Spain!!

Soo Skipping a few weeks... We just got back from Spain!!  It was tons of fun!

We spent 10 days in lloret de mar... A lil tourist town on the beach. 

We stayed in this teeny little cabin. That they consider camping.

The first day when we got there is was pretty late so we were just getting settled and shopping and we kinda got lost from the airport soo it was later lol

The next day it was bright and sunny which we were thrilled cause it was forecast rain. I spent the morning with the kids and around lunch Jen said I could go do whatev.. So I left to explore the town.   Now don't get me wrong it was bright and sunny but sill not scorch hung like I had hoped for. But it was 100%warmer then Ireland sooo I was in my shorts and tank!   I went down to the first beach and it was smaller but the water of the Mediterranean was sooo beautifu and the wind was blown soo it had huge crashing waves  it was awesome!  So then I was on my mission to find the beach with the castle! Two of my favorite things!   I ended up going along the scenic route with out even realizing but when I did it made sense cause it was soo pretty! 

Finally I found it.. 

It was actually just the main beach lol. Soo I went walking along the boardwalk.   Finally I was close enough to see it good and it was as cool as any of the pictures I had seen if it and the whole walled city thing was also cool cause there was a huge trail all along it.. It was so cool... The whole combo of things.. Somthing you would see but never expect to be real or be hanging out at!    So I walked up as far as I could to the castle it wasn't open.. Not sure t it ever is though ??  But then I went for a little walk along the wall... It was just as cool.. A perfect trail along the pretty coast line.  You had to go up stairs and through tunnels. It was awesome! 

So after I went on that lil walk....I went to the beach and just layed in a chair that I'm pretty sure you had to pay for but I did it anyway!! And just chilled on the beach. The sand wasn't that nice here, it was more like small pebbles but whatev..i guess it could t be perfect! Lol

That night there was a little party/ game night thing down at the pool where I was staying. You had to be invited...but I invited myself lol.  And got two free drinks out of it. I say myself down at this table with two other girls and they were also aupairs lol. From France...one of them didn't speak a lick of English and the other struggled...so it was a petty funny conversation.  One of the guys that worked there and asked if I wanted to be one of the vonlenteers....what the heck why not! So he wrote my name down.  So after awhile, he announced "let the games begin". Uh oh I thought what did I just sign myself up for lol  anyway there was three other people and he called us up one by one...thank goodness people were nice and cheered for he random girl all by herself...that would,of been really embarrassing lol so on our team it was me, this girl from Denmark, a guy from England, and a guy from Pakistan soo interesting group! 

Anyway so it was like 5 different games and we were playing against the staff. So the first one was easy. We were up on a stage so we had to throw a hula hoop on this broomstick or whatev way far away....the first girl on our team...sucked threw it way off! Then my turn...I got the first one...whew didn't make myself look like a complete retard lol. Then the two other guys got a couple. 

So we won that round!! The girl and me initiated that when we win we all have to do a huddle and then unravel todo the can can it was sooooooo funny!! 

Next game...we had to hula hoop! I said to my team....I got this!! And they were like yea ok..no one can hula hoop!! Lol. So the staff ppl went first and everyone's kinda just winded down to the ground so  it went pretty fast...then the one main announcer guy and who is there like every week it's his turn and he goes for like 20 sec..... And all my team are looking at me...I was like seriously I got this. 

So I get to go first this time....I start it and it falls...I was like noooooo....I was like that was warm up I need to get used to the hoop...and he let me go again he he he    Soo I get it going and going and going and going and finally the guy walks over and hits it.....I was like excuse me I'm trying to win here!! Lol. So the others go and they all fall instantly.  So we won that one..the guy announced....completely smashing the other team...blah blah blah.     I was like that's right...I could of gone all night lol

Anyway next round I thought I was gonna biff it...we had todo a relay race around the pool while jumping over the lawn chairs lol. Everyone did pretty good we were about tied witht he other team but then the last guy who isn't that small of a guy completely face planted.....it was soooo sad!! He was a good sport about it but still you could tell the rest of the time he was in pain!   Anyway they gave both teams a point for that one lol

The next event was we had to lay on our stomachs and drink a beer through a tiny straw...relay style. It was sooo hard...number one I don't like beer...number two drinking upside down like that is weird. A way the other team cheated soo we got that point 

Last one was we had to go bobbing in a bucket of water for these weird Spanish candies...anyway we won that too!!  So we won and got two bottles of champagne woo....but we had to do this stupid dance before we got them lol. And in stead of doing the dumb dance they were doing we were being all crazy and the girl all started doing gag am style and made one of the guys spread there legs so she was all laying on the ground.....it was sooo funny!!  Anyway it was a fun night. 

