dublindoesitbetter

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Belfestive and Blessed

     It's crazy to think that my semester abroad is quickly coming to an end and in just a week, I'll be home! While I am so incredibly excited to finally return to New York and am counting down the days until I'll be back in DC, I have been challenging myself to enjoy the time I have left in Ireland.

     Right before I left in August, I made a bucket list of everything I wanted to see or do while abroad.  I've managed to check off almost everything on the list (*hair flip) but one of the remaining things to visit Belfast and take a Black Taxi tour to learn more about the conflict between the Catholics and Protestants.  My sister Karlee and I planned this trip together and she came to up to Dublin from Limerick (#tweetsfromlimerick round 4) for the weekend.  After enjoying Christmas festivities in Dublin on Friday, we took a day trip to Belfast on Saturday.

      Having learned from previous adventures, we opted to take the AirCoach bus to Belfast rather than Bus Eirann (for full explanation of this decision, please reference this blog post)  We arrived in the city around 11 am and had some time to kill before our 1pm Black Taxi tour.  On the grounds of the City Hall we discovered a Christmas market, which we of course explored.  Larger and more elaborate than the one in Dublin, there were vendors selling all different types of food and gift items.  On one side of the market we found a carousel and being the 5 year olds that we are, quickly handed over the 2 Pounds it cost to ride, jumped on a horse and took selfies the entire ride.

     After grabbing some lunch at a cute little cafe with great soup, we met our taxi driver for our tour.  In an old, English style taxi we drove through North Belfast and saw the Catholic side of the city.  We stopped at the IRA museum and several memorial gardens dedicated to Catholic victims of the conflict. Our tour guide was Catholic and told us a lot about his experiences growing up during the worst of the troubles.  After spending a lot of time on the Catholic side of the city and hearing stories about how Protestants would drop bombs over the Peace Wall into Catholic yards, we crossed into the Protestant part of the city.  The Peace Wall serves as a divider between the two sections and is known for the graffiti on it, which can be viewed from the Protestant side.  Our tour guide supplied us with a Sharpie and Karlee and I each left our mark on the wall.  As we drove through the main Protestant section of the city, our guide pointed out how a lot of residents wear blue as a nonverbal sign of their allegiance to the Queen and the UK.  There were Union Jacks flying in front of almost every building and even parts of the sidewalks were painted red, white and blue.  Throughout the course of the tour, in both the Catholic and Protestant areas of the city, there were huge murals painted on the sides of buildings.  These murals, some nicer than others, all made a political statement of some sorts and it was interesting to see how the conflict was viewed from both sides. 

     I spent almost the entirety of the tour viewing the Protestants as the villains.  At first, I thought this was a result of my own Catholic identity, but as the tour drew to a close, I realized it was more to do with the story our tour guide was telling.  Growing up during the height of the conflict, he obviously carries a great deal of bias.  When we were on the Catholic side of the city, he told us stories of children and young adults who had been brutally murdered by Protestants and the murals painted in the Protestant section of the city that had been painted to honor these "murderers."  History is all about perspective and I'm sure I would have come away from the whole experience with an entirely different perspective had we had a Protestant tour guide.

     Our tour ended back where we started and after grabbing a quick bite to eat, Karlee and I explored more of the city on foot.   We walked over to St. George's Market (which was closing), across the river and all through the Titanic Quarter.  We got there too late in the day to explore the Titanic museum, but we were able to see where the boat was built as well as some of the original H & W infrastructure.  For both of us, Belfast was the last of our international trips for the semester, so we both had a great deal of change left over.  Currency exchange places will not convert coins, so we were determined to leave Belfast with as little as possible.  We returned to the Christmas market to get rid of it.  With the eight pounds I had in coins, I was able to purchase some mulled wine, chocolate covered marshmallows and some French potatoes (I had to settle for the plain garlic potatoes instead of those with bacon because I was thirty pence short)  After eating our way through the market, we stopped into a pub near the bus station to grab a drink before our journey back to Dublin.

