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Ireland

A 302-day adventure by youonlylivetwice Read more
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    I Love Slovakia!

    October 20, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

    What a great day! Pouring rain but that didn't stop us. Had a huge breakfast around the corner from our hostel and then headed into town. Went to the Bratislava Castle and museum and it was fabulous. Spent three hours there and climbed up to the bell tower. Walked down to St. Michaels church (last coronation of Ferdinand II occurred there) and then to St. Michael's Gate. We found a great wine bar called Trunk across the Bloominthal church where I was baptized and had some fabulous Slovak wine. I had a wonderful St. Laurent from Ludwig vineyards 2015 red. We took a tour of Bloominthal church and then went to dinner to the Klastorska Pivnica (Monks Cellar). All the beer is made by the monks. Had some fabulous borscht and a pagac (bacon biscuit) and some awesome Ivan dark beer. Service was awesome and we had a great time. Put on about 10 k walking today.Read more

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    Slovakia - Pt 2-Solo again

    October 21, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    We ended up at a jazz bar just around the corner from our hostel and tried this amazing plum and herb liquor - it was 72% proof and it helped clear up my cough by this morning . I caught Christy's cold a couple of days ago. Had breakfast and walked Christy to her train. Decided to go to Brno for three days instead of Prague. I'm meeting Denisa in Olomouc on Saturday (our bunk mate) and she is going to show me around. Her mom lives there. After Brno I will head to Prague for a few days.Read more

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    Brno-Czech Republic

    October 21, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Well here I am again in another amazing city. I am the only one in my six bed hostel (keeping my fingers crossed) and it is an apartment decorated for a queen. I may actually sleep all night. Brno from what I walked so far this afternoon has lots of culture, history and is the Moravian region. It's gorgeous! I will be here for the next 3 days snooping around and then will decide where to go.Read more

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    Brno today

    October 22, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    What a beautiful sunny day today with a crisp note in the air. Walked the city today but all the churches seemed to be closed. There are 4 churches within .5km of each other here. There are also underground tunnels (labyrinths) which I am too chicken to explore by myself. Apparently the dearly departed who had the plague years ago were exhumed and strange things lurk there. Got a roommate, Yuchin from Taiwan bunking with me tonight and she works for Amazon in Bratislava. Will meet up with her when I go back. We had dinner together at a local beer tavern that was super busy and the beer and food was outstanding. Two beers, gulash with steamed dumplings and gravy and hot peppers with tip $10. No fotos because since I uploaded to iCloud I have no storage in my phone. Really ticked off. Will be purchasing a camera tomorrow if I can find a shop so I can take some pictures. It's a must as the sites here are incredible. Highly recommend Brno as a destination to see.Read more

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    Last day in Brno

    October 23, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    I found an Apple Store in town today as well as a huge shopping centre. Bad news is my phone won't hold much data let alone upload to cloud so I have to email myself my pictures to my laptop and then delete them from my iphone to make space. Pain in the ass. When I return to Sk I will buy a camera. Ntl I have managed to make some space to take a few shots today. Visited the gothic church of St. Peter & Paul, Green Market square and Freedom Square. Check out the cock clock as it is known here. Rings everyday at 11 but should be at noon and no one can figure out what time it is. It was erected (literally) in 2010 and the representation is when the swedes invaded in 1645. Every new year it's wrapped in plastic to protect it from fireworks so it looks like a giant condom. Only in Europe! Amazing.Read more

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    Prague-Czech Rep

    October 24, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Took the 10:30 train to Prague today. It was so smooth at 160km/h. Got here at 1:08 pm and walked an extra 8 km before I found my hostel. Google sucks sometimes. But when I got here and found out I was dead centre of the Charles bridge and all the history I booked another night. I don't think I can see this city in two days; it is absolutely jaw dropping and everybody needs to see it just for the architecture and how amazing the buildings are. This is architectural pornography. Sitting at the wine bar next to my hostel and enjoying a 2012 Cab Franc and 2012 Pinot Noir. Going for a night tour after to see what's going on.Read more

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    Evening in Prague

    October 24, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Took some shots of Prague by night. There is some magical karma here in city! It is a gorgeous night view. Sharing my hostel room with 5 guys.

