, and the use of mirrors and colours, and the shapes of rooms.

It was quite funny, the next day in class we talked about the Imperial Empire in the 16th century England course, and Kilkenny castle came up as the home of the leading family to pretty much rule all of Ireland!! How cool is that??!?! I should've raised my hand and said "I was JUST there! fancy that!" The weather was gorgeous and we walked round a bit more to a nice cathedral which was closed. After running to catch the train out, we barely found a seat on the sticky and crowded train. Stupid people had their bags and jackets on the seats instead! UGH. Dublin was the same and we ended up shopping for gifts (well Kirsten) and then to watch the "inside man" with Denzel Washington. It was rather good. Early morning we flew back to Leeds to make it with time to my class. That night I brought Kirsten to two nearby pubs with my housemates. Willa and Marina also came to visit which was nice! So Kirsten got to see Leeds, and meet the majority of my close friends! YAHHHH! We were up at 4:30am the next morning for her 5:30am train. I went back to sleep, and from what I heard, Kirsten got home safe. It was nice to be home (in Leeds). I was missing my housemates and the easy paced daily life at Tetley....but then again, I'll always miss it. The end draws near and I cling to hold on to those sweet moments and memories I wish never to forget.

Tower Bridge w/ my sister!

STONEHENGE!!!

Kissing the Blarney Stone...the pic of me was crap because I kissed it too fast. I found it a bit hard to pull myself back up...kinda scary!

The old age cliff side fort: Dun Aegnus

Cute thatched house on Inishmore (largest island in the Aran Islands)
On the Aran Islands...more stone! shocking :)

Kilkenny Castle. The east wall was knocked down to view the gardens when converted into a stately home by the most powerful family in Ireland to the time.

bye bye Ireland!

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