Last day in Dublin and London

Hi there!

I'm now in Madrid. I felt like going to Spain, but now I feel like comming back to Dublin ha ha. I had a good time with my friends my last day there. We went to have dinner and for a drink. I would like to thank my Dublin's friends the time we stayed together. I hope we could meet again.

The flight to London was one hour late because it was foggy in Gatwick, but was late for everybody thank goodness. So, I could met Nuria and Yara without problems. I have to say that the weather was sunny everyday, except the day I came back... at least in the early morning. Here is the Londres photo album.

London is very interesting. The architecture, the people... it's very cosmopolitan. In some aspects quite different to Dublin. If you've nerver been there, you should go :D And it's fairly expensive if you want to visit monuments. For instance, the London Eye was 15 pounds!!!! but British Museum is for free.

Going from one place to other is easy whether by bus or by tube. Buses have a display where tell you the next stop. And tube is not as complex as pleople say. Go for a walk it's nice as well especially along the Thames at the weekend, because is full of artists and you could came across surprises such as guitar lessons for free (watch the video) :D




That's all folks! Here finishes my English adventure. Will I repeat it again? Who knows...

bye bye

The end is close

Well, after almost a month my adventure is finishing. I'm staying in Ireland for just 1 day more before visiting London. There were exciting, funny and boring situations. I've met nice and not nice people. But the adventure is the adventure.

I'd like to comment briefly some of the places visited during the last 10 days...

• Drogheda - In the catholic church of St Peter's, there is the head of Oliver Plunkett, an archbishop martyred in 1681. Slightly bad taste :D

• Monasterboice - The best of Monasterboice are its 10th century High Crosses. Muiredach's High Cross is the finest of its kind in Ireland.

• Slane Castle - It's a private property, a pity because we couldn't visit it. Famous for the concerts played there (the best U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle" of course)

• Grianán of Aileach - Circular stone structure, measuring 23m in diameter. The day was foggy, but in a sunny day it's possible to see 3 counties from there. I'll believe it.

• Londonderry (Northern Ireland) - My first contact with pounds. I have to say that there are British pounds and Northern Ireland pounds, and the latter are only valid in Nothern Ireland. So, if you go there, you must be careful and spend all that money there. Anyway, Londonderry (also know as Derry) is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland. Nothing comparable with Avila walls :D Famous in 1972 when British troops shot dead 13 demonstrators. The city centre is nice but is deserted in the afternoon. Slightly sad. We had a guided tour in the morning.

• Dunluce Castle (Northern Ireland) - On the way to Causeway Giants. A big castle situated in an amazing place. We only stopped there to take some photos.

• Giants Causeway (Northern Ireland) - Ireland's only World Heritage Site. One of the most striking beauty places of Ireland, with hexagonal columns. One legend tells how the giant Finn MacCool laid the causeway to provide a path across the sea to his lady love, who lived on the island of Staffa in Scotland.

• Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge (Northern Ireland) - An exciting rope bridge that hangs 25m above the sea.

• Belfast (Northern Ireland) - A big city. The day was cloudy, maybe because of that I didn't like it very much.

• Glenveagh National Park and Castle - Really beautiful. A nice place to go hiking. We visited the Glenveagh Castle. There were people recording a movie or an ad (I'm not sure).

• Croagh Patrick and National Famine Memorial - Ireland's holy mountain. Place of pilgrimage. Beautiful views of Clew Bay.

• Cong - Picturesque village that was the setting for "The Quiet Man".

• Ashford Castle - Just south of Cong, it's one of the Ireland's best hotels (Norman Castle).

• Connemara National Park - Other striking beauty place. The day was rainy but in some ways it was better like that.

• Galway - For some people, the best city in Ireland. The average age it's 25 (more or less), so it's a very nice place.

• Dunguaire Castle - You should walk round it thinking in a question, and when the day is finishing you will have the answer.

• The Burren - Rocky land. Nice sceneries.

• Cliffs of Moher - They rise to a height of 200m out of the sea and extend for 8km. This time was sunny, but I liked it more the first time I saw them. It was crowded.

