So, if you’ve been watching the news recently, or are in the least bit up-to-date with current events (or you follow me on instagram here or here), you are probably well aware of Ireland’s recent referendum. This past Friday, May 22nd, over 60% of Irish voters voted YES to a referendum to change the Irish constitution to legalize same-sex marriage. They became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote!!
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One of Dublin’s main attractions is the huge Phoenix Park, one of the largest walled parks in Europe. It’s basically the Central Park of Dublin, and it really is so beautiful and wonderful.
BUT, I’m here to tell you about another great park in Dublin that stole my heart – Tymon Park. Now that I’m a #local, I have had a bit of time to explore this lesser known park. I truly believe it’s one of the best parks in Dublin.
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You know what I hate? Leaving a city I just got to and not getting to really see it. It’s just such a tease. Such was the case with Brussels, Belgium. But even though I only got to see the city for a few hours during my little pit stop, I still really enjoyed my time there! Here are a few things to do in Brussels if you only have a few hours there!
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Greetings (finally) from Ireland! I have been so SO busy since I flew across the pond that this is my first post since my big move to Ireland! I hope you all missed me while I was away : )
Things have been absolutely nuts over here. We’ve been so busy searching for jobs and apartment hunting. BUT we were able to squeeze in a night out for my friend’s birthday (no regrets on that one, though).
It’s been an absolute whirlwind, and it seems like we’ve been here a lot longer than 6 days. Each day is so exhausting! However, I find myself (sorry, “meself”) slowly adapting to the Irish culture and life in Dublin.
We’re staying at an amazing Homestay in an area of Dublin called Templeogue (which I’ll post about later). We’ve been going around Dublin on what we’ve not-so-lovingly dubbed “The Search.” AKA, going around Dublin with resumés trying to find a job.
I cannot tell you how excited I am to have a place to call “home.” I’m ready to hang up my clothes and stop living out of a suitcase, buy and store groceries, AND have people back home start sending me presents…
Throughout all this mayhem, we were able to sneak a trip to Howth, a Dublin suburb on the Dublin Bay. What started out as a quest to go apply for jobs at few places turned into a lovely afternoon filled with great views and food. And a lot of wind.
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One unique experience that I’ve found about traveling through Europe is how popular and easy it is to travel by train. Anytime I visit anywhere in the US, I’m driving or I’m flying. Although there are trains, they’re not nearly as efficient or popular as they are in Europe. Travelling by train in Europe is absolutely worth it.
Although trains used to be the cheapest way to travel around Europe, in recent years there have been a lot more airlines that offer affordable flights. Airlines like RyanAir or Easyjet offer really cheap flights around Europe that have many people thinking traveling by train may not be worth it, since typically the journeys are longer.
But personally, I LOVE IT. It’s a unique part of the European travel experience to travel by train. Obviously planes are very efficient, but there’s just something about trains. Here are 5 reasons why I love train travel.
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My first time visiting Europe was when I studied abroad after freshman year of college in Innsbruck, Austria. It was the most amazing 6 weeks of my entire life. It was what really started my obsession with traveling. During my time in Innsbruck, we only had classes Monday-Thursday mornings. So, as soon as the final bell rang (OK, there was no actual bell, this is just figurative) we would head to the Innsbruck train station to hop on a train to other countries for the weekend. Most weekends, we would focus on one place – some of my weekends were spent in Prague, Amsterdam, London, etc. Well, one weekend we decided to take on the heaping task of seeing TWO fantastic cities in a little over 3 days – Florence AND Venice.
How could we cram in two beautiful Italian cities in just 72 hours? Here’s how it went down.
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A boat ride through the Amsterdam canals is a GREAT way to see the city. Amsterdam is filled with 100+ miles of canals and about 1,500 bridges, so if you’re visiting Amsterdam (especially if it’s your first time) you should definitely make it a point to see the city from the water’s vantage point!
Get ready for some beautiful views on the calm Amstel river, all while learning the history of this fascinating city.
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Sure, Paris is amazing. Obviously. But one area of France that you definitely don’t want to miss on (especially in the summer) is the Côte d’Azur / French Riviera. It’s located on the Southeastern coast of France, and close to the Italian border. This is reflected through its gorgeous Mediterranean waters, amazing sunny climate, and Italian-influenced architecture. The main cities of the French Riviera are Cannes, Nice, and the sovereign state of Monaco. Although I did visit all 3 towns, I want to highlight my day spent in Nice (pronounced “niece”).
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The Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal is the most magical, perfect day trip from Lisbon.
I mean, this place has everything. A palace with velvet walls, lush gardens, hidden caves, grottoes, statues, AN INVERTED TOWER. (Someone PLEASE tell me they read that in Stefon’s voice. Anyone? Please?)
What I’m saying is…you need to go. OK? Ok great. Now, onto the more formal breakdown…
When leaving Lisbon, Portugal to visit nearby Sintra one afternoon, we decided on a whim to visit the Quinta da Regailera. This Gothic palace and chapel is located in the historic area of Sintra and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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Is Cinque Terre, the iconic cluster of 5 islands along the Italian Riviera, worth visiting? “Cinque Terre” translates to “The 5 Lands,” and consists of five small villages, which are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Its a popular tourist destination AND a UNESCO World Heritage site.
And it is just THE worst. Here’s why.
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