So on Saturday 28th, I did the classic substitution of guests at Dublin Airport, trading Becca for the Rents. While it was a tough trade, it worked out for everyone's running game in the end...
Fortunately all while playing host for these two weeks, Ireland had its best weather all year. Summer last about 2-3 weeks in March, and then its back to the rainy season. It was a similar game plan with the Rents to not try and see everything, but spend a good amount of time in Galway and visit the South. We rented a car, and with me driving the entire time, we were able to get a lot in...
Once again, eating out Galway was tremendous, finding lots of cool cafes and notable restaurants and pubs. Our trip down South to Kenmare had even better food establishments. We spent a night in Doolin - the epicenter for Trad music in Ireland's West - and attempted to see the Cliffs of Mohr on a foggy day. From there we headed down to the town of Kenmare, which is in between the Ring of Kerry and Ring of Beara. Dad and I had the opportunity to play Golf at the Ring of Kerry Golf Course - the best views in all of the Irish Courses - while Mom hit the Town all day. That eve we conquered the treachorous Ring of Beara, and then enjoyed the Ireland-Italy Cup qualifying soccer match.
On our way back to Dublin, we were able to catch up with Grandma Dietrich's good friend in County Tipperary, and then head to Newgrange just North of Dublin - The historical and spiritual ruins region of Ireland.
Mom and Dad had a great time in Ireland, breaking Mom's 30+ year hiatus from Ireland, and Dad's streak of wearing a Tie at least once every week since he was 3 and half...
Here are the pictures that I have, primarily from the Golf outing, otherwise Mom will have more.
Good job Fam!
MD
Hosting Part 2 - The Rents
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Hosting Part 1: Becca
After heading to Stockholm and recovering from St. Patty's week, I started playing host for the next two weeks. My first visitor was Becca on her Spring Break. Right away Becca learned from an old Irishman that Becca was neither Irish or American, but in fact she was French...
Of course when coming to Ireland for only a week, it is impossible to see everything, so we spent a good amount of time visiting in Galway and Salt Hill just up the cost, and then taking a trip down South to the Ring of Kerry. It was an awesome week, and very refreshing to see someone from back home. For the first time, I ate out a lot in Galway, and the entire time we had awesome meals and soups, and saw more of Galway than I ever had before.
The county Kerry Trip was stellar. Although it was somewhat of a nuisance without a vehicle, everything worked out very well. We got down to Killarney, in time to spend the rest of the day biking around the National Park and seeing the town. The next day we did the ring of Kerry on a Traditional Irish Coach Tour Bus... w/o a car, it is the only way. However, the tour was excellent and we were able to see a lot of beautiful Southern Ireland.
Here are the Pictures from the Week.
Cheers!
MD
Hosting Part 1
Of course when coming to Ireland for only a week, it is impossible to see everything, so we spent a good amount of time visiting in Galway and Salt Hill just up the cost, and then taking a trip down South to the Ring of Kerry. It was an awesome week, and very refreshing to see someone from back home. For the first time, I ate out a lot in Galway, and the entire time we had awesome meals and soups, and saw more of Galway than I ever had before.
The county Kerry Trip was stellar. Although it was somewhat of a nuisance without a vehicle, everything worked out very well. We got down to Killarney, in time to spend the rest of the day biking around the National Park and seeing the town. The next day we did the ring of Kerry on a Traditional Irish Coach Tour Bus... w/o a car, it is the only way. However, the tour was excellent and we were able to see a lot of beautiful Southern Ireland.
Here are the Pictures from the Week.
Cheers!
MD
Hosting Part 1
Searching for the Swedish Chef...
Two posts in one day can only mean that I'm suppose to be writing right now...
On March 11th Adam, Colin and I headed North to Stockholm - probably the farthest North we will get here in Europe. It was a comforting trip, because it was just like heading back to Wisconsin and Minnesota, the only difference being how old the buildings were, the numerous islands in the city, they have a princess, castles, huge ocean ports, a metro system, a great train system, great healthcare, snus, Swedish Krona's currency... okay well the snow and weather and welcoming atmosphere were similar.
Stockholm is a huge city with a lot more character than we expected. The old buildings and architecture alone make the city. The city is essentially several islands connected by bridges and tunnels, inland and near the East coast of Sweden. Our hostel and most of our time spent was at Old Town, a small island in the center of the City that has the old Royal Palace and town streets. We happened to stumble upon a ceremony for the Princess's birthday at the Palace Courtyard, where a Drum Corp paid tribute to the Princess and then she went around to meet the crowd. Of course we tried using our American charm to woo her, and of course the drum corp played ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' in her honor...
Duck Party at Djergarden National Park
We also spent a lot of time in a few of the National Parks that are in the city, as well as the various Modern Art Museums and the Vasa - a giant 17th Century Swedish Warship that sunk 20mins into its first voyage - the Swedes have improved their architecture and design skills since then.
