Go Pretty Horsey Go!!

I would tell you that I am not a gambler. It's not because I think gambling is bad, or I'm concerned that I would become addicted to it. It's because I don't like taking chances on something when you know statistically the house always wins in the end, cause if they didn't the would be no such thing as Vegas. Tompers also pointed out to me I really don't like participating in things I can't win. (Or at least have a good chance at winning)

However I woke up this morning and I thought to myself today would be a great day to bet on some horses. Ireland has finally captured me.

Thursday my friends arrived all the way from sunny beautiful British Columbia, Being the gracious host that I am I wanted my friends to have the real Irish experience, I managed to snag us tickets to the Races! Well the legend I work with during the days got me the tickets. For those of you not in the know, the Galway Races are kind of a big deal. Don't worry I really had no idea until I was out there! 

This Irish experience I had planned for my friends naturally needed to include some Poitín, which we managed to choke back a shot each before heading out to the track. 

Being a novice gambler and really knowing nothing about horses at all I chose my horses by their jockeys outfits, seemed like a reasonable way to bet. I also only placed a maximum of €5 on each of the races. To some this seems silly, but I still got very excited seeing all the horseys coming around the final bend of the track and racing towards the finish. I also managed to pick a winner 4 out of 7 races (the 7th race we just all put a fiver on a different horse, TamTam won that one, still unsure how much she won... Should probably get that sorted today) 

It was amazing how just before the race would start suddenly there would be a flood of people filling the stands, the energy was electric. I now understand how people can spend a day at the tracks. When I was at work and the races were on the tele they seemed so far apart from each other and I thought it was odd that there was so much time in between each race, but when you're there that time disappears at a rapid rate.

What an experience. Tompers is beyond upset that I left him at home, but who knew what we were getting into. Today I'll let him pick some horses.

Crossing things off the bucket list that were never on there in the first place. #lifegoals

Under 48

How do I even begin to describe Copenhagen? This remarkable city left a huge impact on me. Having spent less than 48 hours there I feel robbed of all the experiences I could have had, and therefore I must return.
I just did not have enough time to do everything Tompers wanted to do. Everyone kept telling me Copenhagen is expensive, pack your wallet... but I didn't find it any more expensive than Dublin. Europe is expensive you just have to figure out where to go if you want to save money. The city is so clean it's unreal. I did not see a single piece of trash anywhere, like the people actually care enough not to litter or there are magic fairies that come along and clean it up so fast it has barely touched the ground.
I am at a loss as how to further write about this experience, it was far to short to really even call it an experience. I'm glad I didn't jump the gun booking a bunch of weekend trips into Europe. I'm definitely doing a three night minimum from now on.. Also early morning arrivals are crucial. Lesson learned.

"Let's buy her some land"

I always forget to write about when I am at “home” it’s like it’s a part of me that doesn’t exist. I haven’t given Ireland the fair shake of things because I have always had one foot out the door. Today at work I realized this when Jim-Bob said that he didn’t want me to leave, and Cilly-B said “I know right, lets buy her some land and she can build a house” at which point Jim-Bob said “I meant tonight”, and we all burst out in a fit of giggles. It had become clear who likes me more, just saying.

It needs to be said that I love my job. Shuffle-ufugus drives me insane, and I hate that I can’t even deal with it without bitching like some crazy ex-girlfriend. I try so hard but I just can’t. It’s just soooooooooooooo frustrating, but I will put up with him to keep this job. Loving my job also makes it hard to try and plan bounce out trips. I have this sense of loyalty. The housemate tells me this is silly and I give them way too much, and I know she is right but I literally cannot help myself. This is who I am the overly loyal employee that feels taken advantage of in the end. But I really do love this job. Not enough to stay though, maybe it’s time I give the city a chance. I’ve lived here for 6 months and I haven’t done anything here. I need to start being a tourist here. I focus on getting out, maybe it’s time I focus on staying in…

Ahh I’ll wait till flights to Europe get more expensive. 

DUB >>> AMS

As the kaleidoscopes faded from the sky and awareness came back into my body, I felt the desire for the trip to be over. It wasn’t a bad trip, it did exactly as it was supposed to… Awaken my mind to a new reality. That reality was; this was my past, who I was, not who I am. I wanted to have my mind back firmly in my head where it belonged. I wanted to feel “normal” again. And slowly it was returning, but it felt like ages before I finally was myself again. The beautiful awakening and opening of the mind as promised, opened my mind to the realization that I have changed.

The Netherlands were such an amazing treat to my rain soaked soul. Finally a chance to dry the dampness from the deepest recesses of my mind. The sun was shining and it was thirty degrees centigrade, Tompers was elated so. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. It had been so long since I actually needed my sunglasses. I never realized how much of a muddy rut the rain had caught me in. I was seriously depressed and I hadn’t even grasped how so, until the sun kissed my skin, dried my soul, and warmed my heart. Chasing the darkness from the innermost parts of me and filling them with light, happiness and hope.

In true tourist fashion we picked up a rental at the airport, Tompers was elated with the tiniest Toyota ever. It grew on me as well. I never would have imaged driving a car like that but now when I go home I totally want one. Home, that’s something to sort out…

Not wanting to miss anything I had an epic driving journey planned out. Part of which was one of National Geographic’s “Road Trips of a Lifetime”. Now I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit disappointed with the drive. It should be a cycling trip. Tompers had his head out the window in envy at every cyclist we past. I haven’t trained at all, but I’m sure I could manage a 60km bike ride in a day on flat ground, with Tompers attached to my handbars. I reckon my ass would hurt for a few days but really, would have been so worth it. However, no regrets!

