New Years & Dublin

So New Years, New Years. It is always a dissapointment isn't it. Well this year I had a great one. No hype just good friends and fun. Read below for my adventures in Dublin (not really so many adventures I did do a lot of much needed relaxing but had a wonderful time).

Adam and I flew into Dublin airport to be greeted by my friend from Univeristy and fellow audiologist extrodinare Angela. This was the first time since Canada that I have been greeted at an airport. Why am I telling you this you might ask. In the last 12 months I have taken so many flights >20 and every time I emerge from an airport you see all these expectant faces looking at you waiting for someone. Only I pass them by and keep walking and feel a bit sad that no-one is waiting for me. It was so nice to come out of the gates and have such a lovely smiling face waiting for you and to be greeted by a big hug.

Angela lives in Dublin with her boyfriend Ronan, his brother Conor was also over visiting from Australia. They are lovely boys and lots of fun too.

That night Angela took us into central Dublin. Much smaller than London but has some great areas which are great for shopping and nightlife. We went to a great bar restaurant for dinner and got a little merry, well Adam got a lot merry.

The next day Angela, Adam and I drove out to Bray and climbed up a big hill with a cross on top for a great view of the coast. Then down in to town for lunch.

Then we drove through the Wicklow mountains with was quite spectacular. At one stage we got out of the car and it was so windy you had to fight to get the door open. Angela had a major freak out in the car and began driving on the wrong side of the road as she was scared we would fall off the edge. After a quick driver change with Adam now behind the wheel, we continued through the mountains with Ang in the back squealing hiding under my coat while Adam and I laughed. Poor thing.

(brace yourself for that Irish wind)

That night was new years and we went down to the local for some beverages (several) and some bad dancing. Even though we did not have a late night it was loads of fun. There was a lot of people watching and boys you would have loved it, Irish girls love to hang those puppies out. I think Angela and myself were the only ones not spilling out of our tops or wearing short shorts (In winter crazy!)

(Conor and Ronan shaking it up with an Irish jig)

New years day was spent watching TV and relaxing to the max. Something I have not done in a while so it was nice. Conor went back home to Aus so Ronan and Ang were a little sad.

(Angela and Alicia do there best garden gnome impersonations on the couch)

The next day another drive again, out to some tombs that looked liked they would have been cool to visit but all the tours were full for the day, we went to the visitor centre but it was pretty lame.

After much procrastinating, mainly for the fact that the wind directed the rain to pelt right into you face, Adam and I headed out for Central Dublin. We went to Trinity College and saw the book of Kells. An ancient old religious book that is elaborately decorated. Pretty interesting but the whole religious things gets a bit lost on me. Then lunch and attempting to walk around but not enjoying the wetness.

Then on to more important things Guinness Brewery!!!! A self guided tour which was really well presented and displayed really demonstrates how the beer is made and all the pride that goes into making it. Funny to think that Guinness was brewed before the English ever came to invade Australia. Then up to the gravity bar for our complementary pint and 360 degree views of the Dublin skyline. For some reason (I think due to be accidentally served by two people at once) Adam managed to score an extra pint and some people gave me their free one. So two pints each it was. Being Australian naturally makes us criminals so we stole two pint glasses from the bar in my handbag before leaving. We did make up for it by buying some t-shirts in the gift shop though.












That night we took Angela and Ronan out to dinner to say thanks for there wonderful hospitality.

Now I am back in London and off to work tomorrow. Noooooo not the real world.

Enjoying London

I know I have got quite a few blog posts on London but I have been really enjoying it here lately. It has been cold and we had this awful fog for a while and it is always grey and although it is light (only until 4pm) you never really see the sun.

Adam arrived and has been here a week. He has been entertaining himself by exploring London during the day while I work. We have been hanging out in the evenings.


We went Ice Skating with my housemates to get into the Christmas cheer. I had never been before and we more or less strolled around as Adam had to watch out for his knee. I did have a good skate with Tim at my hand. Afterwards it was to the pub for some beers.









On the weekend we went on a walking tour of London which was really good. I learnt a lot more about the history of the city, amazing how many times it has been rebuilt after fires and wars. All that and most of it is still older than our country (the English colonization and settlement). It was also great to see how all London links up (difficult to see when you travel on the tube). We also went on the London Eye which was really cool, again great views of London and finally a day without fog so you could see.
















For Christmas we had a not too traditional feast but a great day. Quiet in terms of the Christmas sense with just the two of us but we did make some calls to home. We started with the very Aussie garlic and chili prawns. While waiting for mains we slipped in a bit of a cheese course. Then we made with love my famous roast veggie lasagna, with salad. Followed by traditional Christmas pudding with ice cream. All this with champers and vino. Then we were so stuffed full that it was time for couch rest and movie on the TV. Later that evening after a few hours not content with feeling full not absolutely stuffed we had another cheese course.
















Boxing day we went out to Greenwich unfortunately the observatory was closed but we did see the meridian line and get a nice grey view of the city. Later that night a drink with my housemate.

Also we went to an exhibition at the Tate modern. It is a German artist who has installed 5 giant slides in the gallery the biggest is 5 stories high and you can get up to 38 mph on one of them. It is about the "inner spectacle" of being on a slide. Well they do look cool, and are bloody fun. For a view see http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/carstenholler/default.shtm

It has been really great having Adam here, a friend from home to share my new home with. Also someone who I can chat and have a laugh with so easily. Also someone to get into a bit of mischief with. So far we have been busted trespassing on a military college grounds (we thought it would be ok to duck under 3 rows of tape) and kicked out of a Internet cafe for exploiting their poor security for free Internet. What is next?

Well we are off to Dublin for new years.