Adventures!

On the road again… Or should I say in the air?

Mary2 Comments

Im back at the airport waiting for my flight to London to start boarding. I can’t get over how fortunat I am to have these amazing experiences.  This week alone I will be in three different countries, four different cities, and I get off school for a week. I’m so blessed to be graced with such amazing opportunities. 

I’m so happy to be traveling. Although, I will admit it’s a lot easier when my mom just plans everything for me. Today I leave Dublin, get to London, I’ll be there until Wednesday morning then I got to Madrid, then head off to Seville on Thursday to see Molly. It’ll be so nice to see one of my best friends from home. I’ve never been to Spain before so I’m super excited. 

It’s crazy to think that I’m traveling more this semester more than I have ever travelled in a span of three months, or at least it feels like a lot of travel. It has given me a lot of time to self-reflect and think about what I want to do in the future. I know that I want to live somewhere that’s realistically easy for me to see my family and close friends. Sometimes I just want that comfort. Like I’m not saying I want to end up in Lancaster or Frederick, but I want to be a short plane ride/train journey/car ride away, just in case I want to see my family. However, I still want to see the world and all it has to offer.

So now I’m off to see London, let me know of any must sees! 

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Average Adventure: Paris, France

Mary5 Comments

Last weekend I had the chance to meet up with my dad in Paris, France where he was visiting for work. It was very nice to see my dad as well as explore a new city and get out of my apartment for a weekend!

Of course when I booked my ticket I didn’t know that there were two different airports so I had to take a bus to the actual city. Once there, I met my dad at the bus station, and from there we went to the Arc de Triomphe.

After that we found crepes, which I was far too hungry to capture, so you’ll just have to trust that they looked really good. Now, this is also the reason that I should write as I go because I think after this we kind of just wandered the city. We also saw Notre Dame, we went in but didn’t go to mass because it wasn’t in English. I also didn’t take any pictures inside because there was a mass going on and it felt weird.

I wish I was more of a foodie so I would remember to take pictures of my food. I also wish I would have taken a picture of the balcony outside the hotel room but the one I took on Snapchat deleted itself before I could even try and resend it unfortunately. So here are some pictures I took that night.

I really liked the lock bridge(s). Basically, people will just put a lock anywhere it seems.

One of the things I really wanted to do was see the Eiffel Tower at night.

The next day, we had croissants in the morning and took a boat cruise.

After the boat cruise we went to see the Eiffel Tower at the day so I could get some pictures of that and so I could get a t-shirt (I want to get a t-shirt from every country I visit) and like that I had to go back to Ireland.

Also no pictures of this because my phone was dying but I ended up with priority seating on my flight, which sounds cool, but it just meant I waited outside for my plane before it was even parked at the smallest airport I had ever been to and watched everyone get off. So weird.

That was my trip to Paris, it was so much fun! Now off to Galway!

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Weekly Average Adventure Log: Weeks Three and Four

Mary5 Comments

Since weeks three and four have calmed down a little bit and I’m lacking in taking pictures I decided just to combine the last two weeks and just feature the days I actually took pictures.

Week Three

Tuesday

On Tuesday I was a little obsessed with the sunset outside of my window.

Wednesday

On Wednesday (and Friday) I went to the National Museum of Ireland (or something like that) for two classes. However, I hate all the pictures I took of it, so there aren’t any.

Friday

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We got pizza and it was delicious.

Week Four

Friday

Friday I went to the Trinity College Library. It’s perfection. It smells like books, if it didn’t I don’t think I would have believed that it was real. Apparently, they sued Harry Potter because they copied it for the movie, I think they should’ve used it as promo, but that’s just me.

Saturday

On Saturday I went to Howth. It’s a pretty little beach town right outside of Dublin, we just took the city bus there. It was amazing. Lots of sailboats, we all know how I feel about sailboats.

The scenery was also beautiful. I love beaches and the sea and just everything about it. Minus sand and seaweed. I walked on seaweed for like twenty steps and it was pretty gross.