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    City slicking in Prague

    October 25, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Started off on my your at 815 this morning. It was really misty and kept the mobs indoors. I had walked 15km by the time I sat down for lunch. My feet were numb. All the roads are cobblestone and there are no lines to show drivers where to drive (hard to walk on the cobblestones). I took the funicular up to the top of Petrin gardens and then meandered back down to town. I stumbled across the Templar restaurant and had lunch-grilled chicken breast with grilled potatoes, gravy, salad, bread,beer and mineral water all go $10 with tip. Inexpensive to eat here . At the top of the castle grapes were grown with one vine up and
    spread over wires for a continuous canopy. *(Cane canopy) Very interesting and very old vines.    Read more

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    Part 2

    October 25, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Saw some interesting signs along the way. "Alcohol is our religion!" Come visit the KGB museum! (This one intrigued me and so I have to go visit that).

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    Last night in Prague

    October 26, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Last day of touring around today and so much to write. Made it to the KGB museum which in itself was quite the experience. The orator I swear was ex KGB. Factoid-KGB established in 1917, several secret branches of it, ring leader and his armies used cocaine to be better leaders and to bring up the spirits of the army personnel. Convicts had tattoos of Stalin tattooed on their chests so that if they were ever caught they wouldn't be shot due to honor. Stalin is still #1 in Russia. Check out the photos. The guide had really rough English but was over the top in acting out scenarios and me and the two Scots ripped ourselves laughing.Read more

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    The rest of the day

    October 26, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    So then I find the John Lennon wall. He was never in the republic but they love him here. Lots of student protests and the wall was painted over several times but the graffiti comes back. There is also some nice graffiti here. So I come around the corner and see two guys and one is sitting suspended in the air-wtf? And right across the street is a Thai place where you put your feet into a fish tank and the tiny fish eat the dead skin off your feet-pedicure Thai style-so grotesque but busy. I find the senate buildings and a sign says no guns allowed . And then a park for peacocks. A very odd exit day out of Prague.Read more

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    Olomouc, Czech Rep

    October 27, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    After a crappy sleep I made my way out of Prague by 8:30. Columbian guy came in drunk reeking and sat on the floor for an hour and then he made his way to his top bunk and then snored all night. Spanish girl above me crawled in late and then put her sopping wet jacket on the cabinet next to her bed...so I get up this morning with a wet bed and my rubber boots are soaked inside( just bought new insoles), ntl I was choked. Made it to Olomouc, which is in the Moravian wine region and very mountainous. The hostel was easy to find and the staff said I had the room to myself for two nights. Yippee I can sleep. Will be here until the 30th exploring and then will head towards Vienna, Austria. There is an astronomical clock here similar to the one in Prague that was built in the 15th century so I will check that out tomorrow. I took a photo of the one in Prague on my way out this morning. Good grocery store around the corner. Bought two bottles of wine, breakfast and dinner stuff for $13. A Moravian cab franc 2009 and Bulgarian Cab Sav Merlot 2010-price of both wines $6. So cheap. The Cab Franc is scrumptious.Read more

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    Ghost town?

    October 28, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Started on an early walk this morning after having breakfast with Raik. He has invited me to visit him in Kiel Germany later in my travels. Said I could couch surf at his place. Lives in northern Germany close to the border of Denmark. Will see where I am. It was so quiet in town today and nothing was open. I found out later that it was Independence Day and it would have been great if they told me at checkin yesterday. This city is known for being the seat of the archdiocese -over 1100 priests, deacons, cardinals in this city and five churches within a half km of each other. Well looks like I can't get into a lot of trouble here! So I did the church tour- up to the belfry and down into the praying cave of another. It was nice to see. Tomorrow I'm booking myself in for a pedicure and getting new insoles. They did have fireworks tonight. Getting cold next week and the time changes tomorrow night.Read more

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    Last night in Olomouc

    October 29, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Times up here and I head out tomorrow. Heading back to Bratislava for the Aunts birthday(it's a surprise so I hope i don't give her a coronary. Am spending 4 days in the city in a hostel so I can do my own thing. I am going to head to Vienna for a day trip on my second day and take the hop on hop off bus around the city. I've been to Vienna several times so I won't hit the same spots as last time. Found the city park today along with the botanical gardens which are still lovely at this time if the year. I can just imagine how beautiful they are in the summer. Only a two hour train ride tomorrow and the time change.Read more

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    Back in Blava

    October 30, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Czech facts: lots of young families who walk their children in buggies everywhere; lots of police presence everywhere, especially at the train stations and on trains; beer is cheap; train system for travelling is awesome, everyone schmooches and shows affection here, young and old. Great easy and fast train ride to Blava. Found my hostel right downtown and they have a laundry- yippee doing laundry right now. 11 euros per night includes linen, soap, shampoo,towel,morning coffee and tea and a welcome drink of beer ,wine or a shot in the bar downstairs. Rooming with three others and yup they are guys again. Laundry is free! Think I'll spend some time in the bar meeting people tonight-I hear the music already it's happy hour.Read more

