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The weekend of Easter, I had Easter Monday off, as is important for the French, so I decided to use the time to visit my friend Nada in Egypt!
Nada was an international student here at Linfield a couple of years ago, and I was able to visit her last year in Egypt when I went with Dr. Noussi for the Women of the World Conference in Alexandria. This time, I spent four days in Cairo with Nada and her friends, experiencing everything I wasn’t able to see last time!
Nada also let me partake in Ramadan with her! We fasted for the day and broke fast to eat Ful Mudammas around 6:20 pm, when the sun set. We’d go out after to the markets and historical monuments, staying out late to eat Mahshi until our fasting began again around 4:00 am. We’d get a few hours of sleep and go back out to explore Cairo.
Wood-carved Door in Mosque
The first day I went to work with Nada, where she is a doctor at a physical therapy clinic. Afterwards, we broke fast at a viewpoint overlooking all of Cairo and headed to the market, Khan Al-Khalili, that was decorated with Ramadan lights and beautiful lanterns. The market was right outside the ancient gates of old Cairo, a UNESCO world heritage site. We then walked along the Nile and ate some sweet treats before heading back to Nada’s apartment to rest.
Tiles Lining Floor of Mosque
On Sunday, we went to the incredible Ibn Tulun mosque and toured the museums in the Cairo Citadel. We ordered food and sat at a park on the bank of the Nile and waited for the sun to set to break fast. We ate so, so many Ramadan desserts over some Turkish coffee and then finished off the night by going bowling.
Ramadan DessertsNada picking out Ramadan dessertsMe and Nada at the Cairo Citadel
The next day while Nada was at work, I went with her friend to the religious site Mogamaa Al-Adyan, where there was a Coptic museum, a few churches, a mosque, and a synagogue. Nada and I then broke fast at her apartment, drank some Ramadan juice and milk and hit the town again. We started at a mall then when to another market. At the end of the night, we got on a party boat for a cruise on the Nile.
Boat on the NileHanging Church in Old Cairo
It was a whirlwind of a journey, but definitely worth it. Next year I’m hoping to visit Nada in her hometown of Port Saïd!
Looking to do something spontaneous, my roommate and I took an afternoon trip to the coastal town of Cassis!
We hopped on a bus to Marseille and toke a quick train ride to Cassis. From the train station we walked for about 30 minutes following vineyards and sycamore tree-lined paths. The colors were vibrant in the Mediterranean sun, with the cool, salty sea breeze giving us a break from the heat. At the water front we ate lunch facing the marina, with a picturesque view of the sailboats and yachts with the sea in the background, all framed by the calanque cliffs.
MarinaCassis Coastline
We had no goal to our journey or aim to our wandering- just to explore the cute town and absorb the sounds of the waves. We peaked into tide pools and climbed the boulders up to a flat place to nap.
View down Cassis streetLocal ChurchMe and the Mediterranean
Near the end of the afternoon, my roommate got some gelato and I got a Nutella crêpe. We enjoyed our sweets sitting at a park where people were playing pétanque, a game where they throw metal balls the size of croquet balls towards a target. There, we ran into my ceramics professor and her family. We came to the conclusion that we now actually have grounds to say that it’s a small world, having travelled half way across it, finding people from similar places with similar interests.
We hiked back up the steep hill out of town to the train station and back home just in time for dinner with our host mom.
I flew straight from Cairns to Sydney for the second half of the week. We arrived at the airport in Sydney, it was about 11pm, so I head straight to my hotel and went to bed.
On Thursday morning, I headed towards the city to a shuttle bus pickup location. Here I got picked up for a tour of the Blue Mountains. This was an all-day tour I had scheduled beforehand. Our first stop on the tour was the Sydney Zoo. We got to the zoo about an hour before it opened, so our tour group had the whole place to ourselves. I got to go into the koala sanctuary and take a picture with Nelson the koala. Unfortunately, he was asleep, so I didn’t get to hold him and had to be very quiet not to wake him. After the zoo, our bus departed towards the Blue Mountains. Along the way, we learned a handful of random trivia from our tour guide/bus driver, Les, who was hilarious and made the tour very exciting.