     Sunday morning we slept in longer than planned, but Karlee and I were still able to enjoy brunch together before she had to make her way back to Stab City for the final time.  I'm still a bit in denial that she won't be back in Dublin again, just because she was here so often.  It was so wonderful to have her so close and I am so glad we got to share so many abroad experiences together and I have no doubt the #tweetsfromlimerick antics will continue when we are reunited in DC in January.    

     I've done a lot of thinking this semester and I've come to some some very important realizations.  I've realized how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to not only spend a semester living and studying in Ireland but to travel around as much as I have.  I think a lot of college students who study abroad take the experience for granted because it seems like something everyone does. It is so important for us to recognize and appreciate the chances we have been given and not waste them because there are people out there who can only dream of experiencing the things we may take for granted.  Being abroad has also help me realize what, and who, are most important to me.  Before this semester, I knew that my sisters and friends in DC held a special place in my heart, but spending such a long time away from them made me realize how much I have come to value my sorority experience and how much it has shaped the person I have become.

     I also believe that my experience abroad has made me a stronger, more independent person.  I've had to do a lot for myself from opening a bank account to filling out residency paperwork to many other mundane tasks of daily life.  These experiences have made me realize that I have fully entered the world of adulthood.  Yes, I'm still semi financially dependent on my parents and don't have to worry (yet) about obtaining my own health insurance, but a lot of life's major decisions now lay firmly in my lap.  I've grown up a lot this semester and have become more comfortable standing up for what I want, need or believe in and I am more confident in my abilities to go after what I want, both personally and professionally.  I've realized the value of relationships and how important it is to take care of and foster those friendships that mean something to you, because every relationship is a two way street.  I've also learned that it is perfectly ok to terminate relationships that you feel are toxic or detrimental.  Life is too short to surround yourself with people who make you feel bad about yourself or question your decisions.  

     I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone who is able to should go abroad.  Being abroad is so much more than the classes you take or the weekend trips you go on.  Living on your own in a place completely new to you presents all sorts of challenges.  These challenges provide you with the opportunity to learn, grow and discover new things about yourself.  These past four months have taught me that I'm capable of a lot more than I give myself credit for and I learned a lot about myself that I would not have had I remained in DC this semester.  The four years we spend as undergraduate students provide us with so many opportunities to challenge ourselves and I think people are foolish if they pass up these opportunities.  Your comfort zone is a great place to be, but you're never going to grow unless you take a step out of it.  If you spend your entire college experience hanging out in your comfort zone, you're going to graduate and realize you're the exact same person you were when you were 17 and graduating high school and you're going to be disappointed.

     If you're reading this and you're thinking about going abroad, stop thinking and pick a country.  Give yourself the opportunity to view yourself in a different lens and experience new things and I promise you, you won't regret it. You'll come to value the experiences you had and while not everything from your semester abroad will be enjoyable, you will look back fondly on the entire experience.

~

PS, I know I'm behind in posting pictures, they will be coming soon, once I get them loaded on my computer!

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No Place I'd Rather Be.

     In case you didn't know, mid-November weather in Dublin sucks.  It's cold, it's damp and sometimes, your umbrella flips inside out in a hailstorm at 4am while you're waiting for an AirCoach.  Needless to say, my trip to Portugal could not have fallen at a better time and I was beyond ready to escape Dublin for some warmer, sunnier weather.

     There are roughly twenty girls from my chapter scattered across the globe this semester, with many of us concentrated in Europe.  Because of this, those of us in Europe decided to plan a weekend where we could get together.   Portugal was chosen as the location since it was a central meeting place for sisters coming from Ireland, England, Spain and Morocco.  

      Since there were 7 of us, we decided to rent an AirBnb rather than staying in a hostel.  We had such a great experience and our landlady was nice and welcoming, recommending places for us to visit in the city.  I would recommend AirBnb to anyone looking to travel on a budget because not only are they super affordable but they give you the chance to see an area of the city you wouldn't normally.  Had we chosen a hostel, we would have spent the majority of our time in the main tourist area of Lisbon and never would have discovered the hidden gem that is Rato.

