In conclusion...

Hey all,

I went into London one last time to see the British Museum, that is where they house many artifacts from around the globe.



Inside, they have such great things as...


The Rosetta Stone and...


The Parthenon! (large historical debate there, don't ask)

In conclusion, this experience for me has indeed been life changing. I am grateful for all those here in England and back in the US that have helped me have a great time here and in life. I am looking forward to seeing you all in America! Cheers!

Chris

The Emerald Isle

Hey all,

After exploring a decent amount of Dublin, we took a day trip out to the country side. We rode a train to the town of limerick and then bused up to Galway, a seaside town on the other side of the island.


We first stopped at Bunratty castle, an example of a Norman castle.


Inside was a giant hall. Today they house banquets and other events, but in the past this would of been used as the main hall for the family.


Around the castle was a replica of a 19th century Irish town, complete with an assortment of animals. As you can see, these Irish Wolfhounds, which are the largest breed of dog, are quite content with their environment.


Next, we traveled to the Cliffs of Moher, an 8 kilometer stretch of coast in which giant cliffs tower of the ocean. It was a quite stunning view of the enormity of these natural structures.


Afterwords, we stopped for a bit in the Burren, an area of Ireland covered in rock. It was a drastic change from the green surrounding it.


We stopped for lunch at a local pub. There, I got Irish stew. Very hardy indeed.


This is a landscape near Galway Bay. Ireland was very green and a pleasant place to visit. I'm glad I was able to see both the city and the country and would definitely love to return and do some more adventurous stuff! As always, cheers!

Chris

The Emerald City

Hey all!

I know it's been a while, but I have a HUGE update from my weekend in Ireland. I did not take my computer so I've been missing on the internet for a bit. Don't worry. I'm back!

So Dublin, like Ireland in general is by no means a very large city, but it is still packed with many things. This spire is a recent addition, and it marks the center of the city.



Trinity College is the largest in the city. Some notable alumni include Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and Jonathon Swift (more on him later!)




Down the road is Dublin Castle. Destroyed mostly by fire in the 18th century, this is the only remnants of the original castle wall and tower.



Dublin is home to also two notable Cathedrals. The first is Christ Church Cathedral that dates back to the viking age! Though the building is not that old, the site has been used for a millennium.



Inside, there are many ornamentations, but the most exciting part was the crypt.



A few blocks away is St. Patrick's Cathedral, named after the patron saint of Ireland. Though not as old, it's substantially bigger than Christ Church.



Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, was dean here for thirty years. Inside, I found his grave!


Last, but not least, I went to the Guinness storehouse. It was a very high tech museum that told the Guinness story and how they process the beer. Very cool!



The best part was the free pint they gave to the visitors.



Well, that is just HALF of my journey. In a day or so, I'll post more pictures from the Irish countryside and what I experienced there. Cheers!

Chris

Warwick Castle Sells Out.

Hey all,

Today was a simple day to Warwick Castle. It is pretty family friendly, so not really historical as much as being a place of entertainment. Eh...

Granted the structure was great and they did have pretty neat exhibits on castle life. I just shot a few pictures that I hope you all will enjoy.

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I'm off to Ireland this weekend. I wont be able to update until Monday as I wont have my computer. I hope all are well. Cheers!

Chris

Seaside Nightmares

Hey all,

Alright, that title may be a bit too harsh, but we visited Lyme Regis today in unideal weather. Granted, the wind and rain are part of the English coastal experience, so it was a day to remember!





Lyme Regis is significant with Jane Austen as a portion of the novel "Persuasion" is set there. At one point, we ventured out onto the "Cob" a wall set to protect the beach from wind and water. It was pretty intense! Here are some pics.





I don't know if the pictures do the weather any justice, but it was cold and windy! Glad to say I've done it though. That's all for this post. Hopefully, I'll have plenty more to post soon!

Chris

The Burgh

Today I explored the city of Edinburgh. "Burgh" simply means town. This is appropriate enough as the city of Edinburgh (at least where all the major attractions are) is approximately only about a square mile. Thus, it was a big walking day.

St. Giles Cathedral is in the heart of the city in the middle of what they call the Royal Mile. It's a stretch of road with Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace on either end.


Though smaller than other churches I've visited while in the UK, this was one of the more beautiful.



Next stop was Edinburgh Castle which is situated on the top of a cliff in the middle of the city.



This castle is more of a compound. It contains many buildings that each served its own purpose. Being on top of the cliff, it had a good position for defense. Lots of cannons!



At the bottom of the Royal Mile lies Holyrood Palace, where the Queen stays when in Scotland. Also, back in the day, Mary Queen of Scots lived here (before Elizabeth 1 threw her in jail!)



I couldn't take pictures inside, so I'll just have to leave you a general front shot. One of the best things about the palace is that it was next to the ruins of an old Abbey.


All in all, Edinburgh was great, but I am exhausted. Later this week I'll be venturing off to Lyme and other assorted areas. I'll just leave you with a shot from the Palace gardens. Cheers!

Chris

Highlander

Hey all,

I finally took my day trip up to the Scottish Higlands. It's honestly some of the most striking landscapes I have ever seen. The mountains were many and huge. Their tops touch the clouds...



Honestly, I think the pictures speak for themselves. I took a nice day trip out of Edinburgh and drove for a few hours up north. We stopped occasionally for pictures.



Me in front of Three Sister's Mountains. It was windy! (thanks hair)



It was raining a bit that day, so the water would trickle down the mountains in waterfalls of sorts.



Our final destination was Loch Ness. No, I didn't get to see Nessie, but the lake was pretty epic.



Tomorrow, I will be exploring the city of Edinburgh. So more pictures to come! Cheers.

Chris