Perhaps the biggest blunder of the trip came when we took the advice of some German visitors from our hostel, to go see Stockholm's Absolut Ice Bar. Lets just say its not like the Ice hotel in Norway... 1 room, 1 bar, 1 table, 1 bench, 1 Ice chair, and 1 frooty vodka drink per customer, all for the low low price of 150 Swedish Kronas - (Roughly 15 Euro). It did however make for a hilarious experience and decent funny story in the end...
Absolut Ice Bar
After Stockholm we headed to Uppsala for a night and day to see Jose Gonzalez in concert - a tremendous folk artist who is actually from Sweden, thus the concert being primarily in Swedish... Uppsala was a great small town with a fantastic cathedral, Castle, University, and student atmosphere. Plus the train to and from was the best mode of transportation we have experienced yet!
We left on Wed came back the following Sunday, without any missed trains, buses, or flights, hence a truly successful trip North. Here are the pictures from Stockholm, Uppsala, and the Jose Gonzalez concert.
-MD
Photos from Sweden
On March 11th Adam, Colin and I headed North to Stockholm - probably the farthest North we will get here in Europe. It was a comforting trip, because it was just like heading back to Wisconsin and Minnesota, the only difference being how old the buildings were, the numerous islands in the city, they have a princess, castles, huge ocean ports, a metro system, a great train system, great healthcare, snus, Swedish Krona's currency... okay well the snow and weather and welcoming atmosphere were similar.
Stockholm is a huge city with a lot more character than we expected. The old buildings and architecture alone make the city. The city is essentially several islands connected by bridges and tunnels, inland and near the East coast of Sweden. Our hostel and most of our time spent was at Old Town, a small island in the center of the City that has the old Royal Palace and town streets. We happened to stumble upon a ceremony for the Princess's birthday at the Palace Courtyard, where a Drum Corp paid tribute to the Princess and then she went around to meet the crowd. Of course we tried using our American charm to woo her, and of course the drum corp played ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' in her honor...
Duck Party at Djergarden National Park
We also spent a lot of time in a few of the National Parks that are in the city, as well as the various Modern Art Museums and the Vasa - a giant 17th Century Swedish Warship that sunk 20mins into its first voyage - the Swedes have improved their architecture and design skills since then.
Perhaps the biggest blunder of the trip came when we took the advice of some German visitors from our hostel, to go see Stockholm's Absolut Ice Bar. Lets just say its not like the Ice hotel in Norway... 1 room, 1 bar, 1 table, 1 bench, 1 Ice chair, and 1 frooty vodka drink per customer, all for the low low price of 150 Swedish Kronas - (Roughly 15 Euro). It did however make for a hilarious experience and decent funny story in the end...
Absolut Ice Bar
After Stockholm we headed to Uppsala for a night and day to see Jose Gonzalez in concert - a tremendous folk artist who is actually from Sweden, thus the concert being primarily in Swedish... Uppsala was a great small town with a fantastic cathedral, Castle, University, and student atmosphere. Plus the train to and from was the best mode of transportation we have experienced yet!
We left on Wed came back the following Sunday, without any missed trains, buses, or flights, hence a truly successful trip North. Here are the pictures from Stockholm, Uppsala, and the Jose Gonzalez concert.
-MD
Photos from Sweden
Aran Isle Rally (back from the dead...)
Hey everyone,
All apologies for the month long hiatus - life has been very busy here with finishing up classes, soccer, travel, and two weeks of hosting family and friends. All start where I left off back in early March.
The 7th was our last trip provided by MU, heading to the Aran Islands for the day. In spite of the so-so weather, as well as numerous rally bike malfunctions, the day was great craic. Our group leader Paul is an Outdoor Adventure and Education expert, so we definitely took advantage of his skills, seeing forts, castle lighthouses, passage ways, cliff-side forts, a persistant pony, and arguably the best soup I have ever had in my life from a local Aran shop.
Toward the end of the day, we stopped by an old abandoned church, as well as a beach where we were able to spot some seals playing off in the distance. All in all, a great day and relaxing weekend in prep for the busy month of March.
Here are the pictures on Snapfish.
Cheers!
Aran Island Photos
All apologies for the month long hiatus - life has been very busy here with finishing up classes, soccer, travel, and two weeks of hosting family and friends. All start where I left off back in early March.
The 7th was our last trip provided by MU, heading to the Aran Islands for the day. In spite of the so-so weather, as well as numerous rally bike malfunctions, the day was great craic. Our group leader Paul is an Outdoor Adventure and Education expert, so we definitely took advantage of his skills, seeing forts, castle lighthouses, passage ways, cliff-side forts, a persistant pony, and arguably the best soup I have ever had in my life from a local Aran shop.
Toward the end of the day, we stopped by an old abandoned church, as well as a beach where we were able to spot some seals playing off in the distance. All in all, a great day and relaxing weekend in prep for the busy month of March.
Here are the pictures on Snapfish.
Cheers!
Aran Island Photos
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