.... Kiss the Blarney stone

... travel across Ireland by herself

I spent five days traveling across Ireland; I went to Dublin, Cork and Belfast. I flew into Dublin and then took trains from Dublin to Cork, then to Belfast and back to Dublin so I could fly back to Paris. Ireland is amazing, everything is so green, the people are so nice and the history is so interesting! I spent my time in Dublin trekking across to find the Dublin Castle, a viking history building, the cathedral, the shopping street, watching a Gaelic game, exploring Trinity College (with the book of Kells) and of course all the pubs in Dublin. The gaelic games are the irish version of american soccer but you can use your hands and there are multiple ways to score. if you get a "field goal" that is worth 1 point but if you get a "goal" as in soccer you get three points. I watched the game between Dublin and some other team in red and tooted my vuvuzela quite a bit, I was of course going to for Dublin! At Trinity college there is a very famous book called the Book of Kells, it is reported to be the most beautifully illuminated manuscript in the world; not that I have seen every illuminated manuscript in the world but it was quite exquisite. You can find out more about the Book of Kells here. Of course the pubs in Dublin are a must see, I mean what else are the Irish famous for besides leprechauns and drinking right? I watched the USA v Ghana game in a pub and then the next night the England game as well. Very riotous and very loud and most of all VERY fun!
I left for Cork at about 9 AM on the train out of Dublin and it took three hours to get there, Just looking at the intensely green landscape was amazing because it defiantly does not look like Texas in the summer. When I reached Cork I checked into my hotel and walked to a pub, in the rain, to get lunch. At this pub it was just like yousee in the movies, all the 'regulars' are sitting at the bar and then woosh a new girl walks in (me) and of course I get all the questions "Where are you from" etc. These are all guys old enough to be my grandpa and one of them thought I was from Kansas.... ummm okay? After lunch I went out to the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney stone! It was so cool, there were some tourists there although I have a feeling that if it wasnt raining there would have been more. Any way so I climbed to the top of the castle and kissed the stone, which you have to lay on your back and lean backwards over the side fo the castle to get to the stone. There is a person holding on to you but still... scary and fun!
The next day I left Cork at 5AM to get a train to Belfast. Once in Belfast I walked to the Queen's University and walked through campus and then went to the Botanical gardens, which is where the iconic gazebo is. Then it was off to the Ulster Museum where I learned about Ireland's past and the time of Troubles. After the Ulster museum I took a black cab tour, which I would highly recommend to anyone who si going to Belfast, and my tour guide Tom took me all around West Belfast where the Peace Walls are and the War Murals. He was telling me that since he is Catholic he would not have been able to set foot in the area by the murals about ten years ago because he would have been shot. It was so shocking to learn that this sort of tragedy was going on just a short time ago.

The entire trip in Ireland was so wonderful and eye opening and it really taught me a lot. I know Jane wasnt happy but it was one of the best times of my life!

Linda and me at the Sacre Coeur, Basilica of the Sacred Heart! Linda and I have to go halfway across the world to see each other! its not DL but its the next best thing!

Mom and me at Harrod's for afternoon tea with scones (my fav), desserts, tea sandwiches and champagne! Best afternoon EVER!

... survive a huge riot of Algerians

So this past weekend and week was pretty amazing and eye opening! 1) I got to go to London and see Mom which was the best thing I could have wished for halfway through the trip 2) I got to see Linda in Paris for two days and all her high school troupe 3) it was my last week of cinema class and we actually got to watch movies I found funny 4) the US soccer team beat the Algerian team and hundreds of Algerians fans rioted outside my American dorm causing gendarmes in full on riot gear (think tear gas and shields) to push them back and guard our dorm 5) The metro workers decided to go on strike the day of my cinema final so it was a wonderful time trying to figure out which lines were working and when we had to walk. Over all it has been a fantastic week and I cannot believe my trip in France in halfway done! This weekend I am going to Ireland and and SUPER excited! Jane is not too happy about it but thats okay because I will be better than fine I will be amazing! Think leprechauns, the blarney stone, 'time of troubles' and GREEN! I mean what country is more Katherine than the one that is synonymous with the color GREEN!

... learn how to dance like a Parisian

Tonight we went to a comedy show "How to become a Parisian in one hour" and he taught us how to 1) be Parisian in a restaurant "Umm what is your job? A waiter, so you can wait right here" 2) how to be Parisian in a store "Umm if we dont have your size its not my fault your body is shit" 3) how to be a Parisian in the metro *laugh at old woman who wants your seat but you're not going to give it to her* 4) have you know what like a Parisian ... no details... 5) how to talk like a Parisian "Oh la la!" or "Oh la la." 6) How to dance like a Parisian. This is where I volunteered and was brought up on stage in front of 200 people. You swing your hips in a sensual but not sexual way, have your mouth slightly open and if you like a guy stare at him for 3 seconds and according to the guy you will get a drink right away. So pretty much hilarious and now I can add French dance to my repertoire of jazz, hip hop, ballet and lyrical! It was a hilarious show and if you ever come to Paris you need to go to the show!

... spend the day in the Sun while its Raining

So the Palace of Versailles is the palace of the Sun King hence I spent the day in the sun while it was raining... cool yet still dreary! The pictures are HERE , they also include pictures of the obelisk in the Place de la Concorde. Versailles is amazing and we also went around the Gardens which were amazing and then we went to the Grand Trianon which was the royal family's vacation house, which is still larger than the Zeta House, and then we went to the Petite Trianon which was Marie Antoinette's personal house, which is still bigger than the Zeta House. everything was beautiful and, excuse this vomit worthy sentence, the presence of history was tangible. The Sun King's residence was an awe inspiring sight and I do not think I could ever get tired of seeing it, what I could get tired of seeing is the horde of Asian tourist in the same outfit wearing SARS masks and pushing you to get a picture in which they rock the peace sign...