Ireland
We visited Dublin and got to see the Irish team play a soccer game!
June 7:Around the World in 42 Days-Dublin Ireland
So where do I even begin, today was a crazy day! So first, I guess we got up and got ready and because I put little effort into getting ready, I read my boring summer read forever before Aleisha and Ansley were ready(Laughy face)So then we went to breakfast at Loose Goose Café. I got crepes, vanilla ice cream, Nutella crepes. After, we headed out to the train station and took a train out to Hault. In Hault first we were taking some photos and looking around at the vast sea, and we saw these ships heading out to this island and it looked so cool, so we decided to look into us, too, heading out on the ships to see the island. Bad choice!Bad choice! If only we knew what we were getting ourselves into to. So we saw one the boats come into port and we bolted to the gate and were the first ones on the little motor boat, as well as the only ones who showed up for that departure. We got photos acting like we were driving the boat and talked to the nice man who was a part of the 2 man ship crew. After departure, we were laughing excited, boy did we not know about our worst enemies the seagulls awaiting us, don't ask I'll get there.We got on the Island, we saw a few adorable seals sunbathing on our way into the small bay which we were to be dropped off.Cute! We then got off the boat and made our way up the rock steps to the island. We were told about all the bird colonies, so we were super excited to check them out explore the island. First thing we did was take photos, on the peninsula, next to the rock structure building built during war, you get the picture. then we noticed this momma bird with one cute baby seagull and 2 about to hatch. The baby was adorable, yet we were obviously stressing the mom out so we left her to be. Then we decided to try and reach the big rock platform, which was past the grassland.Bad idea. We saw this one mom who just left her eggs as soon as we walked by, obviously prioritizing her life over her children. Seriously, we could not believe how she just ran away whenever we got close. We were making fun of how un- protective and un-loyal the seagulls were to their offspring. I just felt bad for the unguarded eggs. Yet then we faced our doom, a whole tribe of seagulls. So we were walking on when all of a sudden we found ourself in the middle of like 15 seagulls, mostly mothers with adorable baby chicks. I saw 3 babies there. You will never believe me when I tell you this, even if you do you will never understand how terrifying it was, I am here to tell you this was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. So there was this one over protective male seagull who out of nowhere swooped at Aleisha almost hitting her, yet she ducked. He did it again and again each time faster getting closer and closer to hitting her. She kept ducking, Ansley and I screaming.Then he started pooping right over her trying to hit her, yet the wind was not helping his evil plans.Aleisha, obviously not sure how to get out of this situation after the 3rd time he swooped at her, she grabbed her duffle bag and began swinging it at him. Ansley and I both were confused, but knew it was safer to be with Aleisha because the other seagulls were beginning to corner us and were giving us cold stares. We both sprinted towards Aleisha because we were about 20 feet away from her ducking as the Seagull stroked again this time almost hitting my head.I snatched my phone to attempt to capture the moment, yet the second I began recording the seagull swooped at us again inches from hitting me and, Aleisha told me I needed to concentrate and try and find an escape route rather than videoing. "There" I said pointing at a bunch of shrubs we could run through to try and get to the beach like area that wrapped around the whole island. We rushed through them, Aleisha still protecting of from the Seagull swishing her duffel bag in the air. We ran through a bunch of itching flowers and shrubs, that kind of hurt, yet we had to escape and that was our only option, yet then after we threw ourselves onto a high rock platform climbing a bit, we found ourselves amongst another tribe of seagulls. This time one Seagull, a male of course protecting all the new baby seagulls,came up from behind us and drop kicked Aleisha. No joke, I had turned just as it came soaring in nailing her with its feet in the head. "Ouch!"She yelped"Riley!" "That wasn't me it was the Sea..." Just as I said that the seagull swooped down almost hitting her again. We all ducked. All the Seagulls were taught us. There were at least 10 surrounding us, 3 flying overhead. I screeched ducking and hiding behind Aleisha, who obviously could not believe what was happening. She grabbed her bag smacking it at the angry seagulls. "Find a way to get out of here," she said, all us were terrified. The seagull almost hit Aleisha again, yet she blocked herself with her bag. Ansley and I were hugging onto her for dear life, all of us were as white as snow. " There girls" Aleisha pushed me and Ansley towards a ledge which we knew we had no other option other than jump. I went down first jumping about 4 feet then running through a grass field, Ansley next, then Aleisha who was making sure the seagull didn't hit us, swinging her bag as it came close to us. All of us sprinted for our lives, terrified. All stuck in fear. The seagulls all watched us, Aleisha got mad at one for circling close