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    Beautiful fall day in Slovakia

    October 31, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Rise and shine time change- up at 615 today. Brisk morning 5 minute walk to the grocery store to get my staples for the next two days-3.5 euros. Bought some flowers and a candle and made my way to the cemetery to visit my grandmothers and uncles grave. It was packed because off all saints day tomorrow. The city has put the police on alert and patrol for 3 cemeteries to watch for vandalism. I went today because I didn't want to run into family tomorrow. Came back to town and found a place across from my hostel to get a pedicure-it was great and 10 euros (unlike the $40 at home). I can actually feel my feet. They were aching from so much walking. At my new hostel for the next three nights and its in a great area just around the corner from the castle. Went to take some photos this afternoon while the sun was out and went down to the Danube and the centre. The ballet Giselle starts on the 25. I have always wanted to catch a ballet at the National theatre. We'll see what happens.Read more

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    Day trip to Pezinok

    November 1, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Today was wine region day. I took the morning train just 20 minutes out of the city in search of well known wines. Again it was a holiday (All Saints day) so lots of places were closed. I toured around this beautiful little town and had beautiful weather again. I found the wine of Matysak which is well known for a lot of award winning wines. My waiter Kristian was amazing. I told him I was in the wine business and asked to sample three wines off the list. He ended up giving me four award winning wines that were only available by the bottle but the owner had opened them for a private event the night before. I tried an Irsai Oliver early harvest 2016 which was bottled in early October- a hybrid grape bred in 1930 and tasted like a light Muscat. Then it was the Riesling 2015, the Cab Sav rose-2015-which was phenomenal followed by the 2015 Cab Franc (which was very soft on tannins). I had a duck leg with red cabbage and dumplings to go along with it. I ended with a private reserve white called "Rampage" which was not filtered yet and was so fruity and delicious. What a great experience. I came home about 4 and was surprised by a local on my walk back home. See photos. It was a perfect way to spend the day. Tomorrow I am heading to the art gallery to check out that propaganda exhibit from 1939.Read more

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    National gallery

    November 2, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    What an interesting and fascinating exhibit. I only got a 1/3 if the way through the exhibits which were 3 floors. I had a lunch meeting at noon with my cousin so I will have to finish the other 2/3's another day. 1939 the country was run by a catholic priest who had fathered several children with several wives. The signs say have children for a stronger nation. There is a fear among the people from the Bolsheviks and the Jews. The president sides with the Nazis and welcomes Hitler and Joseph Goebbels. Young boys are taught how to handle weapons as young as the age of five. Young girls are taught fitness and cooking so that they are healthy for motherhood and procreation. 1944-1945 end of WW11 and the Slovak propaganda now shows the Soviets in the picture not the Germans. Check out the photos. This is part one if my visit stay tuned for part two with more photos. Incredibly interesting and one of the best exhibits I've been to so far.Read more

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    Family time

    November 6, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    Yesterday was the big party for my aunts 70 birthday. Martina my cousins partner spent two days making her a grand cake. It was gorgeous. The night before we had caught the bus downtown and went to a bar that my second cousin Miso runs. My cousin Zdenko was buying rounds of 20 year old Cuban rum. Didn't feel so good yesterday. We went to the restaurant in the early afternoon and I disappeared for half an hour. By the time I walked back to the restaurant everyone was already there and my cousin was panicking that I had gotten lost. I walked in and everyone sat there with opened mouths and were shocked to see me, especially my two aunts. My cousin kept a good secret about me being here. The party was great and I even had a chance to FaceTime with Julien and Kayleigh . They got to say hello to everyone at the party and vice versa. I'm waiting for my cousin Jozef to send me some pictures because being a social butterfly yesterday I didn't take photos. Stay tuned. Today is Sunday dinner day and it's raining. I'm going to get some fresh air to clear the cob webs. Tomorrow I am going back to the gallery to finish the exhibits.Read more

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    Art day!