It was such a pretty day. I like the picture that features my chipped nail polish.

Now, I promise my weeks have been more interesting than displayed, I just am not very good at taking pictures around town. I will (hopefully) get better! But for now, this is what it is. Next weekend I’m going to Paris to see my dad so that should be some cool pictures!

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Average Adventure: Cliffs of Moher

Mary5 Comments

As you know, if you read my Week Average Adventure Log on Sunday, I went to the Cliffs of Moher on Saturday. This was so beautiful and breathtaking that it deserved a post solely dedicated to it.

So the land to left, which you don’t know which is the left and which is the right, but the land to the left of the Cliffs is actually private land, but I still took pictures of it. It’s such a pretty landscape. I’m actually curious if people have tried to pet their cows or anything. The Cliffs alone are amazing. There is a tower on the right side and a castle on the way end of the left side, sadly I didn’t get to either because I tried to get to the castle but it was too far and our bus tour only allowed for an hour and a half stop.

So this set of five all happens to be of the right side of the Cliffs, but I don’t care because I like them all. It’s so cool. I still can’t get over that I’ve been there twice now. It’s the place of beauty, but it’s also very sad, a lot of people have died there.

I took so many pictures. I feel like a lot of these are the same picture and I should care about how much space they’re taking up in my media library (eventually I’m going to have to suck it up and upgrade), however, I love all of these pictures and I find them so mesmerizing. I love them all and they will all stay up.

Okay this is it, now you can see the cows I mentioned in the first paragraph. It’s sheer beauty in my opinion. I don’t think I overlapped any pictures either, so if you didn’t see Sunday’s post, be sure to check it out!

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Weekly Average Adventure Log: Week Two

Mary3 Comments

Week Two

I have now been in Ireland for two weeks, it does feel like a lot longer though. This week I experience my first week of classes, which was way different than back home. Time is being super weird where it feels like it’s going really fast but other times it’s going really slow. Apologies in advance for there is a lack of pictures in this week’s adventure log because I was in class and trying to just feel like I have it all together this week, that’s all I want to feel.

Sunday

Sunday was a huge sporting event day here, so I went out to the pub with a bunch of other people. However, I did it a little bit differently and got a nice cappuccino.

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This is a poor quality picture because of snapchat (mrmilligan13) and poor pub lighting.

I also learned that you should always bring your umbrella in a country that’s known for it’s rain (I got soaked on my walk back from the pub).

Monday

Monday was the first day of classes and it was confusing. I go in and out of classes in the same day and I’m terrified I’m going to miss a class because the timetables are so different from what I’m used to. There are no pictures because I was stressed and tired.

Tuesday

Tuesday I hardly remember. I only had one class but I did have to go twice. I don’t know what else I did, I need to start keeping record. I actually just started a list so this won’t happen again, how embarrassing.

Wednesday

I was done at 1:30 on Wednesday and I had to do grocery shopping, and on my way I actually ran into someone from my group so we had coffee and french fries (well she had lunch I just wanted fries) and then did our grocery shopping.

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As you can see, I really like the coffee here. Also this is the day I missed a class. That was stressful.

Thursday

Again, I don’t remember what I did. I only had one class, but I don’t know what I did after that.  I have no clue what I did Thursday at all. I know I slept in but I can’t figure out what else I did.

Friday

Friday I have a class where we will typically go on field trips so we did a walking tour. My third guided walking tour haha, this one was a lot of information, and I’m not sure I retained a lot of it. I need to bring my notebook next week.

These were fancy building, the chandelier is now a bank but it used to be the parliament building.

I also went out for burgers with some girls on Friday night, which was really fun.

Saturday

Saturday was super busy. We met really early to get the bus to the Cliffs of Moher, which one day this week I will be doing a whole post on late this week, so look forward to that! Or not.

Here is a sneak peak though! Ignore my awkward stance please, I’m not a model, I just pretend sometimes.

