so we danced on the street corner

Oh man was this a fun day!

Last Friday I went to Kilkenny with Patrick, Skyler, and Fabs.

Kilkenny is a town about 75 miles southwest of Dublin by car.

We of course took the train for the day trip.

We thought it best to take the earliest train out and the 2nd to last train coming back.

It would give us the most time to explore. (edit: hahaha no it wouldn't!!)

What we didn't think about was how god damn early that meant getting up.

Our train left at 7:20am and i was woken up with a start at 6:50. Mind you, the train station is many blocks away 3/4 of a mile to be exact, and by the time we were all in the lobby we had about 24 minutes until the train left.

We ran. Poor Fabs is a smoker, and he just gave up and walked after a point.

I ended up running ahead with the ticket confirmation numbers, getting the tickets, meeting up haphazardly with the group with 56 seconds to go, running down the platform and jumping on the train at the last second. Not even joking.

It was a great way to start the day. As Skyler put it, "now that we've used up all our shitty luck it's going to be a great day!"

And it was.

I thought Kilkenny was great! It was a great size, and it seemed to have a lot going on. We got there pretty early, and people seemed to be walking to work still.

(the Kilkenny commute)

If you were standing in the spot where the picture above was taken, and you turned around you would be this:

This is Kilkenny Castle, and the first really castley looking castle i've seen yet.

We explored a bit and discovered that they had a tea room. While we waited for the tour(that we ended up opting out of) to start, we got tea in the castles old kitchen.

(i got palace garden tea)

After deciding that we'd rather explore more of the town and area instead of taking a tour of very nice looking rooms, we took off into Kilkenny.

As we walked down the main drag we saw a "man shop", and of course immediately entered.

This, as it turns out, is just a mens clothing store. Normally i would have lost interest upon entering, but this clothing store was full of amazing tweed jackets, Sherlock Holmes pipes, and three piece suits. We looked around a little and wound up talking to this little old man who i took to be the owner. He seemed to want to talk to us forever, and ended up telling us basically the whole history of Kilkenny in about 5 minutes. "my father came here during the great potato famine from Dublin to work on St. Mary's Cathedral. He was a stone mason, and he came because there was work, which meant food".

He was a cool dude, and was very helpful in suggesting some places to check out.

Next we wandered around Kilkenny's back allies and discovered the Black Abby. Outside the Abby a crazy lady feeding stray cats tunafish and parked illegally told us about St. Canice's Cathedral (below), and the afore mentioned St. Mary's (which was so large it can be seen from almost anywhere in town)

This place had a great graveyard, and sat atop a big hill. We learned later on that it was 1200 years old. Really old.

Next we went and explored St Mary's, but only for a bit because earlier we had purchased tickets to tour the Smithwick's brewery.

This ended up being a great time.

At first our guide Ronan was a bit overzealous with the history of the Smithwicks family.

It seemed like we were standing there in a circle for like 45 minutes hearing about how Edward Smithwick was such a great guy, and how he did SOOOoooOOOo much for the community of Kilkenny. It's not that it wasn't true, or impressive, it was just boring!

We would soon realize that all the stuff that Ronan had told us would some into play during the walking part of the tour. Once we started moving around the brewery all the stuff he had just taken forever to explain came to life. All the different generations of Smithwick influence became very obvious and we then understood why he had gone into such depth.

We saw this old shell of an abby right in the middle of the brewery.

It's a Franciscan abby, and it turns out, not coincidentally, that Smithwicks is a Franciscan style beer. Next to the abby there was a newer chapel where Ronan told us was the perfect place to say an "Ale Mary". Very funny at the time.

We also got to see the actual modern brewery and all the good stuff that goes along with that.

Before walking into the building that housed the 7 or 8, million pint hoppers, Ronan said to us, "in the unlikely event that we have a gusher, which is when a pipe bursts and all million pints come pouring out of a hopper, i guarantee your safety, but please, don't worry about me, in fact, just leave me. Many a night i've dreamt of reaching a state of nirvana while being consumed by the fizzy goodness of Smithwicks, sometimes it even helps me fall asleep."

