From Dublin to Italy

The second full day in Dublin was crazy fun! I walked around most of Dublin and saw Dublinia, which is a Rennaisance looking part of Dublin. They had some cool little jewelery boutiques and craft stands, so it was great! I was still very amused at this point by the cars-on-the-other-side-of-the-road thing, except for the moments when I still didn't QUITE look in the right direction, so I nearly became squashed on the road.

Around 1 I went to the Guiness factory well-fed, knowing that there would be free pint at the end of the tour (you know, after you paid the gazillion to get in...I would HOPE there would be something free at the end). The factory was actually really interesting. I now know what's in beer- barley, water, hops and yeast. However, I think, thought I can't be sure...but I think the factory had a bit of a bias when they said that their beer was the best brewed...it was gross. Sooooo, basically, I paid money to see a factory of a beer I don't even like. Weird. It was pretty cool anyway.

However, what WAS really neat was that I met an old retired couple up in the Galaxy room (where the pints were being served) who is from Minnesota. Not only that, but they knew and had been to Eagle River!! Here I was standing in Dublin talking about Highway 8 and heading north through Rhinelander. It was fantastic. They were so fun and very good conversationalists. The husband also confessed to me that he was no Guiness fan so we shared in a laugh about having paid to have a free glass of something we don't even like!

On my way out of the factory, you won't believe who I met up with! Brad Pitt!! Okay, that's a lie, but I think the real answer is better - I saw the group of 8 Italians who were riding on the Paddywagon tour yesterday. They were saying "Hey!! Ciao!" in their crazy Italian way and I ended up hanging out with them for the rest of the day. After a few more hours hanging around in the brewery, the Italians and I all walked towards the center of Dublin, went to Starbucks, had dinner, and by then, they were going to catch a taxi to the airport really early in the morning for their flight. I was sad to see them go, but they are for sure my favorite social memory of my 2 week adventure.

I said goodbye to Dublin with both a heavy heart, but with a looot of excitement at what was ahead. ITALY!!!

...then I got there. Everyone spoke Italian!! And being a French major really didn't help. However, apart from the language barrier, Rome and Florence both have been amazing.

In Rome, I saw the Vatican (more importantly, John Paul II's tomb), the Sistene Chapel and then I went to the Coloseum. The Sistene chapel was more amazing than I could have ever imagined and I think that God will forgive the three pictures I snuck regardless of the "NOOO PHOOTOOS" being shouted by the guards there. I know...I'm a true sinner.

The Coloseum was absolutely amazing! I kept pinching myself, saying "Wow, this is where the Roman games were! That's crazy!" Overall, it was really cool. I will be posting my pictures as soon as I get back to Paris, so I think I shall let the pictures speak for themselves.

I took a train from Rome to Florence and I am not feeling a little curious about the security of European trains. There was no one to take my ticket, no one to tell me where my seat was like there was in Paris. I suppose I should have just not bought a ticket at all and just hopped on regardless!!! I asked the woman across from me if there was any sort of security person, and she said that there was one that came through during the ride. However, what are they going to do with someone that doesn't have a ticket? Throw them off a speeding train? Hm....

However, the trainride was absolutely gorgeous. The clouds in the sky were perfectly filtering the sunlight coming through and shedding light across the mountainous hills on the horizon. It was just gorgeous. Unfortunately, I was so tired that I missed a lot of it, but the glimpses that I had were quite amazing.

Yesterday, I met up with some of the Ripon students studying in Florence and we had a picnic in the park. It was fantastic - the food, the company, the wine and even the weather.

Today I plan to see theeee David, but for the most part, I just want to do a little more relaxing than sightseeing. I wouldn't say I'm burned out...but...

These past couple of days in Italy have been wonderful, but there is a sinking homesick feeling that I was starting to face. My clothes are ragged, my body hurts from walking everywhere, I don't truly have a place to call home, and the money draining from my wallet is actually starting to get to me. However, I will be back in Paris tomorrow night, so I'm going to live it up as much as possible!!!

Well, as the Italians say, Ciao bella!

Au revoir! Until next time!