This was one of those bus tours, which are fun, but you don’t get a lot of time at each destination. I think I might just start taking buses to where I want to go and I can just explore on my own.

This is a few pictures of the bus ride and an abbey we stopped at, I don’t remember what it was called, I did however, see a skull. I didn’t take a picture because I didn’t know what to think or how respectful that was. It was like a real graveyard so it was intense, people still visit people there to see loved ones.

So that was it this week, hopefully next week I take more pictures. Keep your eye out for a Cliff of Moher post. What did you do this week?

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Weekly Average Adventure Log: Week One

Mary4 Comments

 

Week One

This week I arrived in Dublin, Ireland, while I’m here and maybe afterwards, I will be doing a Weekly Average Adventure Log, where my average adventures will be documented.

Sunday

On Sunday I started my journey to Ireland. It was odd because to save money on the flight my family and I drove to New York, so I could fly to Philadelphia, which happens to only be an hour from my house.

This is actually one of the prettiest flights I’ve been on, it was so short the plane couldn’t get the whole way up in the air so the scenery was pretty the whole time.

 

Then I flew from Philadelphia, a very speckled picture of the overview of the city. I watched one movie, put on The Big Bang Theory and fell asleep.

Monday

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Monday I arrived in Dublin. I wanted for a little bit in the airport in some of what I would call a very disorganized fashion. When I finally got to campus, we had less than an hour once we finished paperwork and everything to put stuff in our room and start a walking tour.

After the walking tour I got a quick lunch with some people in my program group.

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Tuesday

Monday was short lived on pictures because I was exhausted. Tuesday was packed filled with more walking tours. Well one walking tour and then trying to find basic supplies needed.

We went to see a castle, just see it. It was very strange because it’s old and then it looks like a lego building.

Wednesday

On Wednesday we walked to Marsh’s Library where you couldn’t take any pictures, so I have this one from the outside.

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Then we went on a bus tour, there was a lot of tours this week. I took this opportunity to see more of the city, and then finally get some hangers after my clothes had been hanging off the top of my wardrobe all week.

The city is huge, like I’ve been here twice before and I’ve only seen parts of the city. It’s a lot bigger than I had originally thought.

The view outside my room is amazing. Here it is at sunset, it’s simply gorgeous.

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Thursday

Thursday was filled with orientations and such.  Things that are supposed to be filled with information but really weren’t. There aren’t any pictures because the most I did was go to the grocery store.

Friday

In the morning we met up to go to Croke Park. It’s where they play Gaelic Football and Hurling, today was the biggest game so they were all getting ready for it.

Also pictured is the chandelier of different sports balls that can no longer be made and the fancy box seat table, the fancy parts of the sports arena essentially.

We got some really good views of the city too.

Then on the walk back I saw a sign for the Guinness Tour, which I actually don’t plan on doing because for someone like me, I think it’s a waste of money. It does seem cool though.

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Friday was the annual Culture Night. We got lost trying to find the Chocolate Factory, but it’s definitely something I will be looking for again in the near future, in general the chocolate is much better here, even like the kind you just get at the store. I also don’t have any decent pictures from that night because I forgot my camera. I did get my bus pass, which will be nice and easy to use to get around the city.

Saturday

Saturday was my birthday. My roommate and I went shopping in the morning. I saw a little flower stand, well actually a lot. I just think they’re so cute.

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We then met up with some other girls in our group for dinner. It was a little more crowded in the city than expected so we couldn’t get into our first few options, but that was actually kind of lucky. I had the best pizza and garlic bread. The garlic bread, which I thought had mozzarella on it, turned out to be chunks of garlic, it wasn’t bad, just different.

Conclusion

So that was my week this week! What did you do? I had a lot of fun, however, the disorganization is getting to me. I am ready for a schedule and to get into the swing of school. Next weekend I’m going to the Cliffs of Moher and I’m so excited, I think it’s one of the prettiest places in the world.