• Shannon Ferry - This part of the trip was a surprise. I didn't know that we had to cross the river Shannon on a Ferry.

• Dingle and Dingle Peninsula - Were people go to rest. We could see the Sleepy Giant (see photo).

• Killarney and the Ring of Kerry - Killarney is a nice city close to the National Park. There, there are amazing sceneries of the lakes with the Ross Castle. I think it could be a very nice place to live because you can go for a walk or to go riding, hiking or cycling to the National Park. It's also a good place to visit the Ring of Kerry, a long-established route around the Iveragh Peninsula. There are three lakes, mountains and even a waterfall (Torc Waterfall). By the way, we went to see Riverdance show! A great show.

• Blarney Castle - Visitors from all over the world flock to there to see the legendary Blarney Stone. Kissing it is a tradition, intended to confer a magical eloquence. The photo shows where you kiss the stone.
  

• Cork - The second largest city in Ireland. I thought it wasn't very beautiful, but I realize that it has some nice places in the city centre. In the hostel, I met two young guys from Valencia and other guy from Argentina. I was feeling like speaking in Spanish :D

Paddywagon report: days #6 to #10

I've already come back!

These are the places visited in the last 5 days of the tour:

Day #6

• Dunguaire Castle
• Burren
• Cliffs of Moher
• Shannon Ferry

Day #7

• Dingle Peninsula
• Dingle
• Killarney National Park
• Ross Castle
• Riverdance show

Day #8

• Killarney
• Ring of Kerry
• Sneem

Day #9

• Kinsale
• Blarney Castle
• Cork

Day #10

• Rock of Cashel
• Cashel
• Kilkenny
• Guinness Storehouse

I'm quite tired because they have been a lot of kilometres. I'll try to explain something of the most interesting places, maybe tomorrow.

For the moment, here are the photos:
- Paddywagon album (days 1 to 5)
- Paddywagon album (days 6 to 10)

Paddywagon report: days #1 to #5

Hi there,

I'm in Galway! This is a list of the places visited:

Day #1

• Drogheda
• Monasterboice (Celtic Crosses)
• Slane Castle
• Omagh
• Grianan of Aileach
• Londonderry

Day #2

• Londonderry
• Dunluce Castle
• Giants Causeway
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
• Belfast

Day #3

• Belfast
• Donegal
• Glenveagh National Park / Castle of Glenveagh
• Londonderry

Day #4

• The Irish Church
• Westport
• Croagh Patrick and National Famine Memorial
• Cong

Day #5

• Stone circles (Cong)
• Ashford Castle (Cong)
• Connemara National Park
• Galway

The first days were hard days. The most part of the group are from Australia and Canada, 3 person from Germany, 1 from Czech Republic, 1 from Ireland, and me. I can't understand anything when Canadian and Australian people are talking. So, it's almost impossible to communicate with them.

The trip is not as good as I thought, but it's worth while. The scenery are amazing, specially in Connemara National Park and in North Ireland. I have lots of photos but I can upload them now (I'll do it in Dublin).

Anyway, I have 5 days more to discover the south of the country. Some people leave the trip tomorrow because they go on a 6 days tour. And the last day I'm visiting the Guinness Brewery!!!

All the best guys.

Dun Laoghaire

The sunny day of tomorrow was a mirage because the rain comes back. I went to Dun Laoghaire because I had met a woman on the Internet, to talk for a while you know. A good opportunity to try the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit), the rail line running along the coast of Dublin. It's like "Cercanías" in Madrid.

Anyway, we had a coffee and we went for a brief walk because of the weather. She told me about the Festival of World Cultures, every August. It change the town completely. It could be a great idea for the next time.

I'm very nervous and excited because tomorrow I'm going away for 10 days! Will the people are kind and friendly? Do they talk to me? Will I understand them? Who knows. I don't know when I will be able to write again in the blog. But don't worry! I'll do it as soon as possible.

See you soon!