    November 8, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ 🌙 0 °C

    Well I finally finished the exhibits at the National Gallery I started a few days ago. It was great. It must have been an art day today because every I looked I saw an amazing and interesting piece of art. Martina came with me and we walked the promenade by the Danube River and then headed for the shopping mall for lunch and browsing. Here an employee gets lunch tickets from their employer to eat. The employer covers up to 80% of their costs and guess what it's not a taxable benefit! You can put your meals on a debit card that restaurants honor and the maximum per month employers pay is 80 euros. That is amazing. I got a bus pass which covers the trams and some northern trains unlimited use for the next month for 30 euros. It's getting colder here and am contemplating changing the wardrobe a bit. Haven't been cold yet and have been watching the weather in Dublin because that is where I will most likely be flying back to Dec 3rd. Tomorrow I move over to my aunts. Have a few day trips planned over the next few days,Read more

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    Day at the cottage

    November 10, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    Yesterday I moved over to my aunt Bobena's apartment. We went for a walk to get wine on tap and enjoy the sunshine. On the way we saw a man had crashed his car into a pole and was laid out on the pavement. By the time we got our wine and made our way back there were a lot of emergency vehicles around him and I said to my aunt that I didn't think he'd made it. Sure enough later that night in the news they announced he had had a heart attack and slammed into the pole-66 yrs old. Visited with Vlado later that evening. This morning I woke up to snow. Yikes! I've now got to get some winter clothes. We went to the cottage, trimmed roses, started a fire and had lunch.Read more

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    Cerveny Kamen (Red Rock) Castle-Modra

    November 11, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ 🌧 3 °C

    Today we took a day trip to Cerveny Kamen castle. I saw my first white peacock feeling the cold just like I was. We had a guided tour and I wanted to take photos but was told I couldn't because I didn't purchase a photography pass. Well that didn't stop me because I used my second cousin Juraj as a human shield do I could sneak pictures. The castle is built out of red Quartz and was owned by the Palffy family (yes the same one that Ziggy Palffy the Slovak hockey player that played in the NHL came from). It was built in the 11th century. A very impressive place. It was so cold and foggy today that it took me two cups of tea and three hours under the blanket before I started to warm up. Tomorrow is shopping day and movie day with Martina. Going to see Snowden in Slovak, should be interesting.Read more

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    Sunshine finally!

    November 14, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ ☀️ -1 °C

    It has been so foggy and rainy and yesterday we finally had a break in the weather-Sunshine-yippee. Saturday I went to the movies and saw the movie Snowden which was great. Sunday morning my cousin Zdenko turned on the stove in the morning and activated the drying process of the super chillies in the oven. We were all coughing and barely breathing with the amount of capsicum that was in the air. I now know what bear spray is all about. It was an awful feeling. All the windows were opened and the chillies were quickly wrapped up and throw into the trash. Zdenko dropped me off close to my aunts and I went for a nice long walk by myself in the beautiful sunshine. Haven't been walking as much as I should be. I had Sunday lunch at my aunts which consisted of duck, cabbage, dumplings and apple strudel. After lunch we went to a shopping mall which I would never have guessed because it certainly did not look like a shopping mall with my aunts friend Milka(yes just like the chocolate). She is going to check into tickets to see the ballet "Giselle" for me. I hope they are not too expensive because I really want to go. I booked my flight back to Dublin for the 6th of December and will be catching the bus from the airport to Galway. I plan on spending at least five days there and then heading south. My flight-35 euros from Bratislava to Dublin. So incredibly cheap to fly in Europe.Read more

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    Making tracks

    November 16, 2016 in Slovakia ⋅ 🌫 0 °C

    We set out this morning (with my intention) to do some walking. Took the fast bus to Ikea and then to the Avion shopping mall. I wanted to compare the design styles in Europe and Canada. There was a but if difference but prices are higher here. We left the shopping centre after 3 hours and then headed home, making a stop at the cemetery. My aunt wanted to bus it home but I was adamant in walking because it was so beautiful. I wore here out because by the time we got home she said she wasn't going anywhere else for the rest of the day. Yesterday I took the bus to my aunt Anna's house who lives in a village outside of Bratislava. We walked to a local Italian restaurant had a desert and a glass of wine. We spent about six hours together talking and catching up.Read more

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    Overdose on chocolate!

    November 16, 2016 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Ugh want an ugly day! All the better to drive to Hainburg and Kittsee, Austria. We went shopping with Milka and her daughter to Austria. On the way back we hit the chocolate factory which was bursting with people , huge lineups and chocolate tastings to your hearts content for free. I tried 8 different bonbons and felt sick to my stomach after. Low tolerance to sugar. Tonight we are going to a local brew house to try IPA beer and they serve "rezane"-half and half.Read more

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