Rolling on the coastline - Antrim, Derry & Donegal

It's 6am when alarm clocks rings on Thursday morning, normal? No. But at that specific date the car engine started at 7am taking five persons (Me and four Germans!!!) first to a scenic driving route along Antrim coast all way up to Derry and from there on to counties of Donegal and Sligo before returning Maynooth.

Let's start to talk about weather first which is probably one of the most common topics in Ireland and if you think why, keep reading further... Day started as a grey and cloudy looking and according to weather forecast some rain showers were to be expected. Quite soon after getting on the highway we noticed that these "rain showers" meant long lasting hard rain with some foggy air. But at same time as hours were passing during day the weather changed about like this: Rain-Sun-Rain-Sun-Hail-Sun-Snow-Rain-Sun-Rain ... Weird, eh?

Anyway that's it for the weather and for the main story.
After early morning and driving of few hours our route took us through Belfast and of course the time of the morning traffic... If we would have been wise, we would have stopped before Belfast to a gas station for bathroom but none of us weren't that smart and while we were standing in traffic it was the time to face reality: Need for bathroom! Without knowing how long it would take trough traffic we pulled of from highway to look out a bathroom in Belfast and jeazus that whole process took us three or four stops in the city and about half hour before managed to find one... But finally it was worth it.


From there on we continued finally to Antrim coast. The road itself followed the coastline North from Belfast around the North-East corner of the Northern Ireland through nice looking small villages full of summer villas, and then leading us first to a Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge before Unesco's world heritage site Giant's Causeway. The rope bridge is about 20 meters long to the long island just sea & rocks underneath, even that the bridge is obviously well secured it was still able bounce on it and feel adrenaline boosting... Giant's Causeway is a amazing rock formations of hexagonal stone columns side by side, never saw anything like that before!

The day started to be over and evening was rising smoothly when we left from Giant's Causeway to our last stop for the day, Derry. There we stayed one night in hostel paying only 1£ per night per person!!! I couldn't believe that it was real when I booked the hostel but there were hundreds of reviews with average of 93% ... Checking in the truth was told why the price was so cheap: There was another hostel in town that was a lousy place and going bankrupt so as a final hope they offered room "come for free and pay what you think it was worth it" bases... So it forced this other hostel for a short period of time offer beds also for that cheap price and we were lucky enough to be there at that time. At hostel we met Danish girl who was an erasmus student in Belfast travelling by herself few days.. We invited her to have a dinner with us and finally we ended up inviting her to join us for next day with us since we had a free seat in the car. And yes what a relief, I wasn't anymore alone with four Germans :D Waking up in the morning before leaving Derry we went to "Free Derry Museum" and took part of the Bogside walking tour to learn about history from the murals in the area. Bogside was a focus point of many events taking place during "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. Probably the most known single event is day called Bloody Sunday when 14 civilians were killed by British soldiers.

Not a long after leaving Derry we crossed the border back to the Republic of Ireland, only thing how we were actually able to spot that we had changed country was a traffic sign where speed limit was marked km/h instead of mph/h. Driving trough Donegal while it was raining and even snowing at some points but who can say that has been driving in "snowstorm" in Ireland in March, I can ;-) Destination was Slieve League Cliffs. They are similar than Cliffs of Moher expect Slieve League Cliffs are longer, three times higher, no visitor center and only accessible by car so no bus loads of tourist. And indeed it was stunning almost untouchable landscape especially after rain when air was misty... Mystical I say.

Seeing views from higher point of course there was a need for an opposite view to compare so the road lead us next down to the beach. Feeling light sea wind in smooth sand where we wrote our names and draw some pictures, only if it would be 20 degrees warmer I would have said that I was somewhere in Southern Europe. On the way home we stopped kind of middle of nowhere on the side of rocky coast to see the sunset. Wind was blowing quite hard at this time and tides were also rising so huge waves were crashing on the rocks at same time when sun was slowly setting down behind the horizon. Finishing our trip we stopped on the way Maynooth at McDonalds to have a dinner, devilishly delicious option :P

Wheels Keep on Rolling -Connemara

As the second semester is about half-away over (Already!!!) and there is this great week called "study week" which more or less means kind of a holiday break. After experiencing driving in Ireland in February before this semester actually started and realizing that it is actually quite great way to see places around, the rest was just simple math: Free time + Better range of discovering sights/views = Rent a car

This time it turned out to be interesting... Last time the rented car was quite small, why I named it "the buggy." I had rented a C-class car (WW Golf or similar) but when picking up a car they didn't have that one available at that second so they upgraded me few classes better car as a result I had a real 7-seater "family wagon" :D First I was a bit terrified how it is like to drive with that car which is bigger than "the buggy" all those small roads in Ireland but at least so far so good!

