I'm making a small update since it's only been a day since the last one!

Anyway, I forgot to mention I did a Celtic Seaweed Bath after my first clinical on Friday! It was in Strandhill, which is a small village west of Sligo where all the surfing is. It's right on the beach- we took lots of cool pictures there that afternoon. Anyway, for 25 euro you can take what's called a seaweed bath at a spa. I got my own little private room with a steam room (the size of a shower) and a bathtub full of hot seawater and seaweed for 50 minutes. It's supposed to be really good for your skin. I was on the fence as to whether or not I really wanted to do it. I mean... I can find better ways to spend that money, but at the same time... everyone else was doing it and it's something specific to Ireland (when in Rome....). So I gave in and took one. I wasn't sure what I was going to do for almost an hour in a bath tub. I never take baths, and I'm used to constantly doing something. I didn't have a book or an ipod with me. I also never pamper myself like this. So it was quite an experience, lol. I stripped down and got in my tub. I played with the seaweed and relaxed, listening to the ocean waves playing in the background. I also had fun taking pictures. I felt so good afterwards I didn't feel like doing much else that night. Hehe.

Anyway, that was Friday night. Today, Sunday, we went hiking. About half the group went- those who didn't were the people who aren't big on walking, let alone hiking. We hiked up this small mountain called Knocknarea. On top of it is a 35ft cairn made of rocks. The tradition for thousands of years is to bring a rock from the bottom and carry it up to the top. The rock represents your worries and you leave your worries behind at the top. According to local legend it's Queen Maeve who's buried under the cairn, standing up in full armor facing her enemies to north. Perhaps she takes care of your worries? Anyway, I carried my big o' rock to the top. It was a pretty steep hike, but it only took about 30 or 45 min to get to the top- I'm not sure exactly because I wasn't paying attention to my rock. It was funny- at the top was a group of women and one barefoot man. They were on some sort of spiritual journey, and they kept chanting and roaring (yes, roaring) on top of the cairn. They finally moved so we could take pictures on top, at which point the broke up and meditated in various places. A small group kept chanting. It was very interesting the watch. And the barefoot man did the hike up and down the mountain, all over very sharp jagged rocks, without shoes. Amazing.

The rest of the day I've pretty much just hung out with Lillianna and Julieta in downtown Sligo. It's Sunday, so the sheer majority of the shops were closed today. But the small malls were open, and we walked around looking at shops. We also stopped for coffee at a Starbucks-like cafe, and just sat around talking about life and our families for over an hour. It was very nice to just sit and get to know people. I feel like I don't socialize as much as the rest of the group, and today was like catch-up. And I really like these two girls, so maybe we'll still be friends later on. =)

Anyway, I believe we are headed back to the apartments now. Talk to ya later!