Glendalough, Wicklow, Ireland

Two years ago, I set foot in Ireland for the first time and fell in love with this country and the beautiful sceneries it offered. Never would I have guessed back then that I would end up moving and settling here. But most of all, I never guessed that I would have the courage to hike the Wicklow Mountain once more...

To celebrate my two year anniversary of my first arrival here, I decided to go back to the first place I visited: Glendalough, in County Wicklow. For anyone looking for the typical Irish fields, loads of sheep, tiny roads, old rock walls, nice people, and small towns, Glendalough should definitely on your list of places to see.

While I wouldn't have stayed there a whole week (there aren't THAT many different things to do), I find it is the perfect little spot to get away for a few days and become one with nature. A bus makes daily trips from Dublin straight to the information center, which is located next to a hotel and a few minutes walk away from a youth hostel. Both times I went, I stayed at the hostel and it was great. The people working there were really nice and helpful, and everything was clean and comfortable. While I haven't stayed at the hotel, it was quite lovely in there and the food was delicious. They also have a nice pub with a pool table  and dart board for those rainy evenings.

Between the hotel and the hostel is the St Kevin monastery, where you can find hundred years old ruins, cemetery, and 100 ft tall tower. Glendalough truly is gorgeous and whether you're an experiences hiker or not, there are different trails that will suit everyone. I recommend this place to anyone who has an interest in nature, history, or even simply in relaxing!

Photographic Scavenger Hunt

With my impending departure for Ireland, I've become quite excited with all the different traveling prospects I have in mind for next year. I want to make the most of my time in Europe and take advantage of how easy it is to travel from one country to the other. As I was trying to fall asleep the other night (I'm having a harder and harder time as the 27th approaches), I thought about doing a photographic scavenger hunt. Since today is our second snow day of the year (hurray!), it seemed like the perfect time to get it started. Basically, I'm searching for photos of all the different places I plan on visiting (Scotland, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, England...) and I save pictures that I like so that when I do make it to those places, I'll have to try and find the exact same spot where the photographer was so that I can recreate that picture. I cannot wait to get started! Here are a few pictures I found that I will try to recreate...

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Avec mon départ imminent pour l'Irlande, je suis de plus en plus excitée face à la perspective des différents voyages que j'aurai l'occasion de faire durant l'année prochaine. Je veux profiter au maximum de mon temps en Europe, surtout en ce qui à trait à la faciliter de visiter différents pays une fois rendue là. L'autre soir, alors que je tentais de m'endormir, (ce qui devient de plus en plus difficile en se rapprochant du 27), j'ai pensé à faire une chasse au trésor photographique. Puis qu'aujourd'hui est notre deuxième jour de neige de l'année (hourra!), il me semblait êtes le temps idéal pour préparer ma chasse. En gros, je dois trouver des photos de tous les différents endroits que je prévois visiter (Écosse, République Czech, Pologne, Allemagne, Angleterre ...) et sauvegarder les images que j'aime. Quand je serai à ces endroits, je vais devoir essayer de trouver l'endroit exact où le photographe était pour que je puisse recréer la photo. Je ne peux pas attendre de commencer! Voici quelques photos que j'ai trouvées et que je vais essayer de recréer ...

Ashford Castle, Mayo, Ireland

Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Dancing building, Prague, Czech Republic

Yours truly, Bien à vous,

Day 36 to 44 - Ireland

This past week in Ireland has been all about me. It was the ultimate me time! I did what I wanted, when I wanted and how I wanted. It was quite different from my week alone in Paris, since I had already been here, so I did not feel the need to do and see everything. I simply did what I felt like doing when I woke up. I still saw many things, but I also took time for myself to simply think and reflect.

I went to Kinsale twice, once in the daytime and one in the evening. Kinsale is a lovely place and I am so happy to have seen both sides to it. The smell of the sea, the music in the streets, the people... Everything made me feel at home.

I also went to Dingle. That place too, was beautiful! I got to go on a boat and saw Fungy, the dolphin! I was so excited and fitted right in with the kids on the boat! The dolphin came out of the water quite a lot, but I don't think I was able to catch a photo of him. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my adapter at my previous hostel and both my camera and phone batteries died within a few minutes of each other once I was on the boat. The boat ride lasted about an hour. The captain even took us out of the harbor where the waves were the biggest I had ever seen! They were high and slow, so it felt like being on a roller coaster. I absolutely loved every minute of it!

