Home sweet home

And this is what is waiting for me when I get in the car! My dad knows me way too well :) Portillo's chopped salad and a root beer! 

It was great to see my parents, even better to get my backpack off and know my belongings are safe, and the best was showering with no sandals and a nice cozy towel! Oh, it's great to be home. 

I will write a few more posts within the next few days and once I make videos I will post those on here as well!

Thanks everyone for reading and being supportive. It really means a lot!

Little black drink

28 August 

I had amazing day exploring Dublin on my own today

Guinness storehouse

My favorite quote of the day:

"Good things come to those who wait." Because it takes 119.5 seconds to pour a Guinness.  

I was a bit disappointed because it was nothing like a brewery tour, it was really just a touristy trap. I didn't smell beer brewing once :/ i guess I should have expected that considering it is the number 1 tourist attraction in Dublin. 

Jameson distillery 

Jameson honeycomb 

Kilmainham Goal jail

Lovely last day in Ireland. 

Howth

Currently I am sitting in the temple bar with a Guinness being anti social (with all the friends that I don't have here) and listening to a live Irish band. They just played Galway girl! One of my favorites!

I started off my morning on a mission to find a piece of Guinness apparel for myself that I saw someone wearing but haven't seen in a store yet. And I found it :) I am very persistent when there is something I want!

I walked around trinity college! What a beautiful campus with a lot of history! 

I made my way down to St. Stephen's Green. This garden was something else. I took pictures on my camera because my phone was dead unfortunately!  I just walked around and sat on a bench writing in my journal. 

I walked back up to the temple bar area  because  I loved it so much. 

I have seen postcards of "the Dublin doors" so I have been walking around taking pictures of all the pretty doors. 

Finally the sun was coming out so I figured this was my hint to hop on a train to Howth. Howth is a small town northeast of Dublin, about a 30 min train ride. 

The first thing I did when I got there was found a grassy area and had a picnic (with Norwegian chocolate that I devoured thanks to Maren). 

I was so hungry I didn't go to the tourist desk and ended up just walking. I knew I just wanted to see some cliffs. I ended up walking in the right direction and started on an 8km hike. 

The first half of the walk we pretty touristy with a lot of people on the same trail as me. I just wanted to sit and enjoy the view and didn't feel any reason to rush so I just sat on the top of the peak over looking the cliffs and wrote and read!

My mom gave me a book called An Invisible Thread. I am only 60 pages in and I love it. I already recommend it :) It made me start thinking a lot about my past year working for city year. Especially because Nikhita just told me that Keenan, a student we worked with last year, was shot and killed yesterday. :/ It really got me thinking about life as I was sitting on the top of this cliff listening to the birds and the waves crash up against the shore. 

Famous lighthouse at the end of the cliff. 

I was walking along the cliffs for about 4km and then ended up on my own in the countryside. It was absolutely beautiful and I was all alone and I was so incredibly happy!

What I realized on this hike, was I feel so lonely when I am alone yet around many people and I feel so content and happy when I am actually all alone. I know it makes no sense but it is so true!

I was walking along the cliffs earlier then I ended up in the woods. 

Then I was standing on top of the world (I felt like)!surrounded by the Ireland countryside with the beautiful yellow and purple flowers, with Dublin in the background!

It was one of the most diverse landscapes and coolest walks! I just had a great time taking pictures and hanging out. 

I treated myself to fish and chips and a Kilkenny and sat and blogged for awhile. 

Went out to the stores to buy one last present for two very special people! I'm sure you can guess who you are. I was so so tired but I couldn't go back to my hostel quite yet!

So, I am very impatient when it comes to waiting at crosswalks when the man is red yet there are no cars coming. I usually just run across so I suppose you could call me a jwalker, i don't know. 

Well, in Denmark I would just get a fine and play like a dumb American but here in Ireland it is a different story. They drive on the opposite sides of the road so when I think I look and see no cars I hear a bus hauling at me from the other direction. I have decided to just wait until the little green man says I can walk. 

They have this painted on the roads for idiots like myself. 