      Flavia, Heather and I arrived on Friday, so we spent Saturday morning exploring the area around our apartment before the others arrived.  Right at the end of our road, less than a 2 minute walk and visible from our balcony was the Portuguese government building.  This building sat at the top of a main road that led straight to the water.  We took this road for a bit before veering down some of the side streets, eventually finding ourselves at the water.  We walked along the water for a bit until we came to a larger staircase.  We climbed these stairs and were met with an incredible view of the river and the waterfront below up.  After stopping for a quick snack, we made our way back to our apartment and to the metro stop to pick up the rest of our party.

     Our plan for Saturday evening/afternoon was to walk around and take a tram up to the oldest/most historic part of the city.  Before we set off on this adventure, however, we decided to prepare some Sangria for the evening (When in Portugal)  On the way back from the metro station, we stopped in for some fruit and some wine and continued on home.  Flavia and I set off on cutting up the fruit while the others searched the entirety of the apartment for a corkscrew, but to no avail.  Not being ones to back down from a challenge, Molly began researching alternative methods for opening wine bottles.  We decided on one approach that involved a paperback book (something we did find while searching the apartment)  Grabbing the book in one hand and the bottle of wine in another, you beat the two against a wall simultaneously, the book acting as a buffer between the wine and the wall.  Eventually, the cork will rise enough to pull it out with your hands.

     Once the Sangria was sent in the fridge to simmer, we set out to see parts of the city.  After a 25ish minute walk, multiple stops for photos and some directions from a Portuguese Starbucks worker, we arrived at the trolley stop.  Tram 28 is one of the oldest and most historic tram lines in the city and takes you up to the oldest part of Lisbon, which is located on top of a massive hill (as is most of the city, I quickly learned)  The tram ride up to the top was pretty bumpy and after witnessing some pickpockets get kicked out (literally)  the back door, we reached our destination.

     We were met with a spectacular view of the water and the city below the hill.  Much of Lisbon was destroyed in an earthquake several hundred years ago, but the part of the city we were looking at was one of the few remaining areas of the city.  After pausing for some photos, we started walking down the other side of the hill.  We found a beautifully lit church, which of course we took a minute to go in and have a look around.  We continued down the hill and eventually came a huge square that was part of the City Centre.  Beautifully lit - and already decorated for Christmas - the square was full of statues and decorated tiles.  We popped into a pastry shop and made our way to the water's edge while eating our delicious deserts.  Our original plan for dinner that night was to enjoy some delicious Portuguese food at a restaurant we had passed earlier in the day, but they were hosting a private event that night.  Instead, we settled for a lackluster meal at a nearby restaurant.  All was well, however, when we returned to our apartment and the Sangria we had prepared earlier.

     On Sunday, we headed to the city centre for breakfast before setting off on our schedule for the day.  First on our list was a Tuk Tuk tour of the historic part of Lisbon.  These tours are unique to Lisbon and guides drive you through the city while driving motorcycles with a carriage attached to the back.  (I'm doing a bad job explaining this, pictures will be forthcoming)  Probably the best 10 Euros I've spent while abroad, this tour took us right through the oldest part of the city that we had looked down on the previous night and our guide showed us some of the best views in the entire city.  The thrilling, hour long tour ended at the Castle of Saint George, the home of the Portuguese kings.  After a tour and a photo shoot outside the castle, we made our way down to the tourist square we had found the night before for some lunch.

     After lunch, we made our way to Belem, an area just outside the main city squares.  This area is home to a monastery, tower and a UNESCO World Heritage site that remembers all the explorers that sailed from Portugal.  This area was probably the most beautiful part of the trip, with a large garden and fountains and situated right on the water.  We arrived just before sunset, so the views were extra spectacular.  We wandered through the garden and the outdoor market located near it before making our way to the monument.  We enjoyed the sunset right on the water, taking far too many pictures (#basic) and soaking in the beautiful scenery.

      Flavia and Amanda left us on Sunday night and after depositing them safely at the metro, the remaining five of us enjoyed a nice dinner.  We found a fondue place right near our apartment that looked like it would be good.  Being in a residential and less touristy area of the city, we were worried that the waitstaff would not be able to understand us, but I was pleasantly surprised by their English skills.  The dinner was absolutely delicious and the food, combined with the home-like atmosphere in the restaurant and friendly staff made this my favorite meal in Lisbon.