On our first day instead of five we manage to find out few persons to join in the crew and had a full car: One German, one Brazilian, one Finnish and four French... So time to take a direction "Connemara." Area itself is known to a real original Irish cultural area where it is possible to actually still here people speaking Irish for each other and besides cultural part, the area also covers for example Connemara national park, small towns and scenic driving routes.

First we stopped in a Kylemore Abbey which is originally built as a private house (with no more than 33 bedrooms!) but acted later on old abbey and girl's school until it was closed in 2010. Building itself looked stunning and supposed to be old victorian gardens behind the house but for some reason it wasn't on its best yet on March... From Kylemore Abbey it was only few miles drive to the National Park. Women at visitors center warned us that there are strong winds so climbing on the top of the mountains were not recommendable which actually turned out to be true when we stepped ourselves in walking trails... Wind was blowing really hard at some points but because there was no rain I just would say that it was a refreshing moment :D

The difference of landscapes that Ireland have within just small areas feel somehow amazing and it was proven again today... First we are in the national park, quite brownish, few lakes visible but more or less that's it but only after 30min drive we all were standing in a sandy beach shores of Atlantic, next to the signs that told about possibilities for doing watersports etc. activities.... Almost like somewhere in southern Europe tourist city but I guess that beach area is also very popular during summer season. Two of our group were actually even "brave enough" to test he water temperature by standing on rocks by the sea and suddenly felt how crashing waves on rocks does spill the water on them. We laughed so much, it was definitely just like a a clip from some comedy movie!

On the driving way among coastal, we stopped quickly at one sightseeing spot to take some pictures, and at that time wind was really blowing hard - and I mean really hard! When sitting in the car at parking place it was possible held how the wind did shake the car and trying to stand on a stone fence turned also be almost mission impossible because the wind almost literally pusher us down from standing on the stone fence... Adventurous indeed and tomorrow is a brand new day ;)

 

When Dublin Turned Green

It's the 17th of March, St. Patricks Day -probably one of the most celebrated days in Ireland. On this year 17th March was Monday, but the whole weekend before was a festival time in Dublin, each day there were many things going on in Dublin like free concerts, markets, walking tours, workshops and street performances... So there was no need to worry about the option to get bored.


First of all there is need to break out few myths:
- No, river is not colored green, instead they color many of the important buildings green (by using light, not actual paint..)
- No, people are not completely drunk from morning onward, mostly because strict alcohol policy (Shops are not allowed to sell alcohol on St.Patricks Day before 4pm, and pubs before 12:30pm, I think)
- Yes, there are people all over the world and everyone are wearing some kind of green stuffs

Then about the story of the day:
As I mentioned we took train to Dublin in the morning, we were wearing all kind of green hats, flags of Ireland etc. and of course during the train ride luckily we had one artist on board who painted shamrocks / flags on face for those of us (everyone :D) who wanted, I had a shamrock. Standing several hours outside seeing (or trying to see) the parade actually did start to get a bit boring at some point, to be honest even that the parade was cool I was expecting a bit more... Different towns had some themes and many universities abroad mostly from US. had their own band marching.

After parade streets were flooding with people who all were looking out some place to go.. Walking forward was a kind of a challenge even that at time people were more or less sober, walking forward turned to be a pain in the ass later at night when people weren't sober anymore...