When we got to the Blue Mountains, everything was fogged over. We were supposed to take cable cars through the canyons and see a bunch of waterfalls and landmarks, but nothing was visible through the fog. We hiked down at one spot that was a little clearer and were able to see a waterfall. Other than that, Les took us to about 12 different spots and not one had any visibility. We called it a day after a few hours of trying and headed on back. It was still a fun tour despite not getting the full Blue Mountain experience.
Waterfall on hikeBlue MountainsMe and Nelson
On Friday, it was pouring in Sydney. I decided to take the train into town and try to explore some landmarks that were indoors. I went to Market City, a decent sized mall with a few floors of stores and then a market on the ground floor. After that, I wandered to the Queen Victoria Building. That was a very beautiful building. By this point, I was soaking wet, so I headed on back to my hotel and called it a night.
Queen Victoria Building
On Saturday morning, the sun came out just in time for me to see some sights before my flight that afternoon. I got up and took a ferry around the bay. I got to see the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the water.
The ferry docked at Circular Quay, where I walked to a place called the Rocks Markets. Tents and food trucks lined the streets for blocks. I wandered around for a bit and got some lunch, then caught a bus to Bondi Beach. I walked through some shops at Bondi, got some gelato, then sat in the grass by the beach for a bit. I didn’t have much time before I had to catch a train to the airport. I reached the airport and flew back to Melbourne as my break came to an end.
Bondi BeachGelato at BondiSydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House
Recently, we had a week off classes for Easter break. I spent the first half of this week in the town of Cairns, located in the Northeastern coast of Australia. I had three days in the area, so had to squeeze everything I wanted to do into that short period of time.
My flight landed Monday morning. I went straight from the airport to the botanical gardens for a nice morning walk. I spent a few hours walking around the different trails. It was very pretty and from the moment I entered I felt like I was deep in the rainforest. After the botanical gardens, I walked to my hotel to get checked in and relaxed for a bit. Then I took a bus into town to meet up with a friend. We walked the main streets and wandered through some night markets, then had dinner at a bar near the pier.
Boardwalk in CairnsCairns Botanical Garden
On Tuesday, I had a Great Barrier Reef snorkeling tour booked. The tour was amazing. We got picked up by the shuttle around 7am and were boarded the boat and headed towards the reef by 8am. The crew on the boat made it very enjoyable. We stopped at our first reef location for about two hours. The time flew by. I was in the water snorkeling the whole time. I got to see a lot of different fish and coral, and even a couple sharks at that location. Then we boarded the boat and headed to a second reef location. During this time, we were fed a delicious lunch by the crew. At the second spot, I again spent almost the whole time in the water snorkeling. I finally found a sea turtle and followed it around for at least 30 minutes. After that location we headed back to shore. It was a great day and an amazing experience.
Sea turtle spotted at the Great Barrier ReefGreat Barrier ReefSnorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef
On Wednesday, a friend and I took a ferry to Fitzroy Island for the morning. The day started out beautiful, then as we were eating lunch it began to downpour. Our plan was to go kayaking, but we aborted that plan when the rain started. Instead, we took a hike through the forest, heading along the beach once the rain stopped. It was super pretty and a fun, quick trip before we had to head out for our flights. Once we got back, we gathered our things and headed to the airport.
This spring break was a wild adventure of exploring all around France with my sister!
The journey started for me down in Aix where I took a bus overnight to Paris. I then had a leisurely morning sipping an espresso in front of Place de la Bastille before picking my sister up from the airport and catching a train down to Bordeaux.
