Titanic Museum

This weekend I went on a trip to Northern Ireland with the Heritage Society and friends who wanted to tag along. We spent the night in Belfast, making a couple of stops at Heritage Sites on the all-day drive.

During our trip we saw the Titanic Museum, which was really cool. It was built next to the actual location where Titanic was built, and the museum was very well done.

Actual location of Titanic's creation

It gave me goosebumps as we learned about the ship's dream, creation, and downfall.

Looking out over the sea

View from inside the museum, same height as the Titanic

A first class room

We were able to see what oceanographers saw as they explored the wreckage under water for the first time.

Looking down on what it became



Perspective on how far down Titanic rests today

The museum was very informational, and provided ways to honor all those who were never able to make it to America. I truly enjoyed my experience there.

Halloween: Rocky Horror Edition

My second big Halloween event was with Michael in Dublin. For those who don't know, my costume was a character from the film 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.' Her name is Columbia, she is sort of like a tap dancing mime helper but she talks.


Actual Columbia in the film

Not actual Columbia in the film

She show was awesome live, there were props thrown and costumes everywhere, it was absolutely a blast! Seriously so fun. 

At the end of the show I actually won a costume contest, so I got to go on stage with the performers and dance 'The Time Warp' with them! I won a few small prizes, but being up there would have been enough for me!

I would say it was a wonderful way to spend my Halloween night, definitely a 'night out that I will remember for a VERY long time.'

Waiting for the show to start!

Our neighbors in the FRONT row

The next morning on the 3 hour bus ride home
It was a snapchat worth keeping

Halloween: GMIT Internationals Edition

So, I had two different big events for Halloween this year. First, the international students had the opportunity to get together for a big costume party down town, for the low price of just 3 euro. 

What a good looking bunch

This event was on a Wednesday, which isn't usually a night I would stay out late but it was definitely worth it! Everyone looked awesome and it was a ton of fun to have all of us together.



Jeroen makes such a handsome cheetah.

I'll go ahead and say that everyone looked absolutely fabulous.



Let's take a minute to appreciate Hannah's makeup, Designed by yours truly.

Cassandra the cat. Roar ;)

Alex can be so scary



Shout out to Zach, who had no intention of going to town...

But who of course we convinced to do otherwise ;)

Ayman and I on the bus to town

We took up almost the whole bus, and everyone was pretty excited.

Ally and I being cute

Sam, with the prettiest hair 

 






























 

Dublin

This past weekend I went to Dublin with my favorite Irish friend, Michael, to see a show on Halloween (Post on Halloween and the show still to come!) Before the show, I got to see the city and get a feel for what Dublin was like. 

We walked around town and saw some street performers and grabbed some lunch at a cute little cafe while taking in all the sights of the city.

A big leaf from the streets of Dublin

There was a familiar name in town! Mom's side of the family carries the McDowell name, I could be reacted to the shop owner! It would be nice, I would love a discount on their fine jewelry ;)

Lovely fall weather

We wandered a bit through the park at St. Stephen's Green, which may have been my favorite. Really lovely for a stroll.

Ireland has made me so cultured.

Aww.

Kylemore Abbey

Another cool trip with the international students! The Student Union at GMIT is really good at these, special thanks to them!




The Kylemore Abbey

Connemara

The Chapel on the property

 Even just walking around the area is beautiful. I really, really enjoyed the sights here.

 

Walking to the gardens



Hannah and Nerea



Cool wooden thing in the gardens of the abbey



We traveled to Connemara to visit the Kylemore Abbey. Holy cannoli is this area beautiful. I am not sure if I can call them mountains in Ireland, but they really are. There are farms every now and then, really secluded, with sheep that just walk all around. Imagine a giant mountain with rocks and all (but possibly technically a hill?) with little white blobs just walking around the steep slope. They are hilarious. They walk around the street, the hills, the waterfront... there aren't many people around so they just do what they want. It's actually awesome.



My group taking photos in Connemara!

Fairy Tree overlooking Connemara

The Abbey was beautiful inside and out. Everything was so well presented and special to walk around.

 

The abbey itself is right in the heart of Connemara. It is crazy awesome. The entire property is so serene and well-maintained.


The view from outside the Abbey



There are walled gardens on one end of the property, it looked like they had just planted new plants so it wasn't in bloom, but it was still just amazing to walk around.