The guy likes his Smithwicks, what can i say?

So much so that he took about 20-30 minutes to pour 9 pints. He said that part of the tour was experiencing a craft pour, where you fill the glass in little increments so that the bubbles in the head stay very tiny, and in turn the head stays extra thick.

(Craft pours, with the biggest Smithwicks fan i've ever met. Ronan)

I must admit however, the final product was a work of art, and tasted just as good as it looks.

Kilkenny was a great time. I'd go back in a second.

We had some extra time at the end of the day and ended up walking along the river. By the time we reached the town again it was getting dark. We really did get a full Kilkenny day.

(Cool well)

Till next time

be happy

Andy

i've been trying to find what's been in my mind

I know i know.

It's been over a week, but in my defense, we were all focused on our first week of classes, and i didn't do a whole lot since my trip to Greystones.

That was the week.

Once the weekend came Hannah and i took off to explore Waterford!!!

It was.....not that great.

I mean, it was alright, and there were some cool things to see, and we had fun, but it wasn't amazing.

(quant street)

We thought, "oh let's go checkout Waterford Crystal!!"

We then quickly learned that there were no tours on Saturday (if at all), and we could only see the showroom. It was still amazing, but not what we (or at least i) had been expecting.

(although there was this super cool horse drawn chariot, the size of like.... a huge pig. that's the best i've got. like a giant pig. i'm having a very difficult time thinking of something that size. My Head Resident Claire's suggestion when asked, (what's "this" big?), was, "a medium sized ..boulder?" So, whichever is a better mental scale for you, giant pig or medium sized boulder, go with that. Anyways. It was something like €17,000, which comes out to be $23,173. Too bad they didn't have a giant pig.....or boulder.)

Moving on.

We walked the streets and explored the city park, but still....eeehhh?!

We found the oldest civic building in Ireland, this old tower,....kinda boring.

Maybe the coolest pictures were of this old shell of a church that's pictured below.

One thing that we had not come prepared for was the weather. It was not only frigid cold, but also windy as hell being on a river and near the sea. We didn't let it stop us, but it defiantly took it's toll over the course of the day.

One more thing that put a strange twist on the adventure were the people.

For the most part they were very nice, but we also encountered some of the first rude Irish people of our trip.

It actually became sort of funny after the forth of fifth time.

We had planned to try and take a short bus trip from Waterford out to the seaside to a little village called Dunmore East, but we ended up deciding that we would rather not freeze to death on the south coast of Ireland. Not that day at least.

After enough exploring we decided to try and trade in our return tickets for an earlier train home. We failed, and having been beaten down by Waterford, we ended up just sitting in the train station.

This ended up being one of the best parts of the day.

We watched many "characters", we were stared at by the man at the ticket counter, for a very long time, we bought many treats from the snack counter, we tried writing songs (Hannah has an amazing one going), we watched family's reunite and say their farewells and leave on the trains we wished we could be on, and last but not least, we continued to freeze our asses off.

While Waterford wasn't my favorite so far, i still had a great time, and Hannah and i made the most of the polar like conditions.

till next time.

be happy

Andy

and i will never grow so old again

S0, like i said i would, here goes the best day yet.

After our last bit of orientation Saturday morning i had the itch to explore. I tried to wrangle up people to go with me somewhere, anywhere, but after getting zero bites i took off alone.

The cliff walk from Bray to Greystones had come recommended from Dr. Robinson, so i caught a train down the coast to Bray, the Irish version of a seaside resort town about 10 miles south of Dublin.

Bray from up on the cliffs.

As i started up the path i kept thinking "this is amazing! i can't believe this is really happening"

Around every corner there was something better. Like really, it kept building and building. After a while i stopped getting surprised by how cool everything was, and just started ambling along in awe.

