So here goes my last blogpost... it will now be a part of cyberspace history!!

I've been back in the states for around 3 weeks now. I'm back in the swing of things, experiencing how summer would have been if I wasn't in Ireland for 3 months (minus all of my friends haha). It's consisted of going to the beach, some boating, and helping my mama in the classroom (and a LOT of T.V. watching and Harry Potter reading). While I do miss my friends from home and seeing them, I would not have given up my trip to Ireland for almost anything. It was absolutely an experience I will never forget. I think I would say that this was probably one of the best, if not THE best, summer of my life. I have made amazing friends from all over the globe and have expanded my research experience exponentially.

It makes me sad that I will no longer be able to tell everyone about my wonderful adventures, but I plan on coming back to this blog to relive every single second of my time on the Emerald Isle.

To everyone that was a part of my time there, THANK YOU! It would not have been nearly as enjoyable without all of you with me. I've realized that it's not really the places you go, but the people you are with that make experiences that much more memorable.

I can't wait to go back to Ireland, it has become a small part of who I am and I will always feel somewhat at home when I go back to visit. What more could I really ask for...

Brianna over and out!!!

Our last stop in Italia!! and Gelato mmmmm

James and I arrived in Italy at around 7:30 pm local time. I was probably the most nervous about Italy. I spoke NO Italian and James said he only spoke a little bit. And the town we were going to (Alghero on the island of Sardinia) didn't seem like it was a place where people would speak English. And it wasn't a well traveled popular destination for young travelers from North America like ourselves. First of all, smallest airport ever. And the bus to the city center only cost 75 cents!!! And there was no clear bus schedule. So we waited with other people that seemed just as equally confused as we were. And it was so HOT outside. I immediately took off my sweater and rolled up my jeans. The sky was so blue! Good bye bad weather!!!



Finally a bus came that said it was going to the city center and not the beach. I don't know where that was on the map, but I figured we would be able to walk the city wasn't that big. After a little walking but not too much trouble, we found our B&B! Because the city wasn't large and not a lot of young travelers went here, there were not hostels. So we stayed with a woman named Anna, super sweet but didn't speak a lot of English. She was able to communicate the essentials to us about towels and breakfast.

After settling in, James and I decided to head out and explore a bit. It was now that I learned that James spoke Italian well. He could speak a little bit, and understand even more. He asked Anna where we should go get gelato and she responded and James seemed to understand. I understood none of it and he explained to me that there was a festival going on and we should head there. So all of my previous fears were now calmed.

We headed out. It was a bit of a walk but not bad. It was so cute with shops lining the street. I was surprised at how much was open at 10 pm at night. ALL of the shops were open. People were still eating. Young kids were running around. And it continued for most of the night. Even at midnight, when James and I began to get tired people were still out and about.



After passing several gelato shops it was time for me to taste what I had heard from so many people was like heaven on a cone. I ordered peach and watermelon. The watermelon was good, but the peach was AMAZING. I LOVED it. I could eat it everyday.



James and I headed back to the hostel fairly early for us (around midnight) and decided to wake up at 8 a.m. the next morning for breakfast. Breakfast in Italy consisted of bread and jam and some coffee cakes, so nothing really substantial. A couple from Sweden was also staying at the hostel and they ate breakfast with us as well.

We then took off for the beach! Bought one of those straw mats and a towel and just laid out. African people walked around trying to sell sun glasses or clothes... and you could tell who wasn't from Italy. James and I had to be some of the whitest people there. But that was all about to change. Put on some sunscreen and bummed on the beach. We also went swimming a little bit to a rock a bit away from the beach. It was great fun. Once again though, no waves and plenty of nudity...





We had Italian food for lunch and then went back for more sun. James was a LOBSTER by the end. I was a little red, but nothing like James. The next day we decided we probably needed an umbrella.

Note: All other places I visited had all different kinds of foods from different places around the world. Italy though was almost all Italian!! The Italians really love their food, and so do I!!



After showering at the B&B and talking to Anna, we headed out for a nice Italian dinner and some wine from Alghero and then to the carnival (and of course, more gelato!! We stopped at least twice a day). It was a wonderful night and James' and my last dinner together, given the next night we would be on a plane and would probably have to eat at the airport.

I think it was then that it really hit me that I was leaving Europe and going home! James and I had become really good friends, and I knew that I would miss him when I came home. How could you not after spending almost every waking second with someone for the last week!!

The next day Anna gave us an umbrella and we headed for the beach. We frolicked in the water and even buried each other in the sand (everyone was staring at us for sure). This time we made sure to put on sunscreen (James said if people didn't think we were a couple before they did after we put sunscreen on each others back hahaha).