 I stopped and grabbed a beer at the temple bar and an icecream on the way home. I am now laying in bed in my 15 bed hostel meeting friends finally but they are all leaving tomorrow. Good thing I have a whole day planned for tomorrow any way :) 

One more day of my travels! Ah! So bittersweet!

Goodbyes are hard

August 25 

Marike and I spent yesterday being lazy and just enjoying our last day together. 

Now I am on the train heading to the airport. Next stop Dublin!  

Marike is great and woke up to take me to the train station and waited for the train with me. It was so hard for me to get on the train and wave goodbye. 

I had tears in my eyes as we pulled away from Aarhus because this city has really been my home away from home during my travels these past couple of months. 

When Marike and I left Africa we said we'd see each other again sometime and neither of us really knew for sure. When we said goodbye today Marike told me she knows we will see each other again. It put a tear in my eye but in my head I was just thinking, "ya no kidding".

 Stine and Marike were joking that one of them needs to get married so I will come back to Denmark soon! I would be fine with that :) get on that ladies!! 

It is the most incredible feeling having friends in different countries but it makes it so much harder to say goodbye because I don't know when I will see them again :/ I bet the next time I see Marike,it won't be in America, it will be her convincing me to travel to Central America with her! I'm okay with that I guess. 

I feel like my travels have come full circle as I started off my trip with Maren in Norway and then on to Denmark to spend time with Marike. Now I am back in Denmark with Maren and Marike. Two girls who I knew just a little bit (Marike better than Maren) and now I consider them sisters. If anything this trip has given me it is two great great friends. Not to mention each of their friends who I have become close with as well. I feel so fortunate! 

I made it to Copenhagen and even had time to go see the little mermaid!!

Haha. I wish. I suppose the airport mermaid will just have to do! 

I couldn't wrap my head around the fact I was on my way to Ireland. It had always been a dream of mine (especially after watching ps I love you and starting to enjoy Guinness). 

As we flew over Ireland i could see the cliffs along the coast as well as the green lush countryside. It was breathtaking and just what I imagined of Ireland! 

At the airport I had to go show my passport and I got an Ireland stamp! Now from this trip I have Norway, Denmark, and Ireland! Except I got too close to the man in front of me at the counter and the man behind the desk yelled at me. I was so embarrassed. Welcome to Ireland I suppose. 

My baggage was one of the first out thank goodness! That aspect of flying always makes me the most nervous. 

I was walking around aimlessly looking for the airbus to get to the city. I came across the booth to buy tickets and was just asking the guys questions about where I get off and how much the ticket costs. He told me it is €12 for a round trip. I only had €11 from when I was in Germany so I told him I just want to buy a one way for €7 because I didn't want to wait in the line for the ATM. He said he would take the 11 and but in €1 of his money. I insisted he shouldn't do that but he printed off the ticket and handed me the ticket with my €10 underneathe and winked at me.

Cool thanks bud! That was awfully nice of him!! Made my day :)

I found my hostel and figured out my plans for the next few days and went out exploring!

I started off at o'neills for a Guinness and supper!

I walked and just found my way around!

I stopped in "O'Ds" and it was not as nearly as cozy as the one in the EG so I didn't stay!

I walked around the temple bar neighborhood and it was hoppin'! Such a touristy and pricy area but really really fun! 

 I listened to some live music at a neat bar but it was all singalongs and I figured if I was in Ireland I need to go see some live Irish music. 

I headed back to O'Neill's for the Irish music! They were so great and I even knew two or three of the songs they played!

Today was great but as I was going out and getting beer it was the first time my entire trip that I felt lonely! 

I went back to the hostel to charge my phone and I realized I am a bimbo. They have different adapters than Europe and no one had one I could borrow last night. 

I borrowed one this morning for a few minutes so I don't have much battery. 

I may be phoneless when I land in Chicago, dad. FYI! 

Everything happens for a reason

I woke up crammed in between Maren and Marike! How cozy!! 

Of course our breakfast consisted of buns and Nutella. I will definitely miss the "I'm on vacation" excuse. It's been a great 2 month vacation, I'd say!

We packed up our campsite and went down to the beach to cram in some sunshine and swimming before we had to take Maren to the train station. 

