Christmas market preparation

Yesterday was a holiday marking the day of freedom from Communism November 17th, 1989. We walked the squares for four hours and went to two museums and the candy shop. The night before Milka took usLue lisää
Bunny love & rainy Christmas market

Look at the cutie pie I've got in my hands. Gave Milka a helping hand in feeding her as she wasn't eating -Little Muffin. Went to the market in the pouring rain but it was great. Had a langos whichLue lisää
Catching up

Yesterday I met up Yichun the young girl I met in Brno and we had coffee in town and caught up on our travels. Told her I was heading to Vienna today and she is heading to Wales for a week inLue lisää
Vienna day trip!

Today we took the bus to Vienna and we were in the centre by 10:30 am. Found the Christmas markets right away. We walked around for 4 hours, browsed, ate sweet desserts and drank hot mulled wine. ILue lisää
Vienna ...continued

There are so many sites to see in Vienna and I have always been impressed with the architecture. This is my 5th trip to the city but somehow it seemed too commercialized this time around. We foundLue lisää
Danubia gallery of modern art

Yesterday I dragged my aunt Bobena out for a 12 hour day. We went to the school of beauty where she knows some instructors. We went for lunch at the market and then headed to Cunovo to the gallery ofLue lisää
Bratislava Forest trek

The weather is changing back to cold again so we took advantage of a beautiful day and went for a hike in the forest. We walked four kilometres and then had lunch. There was a tbar at the top of theLue lisää
Evening market at the Bratislava castle

Found out that there was a market at the Bratislava castle and so Martina and I met up and went to check it out. It was brisk and it started to snow lightly. There was a nativity scene set up in theLue lisää
Cultural nights

Tuesday night I went to the Chamber orchestra at the school of music. The musical pieces celebrated 250 years of Wolfgang Mozart and Joseph Hayden. My favourite piece was Mozart Divertimento F dur, KVLue lisää
Topol'cany

Set out his snowy morning to go visit my uncle in Topol'cany before I head back to Ireland on the 6th. The train ride was under 2 hrs and relaxing. I'll be going to the cemetery to visit my father'sLue lisää
Winding up in Bratislava

Last minute goodbyes, trips, family meetings and celebrations before I head off in two days. Yesterday I met with my godmother and cousins and caught up for 7 hours. Lots of laughs. Hit the market andLue lisää
Back in the land of the leprechauns

Left a chilly sunny Bratislava behind at 1:35 today and arrived to a balmy wet Ireland. Made a great connection with the bus directly to Galway (21 euros). The ride was 2.5 hours and my hostel was anLue lisää
The Wild Atlantic Way

Early start today and so much to see. Started on foot to a misty morning at 8am. I finally say down and had lunch at noon. I have to get back into the swing of 20 k a day again. I had done 16k byLue lisää
Trekking ...part two

I came back after lunch and has a rest for about half an hour and set out again. I booked my trip to the Cliffs of Moher and Burren for tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow and theLue lisää
Dunghaire castle, Burren, Doolin

Set out this morning at 10 am to the Cliffs of Moher and Burren. I got a great seat in the bus all by myself and at the last minute a huge American guy sat next to me. I was chocked. I was squishedLue lisää
Cliffs of Moher

Lucky me on my way up to take a photo from the other side of the cliffs I met Leah. We found out we were both from BC-she was from Richmond. After we took some photos we had a beer in Doolin at Gus'Lue lisää
Connemara, Cong bus tour

I booked another night in the hostel today so I could take this bus trip. It was a trip through a national park, friar ruins, abbeys and a fjord along the Atlantic Ocean. Again I lucked out with theLue lisää
Kylemore Abbey and Faerie trees

Our next stop was at Inagh Fjord which was stunning. We stopped by a ribboned faerie tree where if you hang a ribbon, make a wish, your wish will come true. If it doesn't you keep hanging ribbonsLue lisää
Heading south to Killarney

Left at 10 am from Galway today heading to Killarney. Had a one hour transfer in Limerick. Not a pretty city at all-very industrialized. However Killarney was sunny and gorgeous. My hostel is 500 mLue lisää
A walk in the park

I woke up to a beautiful sunny day. Today I dedicated myself to nature, fresh air and a whole lot of walking. How wonderful to have a national park at your doorstep. Two and a half km into my walk ILue lisää
Muckross Abbey, House & Torc Waterfalls

I was set to do the Ring of Kerry this morning before moving onto Cork but my tour was cancelled. Bummer I was really looking forward to it but I was the only one going so it wasn't feasible for theLue lisää
Dingle all the way

Wow it just keeps getting better. I am in Dingle the most westerly part of Ireland and it is so green including the water. It has been stormy all day but I have given to the rain and pressed on. I wasLue lisää
Corked!

Well I'm here in Cork and I can't say I'm impressed. It's like a smaller version of Dublin. I got in early and a toured around for 7 hours and there is not much more to see. Tomorrow I am going to goLue lisää
Cobh (Cove)

Took a day trip to Cobh this morning, formerly called Queenstown. The former queen named it after herself when she visited prior to the sailing of the Titantic. When Ireland gained independence fromLue lisää
The Titantic museum

Well it started to rain and so I decided to take in the Titantic museum. So glad I did, it was fantastic! As I was waiting for the tour four people in camo gear walked in and right away I knew theyLue lisää
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Honey lager and dark stout at the Museum pub
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Christmas market prep at Hlavne namestie (Main Square).
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Brewing vats at the Museum Pub