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Goodbye America

Mary5 Comments

I am currently in the airport writing this on Microsoft word because there isn’t wifi so we will see if there’s an actual post that goes up in America.

It’s funny because I’ve had this post idea in my head for so long. Like “I can totally do a post in the airport as my last US post,” well I didn’t think about the lack of wifi and I also didn’t even think about what I would write.

It’s very odd because I feel like there’s all this build up, which is great. However, now I’m still waiting. This whole summer has been like a waiting game and it’s just weird that it’s about to end and everything is becoming real. I’ve waited so long, study abroad is something I’ve wanted to do since I knew it was a thing that people did and now that it’s here I’m just like in this state of unknown because I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know if any of that makes sense, but right now, I just feel so weird and happy and excited.

The waiting game is finally ending. It’s weird because this was a huge goal on my list of New Year Goals, like the biggest one on there. It’s crazy. It’s finally here.

Airports are so weird. I can’t find a normal bag of chips! I just want like something super plain because I’ll get like a meal once I’m in Philly but no, all that I can find is like kale chips and things that aren’t written in English, and the airport is not the place to try new snacks because they are way too expensive. Get what you know and spend the money on that.

If you like to people watch, this is the place to be, however, don’t watch the same people constantly. The man at the table next to me has been staring for far too long and it’s no longer people watching it’s creepy. Like you know how you can feel someone staring? Well it’s beyond that because I can see him in my very poor peripheral vision.

I do like that I can see the people rushing. When it comes to travel, I’m not a rusher, I am a take my timer. I feel bad for them though, because that must be so tough and stressful. There are also very confused people and very happy people and very just average people. I hope I fall mostly into average. My goal in life is to never really stand out too much because then people want to pay attention and it makes me uncomfortable, like the guy staring at the table next to me.

I am here so early. My family laughed because I wanted to be super early. I have a promptness problem, I’ve explained it before. Basically I was four and a half hours early for my first flight then I have like a three hour layover in Philly and I leave at 9:10 for Dublin. The waiting game kind of continues until tomorrow morning at about 8:40 and it finally is over. I get to start my adventure.

Since writing this I have arrived in Philadelphia. The flight from NY to here was absolutely beautiful. Totally worth the inconvenience (for me at least) and made the money saved even more valuable. I’m now sitting in a power cube thing charging everything in case the flight doesn’t have USB chargers, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.

Irish updates to come soon.

Bye America.

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Average Adventure: Rehoboth Beach, DE

Mary2 Comments

I briefly went to the beach the other day. I went to stay with my Poppop near Rehoboth Beach so I went to the outlets and decided just to stop over by the beach for about an hour or so. I’m not really a beach person so really an hour is all I need.  I’ve been going to this beach for as long as I can remember so for me it’s just like a walk down memory lane.

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I loved the SnapChat filter (mrmilligan13) so I had to take a pictures.

Here are three very similar pictures so I grouped them together. This is how I like to see the beach. From a bench, in the shade, with a breeze, but yet you can still smell the ocean and feel the beach air.

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Okay I realize this is a terrible picture,  but since I went straight from shopping I wasn’t about to leave my camera in my car. However, if you ever go to Rehoboth Beach you have to go to this ice cream store. It’s on the main strip so it’s easy to find but they have the biggest selection of ice cream I have ever seen. There are over a 100 flavors, these range from chocolate to boogers, so if you ever get the chance, check it out!

So here’s a super short little beach/ adventure post! Who saw the typo in yesterdays? Also, what’s your favorite beach to go to?

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Average Adventure: Harry Potter World, Universal

Mary4 Comments

So it’s been over a month since my family vacation now and I still haven’t finished my adventure posts. So far I did one on Animal Kingdom and the Lodge. I just haven’t had the motivation to edit my pictures. I really just need to sit down and do them all. I have however, finished a bunch of pictures from Harry Potter World, which was awesome.

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This is a really cool view (in my opinion) of Hogwarts Castle. It is among a bunch of other attractions but I like how it’s right and the middle and really stands out.