     Portugal may just top my list of favorite trips from the semester, less for the location (not that Lisbon isn't amazing, but bear with me) and more for the people I got to share it with.  There's something to be said about experiencing something new with your sisters by your side.  Spending time with six of my sisters left me feeling more comfortable and at ease than I have felt for much of my semester, despite the fact that I was in a new country where I didn't speak the language.  My entire Greek experience, and this trip in particular, has helped me to realize that home is not a place, but a state of mind.  Home is when you feel comfortable and accepted and know you can be 100% yourself, and that may not necessarily be the place where you grew up.  Home is when I'm with my sisters, whether in DC, Ireland or elsewhere around the world and when I'm with them there's no place I'd rather be.

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"No story lives unless someone wants to listen"

     Everyone has a favorite book.  A book with characters so strong and so endearing you feel like you know them personally.  A book with words and phrases so moving they stay with you long after you finish the last chapter.  For me, those books are the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling.

     JK Rowling is one of those authors that is able to captivate her readers read after read and generation to generation.  The eight movies that stem from her seven books are some of the most successful in film history and bring her magical world to life.  While I was in London, I had the amazing opportunity to visit the studios where the movies were shot.  I got to explore the sets and see the costumes and while I was there I realized how powerful and wide reaching Harry Potter's world is.

     If I had to choose one word to describe my day, it would be magical.  As cliche as that is, I really can't think of a better word.  Being able to see such iconic sets like the Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore's Office and the Burrow as well as props like the Elder Wand and Invisibility Cloak was as close as I'll ever come to actually stepping into Harry's world.  Something that struck me was how truly multi-generational these books and movies are.  While we were waiting in line to enter the studio, there was a young boy (no older than 10) and what looked like his grandfather discussing the finer points of Dumbledore's death at the end of the 6th book.  This discussion alone reassured me that these books and these movies will live on long past my generation and will be something children will enjoy for years to come.

     The tour itself was set up in three parts.  The first part brought us through one of the sound stages where there was a collection of sets, costumes and props.  The sets were set up in a way that they almost looked like still photographs from the films because relevant costumes were displayed within them.  For instance the inside the Gryffindor Common Room set there was the Invisibility Cloak as well as costumes that Harry, Ron and Hermione wore in the 1st and 3rd movies, so it was almost like they were standing right there.

     The second part of the tour brought us outside where we saw the exterior of Privet Drive, the Knight Bus, the Hogwarts Bridge and the Chess Pieces used in the 1st movie.  While outside, we also had the chance to taste authentic Butterbeer.  It was delicious, although I couldn't actually pinpoint what it tasted like.  It had the make-up of a root beer float, but more of a butterscotch taste.

     The third and final part of the tour brought us to a second sound stage where we saw the entirety of Digaon Alley as well as a ton of props and sketches used in the movies.  In the final room of the tour, there was a fully constructed model of Hogwarts Castle which was used in all 8 movies when exterior shots were required.  Not a full scale castle, but larger than I expected it to be, the details on it were exquisite and really drove home the point that everyone involved in the making of the 8 Harry Potter movies did everything in their power to creating products that did justice to JK Rowling's exceptional works.

     I think it's safe to say that this day will forever be one of my favorite abroad memories because of how much of an impact the Harry Potter books and movies have had on me, both as I was growing up and now.  JK Rowling once said that  "no story lives unless someone wants to listen" as a way to express her gratitude for the hundreds of millions of people that are captivated by Harry's story.  She has nothing to worry about because if the crowds at the Studio Tour are any indication, people will be listening for some time.

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Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital - birthplace of Prince George

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WWI Remembrance Poppies at the Tower of London

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Kensington Palace - The Court of King George

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Kensington and Knightsbridge

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St Pauls Cathedral

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Chelsea

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The Goring Hotel

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St James's Park

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Horse Guard's Parade

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Westminster Abbey

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Whitehall and Parliment

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Trafalgar Square

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The Mall

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Buckingham Palace