As time passes here in Ireland, it is safe to say that I am definitely getting the hang of living here. In previous years and summers, I have noticed that it can be super easy to get into a routine, but as a result, the days and weeks start to blend together because you are doing the same thing day in and day out. But I am very happy to say that that is not the case here, as each week we do new and exciting activities (often at the cost of long bus rides) that provide enough excitement to make each week its own. And this past week was no different!
On July 4th, Layth Aidan and I all went to go see another St. Patricks Athletic soccer match and the atmosphere was absolutely incredible. The team was playing the only other team here in Dublin, and that made for a sold out stadium ringing with the sounds of drums and chants from the two separate teams. Although the score ended 0-0, it is still an experience that will stick with me. Afterwards, the three of us hit the town to meet up with Ellix and his parents to celebrate his mom’s birthday. It ended up being a fairly early night because we had a big day the next day, but it was still super fun to share in the festivities for Mrs. Sandhu!
Northern Ireland was next on the agenda, and we hit the road early the next morning to head to Belfast. While there, we visited the Titanic Museum and took a taxi tour that highlighted the political and religious turmoil that has affected the city for centuries. We got to the hotel a bit later (which was leagues better than the hostel we stayed at a few weeks ago), and then went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant. Later we went to a pub in order to watch the Club World Cup, which was super cool.
Sunday, we went to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and it was exhilarating to cross over the water to go to a small island above the cliffs. I am not usually scared of heights, but that rope bridge was still nerveracking to say the least. Afterwards we went to the Giants Causeway which was so much more beautiful than my boss had said it would be the week prior. Before heading to Derry to spend the night, we stopped at a farm to witness how incredible shepherds are in the way that they commanded the sheepdogs. That night in Derry, we had a wonderful time listening to traditional Irish music in a pub and singing karaoke at a bar!
This weekend trip was a great experience and it was awesome to learn about the culture of Northern Ireland and experience the differences first hand! I was pretty tired from the trip, but I am still super excited to see what the few remaining weeks have in store for me!
