Catamara

Ayyyy!!!!

Kylemore Abbey

THE Cliffs of Moher

Most beautiful place I've been to thus far

Stickin it to the man

Yup, that's a castle...zoomed in.

Still stickin it to the man....in Ireland

There it is.  Wayyyyyy over there

hummmmmmmm.  At peace in the motherland

Galway

Time for a looooooong post....

This weekend I went to Galway.  While we were there we also visited the Cliffs of Moher and Catamaran.  This was finally our chance to see the true Ireland.  The countryside was absolutely gorgeous and the weekend overall was a blast!!!  We arrived Friday and had dinner at a pub, watched a hurling match then attended a local pub crawl.  Needless to say the night was quite fun.  Saturday we awoke, hydrated, and took a bus tour of Catamaran and saw the Kylemore Abbey.  While gorgeous, I'm not a big "tour" guy so I took in the scenery and got some good pictures.  After a long day in the bus we went to our favorite pub in Galway, The Kings Head for the night.  There was a band there playing cover songs of all the good American alternative rock songs, so naturally we jammed out til 3 a.m.  Rinse and repeat, Sunday we got up and did ANOTHER bus tour.  Oh the bus ride to the cliffs of Moher.....

Never has it been so evident to me as in Europe that the travel industry is the scum of all scum.  We got ripped off by hidden fees and many other problems I don't want to discuss.  Not to mention I'm fairly certain our bus driver was drunk....that's right, I had a better chance of dying on the way to the Cliffs of Moher that I did while there.  The cliffs were my favorite part of the trip and I suspect will be of my time here in Ireland.  We were only there for about an hour, but I could have stayed all day just sitting on the side of the cliff looking at quite literally the most beautiful scenery I have ever witnessed.  I highly recommend this be a top priority on everyone's bucket list if you want to be awestruck.  The pictures I took simply do not do it justice.  Finally we made our way back to Dublin, while though it is the least Irish place in Dublin, it definitely feels like home now.  I am familiar with it and I love the melting pot of culture and architecture it has.  Anyhoo....without further adue, here comes the picture overload....


Aannnnnnnd for some reason pics won't load on this post.  One sec, gonna throw them on the next one here.

Working Man

So work has been interesting to say the least.  My coworkers are really awesome and from all over the world so I get a lot of international exposure, and I mean A LOT.  Also, I have been labeled as the "computer wiz" of the office and I literally was referred to as an "Excel Expert" today.  These are not joking at all, people actually believe I am some sort of computer genius because I fixed two of my coworker's spreadsheets.  I am confused by how many people in my office don't know how to do basic Excel functions when that is all they use for their reports.  I literally looked up and learned on google how to fix a problem this morning and spent an hour self teaching myself so that I could continue the myth.  Even the head of our department has come to  me with macro issues.  Today was a good day at work, but one of my spreadsheets I spent 3 hours on this morning didn't save, so I had to redo it before lunch.  After that I didn't have much to do today, so I wrote, played solitaire, and wrote some more.  I literally had nothing to do but take five coffee breaks, even after asking for work.  Luckily Monday I will get to start calling clients for collections so that will help pass the time. 

This weekend I am going to Galway and I will have mannnnyyyy pictures from that.  Nothing too exciting yet this week, so I apologize for the lack of color on my page lately.  It was a gorgeous day all day today, so naturally I wanted to run after work.  However, the first step out the door brought cold rain.  This is supposed to keep up all weekend, so pray for sunshine while I am in Galway!

In other news we had a SERIOUS ant problem in our kitchen this week.  We used three coats of RAID and when the dust had settled there were ants everywhere on our ground.  More continued to come so we called our landlord.  Oh Richie the landlord.....that tale is far too inappropriate to tell in such a public forum.  Basically think of the most crass Irishman you can think of and multiply it by 10.  Tons of laughs this guy, but not too gentlemanly of me to talk about in public.  If you are truly curious, skype  me or ask me about him when I get back.  Now its time to kick back and relax after a long first week of work.  Pics after Galway.

Boomgottabriefcase

Today was my first day at work at Bently Systems.  It was A LOT to take in.  I got there at 9 am and was set up with a desk and a computer....and....A BRIEFCASE (and a swanky one at that).  Everyone I work with is really friendly, and I got some good training in and learned a lot!  I'm sure there will be many mistakes to learn from, but being in the collections department will be a great experience, especially with so many people from so many different places.  We also have an espresso machine so that was very helpful.  I got an hour for lunch and came home and watched rugby (another new obsession) and then it was back to more training.  My supervisor is an absolute machine at Excel.  I was in awe at her skill (nerdy I know, but I admire quality Excel skills). 

Anyhoo....the weather today was absolutely perfect.  High sixties and sunny called for a good run.  I headed south to the more suburban area and saw a much more gorgeous side of Dubling I have not discovered yet.  I will definitely take my camera next time and get some pictures for the blog, but for now I am going to grab some dinner.  Appologies for the short post, but there isn't much to talk about today.  Galway this weekend!  Keep the comments and emails coming it's good hearing from everyone!

GUINESS!!!

Today we visited the most glorious place in the world...THE GUINESS FACTORY!!! Actually, it was more like a museum, as they have moved their plant just outside of Dublin.  It was pretty cool to see the old machines and learn about the process they used to make such a delicious beer.  We braved the rain and cold to travel to this mystical land.  Also, I have pictures from Bellfast yesterday. 

Bellfast.... A trying day

Today we woke up BRIIIGHT and EARLY and walked to meet the UCD group in city center to drive up to Bellfast.  It was a 3 hour drive on the "motor way" and we stopped half way for a full Irish Breakfast complete with blood sausage.  Once we got into the city our tour guide showed drove us around and explained the whole North versus Republic conflict that was still relevant in some deep ways today.  Bellfast was no Dublin, as it was much cleaner, more spread out, and overall more affluent feeling.  I prefer Dublin for many reasons.  Also we visited parliament and toured that building.  It was a funny day of crazy tour guides and some rather huge meals.  Overall the countryside is absolutely stunning and pictures do it no justice.  Being the idiot I am I forgot my camera today, but Kyle took pictures that I will throw up here tomorrow.  For now, I'll put up some pictures from last night....the ones I can show that is (cough cough). 

Laura and I

Sam and I

Yup, that's sweat.

Matt, Sam, and Kyle

Quick Post before heading out

Here's some pictures from today and last night.  Heading out in a few and just wanted to give y'all something to feast your eyes on today.  Love you all!

Our last day of school this week until the end of our last week.  Love my housemates!

The pub down the street.  Best Guiness in the city by far.

Me, Matt, and Sam.

Ben, Laura, Sam, and I.

P.S. Heather, I got your tacky magnet today....Get excited!

The coldest play I have ever been to, but I am now obsesed with tea

Today I had another long day of lecture, but the first half was rather interesting.  We learned about various Irish sports and all about their culture which I liked, then back to the mundane...  After this I went to dinner and a play at Trinity University of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.  It was actually very good and I really enjoyed it except for the fact that I was freezing!  I was way under-prepared for the cold rain.  It was awesome being outside with Trinity in the background and the free tea really warmed me up.  In fact, I now have a new found obsession with tea.  I have been out all day, leaving at 8a.m. and returning just now at 11p.m.  I apologize for the brevity of this post, but I have pictures!

True European cruiser

UCD

UCD

UCD

UCD

Trinity

Trinity

Trinity

Play at Trinity

Play at Trinity

Some Embassy