Never Play Leapfrog With A Unicorn

The weekend was definitely something different from the city life I have become accustomed to in Dublin. Five of us girls took the train to Killarney and stayed at a farmhouse B&B. I could tell the difference between Killarney and Dublin as soon as I stepped off the train. It wasn’t an overwhelming silence like Howth or Sandycove; Killarney still had a nice sized City Centre and had a small carnival going on with all kinds of rides and various stands. It was more just the overall atmosphere. There wasn’t as much hustle and bustle, or maybe it was just that I wasn’t speed walking to my next destination. Whatever the case, Killarney just seemed to be giving off a more relaxed vibe, which is saying something because all of Ireland itself is has seemed very relaxed.

The B&B was three miles from downtown Killarney, so we had to take a cab. The area was beautiful. It had a wide-open yard covered in sheep, and various pens on the edge of their property that housed donkeys, potbelly pigs, ducks, emus, and chickens. They had a stable that was home to horses, a large little of bunnies, and puppies.

It was the sort of place I would normally spend my summers, and it was an odd feeling being there after living in the city all summer. It felt almost as if the past seven weeks couldn’t have been real, like my summer hadn’t started yet. While we were exploring the grounds, we could see into the Killarney National Park Forest. It was gorgeous! It was so green, and mystical, like a forest you would see in Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings but would never think that it was real. My vote for the next family vacation is backpacking through the Killarney National Park.

That night we went into Killarney for dinner. Our cab driver recommended Murphy’s Pub. We listened and were very thankful. The food was delicious, and we got to watch some gaelic football between Donegal and Kildare. Hanging on the wall was a Murphy’s Pub shirt that listed off Murphy’s Laws. They were all very insightful, but one I found particularly enlightening: “Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.”

After dinner we walked around the downtown streets, taking in the various aspects of the summer festival they were having and looking for champion golfer Rory McIlroy. It was the weekend of the Irish Open, so what better time to run into some pro golfers, right? Our searching was in vain, as to be expected. Our cab driver told us that the golfers had been out earlier in the week just after they had arrived, but know that the Irish Open was in full swing, they would be spending their nights resting in their hotel rooms. A bit disappointing, but the night wasn’t a total loss, I did learn never to play leapfrog with a unicorn.

The next morning, as I got ready, I heard the horses coming back into the stables from the open yard. The farmhouse and animals already made me feel like I was back at the Ranch, but that was just the icing on the cake. I could picture Courtney, Liz, and April sending the horses running from down in the fields up to the barn to prepare them for the campers.

After a delicious homemade Irish breakfast and my first freshly brewed coffee of the summer (okay my first three, but it was really good and they were small cups), we said goodbye to our cute B&B and it’s owners. We went into Killarney once more where we got on a tour bus that would take us around the Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Kerry is a tour loop that shows you the beauty of County Kerry. The weather and the land were both gorgeous. I can’t even begin to describe it in words, and I know these pictures won’t do it justice, but if you are lucky enough to make it to Ireland, the Ring of Kerry is definitely something you need to see.

We arrived back in Killarney with just enough time to pop into Penney’s to find some inexpensive all-white things to wear out that night. Dandelion was having a white party, and my flat mate, Kajsia, and another girl, Sam, knew the dj for the event after meeting him last week when they spent the weekend at Sam’s supervisor’s house in Wicklow (the dj is the supervisor’s nephew).

On the train ride back I finished my book, A Million Little Pieces. It is a really good book that is disturbing and sad, but has a few happy and uplifting bits. I definitely recommend it.

We arrived back in Dublin around 9:30 and head out donned in our white outfits. It was a great weekend in Ireland, but ended with sadness when the realization set in that is was my FINAL weekend in Ireland. If come away from it with anything it will be to never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

Number 7 Isn't Feeling That Lucky Anymore

Here marks the end to my seventh week in Dublin. Seven weeks. I never had considered seven weeks to be short, but with the speed that my summer in Ireland has flown by, I’ve learned that seven weeks is an incredibly small amount of time. Everyday sight here holds even more meaning than it did before. I can’t help thinking, this may be the last time I see that museum, that café, that street pole. In reality, I will probably pass it a good many times more, but I can’t fight off the nostalgia that is already setting in.

Seven weeks. Seven days until I board a plane taking me away from what has been my home for seven weeks. Seven is quickly becoming my least favorite number.

My seventh week at work went well like my previous six. I got a lot done editing wise. All four 5-minute clips are finished and I’ve got 15 out of 22 minutes put together on the big one. The office is much quieter now with the Finance Director, and two visiting Lead Researchers back in their respective locations and two others from the office on holiday. My bosses left Thursday, leaving the office down to two, Flavia and I. Today, Flavia left for the airport for her holiday at three so I was the only one left for my last three hours before I closed up shop for the weekend.

Tuesday, I met up with some family friends. My mom’s cousin was married by an Irish pastor and became good friends with him and his family. She and her husband have been to Ireland to visit them and vice versa. The pastor’s brother has ten boys, the youngest of which lives with his fiancé in Dublin. So, my mom’s cousin passed along his contact information, and Tuesday night we were able to meet up for pints after work (how Irish!). He and his fiancé were great fun. They were incredibly nice, treating me to Irish cider, and incredibly interesting. The amount of traveling they have done is crazy. They’ve seen so much of the world and are only 30! I hope I can cover as much ground in my next ten years. We spent nearly four hours just chatting away. They were incredibly lovely people, and I’m so glad we were finally able to meet up.

Wednesday I discovered they do play tennis here. I had noticed earlier that there were no tennis courts around. Which was odd compared to Penn State that seems to have dozens. But on my run, I happened upon Herbert Park (a beautiful and large park not too far from where I work) and saw my first tennis courts and tennis players of the summer. I was so surprised; it took me a minute to realize what sport I was watching. I still have yet to see a baseball field or basketball court, though. I feel like I might be much less likely to come by those.

Thursday I went out with the roommates to try and finish up my Christmas and birthday shopping. I got close, but a few people are still alluding me. We happened upon this beautiful little shop called Avoca. It was filled with the most adorable furnishings for your house. It was torture, really. Picking out all these cute things for my apartment that I knew I had no way of getting home.

That night we went to Whelan’s Pub where a band was playing. Their choruses were simple enough that I could catch on after the first time through, so it looked like I knew the words and was a native Dubliner just out to see my favorite band. As much as I love singing along to the traditional Irish music (which I can do now without missing a beat!) it was a nice change of pace to be able to jump around to something a bit edgier. It reminded me of concerts and shows I had spent the early part of my last summer going to.

Now, as I close out my seventh week in my new favorite city, I am packing in preparation for my weekend in Killarney. I’ll be spending the night at a farmhouse on the edge of Ireland’s largest National Park. I can’t wait to explore the forests and play with the farm animals. I just pray that time slows down so I don’t blink and have this weekend be gone.