"In other life, I was a rat"

Hi there,

I woke up with a terrible headache in the morning... it was the HANGOVER :-D Yesterday, I went for a drink with Miroslaw (my apartment mate). We where in a pub called "Czech Inn", a piece of Czech Republic in the heart of Dublin, where I tasted Czech beers and meal (a pancake with brie cheese inside, absolutely mouth-watering). When we were having dinner and talking about cheese, I spit the phrase "in other live, I was a rat" because I love eating cheese. I wanted to say "mouse", but in that moment I didn't remember it. It was very funny, we laughed aloud for a while.

After that, I showed Miroslaw the Ireland's oldest pub "The Brazen Head". It was more crowded than when I was there in February. Take note Javi, if you can go on Sunday evening, much better. We finished the night in other pub, drinking more beer. We got home at about 2pm. I really had a good time.

So, I got up late in the morning. By the way, it has been a sunny day! I went for a walk to the dock area and I discovered it's a nice new area. The beautiful Sean O'Casey Bridge was built in 2005. In one of its ends, there is a building like a merchant (Former Excise Stores I think it's called) with an amazing inside. I couldn't take any photo inside because my batteries finished. In the other bridge's end there is a quiet walk called "Campshire Walk", very nice as well. A few meters ahead, there is a building under construction, The National Conference Centre. It looks like a leaning cylinder. Great building :D

And that's all. Tomorrow more.

Paddywagon tours

Hi everybody,

These days happened anything interesting. I'm very grateful to everybody who have written comments in my blog or who have emailed me. Thanks a lot for that.

I've just booked in Paddywagon tours. I'm leaving Dublin on Monday morning. I'm very excited for that because I'm being with new people (the same people) for 10 days. I hope to get on well with them. It could be a success or a failure, who knows.

In the morning I went to a recruitment fair, and it was a failure indeed. If I want to get a job here (IT job), I have to be fluent in English. I didn't think I would.

By the way, I think I'm putting on weight. Too many fish fingers, too many fries (the hard potatoes I bought are really testy fries), and too many meat products. I'm afraid but I should go on a diet when I get home.

Anyway, I'm going for a drink with my apartment mate tonight.

Do you know who is the guy in the photo? More photos in the photo album. Bye.

Boring day

Rainy morning, cloudy and sunny afternoon, and windy and rainy evening. No comments :P

Walking to my English school, I came across this strange house with an artificial tree in front of it made with wire fence and dummies. I don't know how to define it, have a look better. There are more photos on the photo album.

By the way, I have other new teacher (the third one), and it's Irish at last!
He's from Cork so there's nobody who understands him :D

Transition day

As the heading says, I've done nothing interesting today. Wasting my time in Dublin buses in the morning, and English lessons in the afternoon.

The only interesting thing I did was inject my vaccine. I went to a pub (close to a clinic) before class to have a coffee. I asked to the waiter for the toilet, and when I was there, I injected it like a drug addict. It was distressing :D Otherwise, I had paid 50€ or 60€ in a clinic. The photo shows the pub where I went.

Pool and Howth Head

Yesterday was a great day. In the afternoon I met with my two Polish friends, Karolina and Jimmy, John (other Irish guy, not the John we know), and Fernando (a Colombian guy we met at Ron Blacks, in the language exchange). We went to have a coffee and next we went to John's place to see a movie in Spanish because they study Spanish. I know, I have to practice English not Spanish, but we speak in English too :D Anyway, the movie was "Tropa Élite", a Brazilian movie about drugs and police corruption at "fabelas" in Rio de Janeiro. It's quite good and violent, highly recommend.

After that, we went to play pool at "The Palace" (http://www.dublintourist.com/details/the_palace.shtml). This information is for you, Javi. I know you'll need it. In that street there are more pubs that you can visit. It's quite different to Temple Bar, with less tourists. I really had a good time together.

Jimmy told me about Howth Head, a peninsula in the North East of Dublin. I decided to go, and that is exactly what I've done today. After doing the washing, I took the bus 41 to the city centre and next the 31 (more information Javi) until Howth. I got off the bus at pier, where starts the promenade (new vocabulary :-P). There were some stalls with food, different kinds of bread, cheese, and even olive oil, "chorizo" and "serrano" ham. By the way, I brought a sandwich of "serrano" ham to have lunch, mmm mouth watering :D

Here you can see the route.

