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All Aroud the World.
Dia duit Australia!
Get excited dear friends because FINALLY after nearly 2 months of living abroad, I have something to actually tell you other than who's dating who in year 8.
The half-term came around very quickly, and equipped with an umbrella, very impractical shoes and the hand (and subsequent rest of body) of the dear Milly Cooper, a very memorable Irish adventure commenced. With the mission of finding where the craic was (pronounced 'crack' but having nothing do with plumbers or illicit substances), Milly and I began our expedition in Dublin on the 13/2. We decided that accommodation was overrated and frankly a little unnecessary for this particular night and instead chose to gallivant around the Temple Bar district buying 10euro drinks, soaking up the Irish music and not so secretly hoping to meet our own "Gerry Kennedy" (PS I love you) in time for Valentines Day. The people we met were all so ridiculously lovely. I've never met so many friendly people in my life (although we met more Aussies and people from other places than actual Irish people).
On 15/2 we started our 6 day all Ireland tour with Paddy Wagon (which I recommend 100%) joining a bus of 50 (45 of which were Aussies) and five other entire busses. Now, where better to start an Irish tour than at the Guinness Factory, hmmm? It's never too early to enjoy a pint of Guinness apparently. However, I avoided that poisonous concoction at all costs because, let's face it, it's disgusting.
After this we headed to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone and be blessed with the gift of the gab for 6 years. Lucky really, because I didn't talk nearly enough prior to snogging the stone. We also visited the Papal Cross where Pope John Paul II said mass to over 1 million people on 29/9/79.
On our way out of Dingle we drove around County Cork, which is where my ancestors (mum's side) came from. I found some "O'Mahoney" coasters (cool, yeah?) which state that "O'Mahoney derives from the Irish word for bear. During medieval times the clan held most of the city of Cork and Mizen head. There were at least 14 O'Mahoney castles in this region of West Cork. Famous family members include DAVE ALLEN (!!!) (Does anyone remember that time when I made everyone watch his comedy show over and over again? Mill, Kath?? !!!!!) Motto: sic nos sic secra tuemur! (ourselves and things sacred we guard)."
After a night in Dingle, we headed towards the 'Randy Leprechaun' for karaoke in Killarney. The next day started with a carriage ride to the national park to explore a castle. Other stops were at the leprechauns wishing well and to see the rock of fertility and sleeping giant.
The next day on our way to Galway we went to the Atlantic Ocean, the Burren (a moon-like place which is the only place in the world where alpine, arctic and Mediterranean flowers grow side by side) and the breath-taking Cliffs of Moher.
We then moved from Galway to Belfast visiting Yeat's grave (!) and my favourite of all places; the botanic gardens (where the fairies dwell).
I found Belfast to be a very intimidating place to stay as there is a very clear split between the Catholics and Protestants. Although the split seems religious, it's actually over land. The Protestants wants to be part of England and the Catholics wish to join the rest of Ireland in independence from the Queen. Protestant areas have the pavement painted in blue, red and white and some areas are completely fenced off from the Catholics. There are massive iron gates between the two sides and when the alarm rings you have just moments to get back to your own side before they close. We signed the Peace Wall and saw some murals depicting horrible scenes like Bloody Sunday. There's one of an UFF officer pointing a gun at you, and no matter where you move around it, it will always be pointing at you. It was really intimidating that our tour guides were talking about things that happened 'weeks' ago, and not 'years'.
Anyway, going from Belfast to Derry (or Londonderry depending on who's side you're on) we saw where the Titanic was built, the haunted Dunlace Castle and went to the Giants Causeway, where Finn McCool made over 60,000 hexagonal columns to cross the water to Scotland to fight his rival giant… well that or the basalt formed the shape by cataclysmically violent volcanic eruptions a verrrry long like ago. Take your pick.
We spent the night jigging away to traditional Irish music at Peadar O'Donnells Pub, probably offending a lot of locals with our moves.
Finally, on our return to Dublin we stopped in Drogheda to see St Peter's Church, where the head of St Oliver Plunkett, executed in 1681) is preserved in a glass case.
There are photos in my new album 'Reasons not to feel homesick!' if you're interested, but keep in mind that no photo will ever do the real thing justice. I was much more taken by the countryside than the cities, and if there was a little (a lot) more sun I think I would've been happy to stay there forever. I really loved Ireland, which is funny because it wasn't a place I even intended to visit. I'd definitely go back again.
Until the Easter holidays I doubt I'll have much more to say, considering school is fairly uninteresting stuff. BUT! I do need to pick a place to go for those holidays (suggestions?) and it has to be wicked because (drum roll please) I'LL BE 18! About bloody time too.
Other than that, I've been doing quite a lot of babysitting, which I love. Mostly because I get to play in their mansions after the kids go to bed. It's like staying in a 5 star hotel, except you get payed for it! I left one house will a box of cornflakes, a thing of jam and a box of chocolates. I guess they were worried I didn't eat when the school didn't feed me or something. Anyway, I'm not complaining. However, I AM rambling.