to us, so she picked up a rock and throw it at him.This obviously angered the seagull more. So he too tried to swoop at us. Yet we were not looking back running at full speed towards the approaching boat.We threw ourselves onto the boat, still scared. Pledging to never go back there again, little did we know we would soon return. I asked Aleisha " Do you have my phone" Aleisha still recovering from fear and rubbing her head unknowingly said "yes" yet the second we stepped foot on the mainland and she asked me to turn on my hotspot we learned the truth." No"we all cried out learning we must return. We sprinted back to the boat, telling the guys the situation, who agreed to take us back out if we paid for the ride, a couple more people joined us this time. Luckily Ansley could track my phone so we knew it was on the island, it fell out during our flee from the seagulls. All disappointed we had to return to that dreadful place, we tried to remain positive, yet when it started pouring rain it was hard to be optimistic. Luckily, I had an iPhone 7 which is waterproof. We werestranded on the island, in the rain, once again for 30 minutes. We retraced our steps, luckily we didn't have to go to far before finding it in the bushes of where we first fled. I gave it straight to Aleisha, so it wouldn't get left again.We saw seagulls began to threaten us so we ran back towards the beach where we took photos and jumped on the rocks trying to find out how to spend 30 minutes on an Island we hate in the rain.We ended up going up back towards the war stone hut, where we met 4 guys who were later also attacked by seagulls after we left. We watched from a distance after we headed back seeing the arrival of the boat as the 4 boys possessing nothing to protect themselves, were cornered against the stone figure by the seagulls swooping in at them. Then were flailing their arms at the two teaming seagulls shouting. We ran for the boat, wanting nothing but to escape that dreadful island. All drenched and cold we stumbled off the boat. Starving and looking for somewhere to escape the rain we went into a nearby straight where we all filled our starving stomachs. After, we caught a train leaving Hault, where we ran into the 4 guys we met on the Island. We were all laughing about the war we just encountered and Aleisha agreed to hang out with them later. After exchanging snap chats, we headed back in a taxi to our hotel. At our hotel, Aleisha got ready for her night out while my dad and I went to dinner, well dessert for me. I got a brownie with ice cream. So yeah that's pretty much all after that Aleisha went out and my dad, Ansley, and I went to bed. Well I wrote this surprisingly long entry. So I guess you can say I'm living the dream! :)
June 6:Around the World in 42 Days-Dublin Ireland
So today started off really early for Alicia as she had to wake up at six in the morning to finish writing her paper. The first thing we did was go to breakfast at the Green Peacock café, it was so good.Anyway later we went to the wax museum where we saw all sorts of people and objects designed out of wax for say Donald Trump, soldiers, characters and more, it was so cool. My favorite thing was the mirror maze because it was really fun to try and navigate your way through tons of mirrors where all the paths looked the exact same and we got lost a lot, but we finally found a way through.Next, we biked and rode around the city of Dublin, over bridges, along the canal, where ever our bikes took us. It was entertaining then later we decided to rather than ride bikes we would walk around the city and explore because the bikes were requiring a lot of effort swerving in between people and try not to get hit by cars.So anywho we ended up walking along the streets of Dublin, going in the many cute shops, and we stopped by a cute café where we ordered crepes, ice cream and drinks and played Jenga, and in my mind, I was the ultimate winner of Jenga but Alicia would say otherwise.Anyway, technically we kind of were viewed as crazy by everyone else in the shop, for we were water bottle flipping, and being a bit loud and crazy, what can I would say. So anyway despite that we continued our adventure around the city including crossing bridges and shopping, we even found this cool area called Temple Bar, it had flags from all over the world lining the walls. Also, there were tons of cool shops, and all the buildings were so adorable that we just ended up going in, so we began shopping and then looking at all the cute clothes.It was so enjoyable, in this one place Aleisha should have bought like four of the dresses that were like so adorable, yet she decided not to, Well so then we got an Uber and went home where we just chilled for about two hours.Next, we went to dinner at some restaurant where the second we walked in they asked us "what are you here for" we were like "we're here for dinner" so anyway the food was excellent, I guess it was traditional Irish food, so it's a bit weird, but we survived. I mean obviously, we survived it is not that bad.Nevertheless, after that, we came home and we were planning on walking over to the market, but when we walked over to the market, it was apparently closed. So we were like"oh no so sad" and we walked back in the freezing cold back to our hotel. Back at our hotel, we all got in bed and watched TV.So yeah, that's my day, gotta say I'm living the life:)
PS: There are these 2 really cute baby seagulls outside our window and it just melts my heart!