There are some photos in the photo album. I apologize for the poor quality but when I wanted to take a photo to some seals, I realized that I had forgotten the memory card in the laptop. What a pity! I took the photos with my mobile phone :-( In any case, the sceneries are amazing. I could walk along the cliffs, from the pier to the Baily Lighthouse (see the map). I went hiking! I can't believe it! :-D If I have free time and it's a sunny day, I'll maybe go there again.

Irish dancers

Yesterday, I went dancing with Andrada (Rumanian John's friend) and John. We danced traditional Irish music in a Gaelic Culture Centre (Cultúrlann na hÉireann - www.comhaltas.ie). It was funny because I think we don't have anything similar in Spain. Admission cost 10€. Inside, there is a band playing traditional music, and a man shows you the steps for the different dances. And you dance :-D I'm not very keen on dancing, you know, but I ended up dancing twice. Maybe I'll dance more next time... or not :-D

I give you some evidences about the event in the photo album. I think there is a problem when you click on the photos, so I've created a new section "Links" (below "My blog list") where you could find interested and useful links to different websites.

What awful weather!

Yes, today it's an awful day. It's windy and rainy. Last days, the weather was much better. I should check the weather forecast on telly for the next days, specially for tomorrow. John told me about a hiking group, and they go out on Saturday. But if the weather is like today, I think is not a good idea.

The English class was not as well as I thought. We were four of us, two French and two Spanish people. By the way, very difficult to understand French people speaking in English ha ha. I suppose that happens the same with Spanish. Anyway, they live and work in Dublin so they speak English much better than me. It was frustrating. I asked my teacher if I should change to a lower level, but she told me that I have to be patient. I'm not so sure, but I'll try it. In the afternoon I'll go to the second class :-)

I've already tried to go to the hospital, because I have to inject my vaccine, but I haven't seen the bus 104. I've ended up like a wet chicken ("como un pollo mojado"). I'm going to try to find out more information on Internet about that bus, and I'll try it again later.

"Tablao flamenco"

Good morning in the morning :D

The "tablao flamenco" was great. It was at Cassidy's Bar (www.cassidysbar.ie). Ana danced quite well (there are some videos and photos in the photo album). I think they did a good work, the lights, the stage, the dressings... The lead dancer was her teacher, she's from Malta (flamenco is very popular). Anyway, it was the best flamenco show I've never seen. Really, my first :D

After that, I stayed there for a while but it's very difficult understand English people talking to each other in a noisy environment. But don't worry, it's my first week.

Before show, I met Karolina and Jimmy from Poland. We went to Ron Blacks (www.ronblacks.ie), other beautiful pub in Dublin. We had a good time (or I think so). I'm happy because I could speak English and they understood me. We spook Spanish too. It happened something funny. At the same time, there was other language exchange at Ron Blacks. People were asking waitress about that exchange, and finally she took them to our table. It was funny ha ha, I could meet some other people but only for a few minutes. I'll try to get in touch with them at the same place next week.

In the afternoon, I'm attending my first English class. I'll tell you tomorrow.

That's all folks!

Looking for a job and Ana's flamenco show

Today it's colder but cloudy and rainy like days before :-D The rain sometimes falls, just for a few seconds or minutes, and next the sun shines. A fairly interesting weather :-P

In the morning I went to a recruitment agency to try to get a part-time job. It's quite close to Omni Shopping Centre, not so far from here. Anyway, I couldn't get any job. I wanted a part-time job for just a week (next week) and the employee told me that it's very difficult get something like it. Tomorrow morning I'm going to ask in other recruitment agencies such as Quest, specialized in IT jobs. I've posted an ad on gumtree too.