A few pictures may help you understand.

4 miles from Bray i walked into Greystones.

Nothing "special", a wealthier little seaside town, and also the last stop on the southbound DART.

The train left for Dublin every half hour, so i asked where to get the best pint in town and was sent to W.H. Dann & Son for a Guinness.

While i sat at the bar with my Guinness i chatted with the bartender. His name was Finn.

(Of course)

He asked me how i was enjoying County Wicklow. WHAT!?

I had unknowingly walked into my second county along the cliffs from Bray.

(i also tried bacon crisps! they look like little strips of bacon. awesome!)

After that i ran to catch the next train, and fortunately i failed because while waiting on the platform i met Lisa, a really nice woman originally from Chicago who lives in Ireland now. She was kind enough to share some of her must do's and must see's with me while on the train back to the city. This was super helpful because, well, i don't know anything about this place other than what i explore myself.

If anyone has been to Ireland, or even if you know someone who has been here, please ask them what they'd love to do or see again. Then, promptly comment me that information, or send me a email. In Dublin, outside of town, on the west coast, wherever. I'll look it up, write it down and then go exploring.

Also, i know i've said this already, but it's worth saying again. If you know anyone that you think would like to see this blog, or better yet, follow it, please pass it along: http://andyinireland.blogspot.com/

That's it for today.

More to come soon i'm sure!

be happy

Andy

so make your sirens call, and sing all you want

I don't really know where to start.

I know that i haven't had a real post for a few days now, but that's because i've been going nonstop since the plane touched down. Today i finally hit a wall, so i took it easy, knowing that i will probably keep going full tilt when i do have the energy again.

From Thursday morning through Saturday we had a lot of time taken up with orientation. This wasn't a bad thing seeing as how the staff (all three of them), are the best! We also got hooked up with free meals and planned excursions around and outside the city.

We were taken out to dinner at two really cool restaurants, we familiarized ourselves with the academic center, and we went over procedures. All of these things, in my opinion, were wonderful, but what we did in the gaps of time around these planned out blocks got me really excited about what i'll find here in Ireland.

After our first day of orientation, but before the first dinner, we were let loose from the schedule for about 5 hours or so. Champlain had put together a scavenger hunt for us. Something to help us learn about Dublin and how to get around, while at the same time showing us some of the sights and historical parts of the city.

Interest in the hunt (at least for me and my group) lasted about as long as it took us to get outside.

After quickly stuffing the list into my backpack we dove head first into Dublin.

In just a few hours we covered a good chunk of the city. I had done some exploring on my own a few days before, but this adventure was a little different. We went and saw the Book of Kells. The book was very cool, but to me, what was even better was the Old Trinity College Library. You couldn't take pictures, and there were security personnel all around to enforce this, so hopefully this picture off the interwebz will show up to all you outside followers. I'm still working out the kinks with pictures.

At that point, this was the coolest thing i'd seen in Ireland.

Before the the Trinity Library we wandered around St. Stephens Green, and Merrion Square Park. The second park is where the Oscar Wilde statue lazily lounges on a rock face near the pathway.

The best part of Dublin (at least for me), is that you don't need to be at the Book of Kells, or the Guinness Brewhouse to feel like you're seeing amazing sights. Every cobble stone street and back alleyway is an adventure. Yes, it is true that Dublin is a very westernized, and that parts of it are quite modern, but everywhere you look there's something that throws you back in time. Be it a church that's hundreds of years old (they're like a dime a dozen! and they are beautiful! We walk past St. Patrick's Cathedral on our way to school), or row houses that sweep around corners and snake around the city, and there are always pubs. Lots and lots of pubs.

The next day blew any of the previous days out of the water.

By a long shot.

When we flew into Dublin last Tuesday morning the sun was just coming up.