We layed in the sun with these crazy jumping bugs and wrote in our journals and chatted. It was so peaceful because we were the only people around on this little tiny beach just listening to the waves crashing in and out. 

Maren and I made bracelets and key chains. I was determined to put a rock in my key chain. Maren and Marike were laughing at my idea and didn't believe it would work. Well it happened to and they were still laughing because they didn't like them but when I collected rocks and made one for Marike later on and she happens to love it ;) (or she's just making me feel good). Either way!

Unfortunately it was time to leave the beach and take Maren to the train station :/ why did these five days go way too fast!? 

We helped her pack up all of her things and said our goodbyes!

The thing with Maren though is she is an American deep down! I know she will be to America to see me sooner than later. It truly was not a goodby, just see you later! 

Marike and I took off for another campsite when she got a call from a friend who really needed some company. Marike is such an amazing friend! We were an hour and a half from Aarhus and she asked me if it would be okay if we headed back to be with her friend. She felt horrible for bailing on our plans but I reassured her I'm along for the ride with her and will do anything. I can camp anytime I want (and I'm sure I will when I get home) so it did not even phase me that we needed to go back to Aarhus. 

Marike went to her friends and chatted for a while and then we went to Stines and she made us another amazing meal!

Pork wrapped in bacon, finger potatoes (my favorite), and a salad with a white truffle and sesame oil. I am so motivated to go home and learn how to cook now because of Stine! The dessert was this sweet crust with whipped cream and fruit. I have never tasted anything like it! 

They took me out to waxies after dinner and knew I would love it because a live band was playing. They sure were right! I had a great time singing and dancing to the music. Another thing I have realized I have tondo when I get home is learn how to dance. It's horribly embarrassing! We had a great time together!

Everything happens for a reason was the theme of the day because how plans can change so fast but always work out for the better. I'm glad we went home so I could spend one more night with Stine! She is lovely and I will miss her a lot!! 

"I'm on my way and I don't know where I'm going"

August 22

We packed up the car (which takes a long time for Maren and I) and headed out to go camping. 

Right when we got in the car, "me and Julio down by the school yard" was playing on the radio. 

It was the coolest feeling to be sitting in the front seat with the windows open jammin out to that song. 

"I'm on my way and I don't know where I am going". Because that is exactly how we felt! Maren and I knew we were on our way camping but we had no idea where to. 

Camping in Denmark is strange because there are so many places to camp in Denmark but they aren't camp grounds.  We were just driving and saw a tent on the sign and we knew we were heading the right way. We got there and there was no visitors center or any place to pay. We just picked any place we wanted to camp for the night! There was a cozy inlet with a camp fire and benches and felt like this was the perfect place!

You know when you are picking out a camp sight you can always tell if it is the right one or not :) you can tell in your gut!

Thankfully, Maren's uncle let us borrow his tent! It was super easy to put up and very very nice. I was hoping it would rain just because I could just sense how water proof it was. 

We organized the camp sight and ran off to the near by super market to grab dinner and breakfast. 

When we got "home" we started a fire. The only problem was we didn't have logs so we needed so many branches to keep the fire going. We were starving so we figured we would deal with that later. We found the perfect sticks to carve and made our wienies over the fire the "American way" as Marike said. That is because we used the hot dog buns with the slice down the side versus a whole in the middle of the bun like they do. But we bought French dressing (a mix of sour cream and mayo) to make it more danish. 

After dinner I made us all go out to search for tons and tons of branches! 

We managed to keep the fire going until 2am with all the branches we had collected. 

Thanks dad for packing me the flashlight and pocket knife because it definitely came in handy tonight :)

Maren put a hair wrap in Marikes hair and I took pictures and kept the fire roaring. We had great laughs and awesome conversations. Hilarious times around spiders and wolves, going to the "toilet" (as they say in europe) in the woods, Maren complimenting herself on complimenting herself (if you get it) and pretending to run from our lives when Maren was in the tent. Good times!

I think Marike had a pretty good birthday :) 

Apologies go out to Maren because Marike and I were having a bit too much loud fun when Maren was sleeping. I hope you will forgive us!