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This is the Knight Bus, and it was very realistic. However, it was a pain to get a picture of because there was an official line of people constantly waiting to get a picture with it instead of of it.

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This is really cool. This is 12 Grimmauld Place and every few minute Kreacher peaks out of the window which I find very in character and a great touch for the park.

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This is the side of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes building which I just thought was super cool and fitting. Everything was made with such details it was amazing.

P1080392This is the Gringotts Dragon that breathes fire. You can also see the Butterbeer store as well as the book store.

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Here’s a picture that focuses more on the signs rather than the dragon.

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Here is a better picture of the dragon, and Gringotts.

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Knockturn Alley. It’s air conditioned to feel cold like you would expect Knockturn Alley to feel like. It was creepy, there was Bellatrix Lestrange wanted posters that actually moved. It was so cool. The pictures were hard to get though because it was dark like it should be.

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This is the Leaky Cauldron, which we actually got to eat at and it was super cool. We had Wizard  sodas and some different foods.

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Platform 9¾. Super cool. Hogwarts Express goes between the two parks and ends in the two Harry Potter sections. The ride is complete with Wizard World scenic videos.

Harry Potter World is super cool. If you get the opportunity GO. It’s amazing.  I will be uploading more pictures of my Flickr once all of my vacation pictures are edited (hopefully within the next week or two).

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Average Adventure: Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge

Mary1 Comment

So I’ve edited a few more pictures from Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge and I decided that there are way too many for just my blog. So the rest (of the ones I like) will be up on my Flickr within the next few days. To be honest, I’m not fully sure how that website works, but here’s the link for it: My Flickr.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the trip. Honestly, most of them are giraffes (if not all). I’m literally obsessed with them. These are also just from the ones I have on my computer so far, there’s like another 500 on my camera from all of the places we went.

P1080325This was from the balcony of the room we stayed in. When I say this was a dream come true for me, it really was. For as long as I can remember I have always loved giraffes, I remember being like three or four and my aunt trying to figure out what sound they made before we went to the zoo. I’m not sure if that was the moment that they became my favorite animal, but that’s the first time I remember loving them.

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Again this was taken from the balcony. I found it really cool how they fed the animals. They put food in the most random spots for the animals to get, it was hilarious watching the giraffes trying to pick food up from the ground.

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Another one from the balcony. I cannot get over how majestic and beautiful they look just walking around. I would never get tired of looking at them, I could sit on that balcony for hours no matter how hot it was. It was incredible.

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It’s just amazing what they can do. They just reach up to the trees and eat. It’s breathtaking.

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This was the window on the Safari tour in Animal Kingdom. I thought it looked cool and kinda old, and kind of also a little authentic.

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Here’s an elephant to break up all the giraffes. They were also pretty cool on the Safari, but not as exciting for me.

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This was also on the Safari. It was a little harder to get pictures there because of the jerky movements. I was so happy in the moment, the one on the left is a baby. They might both be babies, but for sure the one on the left is.

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If I would’ve been sitting on the other side of the bench during the Safari I would have been able to touch this one. On my bucket list is feeding one, touch one would also be amazing. It was so close to the jeep/truck/tour vehicle.

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This is from the walkout section of the hotel. It’s like this area where you can get the closest to the animals at our section of the hotel (we stayed in the newer “Kidani Village” area). I got some really amazing shots there.

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The interactions among the giraffes were so peaceful. The zebras were ramming heads so were the other animals I didn’t care as much about, but the giraffes just grazed gracefully.

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Sometimes they would just walk places together or run around together. I thought it was really cute.

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I can’t get over how pretty they are.

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Okay so as not to overwhelm this is the last one I’ll post. I just love the patterns and the details that they possess. It’s just pure and complete beauty that they are completely unaware of, it’s just breathtaking.

I will be uploading all of the pictures at once onto flickr so it probably won’t be for a few days, but keep a look out for those!

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