UK/IRE Couchsurfing

A few years ago I was using Stumbleupon (don't click on that unless you have a few hours) and found a lifechanging site. couchsurfing.org.  I've used it sporadically since as college life kept me from travelling often. However, since arriving in the UK, I've began to use it religiously. Here are several people who added some sugar to the spice of my travels in the UK and Ireland this spring:

See what I mean?

Dublin. First, Chris and Karen. They hosted like champions. Introduced us to Pancake Day, entertained us with stories of horror and delight, and ate candy like...well...like cavities were their friends.

Newcastle track by the beach

Greystones. Alex is a busquer, a photographer, half italian, and farmer. We explored several small towns together, took many pictures, and attended "Pimps n Gimps" at the Harbour Bar in Bray.

In Dalkey, Ireland

Soul-searching...always :)

London. Adibah, from Singapore, was a friend at first sight. Or first wake up call (haha). She went with me to see Kate Nash in Shepherd's Bush, and didn't want the night to end! We giggled, exchanged embarrassing and traumatizing stories about Vietnam and the States, and met a new friend, 'Mecca' in Soho.

Kate Nash, guitarists Emma & Carmen

More to come!!

Irish Bellhouses

Inspired by "We're going on a bear hunt" by Michael Rosen, scenery from the Mt Usher gardens and Powerscourt Gardens. Starring my Auntie Susan and cousins Lily, Toby, and Tom.

We're going on a bear hunt!
We're going to catch a big one!
We're not scared.

Oh no, a river!




We must try to jump into it!

We're going on a bear hunt!

We're going to catch a big one!

We're not scared.

                                          

Oh no, a forest!

We must go through it!

We're going on a bear hunt!

We're going to catch a big one!

We're not scared.

Oh no, ducks!

We must make friends with them!

We're going on a bear hunt!

We're going to catch a big one!

We're not scared.

Oh no, rocks!

We must throw them!

We're going on a bear hunt!

We're going to catch a big one!

We're not scared.

Oh no, a wall!

We must climb over it!

We're going on a bear hunt!

We're going to catch a big one!

We're not scared. 

Oh no, trees! 

We must walk through the branches!

We're going on a bear hunt! 

We're going to catch a big one! 

We're not scared.

Oh no, a tower! 

We must go up it!

We're going on a bear hunt!

We're going to catch a big one!

We're not scared. 

Oh no, a cave! 

We must go inside. 

Is that a bear....? 

No. Just Toby.

Dublin et Belfast

Dame Street

Dublin will get the most direction-conscious lost..no matter how many maps are supplied by local couchsurfers. We thought we were going west, when in fact we went south, so we began to go what we thought was south, which had become east. 

 

Nevertheless, St Patrick's Cathedral was still found in time for afternoon mass on Ash Wednesday, and the accoustics made my heart sing. 

The archaeology museum provided bog bodies, roman coins, and many old irish artifacts. The National Gallery had a few absolutely poignant paintings such as "the Wizard", but quite a few unmentionables.

Temple Bar

We enjoyed eating at Lemon Jelly and the irish substitute for Steak & Shake, eating a pancake on pancake day, and seeing a harp player and a flame thrower on the streets. 

And drinking Guinness, of course.

Niall at the hostel helped us learn a rude irish saying and kept us stocked with extra toast and company during breakfast.

Trinity College

But the theme of Dublin seemed to be American tourists. Austin cheered up an evening out on the town, a group of 3 generations laughed and cheered in the bus to Malahide, and finally, a literature professor and Irish rugby fan chatted us up at the pub. 

But don't get me wrong, we definitely had a few irish encounters...one very memorable on the bridge over the liffy, but I'll stop there.

Down at the Titanic Docks

Got up at 5 am to go to Belfast with my Uncle. Big day in the city. The city known for building the titanic. Their one world renowned glory: they built the ship that sank. 

Strange to drive 3 hours and be back in the UK, using the pound instead of the euro.

Botanic Gardens & Palm House

One of my favorite moments of the day was spent sitting on a bench in the middle of the city, eating a sandwich, pickled onion flavored crisps, and some cadbury eclairs, watching four italian men squabble while squashed into the other park bench. 

City Hall

When I toured the City Hall, we were invited to sit in the lord mayor's seat, opposite the king's throne, overlooking all the other political benches. Fancy!

