The 100th

My Cork Board Filled with Places I went as well as Letters

It seems appropriate that my final post would be my 100th.  I know that it has taken me some time to do this post, but those of you who have seen me over winter break know how hectic it has been.

First off here are some more random observations that I made:

1.      I love the smell of peat.

2.      College is free in Ireland, but you’re accepted based only on a test score.

3.      Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not a thing here.

4.      Professors definitely occasionally give lengths in terms of miles.

5.      A lot of people use braces here instead of crutches.

6.      There are a lot of guide dogs here.

7.      Frosted Flakes are called Frosties.

8.      They have escalator ramps.

9.      There are roundabouts everywhere.

10.  There is a certain shade of red hair dye that is very popular.

My final night in Ireland was split between a delicious home cooked meal with family friends and watching things with my friends.  It was a great way to spend my last night.  Travelling back was a bit hectic as I left at 4:00am and my first flight was delayed, but coming home was a great feeling.

I think there are many things that I will miss about Ireland including its amazing natural beauty, my wonderful friends (whom I hope to stay in touch with), and the amazing connection to its history that Ireland has.  I truly hope that one day I find my way back to the Emerald Isle.

The Franciscan Well & The Music Building's View

'Cause What Pub Shouldn't have a Monk on its Sign?

Inside the Franciscan Well

Since tomorrow night I'm having dinner with Jenny and Finbarr, tonight was my last night with my friends.  We decided to go out to a pub that is also a brewery.  It was nice and quiet, which the three of us enjoyed.  It also had a lot of fun decorations, a lot of which were old posters for movies or the pub itself.  We didn't stay long because we all have to pack and do various other things before we all leave on Saturday.

The View on the Hike up to the Music Building

The View from the Music Building

However, one of the things that Montana had to do was pick up her paper from the music building.  Both Kayla and Montana had classes in the music building, but I had never been up to it before.  It was kind of a walk and it would've been a much longer walk had we been coming straight from campus.  However, it has an amazing view as it's up a pretty big hill.  I love looking at cities at night, I actually wish that I was flying back to Chicago at night because it's one of my favorite sites.

Beautiful Sky

Today the sky was gorgeous.  It had been raining, but it stopped just as the sun was starting to set.  It lit up the clouds, the sky that was peeking through, and the river with beautiful colors.  If you can believe it (and if you know me you probably can), these are only a few of the photos I took of the sky.  These photos are also my way of saying goodbye to a lot of parts of Cork.

Saint Patrick's Street

The River Lee

A Seagull on the River

A Beautiful Tree

Pope's Quay

Not Sure What this is, but I Liked it

Crawford Art Gallery

Crawford Art Gallery

So I found myself with some time to kill so I decided to finally go to the Crawford Art Gallery.  The gallery building is actually the old Customs House (or so I've been told).  I'm not sure I was technically supposed to take photos as two of the rooms had no photography signs, but the others didn't.

It was a fairly small gallery, but there was a fair bit of stuff.  Most of the pieces in the gallery were paintings, but there was also a room filled with sculptures and a few spaces with more modernist pieces.  Below I decided to include some of my favorite pieces.

Stained Glass

The Captive, but I think She Looks like My Grandma 

The Eviction painted in 1850 

A Recreation of Laocoon, a Sculpture I've Loved since Freshman Year of High School

Tasty Foods

Bailey's Porridge

Half an Irish Breakfast

This morning I actually got up (I normally sleep until the afternoon), but it was with good reason.  Kayla took  Jenn, Montana, and me to the Garnish House for breakfast.  I decided to try their Bailey's porridge.  It was very tasty.  I also decided to try an Irish breakfast.  However, I decided just to go for a half Irish breakfast.  I'm glad I did because it was still at on of food.  I discovered though that I actually like black pudding.  Montana couldn't get over what it was so I ate hers too.  It tastes like stuffing.

Then we headed into town and I got another hot chocolate (tomorrow I get a free one!).  I tried to add the photo but it won't appear with the right orientation.

Chipsy Kings & Dinner

Jenn, Kayla, and Our Problematic Chips

Yesterday I again felt the need to get out of the house.  So Jenn, Kayla, and I headed into town to get some delicious hot chocolate.  Afterwards we wandered for a bit.  We found a guy selling photographs and I got one of Dublin from 1968.  Then we decided to go to Chipsy Kings, a very popular place, and split some chips.  We got one plain and one taco beef.  Both were quite tasty, although the one with chili proved harder to eat as it was just served to us in a cone of paper, but we managed.

Our Dinner

Tonight Jenn decided to make us dinner to thank us for letting her stay with us.  Jenn goes to Wheaton with Kayla and Montana and was studying in Dublin this semester.  However, her apartment wouldn't let her stay for her last week in Ireland so she came to stay with us.  She made us gnocchi with sauce, cheese, and spinach and it was quite tasty.  I find that I'm eating very well this week, especially as tomorrow we're having breakfast at the Garnish House and on Friday I'm having dinner at Jenny and Finbarr's.

Student Center

Front of Student Center, Closer to the Restaurants

Since I have just finished my final paper for UCC tonight it seems appropriate that I finish the last of my posts about the UCC buildings.  UCC's Student Center has a lot in it.  There are two restaurants, a school supply store, a bookstore, a UCC apparel shop, and a small convenience store.  During Early Start I often went to one of the restaurants for a snack during our longer break.  Since the rest of the semester started I haven't been to the restaurants as much because they get very crowded.

Back of Student Center, Closer to the Bookstore

However, I've greatly appreciated the convenience store not only for snacks but for stamps (although those are now sold at the school supply store).  I've also spent a fair bit of time in the bookstore.  If I had an hour to kill between classes I would spend it browsing in the bookstore.  It has a lot of fun little things in it in addition to cool books like nice notebooks, cool t-shirts, and games like World of Warcraft Monopoly.