Sunday...we just all kinda hung out together...we walked around town and went to lunch and just hung out. 

Monday, was a Catalonian holiday of some sort soo alot of things were closed, but we still went into Barcelona and wert to the zoo. It didn't go quite as sooth as it could of but it was still fun!! They had baby orangotangs and gorillas sooooo cute!! It was actually a really nice zoo! 

Next day was my day off! Woo!! And it was sunny!!! Oh yea!!

I got up some wha earlish and caught the bus that took me to the train station and then took the train into Barcelona. It took about an hour.but it was really cool cause the train went all along the coast so your looking at beach and water the whole time. It was so funny we happened apon a beach and it was a nuddiest beach...this guy was just standing there looking at the ocean with his saggy butt out just for all of to see.  Then you could see a few other gross/old/fat guys just laying out all bare! Ewwwie 

Then at one of the stops a guy comes into our train car and all starts playing his guitar and singing all crazy in Spanish it was awesome....I got the whole Spanish feel!! So I had to use my broken Spanish to ask a few different people which stop I needed to take...so finally we were there, but it was underground soo I had no clue where we actually were.  Soo I emerged from the underground lol and what do you know right smack in the city center...it was fab!   There was all this excitement going on and fountains and statues which I love and shops and the sun was out nd idk it was just cool!! Soo since I had my one day in the city I decided to do the Hop on Hop off bus. Best idea I had...well mom had it too. But she wasn't there lol.  But anyway the first stop was litertally across the street. So I went over and they had two different lines...I took the east side of the city first cause it had the Sagrada familia which I needed to see since that's the mot famous thing in Barcelona. So when i got on I went to the top and they give you little head phones and tell you everything about the city and the different stops. So it made it totally cool that I was by myself cause I just listened ad watched everything go by. Most things on the map I had no clue what they were so I thought I would just do a drive through and then go back to the places I liked. 

The first stop was this cathedral and I was like yea ok...then we drove by it and I was like holy smokes that's amazing!! Lol I didn't get off there though cause I wanted to see all the different stops and then go back to the ones I liked. So we kept going and saw lots of cool things and a lot of the beach. Then we went more Into town and stopped at the Sagrada Familia it was amazingly weird.  Like it was strange in a way that it wasn't even done there was actually ppl working on it right then, but also the design was strange with like weird ball things at the top, but amazing in the fact it was sooo huge and yet had such detail.

After that I got back on the bus and kept going on the loop. For some reason Barcelona reminded me a lot of New York City. Just like lots of little community's and idk it just did.  I got off at one stop where they take you to the top of this hill and there is like rides and stuff and it the highest point in Barcelona buuuuutttt. It was closed so I couldn't go...I was bummed. So got back on, some of the other places I wanted to stop and then brought me back to the main square. I took a few pic there cause it was full of fountains and flowers and statues. Which I love! 

Then I got back on the bus and went back to that huge cathedral.   It was way cooler close up!! 

Along side the cathedral and behind it was the "gothic" quarters. Now I'm not sure why it was called that but I didn't care cause it was really cool! Everything was all dark and old and really pretty! Soo I went for a little walk through all these old buildings and streets. 

After this I got back on the bus and went to the other unique old builds by Gaudi. 

After this I ended back in the city square and I wanted to find the park that we had been to yesterday, where the zoo was. So I found it on my map and it was t to far away luckily. So I walked over to the park and there was a huge "Arc of triumph" 

No at the end of this long long walk way lined with palm trees and street entertainers is the zoo. But when we were leaving the zoo you could see this huge statue type thing way up in the sky that was all gold and it was a horses and a chariot type thing. So I also wanted to see what that was all about. So I went walking. And I love walking through parks causer there are so many different type of ppl that hang out at public parks....very good spot for people watching!   

So I saw the huge statue like thing in the air and went for it, I rounded the corner and saw the most amazing fountain I have seen to date! It was amazing!!  It doesn't help that I love mermaids and king tiaton and all that good stuff....it was just really cool!! 