The Ulster Museum was quaint. They had a stuffed dodo, a stunning early 20th c dress collection (complete with disco ball), a few galleries, and a completely dark room with an off-the-wall video which glided through a forest complete with a scary narration.

The city was overwhelmed with the history of their "Troubles"...the rivalry between the catholics and protestants, the loyalists and nationalists and so on. The many wall murals were ridden with emotion, and some buildings still had very obvious bullet holes.

Like I said..."Queens College". Absolutely gorgeous Tudor style.

Queen Victoria was everywhere...she finally offically recognized the city and they have dedicated streets, buildings, monuments, birdbaths, pencil erasers, you name it. 

I had a glass of wine at "the most bombed hotel in Europe", waiting for my uncle, and we went to eat at my new favorite restaurant in the world.      

Made in Belfast

"Made in Belfast" was so feminine and funky and retro and the food was spectacular. I had another glass of wine and fully entertained my uncle. I had a white onion soup which was out of this world, especially with the 4 cheese platter we shared, and he had a pork n apple pie which was tasty and interesting. I sat gloating the whole time. Pure happiness.

St Patty's Day

Each town has its own parade: an excuse to eat a 99 ice cream, free publicity for any business, and an arena for painted faces, big green hats, and dogs with O2 jerseys.


        




Greystones, a small but vivacious town, held its event on high street, stretching from the train station and entry to the beach down to Lily's school. Parades of dancers, soldiers, and several marching bands in uniform proceeded by our staring faces.                                                                

Lily & Toby

St Patrick's festival lasted four days in Dublin. We took the train on Saturday to see what the hullaballo was about, and found circus performers, many more types of ice cream, and bouncy castles.

A very authentic "live in a circle" act. The real challenge was trying not to stare.

 I think these men
were inspired by Will Ferrel.
Or perhaps vice versa.

The double-trapeze act. Phenomenal.

The swedish hula master

Castles of Ireland

Malahide entrance

How about a classic way to kick off my month in Ireland--a blog of all the castles I visited. Why not skip to  dessert? While waitressing I once had a couple order their meal entirely backwards. Dessert, dinner, appetizer. They wrapped up the mozzarella sticks to take home.

The only viking tower remaining

First on the list is Dublin Castle. Not to be mistaken for the bar in London. My favorite part of the tour was the long hall with the 180 degree mirrors. They curved so the king or president could see all his guests at the table. The St Patrick's Hall was very BLUE, and will be the receiving room for the Queen herself and President Obama this year. Queen Victoria's throne had been cut down because she was *cough* my height (believe me, I was tempted to jump over those long red velvet ropes and try it out myself). We went down below the castle (and the road) to see the remains of a viking bridge and moat. Hundreds of 1 & 5 cent coins (and probably some old shillings and half-crowns) glittered underneath the stairway in the dark dingy underground passage.



Malahide Castle, now that was a good old-fashioned, just as you imagined (or the disney cartoons taught you to imagine), rescue me from the highest window, castle. Again, loved the banquet hall--a high overlook to the far end allowed live music players to attend. The study had many bookcases, one shelf containing Latin books that I imagine to be as old as 17th c. A small circular room off a bedroom was well-lit with windows and fit a desk. What a perfect place to write, gazing out at the acres and acres of botanical gardens.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel...

The Monkstown Castle ruins stood unabashedly, although some recent graffiti had attempted to ruin its pride. From the 16th century respectively, I quite did respect the castle sitting next to a roundabout, the perfect place for local kids to meet up in moonlight to plan unspeakable trouble. The hollow tower was padlocked, but I could peek through and see an abandoned glass bottle on its dirt floor and some old steps leading from what used to perhaps be the second floor.

On the lovely Dalkey Island stands one of the many Martello Towers sprinkled on the east coast of Ireland. So much coin went into building the little fortresses to protect against Napoleon. If only he had come to the party. At least that's what the locals say. Wikipedia gives a few other stories. My aunt camped on the island when she was younger.
I believe her.

Dalkey Island

Walking down high street will inevitably find Dalkey Castle. In two parts. I liked the one not being used for tourist purposes, standing for centuries idly as if waiting for someone to hand him a lollipop. The other tower is more stately and I did visit the gift shop.

The oldcastle

According to the trusted wikipedia, the Newcastle Castle was not New, but had been built in the late 16th century and has not been the same since someone crushed it in the 19th century. Now it provides some great shade for some horses and sheep.