While we waited for room on the runway we looped out over the Irish Sea and as we flew back towards Dublin we saw from our windows this peninsula of land north of the city. It was almost completely dark, with lights only covering a sliver or the coast.

Hannah and i wondered what it could be. So close to the city, yet seemingly so remote.

Well on Friday we were given an answer!

On the north shore of the knob of land is the seaside fishing village of Howth. Pronounced like "both".

After another morning of orientation, our director, Dr. Stephen Robinson, led our group to Pearse St. Station handed out a return (round trip) ticket to everyone, destination: Howth.

We all hopped onboard the next train and "DARTed"* out of Dublin and up the coast.

*(Dublin Area Rapid Transit)

Upon arrival, we took a few pictures with the group, and then Stephen, Lilly, and Claire (the other two staff) waved goodbye and took the next train back.

I feel like this is where another chapter would start in a book.

It was BEAUTIFUL weather. We walked down the pier/street towards the water, looking at the fish mongers, and the seals chillin' in the harbor, and we took loads of photos of the Eye of Ireland, a huge island offshore to the north.

One thing that we didn't do was look behind us. If we had we would have seen the ever changing Irish weather closing in fast. By the time i turned around the rain was charging down the pier (that we were trapped at the end of) and before we could really react at all it was upon us.

Here's my favorite part. Basically everyone was thrilled to get caught in an Irish rain storm!

Nobody seemed to mind a bit, and that in many ways, set the stage for the rest of the day.

From the pier we headed for the cliffs.

At THAT point the Trinity College Library couldn't keep up.

I know for a fact that it'll be mundane soon enough, but i'd never seen anything like it.

I'll let the pictures explain. (tomorrow)

We had an amazing afternoon, and then we headed back to town for dinner.

The next day was the last bit of orientation and then we had the rest of the afternoon to explore, and i took off alone.

That will have to be another blog. I'll post about my solo trip to Greystones tomorrow, but i have my first class bright and early so i need to get to bed.

Oh and by the way. As of right now, the trek to Greystones was by far the best thing yet.

You'll see why tomorrow.

Let me try and upload one picture here...

(that was on Howth)

stay tuned.

be happy!

Andy

Meow what is so damn funny?

Today (yesterday), was awesome!

Hannah, Patrick, Ian, Liz, and I went to the Guinness Brewery!

I need to stop myself right there. Before i type anymore i just need to sort of explain the high usage of exclamation marks. Some might say that it's overkill, or for effect, or maybe to try and make things sound more interesting, seeing that almost every sentence ends with one, but you can all rest assure that i'm typing as if i'm talking to you. If you know me at all, you know that i talk this way most of the time, so if you can imagine that i'm talking to you face to face it may help make sense of the high volume of !'s.

Ok

Guinness is brewed at St James Gate Brewery.

I would post a picture of the gate here, but the image uploader is acting up, so i'll just post more pictures on the picture section at a later date.

There is this 7 or 8 floor self guided tour, all around a central atrium that was shaped like a giant 7 or 8 floor pint glass. At the top you could redeem your ticket for a pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar. It was pretty remarkable. Part of me thought that going to the brewery on the first full day was jumping the gun a little bit, but after we sat down with our pint and took in the 360 degree view of the city from one of the highest vantage points in Dublin i quickly reconsidered. It was really really cool. We sat there and let it all sink in for a minute. I think that up until then we had all been so frazzled from travel and jetlag that we hadn't really had time to realize what was happening. While looking out from maybe the best vantage point in the city we started to pick out landmarks and famous buildings, and it seemed to at least start to sink in that we were here, and that we'd be here until May!

We all got really excited.

Also Guinness here isn't even really comparable to the stuff we get back home.

To quote my good friend Mike Sotak, "like drinking the tears of angels".

Orientation starts tomorrow, so i need to get to bed. Apparently the school is taking us to an amazing restaurant, and there's a scavenger hunt.