I spent awhile here, just looking at how cool it was. And I walked up it to get a different angle and it was still pretty cool! From here I walked down to the beach and to some more old building and statues, where the bus met up, but this was the west bus soo it went to places I hadn't seen yet.  But there was a Columbus staure that had lions under it.  I went up to get a picture in front of it and I look over and this older lady must of been around 60ish all climbed up on the lion riding!!! I got so excited because that's gonna be me in 40 years!! 

From there I caught the bus, and it headed up this super super steep hill. From there is was a great view of the whole city. I got off, so I could get a better look at the view. 

So then I got back on the bus and they made their was around the older part of town and around where the Olympics were held. So it was cool to see but not worth getting off the bus! 

Finically we made it back to the town center and by this time it was later in the evening and the busses were stopped. Soo I went down to Las Rambles...the famous street. And walked around a bit and got a coffee. 

By then It was dark and I had seen pretty much everything the town had. Soo I got back on the train and headed home.

The next day we all loaded up in the car and headed to Blanes. It was just about a 10 min drive, it was the next closet city. It was right in the beach as well. When we got there, Jen and joe and the kids went off and did whatever and I got todo my own thing. So I went and climbed the only thing I could find. A huge rock thing in the middle of the beach.

After that I had nothing else todo for awhile so I thought I would go get myself a drink. There was a tiny little mojito bar right on the beach so I hung out there a while and people watched. 

After then I started walking around and found some statutes.....I love statues they are so fun and silly!! 

The next day Jen and Joe and Max...went into Barcelona and me and Abbie and Alex hung out around Lloret de Mar. We went down to the beach and played at the park!

So for our last day we decided to go into Girona. We all went to together after how got completely lost....again. Lol. There was a cool park there that had wacko trees.

So Girona as a city wasn't that big but it was cool. All the streets are cobblestone and all the building were decorated with flags or just little things. It was really cool. We just walked around all afternoon.

So then we had to go home and pack up...and we got lost again on our way home! It was so silly!

So that was our trip to Spain. It was a bit long but all and all it was very fun! 

<3 lynds

Northern Ireland!

I wish that I lived in Northern Ireland!

This week I had a tour planned to go up to Northern Ireland and it left early early Saturday morning so I booked a night at a hostel in Dublin. The tour was actually leaving from the hostel soo it worked out perfect!

I didn't get into Dublin until about 10:30 cause I had to leave after work, and the dumb 2 hour bus. plus i had to tell jen my plan of leaving in September or at least the end of Aug. lol. Soo once I got there I just chilled out at the hostel and then went to bed cause I had an early morning. Before I went up to bed I asked the girl at the front desk What time the giants causeway to
It left..she said it was 7:20. I thought ok...that's a little later then I thought but if she says so. But something just really didn't sound right soo I asked again and if she was sure and she said she was.

Soo the next morning I go down to the lobby at 7. Go get some breakfast and kinda just chill out on the couch...the girl said they would call for my tour when the guy was ready. So I just waited.
There was some girls sitting across from me from Australaia and they were super nice. And we talked how the Irish people haven't been that welcoming to them and I agreed and yeaa they were nice. Soo finally like 45 min later I go up and ask the lady...when my tours gonna leave cause I know it's a long tour we will have to be leaving soon. When I go up there and ask he whole face sunk...she knew she messed up! It just so happened to be the girl from last night and soo she remembered me! She was all that tour left at 6:55.... I told her that she told me the wrong time and that I was here at 7 and that's why I spent the night...so at this point she was panicking. She called the bus guy to see if they could come back....then she looked into shipping me up via public transport. But the end result was...I got a free tour that day...a super cheap night at the hostel again and then my actual tour the next day. It was super annoying but it did work out in my favor.

So this tour was the Glenalogh tour. It goes up into the Wicklow mountains and where brave heart and PS I love you was filmed and then up to some lakes and over to Kilkenny, which I had already been but ohwell!! We literally went to the top of the mountains and you could see for miles and it was soo pretty!! And up in the mountains cutest little villages and old ruins and lakes...and it was sunny!! :). That always makes everything better! In one little village they had the cutest little streams and cottages. It really is soo interesting all the stories behind everything. USA is soo boring in that fact or maybe I don't care lol
Then we went to Kilkenny and like I said I had already been there and seen the castle and stuff soo I just hung out..there was a music festival going on so lots if people playing in the streets...so I wondered around. Then I just chilled out on the castle grounds...that's the public park lol. And there were load and loads of people out because it was such a beautiful day! After that we headed back to Dublin.
I got dropped off right down town and I went shopping I only brought clothes for one day. Soo I had a legit reason to go shopping lol. The shops close so early though soo I barely had any time. After that I walked around the city and the sun was setting and it was soo soo pretty!