It was a great last day. We then headed for the airport still sandy and in my wet bikini. We got there VERY early especially since it was so small. I was able to change before we got on the plane but I'm sure we stunk for the plane ride.

We didn't get to London until 11 pm and by the time we got to Liverpool St. Station we were able to grab the LAST subway to our hostel. All we had time to do was shower, and check the internet for the first time in a week.

The next morning we woke up early enough for me to repack my suitcases and then grab and English breakfast of sausage, toast, fried tomatoes, and eggs. I couldn't eat... I don't know why. Maybe because I knew I was leaving an experience that I valued so much or leaving a great friend that I appreciated so much.

I wanted to get to the airport early because I heard Heathrow was a nightmare. James had to leave at about the same time I did, so he helped me with all of my luggage to the subway. I remember looking at the time as it counted down for my train. With one minute left I gave James a big hug, thanked him for everything, and got on the subway. I was definitely sad but I knew I would see him again, sooner or later.



Everything in Heathrow went smoothly, and I made my flight with no problems. I arrived home after about 24 hours of traveling (and of course not sleep. I can't sleep on planes!!). I was waiting at baggage claim and my mom and dad, and best friend Nicole sneaked up behind me with a sign and balloons. What a great welcome home. It was great to see them!!



After I finish posting pictures, I'll give one more blogpost as an overview of my experience....

OAFA continues- Amsterdam!

We arrived in Amsterdam later than anticipated. By the time we got off of the plane and made it to the Central train station it was almost 11 pm (also a one hour time change). And then we had to find the hostel. For me, Amsterdam was the most confusing city by far. Everything looked the same. All of the houses, the canals, the roads... no landmarks for blocks. Which resulted in me handing over the reigns to James (thank goodness he was with me, I don't think I would've ever found the hostel on my own!!).

Initial thoughts: coffee shops just oozing with the smell of nothing other than weed. You would walk past people smoking and instead of smelling cigarette smoke, you smelt the iconic smell of hash. And bikes and canals. If I could describe Amsterdam in three words those would be them: weed, canals, and bikes!!

One of many coffee shops we passed:



So finally we found the hostel (you had to enter a bar to get to the actual hostel) and set our stuff down. By this time it was 12:30 am, but given that this trip involved James and I we decided to head out and get a look at the city at night. We turned left out of our hostel, left onto a small street, and then an immediate left, and guess where we were? None other than the Red Light District!! (I was surprised at how small it was!!! Not as long of a street as I expected) So odd... girls just sitting in the windows, some texting, some posing for customers. I even watched a guy exit one of the rooms that had the curtain closed. I have never seen anything like it. I decided I wasn't fond of it, especially since it seemed I was the only girl on the entire street. James, however, kept on wanting to go back. Of course. Anyways, it turned out to be a wonderful night. We took in Amsterdam, sat on the steps of a canal and just hung out. We didn't make it back until 4:30 am.

We woke up at 8 am to hit the Anne Frank house. I had heard it was better to be early because the line gets REALLY long. Woke up got dressed and looked outside. It was POURING. I have no pictures of that morning because it was too wet to take my camera out. James and I are BAMFs, so we headed out.

James not looking to happy, more like miserable:


That was... MISERABLE. Soaking wet, trying to find the Anne Frank house. We pulled out our map and it got unreadable. So then we had no map, I realized my rain jacket wasn't completely waterproof, and James' camera seemed to have some water damage. Finally we found the house. Super wet. The line was almost nill, I think because of the weather and because we did get there early enough.

It was very nice and touching. It had Anne's diary and the swinging book case was still there. There was no furniture because Otto (Anne's dad) had requested that it be unfurnished. However, pictures that Anne had hung on the wall were still hanging. I was actually surprised had how big it was. I had always pictures a Harry Potter like living situation (under the staircase). I don't know if this was because it wasn't furnished or if I just didn't realize how many people had lived there. Regardless of this, it was still amazing that they lived there for two years, unable to open a window, tip toeing around so they wouldn't be found. A great experience, I would recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam.

Canals and bikes were everywhere in Amsterdam. I loved that part of the city:


After we made it through the house, it was still pouring outside so we sat in the cafe of the house and had a hot drink. The line by this point was huge and I think we determined we were glad we had woken up and trudged through the pouring rain. It gave us more time in Amsterdam. Even though by this point my underwear was soaking wet. Before we went anywhere else, we had to change. So we headed to the hostel, relaxed for a few warm minutes and put on some warm clothes. Then we headed off again and had some Dutch pancakes for lunch. Dutch pancakes are more like pizzas in term of the size and crepes in term of texture. I got a banana and chocolate one and James got a vegetable one. Both were very good.





