An Irish St. Patrick's Day

So I went to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day Weekend. It was crazy, let me tell you. But before I talk about that trip, I need to tell you about Oxford! Our group took a bus into the town and first we took a walking tour around town and saw the different colleges and learned about how the University works. It is split up into many separate colleges that all make up the uni. Students are enrolled and live in their own college and have a common room and play in sports matches against the other colleges just like at Hogwarts. (Just a quick overview)

Then it was time for lunch!

We went to this pub which is famous because JRR Tolkein and CS Lewis would meet here for drinks and discuss literature!

The my sorority sister, Lauren, who attends grad school at Oxford came to see me! She showed my friend, Rachel, and I her college and the local market and some other neat Oxford sights. This picture was taken in front of the library!

Then we went on a tour of Christ Church College which is probably the most famous one because it is the oldest and most prestigious.

This is the entrance to the great hall where the scenes were shot in the first Harry Potter movie! All the first years queued here before getting sorted.

This is the main courtyard, very pretty!

Oxford was just a day trip, so we weren't there long. But it was great!

Now for IRELAND

We took a very long bus and ferry ride overnight into Dublin then immediately got on a tour bus and headed to Southern Ireland. Our first stop was the Rock of Cashel.

This was a very old castle that was built around 1100. Ireland was not under the rule of one king at that time, so the King of the county known as Munster lived here. It was very beautiful and almost haunting as it softly rained and a mist covered the countryside.

Then we got back on the bus and headed more south towards Cork. And our next stop was the famous Blarney Castle!

at Blarney Castle!

Me kissing the Blarney Stone! Rumor has it, if someone is brave enough to climb the castle and dangle outside to kiss the stone, he or she will be blessed with the Gift of Gab or ability to speak eloquently. I've not really noticed a difference so that means it is just a legend, or I already speak with grandeur and elegance! ;)

We also walked around the grounds and the gardens were lovely. Ireland is really very green and deserves its nickname of the Emerald Isle.

Then we went on to Cork and walked around for a while. And I found a shamrock shake!!

After this very long day we got back to Dublin and crashed in our hotel.

DAY 2- DUBLIN and ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Dublin was crazy all day! People were running around in leprechaun outfits and Irish flags and drinking in the streets and altogether causing chaos. There was this big parade in the streets that lasted 3 hours and it was bizarre, not the outpouring of Irish culture like I thought it would be. After the parade we spent most of the day at the Guinness Factory!

Outside St. James' Gate!

We learned to pour the perfect pint. I was very successful.

All 3 of us were!

We also got our caricature done, listened to some Irish music and met quite a few friends along the way.

Then it was nighttime in Dublin! So we headed to the most famous spot- Temple Bar!

Yay for Temple Bar on St. Patrick's Day! It was such an experience.

The next day we took it down a couple notches and did some sightseeing. We first went to Trinity College and saw the Old Library and the Book of Kells.

Its the oldest bible in existence. A very big deal.

Me in front of the Ha' Penny Bridge. This is what is on most postcards of Dublin.

Outside St. Patrick's Cathedral.

In the gardens of Dublin Castle.

After a day of sightseeing we went back to our hotel and onto Dublin Port to catch the ferry home! It was a wonderful weekend and certainly gets a big check on the Bucket List! I love everything about Ireland, but too bad I'm not Irish. But then again, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!