Sounds like a good day already.

be happy

Andy

Eastern Standard Time, oh how i hate you

I posted a few photos on the pictures section of the blog. Hope you enjoy!

More to come soon!

SHAZAM!!!

Well, Andy is in Ireland.

Monday morning i woke up in Saratoga. Mom and Dad drove me down to JFK for a 9pm flight, and 6 hours or so later we landed in Dublin, 3am NewYork time, 8am in Ireland.

I ate pasta for dinner, was given free beer, and 100 Delta dollars because the in-flight movie didn't have sound. Best Julia Roberts movie i've ever seen.

It really couldn't have been easier.

I was really working myself up, but we basically walked through immigration and customs.

The guitar made in one piece, we meet up with Stephen the Champlain Dublin director, and he threw us all in cabs which whisked us away into downtown Dublin and to our apartments.

And now we're here.

I have 8 hours of battery life until i need to find a power adapter, and we have until Thursday morning to recover from jet lag and explore the city on our own before orientation starts.

This is the view from my suite.

It is, may i say, pretty sweet. I'm looking forward to seeing it at night.

I need to meet in the lobby to go on the tour of the neighborhood (and get a Guinness.... no really, that's on the agenda).

be happy

Andy

this give a new meaning to butterflies in the stomach

24 hours.

In 24 hours i'll be boarding a plane for Dublin.

I'm about to put everything into my bag, and get some sleep.

Maybe it would be informative to let you all know that i have never been outside the United States, except to Canada, and a few islands in the Caribbean.

This is a BIG deal for me.

Ever since i started going to school at Champlain i've been thinking about this, and now it's happening. It's hard to believe. Do you know the feeling you have when you're down in the dumps and feeling lousy about life? Well this is the complete opposite of that feeling. I'm just about as excited as i've ever been about anything, and while it is all very nerve racking, i must admit that it's a very cool feeling.

I'm trying not to over think it, but to be honest, that's proving to be very hard to do.

I'm all set, i mean, i have one last errand to run bright and early tomorrow before we leave for JFK, but i'm ready to leave otherwise.

I know deep down somewhere that i just need to relax and try and enjoy tomorrow, but the truth of the matter is that i won't be able to really relax until i've landed and made it through immigration. A Guinness afterwards will probably help.

I can't wait to start taking pictures! The blog will be way better with pictures. Like, way better.

Ok, i think it's time to pack things up and get to bed.

You'll hear from me soon, but i'll see you all in June!

be happy!

Andy

and now we wait.....

It is now officially January 7th. Things are looking good, and i'm about ready to be leaving, i just can't believe it's finally here.

I know that i've been a little, let's say, absent, in my blogging duties.

In fact, i can't even remember the last time i put up a new post. Some time back in November, but it doesn't really matter because i'm not even in Ireland yet!

The adventure will begin this Monday at 9pm, from JFK.

During the last few weeks i've been super busy running around taking care of last minute details, working a little bit, seeing friends, and enjoying the holidays (and the break) with my family. Mom has helped me slowly cross things off what seems like a never-ending list, but now all that's left to do is wait for Monday.

Soon i'll be able to start sharing photos and accounts of Irish happenings, and i can also start posting under the bike trip portion of the blog. As i search for and outfit a bike i plan to keep a photo blog of that process. Oh! and you'll probably start hearing about people like Ian, Matt, and Patrick, my three suit mates, and you're sure to hear about my friend and busking partner Hannah.

A lot of the trip is still a big question mark, but here are some details that i know a little bit about.

The apartments where we'll be living are right in the middle of Dublin. A block from the River Liffy, and about three blocks from St. James Gate (the location of the Guinness brewery). We'll have about a half hour walk to the academic center for classes (or maybe i should say a five minute bike ride), and we'll be just minutes away from Trinity College, museums, markets, pubs, and parks. However you look at it, we'll be right in the thick of things, and i'm ready to explore.

You'll hear from me again soon.

be happy

Andy