We stopped at the world famous Keukenhof Gardens, it was soooo insanely busy taking photos was just not something I was interested in doing. That being said, the sun was shining, a break from the driving to get some sun was more than appreciated and well worth the entrance fee. (I pre-purchased online “to avoid the cue”, but there really wasn’t one even though the place was packed, just saying)

The biggest downfall to having a vehicle was there was literally no parking anywhere. We tried to stop in Den Haag for dinner but ended up spending an hour crawling along the beach, where the parking was, as there was none and everyone had the same idea. I was there on a holiday weekend after all. Which I of course did not know until after I had booked my flights… Note to self, look up national holidays before booking flights.

Detouring to go to de Hoge Veluwe National Park was a bit of a disappointment. All of the famous white bikes had be taken so we had to drive it. Driving a National Park did remind me of home, as that is how I have seen most of them, but it was not what I had imagined when I made the detour. There were lots of pullover spots to do walks and we had a few small adventures before getting back on the road. I was definitely more disappointed with myself for having slept in and missed out on the bikes. This is a park I would recommend pre-purchasing an entry ticket as there was an unnecessarily long entry cue. I wished I had given myself a whole day, a bicycle, and a picnic. Alas I did not and there were no bikes, so it was a short and sweet before getting back on the road.

I don’t know what I expected from Rotterdam, but I can’t get that faking song out of my head. All I have to say is Belgium Bachelor Party. Such a fun city. I somehow ended up with yet another pair of white sunglasses…

Oh Amsterdam… I spend my entire time there in the park. I’m sure the grocery store thought I was casing the place. I was in three times a day. I didn’t actually think I would spend all day in the park every day… but I couldn’t even help myself. I would also like to mention, my scarf everyone made fun of years ago, was in fact an awesome picnic blanket. #winning

How do you cross a place off your bucket list when you’re dying to

go back before you even leave?

The Belfast Beat

Tompers and I have returned from our second trip to Belfast and I can proudly report I have been to every google recommended drinking establishment in Belfast and I am certain I could provide a very excellent pub crawl in the city, but for research purposes and nothing to do with your man I should probably make a return trip to suss out more ventures. That being said, I would highly recommend making at least a weekend out of it, and of course my rules apply of only one drink per establishment, and best to start out drinking as much Guinness as you can handle before switching to something else. (Guinness is low in alcohol and calories #bonus) Also crucial, drink water! I always seem to forget that over here, however I am smart enough to keep a couple of litres of water beside the bed. Evian has these great lids so if you’re dealthly hungover you can sort of prop the water bottle on a pillow next to you and it acts like a hamster water feeder. 

Tompers came up with this innovation (he holds the bottle on the pillow for me, although I’m sure you could make it work without him) and it’s brilliant. No need to lift your head.

Here is a list of my recommendations for the Belfast Bar Blitz:

·         Bittles Bar *

·         Cosgroves Bar

·         Duke of York *

·         Filthy McNasty’s *

·         Lavery’s

·         Morrison’s Bar

·         Pavilion

·         Robson’s

·         Fibber Magee’s

·         The Basement Grill

·         The Belfast Empire Music Hall *

·         The Crown Liquor Saloon *

·         The Eglantine

·         The Garrick

·         The Hatfield House

·         The John Hewitt

Of the establishments that I’ve visited in the 4 days I have spent in Belfast these are the ones I recommend checking out. I’ve gone to the trouble of putting an asterisk next to the MUST SEE’s as Tompers has reminded me not everyone can drink as much as me, or would want to. Also now that I think of it there are places I still want to check out there. I guess another trip is going to have to happen.  After all I would love to dine at EIPIC.

Now for the story of Belfast… As you might have read I met a man when I was up in Belfast the first time, for Good Friday. You see after Tompers and I had adventured all over the city, I returned him to the hostel at half four for his nap because he was exhausted and touristed out. Craving a pint of Guinness I decided I should head out to the first stop on my list of places I wanted to see. This being The Crown Liquor Saloon. A tourists must see bar. Also the most overwhelming mess of stained glass, and patterned tiles the world has ever seen. (Okay maybe not the world, but it was enough to make me cringe a little) Standing at the bar drinking a pint of Guinness this English Bloke started chatting me up. We ended up getting on rather decently so I told him I was going to head to get something to eat, and he asked if he could join me. Seeing as I didn’t know anyone in Belfast I figured having a new friend along could be fun, so off we went. I ended up spending the evening bar hopping with him and he was decent company. A bit odd, but aren’t we all, and he was paying for everything (bonus). The next day he met up with me to do some more bar hopping, and I decided I wanted to catch an earlier bus home as my original ticket was for half eight but I decided I wanted to catch the bus at half five to get home a bit early and avoid having to wait around in Dublin for an additional hour for the bus to Galway.

Well the last place on my stop was Robson’s, and the man behind the bar had the most amazing accent. I always forget how much I love the Northern Ireland accent until I spend an entire day listening to some bloke with a posh English accent. Tompers little ears sure perked up. Some shameless flirting may have occurred, the English lad went out for a smoke and the barman took the opportunity to ask me for my number.

Oh and I missed all the earlier busses. I took the bus at half eight. Tompers made me or I probably would have sat at that bar all night.

So upon realizing it was time for me to leave and the English bloke still had not returned (I had been using his charging cube) I fired him a text message saying I had to go, and that I was leaving it with the barman for him. He proceeded to tell me he was in the hospital and had been hit by a car…

…the universe hit him with a car so the barman could pick me up?

                …Or did he throw himself in front of a car after spending two days trying to pick me up completely unsuccessfully and see me instantly lust after a man serving us drinks…

I’m still not even sure what happened with yer-man... Did he even get hit by a car?  Do I care? No, not really.