SEDiva Abroad: study abroad

Announcement: my best friend is coming to Ireland!

At the end of March, the Ravishing L from Richmond is making an enormous trek from Virginia to Cork City for the week, and I have no words to express my enthusiasm.

We've been talking on and off for weeks about what we should do with her short time here, keeping in mind of course the bestie hibernation that will occur and revolving around her tourist goals and my insider's perspective. I think we finally have a plan, but it's flexible, and I think we're both gearing up for an adventurous week in which snap decisions are made and last minute left-right-or-straight turns are taken. I'm excited.

With all this travel on my mind recently, I had begun working on an Irish bucket list. Just because I live here now doesn't mean that
a) I'll live here forever, and
b) that I can't be a travelling touristing kind of person as well!

But as I build the bucket list, I have to acknowledge all the beautiful and wonderful places in Ireland that I've already travelled to. So in preparation for my Irish bucket list (which I will hopefully share with you in the next couple of posts), I'd like to share just some of the favorite places in Ireland that I've travelled to thus far. In no way is this list comprehensive (please see my old blog for more!), but it is reflective of how awesome travelling and adventuring around Ireland can be.

Enjoy! x

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

The Cliffs of Moher are the perfect tourist destination, but just because they're typical doesn't mean they're not worth the trek! When my mom visited me here in 2010, we took a mini-roadtrip to Clare and Tipperary. The Cliffs are absolutely beautiful, especially in this light. But I think more than half of my love for them stems from the adventures we had on our way!

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

On a field trip in 2010, we drove up to Belfast for the weekend. We got a great tour of the city, and we even got to tour the murals on both sides. This wall separates the two residential sides of the city (traditionally, Catholic and Protestant). But on this side of it, people from all over the world have made a mural of peace. Visitors come and write messages of hope, prayer, and peace for Belfast along the wall.

Dingle, County Kerry

This picture was taken when my friends and I trekked out to Dingle for the weekend (we didn't walk there, just when we got there). We had a great adventure in this tiny Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking territory) town. Little did I know that my future housemate would be from Dingle herself. I've been back a few times since x

Giant's Causeway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

On the same field trip that took us to Belfast, we drove an hour or so outside the city to the Giant's Causeway, a huge natural phenomenon caused by glacier movement thousands of years ago. The walk was crisp and hearty, and the world was beautiful up there. You can see Scotland from the cliff.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree, County Sligo

Ever read Yeats? Well, I wrote my undergraduate research thesis on Yeats' appropriation of the medieval Irish Táin. But I spent a few days driving around Sligo on my own and I saw this sign that said "Lake Isle of Innisfree, 4km". So I took it.

Pearse's Cottage, Ros Muc, County Galway

On the course in Carna, we took a day trip to see Patrick Pearse's cottage. Pearse lived in Dublin full-time for most of his political career, but he kept this cottage in Galway. Seeing the beauty and peacefulness of the place, it makes his sacrifice that much greater. I distinctly remember wandering down to the lake and just lying down on the edge for a while. It was so beautiful.

The Rock of Cashel, Cashel, County Tipperary

Former massive castle slash Church and old bishop's seat, I've been here three times already. It's one of my absolute favorite places, and I'm just not sure why. I've taken the tour there twice, and I've roamed over every piece of ruined rock. From the top of that hill, you can see all of Munster. If you wander down the hill and across a field, there's an old ruined convent as well. Driving along and seeing this place just pop up out of the road is pretty gorgeous.

Slea Head Drive, Dingle, County Kerry

Famous roadway (I'm pretty sure it's part of the "new" Wild Atlantic Way) Slea Head Drive winds along the cliffs near Dingle.

Walking to Fínis Island, Carna, County Galway

Fínis Island is crazy typical touristness for locals in Carna, but being a tourist myself, I couldn't have cared less. On our last day in Carna, we all walked out to Fínis when the tide was low. Only in Galway can you walk to an island.

Hometown Americans in the Spáilpín.

Happy December! It's December 3rd, and for those of you interested, Britney's new album comes out today! But on the off chance that you don't care too much about Britney (that might be the end of our friendship, I have to be honest), let me tell you about some of SEDiva's recent adventures.

At the end of October, two hometown friends of mine came to visit. E and B are studying abroad in Rome, Italy this semester, and for their 10-day planned school break, they planned to head to London, Cork, Galway, and Dublin.

Well, the girls were coming to Cork on a Sunday and staying with me through Wednesday, and honestly all I could think was that I was going to be the worst hostess with school and work and everything going on during the weeks. They got here at an ungodly hour on Sunday morning (the bus wasn't running, I walked halfway and then caught a cab while they waited for me in the only place open: McDonalds). We got a full Irish breakfast at the delicious Flying Enterprise restaurant, and then headed back to the house to hang out and, honestly, take a nap.

From Sunday through Wednesday morning, we had so much fun, exploring the city, eating and drinking, laughing, and singing good songs badly. When Wednesday morning came along, we were all sad it had passed so quickly. Later that day, I got a text off of E asking if they could come back on Friday, cutting a day off their journeys to Galway and Dublin each. Um... duh, of course!

So in the end, we got a few more days out of them, with more songs sung badly and more hometown woes shared. It was great to see people from home; before this, I hadn't seen the girls in years. Ireland's not the same since they left. xx