August 27th: America Bound

Gate 426

Ready for departure: Dublin, Ireland -> Boston, Massachusetts!

August 26th: Last Day in Ireland

So I started my morning with packing. It did not go so well. I quickly found out that all of my stuff and new goodies was not going to fit in my suitcase.  I tried several times to rearrange but it didn't help. 

After eating lunch I headed out to the pharmacy to say my goodbyes... And buy another suitcase. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone at the pharmacy but they all wished me luck after I spent about an hour there. I walked up the street to the shopping center to find myself a little duffle bag to fit the rest of my stuff. 

Aoife, Tony (pharmacist), and Lorna!

I was finally able to calm down when the rest of my stuff was finally packed. A little later I began to make the dinner that I had picked up while I was out shopping. I invited Estelle over for dinner to say goodbye! We had wine, dinner and dessert and tea. It was sad to say goodbye but I'm sure we will stay in touch. 

I can't believe I leave tomorrow but I am also excited to come home. 

August 25th: Exploring Dublin with Elaine

 Elaine knew that I wanted to go to Kilmainham Gaol (jail) today so she said she would drop me off because it was a little far to walk from city center.  I asked her if she wanted to join me and she decided that she would!  She also had some plans to take me to a few other places today around Dublin County.
We started the day with a one hour tour of the jail.  It was very interesting and cool to see such an old jail.  The tour guide was talking all about Irish history and the people who were in the jail and executed there which went straight over my head because I don't know much about Irish history.  It was still interesting nonetheless and Elaine found in very intriguing as well.

Outside Kilmainham Gaol

Door to one of the very tiny cells.

The newest hall of the jail that has been renovated.  Several movies and music videos have been filmed there including a U2 video.

Stone splitting yard where inmates would be sent to work.  Several were executed here as well at the black cross.

From the jail we drove to Dun Laoghaire because I wanted to walk around the market again.  First stop in Dun Laoghaire was an Asian place, Mao, where Elaine treated me to lunch.  From there we walked down the street to the market.  There was music being played, so many different foods and treats, as well as crafts and goodies to look at.  After the market we went for a 99 from Teddy's which is soft serve vanilla ice cream in a regular cone with a chocolate straw sticking out of it.  It was delicious!

After Dun Laoghaire Elaine wanted to drive me around to several other sites in Dublin County.  We drove up the coastal highway which showed a very ritzy area.  It was the "Beverly Hills" of Ireland with gorgeous mansions positioned on cliffs that overlooked Dublin Bay and mountains.  The view was stunning!  As we were driving she pointed out some very important houses.  First, there was Enya's (the singer) castle.  It was a beautiful old castle that I am sure had an amazing view from the back overlooking the bay.

View from the coastal highway.

Enya's Castle

After stopping quick to take a photo, we kept driving.  Elaine then stopped to show me some gates.  These gates are the entrance to Paul Hewson's house in Killiney, Ireland.  Now you could not see much beyond the gates and the high stone wall but the gates had a lot of writing on them in English and Irish.  It was very cool to see.

Paul Hewson's gate.

From the gates we drove down the road to the beach at the foot of all of these amazing houses.  During the drive Elaine was telling me how she knew Paul and his wife, Ali, because she grew up with her and that she sung at their wedding.  I couldn't believe it!!!  We got out of the car and walked around on the beach.  The beach was very unusual because it mostly was made up of stones rather than sand.  From the beach you could see Enya's castle, Paul Hewson's house, and David Evans' house.  It was a gorgeous day for a walk on the beach! 

David Evans (The Edge for those of who don't know) live in a house to the left of the long white hotel at the tip of the point.  It is hard to see in this photo.

This is the back of Paul Hewson's house from the beach (Bono, for you non U2 fans).  

This is what the beach was made up of!

On our way back home we made a quick stop at Powerscourt House.  This is a large estate in Dublin County that burned down years ago.  They restored some of it and there are also shops inside you can walk around in.  In the back of the house are gardens and a beautiful view of mountains.  The gardens were closed so I took a quick picture through the window!
I had a great day with Elaine and was grateful she took me to see everything! Tomorrow will be a day filled with goodbyes and packing.

August 24th: Sightseeing in Dublin

For my last weekend in Ireland, I decided I wanted to take it easy. I have seen pretty much everything I wanted to see here.  Today I decided to go do some sightseeing in Dublin.  I took the Luas into town and did some shopping on Grafton Street.  From there I went to get lunch at Queen of Tarts. My lunch was delicious!

Cheese, onion and apple tart with a salad and bread and a cup of coffee!

After lunch I went to check out Christ Church Cathedral.  I heard it was a beautiful cathedral to see so I walked around it and took some pictures!

Christ Church Cathedral

Right down the street from the cathedral was Dublin Castle. I walked around the castle and into the court yard.  In the court yard there were amazing sand sculptures that I was able to take some pictures of.

Dublin Castle

Sand sculptures in the courtyard.

From the castle I walked a few more blocks to St. Patrick's Cathedral.  It was absolutely beautiful and was positioned in the middle of a little park.  

St. Patrick's Cathedral

I had a very successful day of sightseeing! It started raining just as I finished seeing everything I planned on seeing so it was perfect timing to head home.  I also brought home a piece of Bailey's cheesecake from Queen of Tarts to eat a little later.  

For the rest of the night I don't have any plans but Elaine said she would be around so maybe I will spend some time with her.  

Hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday!

August 23rd: Last Day at the Pharmacy

Today was my last day at the pharmacy.  It was bitter sweet because I can't believe I am already done with my 3rd rotation!  I plan to stop in to the pharmacy on Monday to say my last goodbyes because Tony, the pharmacist who has been there the whole time, was not working today.  Also everyone told me I had to stop in one last time if I wasn't doing anything else.  For it being my last weekend, though, two of the girls wanted to go out for drink after work to say farewell.  Lorna is a pharmacy assistant who was so nice the whole time and kind of like a motherly figure.  She was always very excited to hear about all of my adventures throughout my time there.  Aoife is a prereg student at the same stage of pharmacy school as I am.  She was a very big help with everything in the pharmacy!  So the three of us went our for a few drinks and had a great time!

Lorna and Aoife.

All three of us at the pub.

August 22nd: Taking it Easy

I must say I have accomplished a lot during my time in Ireland. I have been able to do pretty much everything I have wanted to do and have been able to travel to different parts if the country on the weekends. With this being said, I have just been enjoying my nights here and have not been up to too much the past few days. 

I have been trying to plan my weekend and I think I will be mostly exploring a little more of Dublin. I'm excited to not have many plans for my weekend and to be able to just enjoy whatever comes my way. I may go to Dublin Castle or Saint  Patricks Cathedral on Saturday and then check out a farmer's market on Sunday. The "hot streak" is back according to my coworkers because it is about 70 degrees here so I should have some good weather.

I'd say I've been a lot of places here!

August 19th: Beginning of the End... Of Ireland

So this is my last week at the pharmacy and I can't believe it. Today as I was walking to the pharmacy I realized I was extremely sore. It must be from all the hiking and walking I did yesterday at the bridge and causeway. So this evening I am taking it easy and relaxing at Elaine's house.

I hope everyone is having a happy Monday!