For lunch, I've cooked a Spanish omelet (the second one in my life). I've done it with local potatoes (hard like stones). The frying pan I have is too big, so the omelet is too thin. Anyway, I need to practice more :-)

Well, in a while I'm going to the Spire to meet my new Polish and Irish friends. I'll get drunk? I don't think so Ali because I'd like to see Ana dancing later (only one Ana, not two). I'll tell you tomorrow.

By the way, my flatmate comes back today. I think so.

Depression

I'm writing at 8:34pm, it means the day has been a disaster. I went to the language exchange at Ilac Centre, but it was like a madhouse. I got late because I was doing a test in the English academy, and it took me more than 1 hour. When I got there, there were a lot of people talking, but nobody available to talk with me. Also, the most people were Spanish. Chatting was impossible. I don't feel like fighting today.

Next, I decided to take a look at the cinemas. I surprised that the films starts at 9:20pm not at 8:30. Too late to come back later. So, I went shopping before go home.

And now, I'm at the apartment having dinner and watching TV. I'll practice listening at least.

Tomorrow afternoon, I'm meeting two Polish and one Irish people at the Spire. They study Spanish and I study English, so the perfect combination.

By the way, I'm starting English academy on Thursday. It's the cheaper one I've found (I don't know if that is correct :P )

A busy day

Hi guys,

I don't have much to tell you. Yesterday I met Ana and Martin (Alicia's friend). Ana is from Palencia and Martin is from Cork. They are married and live in Dublin since ages (ten years at least). Anyway, they were in Spain on holiday and arrived yesterday in the evening. Ana is dancing "flamenco" on Wednesday!, and she has invited me. I have a meeting that day, but I'll try to go later for a drink.

Today it's cloudy, sunny and rainy ha ha, like everyday. This morning I went to the Dublin City University (DCU) to try to get some information about jobs, English classes and languages exchanges, but I had no success. I suppose, the classes haven't started yet because it looks like a desert :) and I couldn't find a noticeboard or something similar. Maybe next time.

And now, I'm going to the city centre to visit other school of English. It seems to be cheaper than others. I hope I can attend English lessons tomorrow morning. I sometimes feel I'm wasting my time here, but it's probably only a feeling. I hope so. Next, I have my first language exchange at the library (Ilac Centre). Will I meet useful people there? ;) I'll tell you tomorrow.

To finish the day, I'll probably go to the cinema with a group of people I found on gumtree (www.gumtree.ie). The film they are seeing is "Step Brothers", at Cineworld Cinema. It's very close to the city centre, so it's easy to get there. Other good opportunity to meet people. I won't understand anything but I don't mind :)

See you soon!

After the match

First, let me tell you about Friday night. I met with John at the Spire (120m height) in the heart of Dublin. We went to The Church, an old church turned into a wonderful pub, to have a pint of Guinness. After that, like Spanish, we moved to Grand Central pub in O'Connel Street. There, I realized that a pint of Guinness is cheaper than a pint of Heineken! I have evidences about it (see the photo album).


Yesterday was an exciting day. John, his father and his brother collected me at my place, and then we went to Croke Park Stadium, the biggest stadium in Ireland. We saw the semifinals, Cork v Kerry (Corcaigh v Ciarraí) and Tyrone v Wexford (Tír Eoghain v Loch Garman).

Gaelic football is a strange sport. There are two teams, fifteen people in each team. The players can punch the ball, kick the ball, and bound the ball, but they can run holding it. There is also a goal like in soccer, with two tall posts like in rugby (I don't remember the name of them). It's a mix of different sports. If you put the ball into the goal, score 3 points, and if you pass the ball between the tall posts, score 1 point. They play two periods, 35 minutes each half. I can't explain myself better, see the photos for more information. And the most important thing is the players don't earn money, they play for tradition. All of them have their jobs.

After the two matches, John invited me to have dinner with his family at his parent's house. They have a beautiful house in the West of Dublin. There, I met his mother. I had a good time with them, they are really kind and friendly.

Finally, John took me home. We could see the moons of Jupiter with his telescope, a new amazing experience in Ireland!