Finally we found ourselves in a a pub, Local old mans pub, cheap, interesting atmosphere. Having few pints over there and just waiting until it would be 4pm because it was a nice weather (by that I mean it wasnt raining), we decided to buy something from supermarket and go to drink in a park... Obviously we were aware of the fact that drinking in public is forbidden in Ireland as it is in many other countries also but we thought that the rules and the reality are two different things as they are in many other countries. Unfortunately at this time reality hit us hard! We had been sitting around sometime in park when two oldish looking gardas walked to us, of course we had hided drinks before as we saw them coming (under the hats etc. clever places) but they checked us up and even searched through some of us bags! They just poured both opened and unopened cans away, luckily few one of us were lucky to survive without being checked.

Well only thing to do after that is to to pub again, it started to be around 7pm at that time I think when we just did kind of a "pub hopping" to stop by in few places and as the evening continued few decided to return already to Maynooth earlier and some later. Last bus was at around 11.30pm, almost everyone took that bus but there were three of us still, Me, Celine & Morgan -the last ones standing who decided to continue evening through the night.. To continue it was time to fuel up first, oh god, I cant even describe how tasteful a chicken box with fries at KFC were! Then was till time for few more pints to enjoy before sharing a taxi to Maynooth, St. Patricks Day was over & Everyone lived happily ever after!

Master Chefs & Kings of Beer pong

What a nice weekend in and around Maynooth!

Of course after the weekly "traditional" evening in the Roost, everyone are (for some reason..) more or less tired so on Fridays there is good to have something relaxing to do:

As we had done once before, we gathered together with a bunch of people around the table full of food. Obviously the food won't appear on the table by itself, someone have to cook it. In this case someone did mean everyone, so people prepared some kind of dish more or less traditional from their home country and brought it over to fill up the table. Different salads, meatballs, pancakes, brownies, tiramisu, cheese crackers, omelettes etc... Buffet was set - so much, so good! After dining just chilling and talking around (no, there was not "French Macarena" like last time) until the evening got late and atmosphere sleepy which meant time to go home catch some sleep. I felt that I could almost literally just roll back to my house because I was so full because all the good things tasted.

During Saturday afternoon I went to Dublin to see my friend from US. who I had met few weeks before in Galway. We had a cup of coffee and walk around... Thought to visit in Phoenix park but while picked up the map from one tourist office (Yes I know where the Phoenix park about is but didn't remember the actual route and distance...), they had changed it for a smaller scale than it had been before so the park wasn't visible on it anymore... B***ards! Good time anyways but unfortunately we realized that instead sitting inside cafeteria (even that it was cozy place) we could have took take away coffees and sit down outside, yes - Spring is really coming! At the evening was the time for good old time house parties ;) People, "refreshments", music, dancing and of course tough competitions on beer pong. So hey guys, how long did the parties lasted after all, until 4am?

Finally on Sunday what could be a better way to start a day than go for brunch - a traditional Irish Breakfast (bacon, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, sausages, toast and tea) and after some fresh air by walking around parks of Celbridge Castletown... As nice as it was like the whole weekend, it's anyway time to return back to the reality and start work out some of my sociology essays...

"Surfing around UK", London

Sunday and London calling! Once again I took my backpack, find myself to coach station and relaxed (sleepy) bus ride to London. There I was supposed to meet my next host, Darshin, originally from Malaysia but studying one year post.graduate degree program in London. Basically the idea for the day was just hang around in London because I didn't need to see "the normal sightseeing" anymore. But because it's London there is always something going on, at that time there was a Russian festival... We stopped by to see it but to be honest, nothing that special (also might be because we didn't understand what they were talking about on the stage...).

Then Darshin and her friend took me to one small Indonesian restaurant that was so well hidden that I wouldn't find it even if I would have got an address and a map on my hand. I was only European looking person in there so it was really the kind of place that was only for those who knew it existing. Food was mix of excellent spicy tastes, I really felt the spices afterwards on my tongue and lips but so still it was so good! Sunday was actually only day during my whole trip when it was raining (guess it would have been a miracle if there would be so many days without rain in UK at that time of year).. So after dinner we started to walk back Darshin's flat but on the way we stopped in few pubs just to warm up and still when we reached her flat we both felt soaking wet... As I always say, nothing to worry about, it's just water.