Then I went and got dinner at a little place nod at right in the window and watched people for like two hours lol. Then back to the hostel for an even early morning lol

This night was actually horrible...they put me in a room right near the road and door and soo I heard everyone come in all night and the cars and then dumb people coming in super late. I got up super early cause I wanted to be sure to be there and I couldn't sleep lol. When I went to go into the lobby the guy yelled at me and said the lobby wasn't open yet... Oh brother I had to wait 20 min

I made him feel like an ejit cause I was like soo you want me to sit outside or go back to my room and sit in the dark for 20 min?? And then he was like oh we'll well you can sit in the hallway! Dumb. Soo I sat there for 15 min and then went into the lobby.

When the guy came in I was the first one up and ready to go!! So there was quite a few people. We all piled into the big green bus and I say right in front. So I can see everything and so I can get an inside scoop talking to the guy also so I don't have to wait for everyone getting on and off the bus!! Lol

So we headed up, first stop was the Carrick-de-rede rope bridge. It was such a pretty drive up to the bridge and you could see the coast and the Scottish islands in the background. Soo pretty but nothing compared to the amazing view when you got there.

It seriously was the coolest thing....you had to walk about 10 min down to the bridge and the whole way the view kept getting prettier and prettier! Finally I got there and had to climb down a super steep ladder and then onto the bridge. It seriously was just some rope and a couple planks...and it was alot higher and wobblier then I thought but that made it fun! Once on the other side....there was a sign that said...No ropes or railing on cliffs beware!! Lol. Soo I climbed to the top and it was soo cool and soo windy! I met this girl that was on our bus from Boston and we took really cheesy pictures of each other. One picture I got super close to the edge to try and scare mom and as I was walking away...I slipped and fell...I was soo scared!! I just lauded there on the ground all laughing lol

Then we got back to the bus and went to the Giants Causeway it was only about 15 min away. But on the way over the bus driver was telling us the old folk story about the giants causeway and he was all into his story and his accent was getting all thick and like story telling mode and then... WACK WACK.....and me screaming! As two huge birds hit the window right in front of my face. I started laughing all crazy and then the guy did too and he had to pull the microphone away until,he stopped laughing and then had to explain to explain to everyone what had happened. Then he started his story telling back up lol

So when we got there, that girl from Boston catches up to me and had another little Asian girl from Australia...so we all headed down there together! They were both really nice but then also kinda weird. I hope people don't think that of me! Lol The actual rocks down there, are soo strange! There's just thousands of flat rocks all different shapes everywhere. Of course I'm like jumping and running all over. Number one... I've been to the beach before lol and number two it was soo easy cause it was seriously like stepping stones! Soo we all took pictures of each other and it was fun!! They thought I was the funniest thing....who doesn't!! Lol
After that we went up to the visitor center and there was a little pub near there and so we went and got some lunch! It's always interesting to hear other single travelers story's!

After that back on the bus! We are headed back to Belfast. We had an hour to walk around and do whatever there. So me and the girls went to this shopping center and at the top they had a look out view of all the city it was pretty cool. We saw the titanic memorial statue. It was also "festival of fools" soo there was all these wacko people everywhere and weird street performers. But Belfast was soo nice...slightly reminded me of LA on a much smaller scale but it was very clean and nice! So that was all there really was time for. Then back to Dublin!

Once there...back on the tram and then the bus..and finally home!! Woo that was a long weekend!! But it was soo fun!!

Monday, Jen told me that she was looking at some girls to replace me and that there was quite a bit of interest. I was happy for her. But then she said it would probably be best if I was gone by the middle of July! What?? Excuse me?? Like in a month and half holy crapola lol. I was a little taken back but didn't say anything. It's kinda annoyed cause I wasn't planning on leaving THAT early, but ill see what I can do.

Tuesday was my birthday...old!! :(.

Annalee and me were gonna go into Dublin and do stuff but she had to work soo we just stayed around town and went to the park with the kids she watches...not that fun but it was better then sitting at home I guess.

Soo that's my week!

<3 lynds