June 5:Around the World in 42 Days-Dublin Ireland
So well today, let's see, first thing in the morning we did was Aleisha and I went on a 2-mile run. We definitely got a great tour of Dublin getting more lost every road we took plus the jet lag and humidity made the run 10 times better. Anywho, after we ran we met up with my dad and Ansley for breakfast at a creperie. I got a mushroom crepe. Aleisha forced me to eat most of my crepe.Then Aleisha and I got lost on our walk back to our mini home, of course. Then Aleisha forced to walk up the stairs rather than taking the elevator#crosscountrytraining.Later we got ready for the day, fun fact Aleisha although 10 years older fits perfectly into Ansley and my clothes. Aleisha and Ansley were determined to beautify my face with makeup and make me look like a "normal 13 years old" as Ansley calls it.After we rented bikes and started by a peaceful ride through the park stopping to take photos of course. Then my dream came true, well one of my many dreams came true. Nice people gave me bread and wild pigeons flew onto my arms, I had like 3 of them on me at once. Two pigeons even began fighting over who gets to possess the bread, on my arm!After we were riding all over town giving ourselves a self-taught tour of the city, then Ansley started complaining about how hungry she was, yet today was a national holiday in Ireland so there were limited options.This sudden search for food was turned into a great hassle and I haven't mentioned the best part, it was raining. As a former Seattle girl, the rain never really bothered me, yet riding on a chaotic sidewalk, in the rain, in shorts and a tank was a bit of a struggle, funny, but a struggle not to mention the fact we were lost.So yeah we never achieved our goal of locating the Dublin castle, yet instead were riding all over the city looking for food, in the rain. We finally decided to go to a local market, buy food, and cook from home. So yeah that's what we did.I could not stop laughing this whole experience, it was actually really fun! Finally, after arriving home, we cooked late lunch and attempted to get dried, yet later noticed we left the window in our room open, so yeah, you guessed it, our floor was drenched.Later that night, we went to dinner at some place I forget, all I know was it was good.Oh, right it was at Porter House Temple Bar. So anywho, we enjoyed a nice dinner. I forgot to mention we started playing this game "the floor is lava" where anytime you hear"the floor is lava" at a sudden and random time you have to get off the ground as quick as possible in any way or form.So all day we have been calling this phrase and videoing the reaction and we have some interesting videos from hanging on shower rods to failed attempts at jumping onto the wall.Anyway, we had a completion to see if the stairs or the elevator were faster and the stairs ended up winning.Finally, we all prepared for bed and Aleisha noticed she had an essay she had to write due tomorrow because she left school early to come on the trip, so pray for Aleisha!While Aleisha wrote her essay, I wrote this entry, edited my website, and read some of my summer read.So yeah you could say we're living the dream :)
June 4: Around the world in 42 days-Dublin Ireland
So the Saturday following the conclusion of school, Ansley, Aleisha, my dad and I all packed our bags and jumped on a flight to Dublin Ireland.Aleisha took another flight than My dad, Ansley and I.It started off a little rocky Aleisha missing her flight and Ansley spilling a slushie all over the table at TGIF, yet has better since then.First, we flew to Canada where we caught another flight to Dublin.We spent about 11-12 hours in total on a plane today!First, in Dublin, we put our bags up in the hotel, yet our hotel is not ready till later so we left our stuff in the lobby and headed to a cute Cafe.Then we walked over to a street dedicated to shopping, Grafton Street.I went to a Disney store first while Ansley went to vans.Of course while shopping my wonderful sis insisted we went to Starbucks, we went all the way to Ireland to go to Starbucks, seriously?Next, we walked through a beautiful park, I pleaded with Ansley to take tons of photos with me, in front of ducks in a pond, in a field of flowers, you name it.Then we went back to our hotel to chill.Our rooms still not ready so we remain in the lobby, so now I have time to recall our adventures and put them to words.At 3:00 we were finally permitted to go up to our room.Our hotel is like a mini house it's awesome. Later at night, we headed off for a soccer, sorry I mean futbol game, Ireland vs Uruguay.We had to walk around the whole stadium to try and find the entrance to our seats. My dad and I grabbed snacks and then headed to our seats, yet were stopped while we were walking to our seats by a security guard telling my dad he can't bring beer to our seats, therefore he had to throw away the cups of beer he was holding. We arrived late so the game had already begun remaining 0-0 by the end of the game Ireland won 3-1. Everyone had such a thick accent that when the crowd shouted"Ireland" it sounded as if they said"Island".Aleisha came to the game around halftime with Ansley after she got back from the airport and changed. They got a bit lost, yet finally found my dad and I. It was a great game!Next, we went to dinner at a local restaurant I forgot the name of. We were all starved!Then we headed home freaking out a bit at as a guy tried to follow us in through the door after we typed in a protective code, yet were reassured when he came in without our aid. Finally, we got ready for bed and face timed Aleisha's boyfriend, who I say hi to if he is reading this entry right now. Anyway, I ended my night by finishing my journal entry and well yeah.Ireland day one: complete.