All my love, little minions!
Get excited dear friends because FINALLY after nearly 2 months of living abroad, I have something to actually tell you other than who's dating who in year 8.
The half-term came around very quickly, and equipped with an umbrella, very impractical shoes and the hand (and subsequent rest of body) of the dear Milly Cooper, a very memorable Irish adventure commenced. With the mission of finding where the craic was (pronounced 'crack' but having nothing do with plumbers or illicit substances), Milly and I began our expedition in Dublin on the 13/2. We decided that accommodation was overrated and frankly a little unnecessary for this particular night and instead chose to gallivant around the Temple Bar district buying 10euro drinks, soaking up the Irish music and not so secretly hoping to meet our own "Gerry Kennedy" (PS I love you) in time for Valentines Day. The people we met were all so ridiculously lovely. I've never met so many friendly people in my life (although we met more Aussies and people from other places than actual Irish people).
On 15/2 we started our 6 day all Ireland tour with Paddy Wagon (which I recommend 100%) joining a bus of 50 (45 of which were Aussies) and five other entire busses. Now, where better to start an Irish tour than at the Guinness Factory, hmmm? It's never too early to enjoy a pint of Guinness apparently. However, I avoided that poisonous concoction at all costs because, let's face it, it's disgusting.
After this we headed to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone and be blessed with the gift of the gab for 6 years. Lucky really, because I didn't talk nearly enough prior to snogging the stone. We also visited the Papal Cross where Pope John Paul II said mass to over 1 million people on 29/9/79.
On our way out of Dingle we drove around County Cork, which is where my ancestors (mum's side) came from. I found some "O'Mahoney" coasters (cool, yeah?) which state that "O'Mahoney derives from the Irish word for bear. During medieval times the clan held most of the city of Cork and Mizen head. There were at least 14 O'Mahoney castles in this region of West Cork. Famous family members include DAVE ALLEN (!!!) (Does anyone remember that time when I made everyone watch his comedy show over and over again? Mill, Kath?? !!!!!) Motto: sic nos sic secra tuemur! (ourselves and things sacred we guard)."
After a night in Dingle, we headed towards the 'Randy Leprechaun' for karaoke in Killarney. The next day started with a carriage ride to the national park to explore a castle. Other stops were at the leprechauns wishing well and to see the rock of fertility and sleeping giant.
The next day on our way to Galway we went to the Atlantic Ocean, the Burren (a moon-like place which is the only place in the world where alpine, arctic and Mediterranean flowers grow side by side) and the breath-taking Cliffs of Moher.
We then moved from Galway to Belfast visiting Yeat's grave (!) and my favourite of all places; the botanic gardens (where the fairies dwell).
I found Belfast to be a very intimidating place to stay as there is a very clear split between the Catholics and Protestants. Although the split seems religious, it's actually over land. The Protestants wants to be part of England and the Catholics wish to join the rest of Ireland in independence from the Queen. Protestant areas have the pavement painted in blue, red and white and some areas are completely fenced off from the Catholics. There are massive iron gates between the two sides and when the alarm rings you have just moments to get back to your own side before they close. We signed the Peace Wall and saw some murals depicting horrible scenes like Bloody Sunday. There's one of an UFF officer pointing a gun at you, and no matter where you move around it, it will always be pointing at you. It was really intimidating that our tour guides were talking about things that happened 'weeks' ago, and not 'years'.
Anyway, going from Belfast to Derry (or Londonderry depending on who's side you're on) we saw where the Titanic was built, the haunted Dunlace Castle and went to the Giants Causeway, where Finn McCool made over 60,000 hexagonal columns to cross the water to Scotland to fight his rival giant… well that or the basalt formed the shape by cataclysmically violent volcanic eruptions a verrrry long like ago. Take your pick.
We spent the night jigging away to traditional Irish music at Peadar O'Donnells Pub, probably offending a lot of locals with our moves.
Finally, on our return to Dublin we stopped in Drogheda to see St Peter's Church, where the head of St Oliver Plunkett, executed in 1681) is preserved in a glass case.
There are photos in my new album 'Reasons not to feel homesick!' if you're interested, but keep in mind that no photo will ever do the real thing justice. I was much more taken by the countryside than the cities, and if there was a little (a lot) more sun I think I would've been happy to stay there forever. I really loved Ireland, which is funny because it wasn't a place I even intended to visit. I'd definitely go back again.
Until the Easter holidays I doubt I'll have much more to say, considering school is fairly uninteresting stuff. BUT! I do need to pick a place to go for those holidays (suggestions?) and it has to be wicked because (drum roll please) I'LL BE 18! About bloody time too.
Other than that, I've been doing quite a lot of babysitting, which I love. Mostly because I get to play in their mansions after the kids go to bed. It's like staying in a 5 star hotel, except you get payed for it! I left one house will a box of cornflakes, a thing of jam and a box of chocolates. I guess they were worried I didn't eat when the school didn't feed me or something. Anyway, I'm not complaining. However, I AM rambling.
All my love, little minions!
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