Next was Heineken! It was kind of like the Guinness Brewery. I liked Heineken a little bit better. It was more interactive, and had different things that you could do. We got to taste wort, the non alcoholic stuff before it becomes beer and made our own music video which I sent to my lovely mother. And of course, the prize at the end!! Two half pints of Heineken. It tasted excellent... we were lucky to find seats and to sit across from a nice British couple. We had good conversation until our Heineken was finished and we headed off to Vondel Park, in close proximity from the Van Gogh and Reinjks Museum (I'm sorry if those are spelled wrong!!)

Here we relaxed for a while. It was nice to be able to catch up on some sleep and soak up some sun that had been missing earlier from the day. We ate some food we had bought and enjoyed just relaxing!!

We then headed back for some dinner and then to the hostel. We had planned to go out that night on a pub crawl but I was exhausted and crashed fairly early.



Food was also interesting in Amsterdam. There were fast food places everywhere (hmm I wonder why?) There was even one place that had a vending machine for hot junk food (called Febo).

The next morning we woke up and headed to the Van Gogh museum. By the time we got there, we had very little time to actually go inside and see the paintings, mostly due to the fact that the airport we were flying out of was an hour and a half away from Amsterdam. After a morning stroll, we headed back to the hostel for our bags and then to the train station to catch a train to Eindhoven, where our plane was taking off from.

Off to Italy!!!!

So begins the JB Lifestlye on OAFA- London

6:30 a.m. flight to London. No sleep. Baggage issues (ohhh Ryanair). Arrive and time to start being a tourist.

After dropping off my huge bags from Dublin, I left with just a backpack on my back and took a train to Liverpool St. Station in central London. First thing I noticed about London: the public transportation system is excellent. Everything is clearly labeled about how to get different places. James and I walked less in London (though there was still LOADS of walking) merely because it was so easy to figure out how to use the Tube. Although I have to say the first day we were there (on a weekend) different lines were closed so we had to be a bit more creative about getting places. The line directly to our hostel was closed so we walked a little more when we first arrived. After dropping our bags off, we headed off to start the tourism



First was Leicester Square to buy tickets for a West End show (Avenue Q!!), then Trafalgar square, followed by Big Ben, the Parliament, Westminster Abby, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace. Due to lack of time, we didn’t go into any of the buildings. We admired the outside, which for me was enough to appreciate them. London was not as “shocking” as I expected it to be, mostly because I think I’ve seen all of this multiple times in t.v. shows and movies. The buildings were gorgeous, and it was incredible thinking how long they had actually been there. But I don’t think I was blown away by any of them. If I had to pick my favorite, I would probably say I enjoyed the outside of Westminster Abby the most. It also didn’t help that I was literally dragging. Like falling asleep when we sat down anywhere. But we didn’t sit down much, if you can tell by the amount of things we did. We were walking most of the time, taking pictures and then kept on walking. The only places we really sat down was Trafalgar square to eat a sandwich and a nap in the park near Buckingham Palace.



After Buckingham, we headed back to the hostel to get ready for the play that night. I wasn’t sure if I should dress up or not, so I ended up just wearing the black dress you see in 90% of my other going out pictures. For dinner before the show, we went for Indian food. I was told that that was probably one of my best options in London. And it turned out to be very good. We then headed to Leicester where the show was going to take place. After a quick ice cream, we headed in to watch Avenue Q!!



Avenue Q was hilarious, and very enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to see a show in London.

Next was the hostel who was having a going away party for a member of the staff. It was 5 pounds for unlimited drink. Who could complain about that?? James and I decided that while traveling with just the two of us we had to meet some other people. We managed to meet people from Australia, Poland, and Finland all at the hostel!!! It was originally planned to go out, but we were both having such a grand time that we ended up just staying at the hostel.

Late night, woke up early to make it to the Natural History Museum. Why the Natural History Museum, you may ask? James said if there was one thing he wanted to see in London, that was it. Not Big Ben, not Buckingham, the Natural History Museum. So we went. It was free, and turned out to be incredible! They had the dinosaurs with the full skeleton (surprising I had never seen one before) and cool exhibits. I was very glad he dragged me there.



Following that, first we went to see St. Paul’s Cathedral which had a huge dome and was very impressive. We went to see all of the bridges (Millennium, London, and Tower Bridge) and then headed into Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels (sooo much money in that one area of London… ahhh). If there was one spot I wished we had more time, that was it. The Crown Jewels were very nice, but that was honestly the only thing we had time for.



Final thoughts about London: somewhere you have to visit eventually in Europe, and with more than 2 days. We were so rushed to see so many iconic buildings and structures, hardly had any time to relax and enjoy them. But still a great time…

Next stop: Amsterdam!!!!