By the way, today it's sunny. I mean, it's cloudy but we sometimes see the sun :D
This morning, I've been in the city centre looking for the library at Illac Centre. There is Spanish-English exchange every Tuesday at 6pm. I'll go there tomorrow. I've been in Instituto Cervantes too, but they don't organize language exchanges. Anyway, I'm still looking for new people to meet. My private teacher is missing, what a pity. I don't know what I'm going to do. In the library, I've seen an ad on the message board about English classes, but it's in Dundrum area (Dublin 16), quite far. I've emailed them, I hope they answer me.

I'm here!

Hello boys and girls...

I'm in Ireland at last! I'm still alive, don't worry. I'm fine for the moment.

The fly was on time, but I didn't get here without incidents :D When I was check-in at Barajas airport, I realised that my suitcase was overweight. It was 6 kilograms overweight! I had to take out a bottle of olive oil, and two of "licor de hierbas" (herbal liquor?). What a pity! I felt embarrass taking them out of my suitcase. Otherwise, I would had to pay 15€ per kilogram!!!! Anyway, I phoned Pako, a friend that lives near airport, and he tooks the bottles away. After that, I bought two more in the tax free shops.

I met two nice Spanish guys on the plane. One of them is working here since 1998! I look up to this kind of people. The other one is here on holiday, but he comes from Oxford.

The first challenge was to get information in the tourist information. It was great! They understood me and I understood them. I could buy a ticket bus for a week (26€). It's valid for LUAS tram too.

The second challenge was to take a taxi. It was easy, but taxi driver's accent was terrible. I understood him at all. I had to phone Noelle to get there.

Noelle is very kind, she's my landlady, the sister in law of Alicia's friend, Ana (Ana is married with Martin). Anyway, she prepared some food to have dinner (a pizza, something made with crab, and a cup of red wine). She explained me all about the apartment, buses, and shops near here. I met Miroslav too, my flatmate. He's from Czech Republic. He's gone to Italy in the morning but he come back on Wednesday.

I was talking with Noelle for a while. It was one of the most strange situations I've never been. I've never spoken and listened to in English for a long time. It's exciting!

Today, I got up early in the morning because I was very nervous to sleep :( First, I went shopping to Aldi supermarket. It's at about 10 minutes on foot. So, I have now food to eat. I can survive a week at least :D I needed to ask for it to some people, so I practised speaking again.

Next, I went to the city centre to get some information in Paddywagon office and in an English academy. I was emailing to Colin, my private teacher, but he hasn't responded me. I don't know what happens to him. Just in case, I'll get in touch with other people to exchange English-Spanish language.

Now, I'm resting at home. I've met with John (Alicia's friend) at the Spire at 8:30 pm. We are going for a drink. I'm happy to see him again. He's very kind and friendly. I'm very grateful to him, because tomorrow I'm going with him, his father, and some friends to see a traditional Gaelic football match. I don't know what this exactly means but it sounds great. It could be a nice experience. He's going to collect me at home at 12:30 pm.

That's all for the moment. I put a photo of the apartments complex, but you can see more on picasa album (click on the Photo Album).

Packing

I've started to pack. It's very difficult because I don't know what to bring with me... warm clothes, light clothes... maybe both of them... crazy weather! :D

I'm bringing two suitcases, a big one (I'll have to check-in it) and the other one not as big as the first (hand luggage). Becase of that, next friday (when my adventure starts) I don't work. After lunch, I'll take the train to "Nuevos Ministerios", and then the "metro" to the airport. It will takes me nearly one hour and fifty minutes.

I give you a photo about the preparations for the luggage.

Job interview

Yesterday I sent my CV to a recruitment agency (Quest), and they've emailed me already! He ask me for my telephone number to talk with me, but if he phone me, I won't understand him! :(
I'm going to answer him I prefer make an interview when I'm there.

Nine days to go

Only nine days to go away! I'm very nervous because I haven't studied English. I'll probably make lots of mistakes (I apologize for it).

Just in case, I'm very excited. This is the first time I go abroad alone. I hope to learn a bit of English, to have a good time, and to meet new friends.