The views from Cork to Dingle were simply breathtaking! Never in my life have I appreciated nature more than I do here. The greenery is simply magnificent! I love how everything is over grown and how everything has it's place and seems undisturbed. It's as if the irish did not settle where they wanted, but rather where nature let them settle.

Back in Cork, I spent time with friends, met some more and simply had a great time in great company. It felt great to lift my feet up and simply have a good time and laugh. My goodness, I don't remember ever laughing and smiling so much! It's all I've been doing for the past week.

I also spend a day on the road, doing a tour of western Ireland. I got to see castles, pass through Limerick, Kilarney, Doolin, and many more places. I also saw the Cliffs of Moher (although saw is a big word...it was raining and foggy the whole time. At least I got to take a few pictures before the fog overtook everything).

I cannot believe I am going home tomorrow. My time in Europe has been the best of my life. I have seen and experienced so much, but more importantly, I have learned to many things about myself. I have fallen in love with the european Martine. I do hope I get to keep her once I've returned home. However, one thing is for sure, I will be back and for good. I have always wanted to live in Europe, and now, after having seen it, after having tasted it, felt it, and heard it, I am determined, more than ever, that it is going to happen.

My heart and soul are here. I am meant to be here. And so I shall be here...

 

Day 35 - Kinsale, Ireland

Today, I made my way to Kinsale. It's a little place about half an hour away from Cork city and it's one of my favorite place in Ireland! It's set by the water, so there is a little port full of little boats. There is a tiny beach at about a two minute walk from the road. The house are all bunched togerther on each side of the streets and come in all sorts of color. It is simply amazing there! I got to visit some ruins and forts. You'll be walking in a field and will suddently sumble upon an old fort. The air smell like the ocean and the views are incredible. Mountains, water, ciffs, fields, old ruins, friendly people...You'll find a little bit of everything in Kinsale!

 

Day 34 - Dublin and Cork, Ireland

The plane ride went quite smoothly, thankfully! I landed in Dublin at noon and then took the bus towards Cork...or so I thought. I hopped on a bus, but an hour and a half later, it returned to the airport. i had taken the wrong one! But it was alright as I got to enjoy the Dublin view for a while. Once I got on the right one (after checking with two different people), I sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the ride. It was so weird for me to be returning. I don't know if it's because I had already been to Ireland, but it felt like home. Even driving on the other side of the road felt natural this time!

I arrived in Cork at about 6 o'clock. I immediately ate something and got ready to go watch a boxing match for the olympics down in the pub. My first night back in Cork was quite the fun one and was spent in good company and laughter.

Day 33 - Paris, France

Well today is my last day in Paris. Tomorrow, I will be heading to my last destination before heading home. This morning, I was so excited to meet up with a friend from work who's on holiday in Belgium. We met under the Eiffel tower and then started off with a delicious breakfast. We then made our way around the city and saw the Musé des invalides, l'Arc de triomphe and les Champs Elysés. It was wonderful to see a familiar face. I am sad to be leaving tomorrow, but excited as I am returning to Ireland! As soon as my friend left, I returned to my hostel to do some last minute preparations and then went to sleep early.

Photos are to come

Day 32 - Paris, France

Today, I went to see the Louvre museum. I was there for four hours, and barely got to see half of it! The place is enormous!! Of course, I made my way towards the italian paintings section immediatly. I discovered quite a few that I really like while making my way to the Mona Lisa. It was actually really quite and not too busy for a saturday afternoon, but then I went around a wall and a big herd of people had gatthered. At first I didn't know what was going on, but then I saw it. THE painting. I actually didn't have the courage to venture into the sea of buzzing bees, so I took a picture from afar. The painting was much s,aller than I had expected. I had heard about it before, but I still didn't expect it to be so small. It was still beautiful nonetheless. Once I was able to capture a photo of it, I turned around to be greeted by the GIGANTIC painting of the wedding in Canaan. The details, the colours, the size...everything about that painting amazed me. The picture I took does not do it justice! One thing that I discovered while at the Louvre, is my appreciation for sculptures. There were so many of them! And so beautiful! I can't imagine the patience you must have to sculpt from a rock. It amazes me! All the little details, everything is so perfectly done. Each statue left my in complete awe.