This past Thursday was Arthur's Day! For those of you who don't know what that means... it's basically a holiday in Ireland dedicated to Arthur Guinness. Everyone has been talking about this day since we got here. All of the bars have Arthur's Day banners hanging up and promotions were all over the place. My marketing teacher even gave us an assignment for Arthur's Day--- Have fun and tell her how it went! That's my kind of homework assignment!
Anyway, I started Arthur's Day off by meeting up with Melon, Ashleen, and Ashleen's roommate Beti to go to College Bar (yes... it is our bar on campus) after classes let out. We hung around there with Owen for about an hour to see how the craic would be for The Toast. (Also, 'craic'... if I haven't told you already... means fun or entertainment in Irish) The Toast is the major toast at 17:59 (5:59pm) where everyone yells "TO ARTHUR!" and lifts a Guinness to him. It's at 17:59 because that is the year that Guinness was founded. Sooo we headed out of College Bar after a little while to go to town and meet up with some more people. Everyone was at The Hole in the Wall so we decided to stop there first. Unfortunately, when it came time to head out into the streets with our Guinnesses in plastic cups... they wouldn't let us out! I was so upset! Instead we went into the courtyard part of the bar with all of the other students and waited for The Toast. It was so jam-packed and everyone was squeezing under the tunnel because it was raining outside. When it came time for the cheer everyone counted down and raised their glasses. I don't think any person was spared from being doused in Guinness that day. Melon had to wash all of her clothes just to get the smell out of them. Yuck!
(The clock to Arthur's in College Bar)
(Owen and Ashleen in College Bar)
(Melon and me on Arthur's Day!)
(Ashleen, Owen, and me)
(TO ARTHUR!!!!!)
(To Arthur! At The Whole in the Wall)
(Shop street after The Toast)
Saturday was a repeat adventure for me. I went back to the Cliffs of Moher, this time with Melon and Ashleen because neither of them had gone with us the first time. We had Des for our driver again! And I got to sit in the fold-down seat in the front of the coach by the steps and be co-pilot. Des sang to me the whole way and was giving us advice for traveling around Ireland. I also met a couple from Monroeville on the coach. For those of you who aren't from the Burgh, Monroeville is an area in Pittsburgh. They were a couple in their mid-60s who came over to see where the mister's mother was born in Donegal. We got to talking and the man asked if I had any messages for him to deliver back home. I told him two things: Cheer on the Stillers... and tell the NHL to stop the stupid lockout so I can listen to my Pens play on the radio! He said he would do his best... I hope he succeeds!
It wasn't the best of weather to be doing the Cliffs tour, but then again, nothing could have been as beautiful as the first time I went. It was extremely windy this time and Melon and I didn't travel far up the Cliffs for fear of blowing right off!
Overall it was a very successful trip and I think Melon and Ashleen enjoyed it. (Especially the Doolin chocolate and the food from O'Connor's!)
(Melon and Ashleen at the Tomb)
(Climbing on the rocky Burren)
(Feedin' the donkey!)
(Possibly the best seafood chowder ever... complete with clams, salmon, mussels and prawns)
(Doolin Chocolate- a little taste of Heaven)
(The Cliffs.. on a typical cloudy day)
(Ashleen on the Cliffs)
(Melon on the Cliffs)
(Me and Melon on the Cliffs)
('Nova Nation overlooking the Atlantic Ocean)
(The ladies)
Not a whole lot else to tell you! Galway lost today in the All-Ireland Hurling match against Kilkenny, so that was incredibly upsetting. Oh well. Ya win some. Ya lose some. Better luck next time, Galway. Gaillimh Abú!!!
"May your feet never sweat,
your neighbor give you ne're a treat.
When flowers bloom, I hope you'll not sneeze,
and may you always have someone to sqeeze!"
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