Place de la Bastille
Bordeaux is gorgeous and probably my favorite city out of the ones we visited for break! That night we went to a wine bar to experience some Bordeaux wine. I had the best red wine I’ve ever tried there. To accompany our wine, we had French tapenades and some roasted Camembert with honey.
Rôti Camembert
The next day we spent walking all around Bordeaux, trying to experience as much of it as we could. We started with a classic French breakfast of coffee, fresh-pressed juice, a croissant, and bread with jam. We then headed to the market on the water-front and meandered through the lively stands. Next, we headed towards city center where we happened upon monument after monument around the narrow street corners. Under the bell tower, we went into a patisserie and bought a cannelé, the pastry of Bordeaux. It had a crisp, sugary syrup coated outside and a spongy center.
Bordeaux Bell TowerSt. Andre Cathedral in BordeauxCanelé
After our day in Bordeaux, we headed to the train station for our next destination: the Loire Valley. The Loire Valley is known for its castles that used to house kings, queens, and noble families of France. We stopped for a connection in Tours and made it to Blois, where we stayed for a few nights.
The first day, we explored the small town, which had a much slower and calmer pace compared to Bordeaux. The architecture was also rounder with less intricate designs compared to what you’d find in Bordeaux or Paris. We spent a few hours touring the Château de Blois, where 7 kings and 10 queens had lived. It was absolutely breathtaking and by far my favorite out of the three chateaus we visited. That night we tried a specialty of the Loire Valley, Tarte Tintin (an apple pie-like dessert).
The walk into BloisAbbatiale Saint NicolasThe King’s EntranceInside the King’s Spiral StaircaseView of Blois from the Château de BloisHuman Gargoyles in Château de Blois
The next day, we hopped a train over to Amboise to tour three chateaux: Château Royal d’Amboise, Château du Clos Lucé, and Château Gaillard. The first had a beautiful view overlooking the Loire and an expansive network of gardens. The second was the château that Leonardo de Vinci lived in, given to him from King François I, who lived in Château de Blois and Château d’Amboise. The third Château was where Mary Queen of Scotts spend a few weeks, a safe haven provided by her uncle. We stopped for an espresso and a chocolate eclair break before heading back to Blois for the night.
Château du Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s HouseLeonardo da Vinci’s sketches and notebook
The next morning, we left for the last leg of our trip: Paris!
Once checked into our hostel, we did a walking tour of all the monuments of Paris. We spend all day wandering around, stopping periodically for a coffee, pain au chocolat, or crêpes. We ended the night by watching the sun set by the Eiffel Tower, seeing the “City of Lights” form the top of the tower and watching it twinkle while eating a dinner of French onion soup.
Le Petit PalaisThe River SeinEiffel Tower at SunsetTop of the Eiffel Tower
The entire next day was dedicated to experiencing everything we could from the Louvre. We spent a total of 7 hours in the maze that is the Louvre art museum! My favorite section by far was the Grecian statues.
Psyche Revived by Cupid’s KissStudy of Hands by Nicolas de LargilliereStatue of Artemis
For our last day, we started off by going up to Sacré Coeur. Our already sore legs from all the walking tours were dead by the time we climbed the 300 steps to the top of the hill. We then looked around Musée Rodin and barely had enough time to explore Musée d’Orsay before it closed. If I have time to go back to Paris, I’d definitely dedicate time to experiencing Musée d’Orsay again.
Sacré CoeurRodin’s Study of HandsRodin’s Study of Man’s FormSainte Victoire by CézanneThe Thinker
The next morning, we woke up at the crack of dawn to drop my sister off at the airport and for me to catch a train back down to Marseille. From the train ride down, I was able to see the countryside of France, with rolling hills, châteaux towering over small towns, and fields with herds of sheep. After a bus ride from Marseille to Aix, I passed out in bed to rest up for class in the morning.
This blog is typed with much anticipation indeed. I am taking my last trip to another country in just under a week! I will be traveling to Alicante, Spain to visit my absolute best friend. She has also been on exchange this semester from Linfield and doubles as one of my roommates. It’s been almost four months since I saw her last, and after living together for a full semester and spending tons of time with each other before that, this has felt like forever. I am over the moon that I get to see her in just under a week!