Six days, five night, lots of new people, great company, interesting conversations basically about everything can imagine for. I returned to Ireland and looking forward to meet these people again somewhere in world... As soon as I had unpacked my backpack I started to think... Where to go next?

"Surfing around UK", Brighton

Sitting 5-6 hours in bus I finally arrived Brighton. I've head before that it is beautiful city with a lovely seaside boulevard which specially in summer is packed of people. That all was true, expect streets weren't packed with people but they weren't empty either probably because of a great weather I had on that weekend. Having a cup of coffee under blue sky and white clouds while sitting on a beach, listening sound of waves and enjoying sunshine. It really felt that Spring has finally arrived, for a second an idea crossed my mind: Should I go to swim into sea? - I did shake my head, no, I ain't that crazy :D

At Brighton my host was Fan Fan, she was from China but studying her degree in media/film studies at Brighton University. On Friday evening we went together to have a dinner and after see a gig of three local bands. Can't remember name of those bands but first of them were okay, second were good and third one.. well, not so good. Seeing first band made almost laugh because the singer really looked like that he would just have arrived from 70's through some teleport gate etc... Saturday FanFan took me for a lunch in one all you can eat buffet place. Usually those places are filled up with unhealthy fatty foods but not this one: Mostly vegetarian food, fresh ingredients and one after other tasteful options... Even that I love meat, but if someone would start to argue that vegetarian food is untasteful, I would literally roll on floor laughing.

Saturday evening one absolutely random and usually those are the best ones when best plan is that there is no plan. I was just walking around and decide to go and have pint somewhere. Then I saw a bar where was sign outside "happy hour, pint 3,10£" .. Yes! That's shall be the place so I walked in to bar ordered pint and sat down. After a while looking around I did realize that I did manage to choose to go in gay bar :D But everything has its purpose and one thing lead into another (No, this ain't what you think..): Bartender asked how was the day and did I enjoy lovely weather (British small talk...) then we came across point when I mentioned that Im from Finland. Then a guy next to said "tervetuloa" (welcome in Finnish), he had been working in Brighton / London past 15 years as kind of interior architect and wedding planner. He told me a place called "Northern Lights", a bar in Brighton that is owned by Finnish couple and they have there all kind of traditional Finnish drinks like Koskenkorva, Minttu, Salmari, Fisu, Lonkero...

There was no doubt where I was going to head up for next... And there I found out that earlier that evening there had been kind of guilt meeting of people who were British-Finnish. The way I found that out is that I met a group of people who were still staying there drinking even that "official meeting"  was over, so I joined then. What a great evening we had: laughing, talking, drinking Finnish drinks and eating (cinnamon rolls, meatballs in brown sauce etc. :P)... And does someone still argue that world is not a small place?

"Surfing around UK", Bristol

It was already about 1,5 months since I was flying last time so I felt it was about a time to hop on the wings again. This time United Kingdom was my destination, Bristol to be more precise. There I spent two nights before National Express coach lead me to Brighton again for two nights also and before returning Ireland for one night in London. All the accommodation arranged by couch surfing, interesting!

So first Bristol... To be honest I didn't have any clue what Bristol is about, quickly asking from google and stepping into tourist information revealed me some facts. City has been busy harbour city where lot of trading have taken its place which also brought some piracy in the city. Another famous thing is city's street art, numerous amounts of graffittis / murals that decorates city giving it youthful vibrant atmosphere.

My host (couch surfing) in Bristol was Dave, research student in behavioral biology at Bristol University. We met on Wednesday evening and plan was quite clear: Let's go and have beer. Dave had also home brewed beer, good stuff -there's nothing else I can say about it :P I met Daves girlfriend and some other friends and together we had a pub tour that was filled with tasteful ales ending up translating song "Eppu Normaali - Baarikarpanen" lyrics in English, hilarious! At that point I didn't have a clue yet where to sleep my second night in Bristol but luckily we had such a good time that we agreed that I could stay also at Daves couch for second night. To thank Dave I promised to cook a dinner for him, his girlfriend and one other friend.. Meal for a couch, not a bad deal at all. So Thursday evening we all four enjoyed dinner together and next morning it was time to shake hands with my host and move on towards Brighton.