She has kept me updated on her trip of course and we chat all the time, so I’m looking forward to seeing the sights that she has described. I’ll be staying near the beach, and plan to spend my brief four days there walking and seeing as much as possible. I can’t wait to try some authentic Paella and Sangria and spend some time in the sun! I love my rainy days, but the sun has been an infrequent guest here in Ireland and I am excited to say hello again.
Now while I’m anticipatory of my trip, I still intend to make the most of my time in Ireland before I go. Something that I have yet to do is rent one of the bikes that are parked everywhere here in Galway. Though classes have ended, I still have two essays to get done before my trip to Spain. Something that I love about our little apartment is that we have a beautiful walking trail just across the street. So anytime I feel a little stifled I can take a grounding walk and have a nice break. Sometimes I can even see a swan or two! My favorite find so far is a cat that looked more like a cow with its markings.
A Friend on the Nature Trail
Today is an especially rainy day, and I have passed the time doing some Sunday cleaning and packing for my trip. I wanted to share some photos of my favorite spots around Galway, so here we go! The first thing on my list is something I mentioned in a previous blog: the Saturday market. My favorite stall is by far this fairy one, it’s so mystical and fun!
The Fairy Stall
Next up on my list is a sign I spotted after walking along the beach. I was shocked to find out that there is quicksand in Ireland! When I was younger, I was afraid of quicksand and thought it was a common danger to be aware of in everyday life. Later on, I found that to be false, but the little kid inside me was still a little wary of the walkway here! From what I have gathered, this is only the case in this singular spot of marsh just past the neighborhood of Salthill but it’s certainly interesting!
Danger! Quicksand!
Next up is what seems like a. trail to another world. Coill Ros Cathail (Rosscahill Wood) is a quiet woodland, beautifully located along the shores of Ross Lake in Co. Galway and part of the old Ross estate. It is mossy and green, even in the throws of winter and it’s a pleasant walk no matter what time of year you go. This place makes the top ten for me!
Coill Ros Cathail (Rosscahill Wood)
The next photo is not a place, but all around Galway, there are rainbow crosswalks. Ireland was one of the first European countries to legalize gay marriage and has been one of the most inclusive places I have ever visited. These crosswalks are an example of the casual acceptance that can be found in Ireland.
Rainbow Road
Up next is my favorite sign to pass. This is a Claddagh. The Claddagh has a rich history in Ireland, and Galway is where it originated! The Claddagh Ring represents love (heart), friendship (hands), and loyalty (crown). These three elements form a powerful symbol of commitment and enduring affection. Men and women alike wear these rings, and there are different ways to wear the ring to signify your relationship status. The only time you wear your ring on your left hand is when you are married, otherwise, you wear it on the right. Flipped side up (like in the picture) means you are in a committed relationship, flipped upside down signifies you are single and ready to mingle! Back in the US, these rings can be expensive, but I bought one from this shop for only 25 Euro!
The First Claddagh Store
Last up on my list is the Woodquays. The Woodquays are the center of Galway and home to all of the shops and pubs! The picture I have included is a view of the entrance from the south. It was so festive for St. Patrick’s celebrations, and the flags have stayed up to my delight.
The Woodquays
That’s all I have for you today, but stay tuned for my trip to Spain and all the sights I have yet to share!
“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. A country without a language is a country without a soul.”
― Pádraig Pearse
Dearest Readers,
Here is my St. Patrick’s Day recap! I’m sorry for making you wait, this month was crazy!
To start, what a weekend! I have to be honest, I thought I was pretty adept at celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. It’s my mom’s and my favorite holiday and we always go all out! Oh boy was I wrong? No one, and I mean NO ONE does this holiday like the Irish. Think about the most outrageous St. Patrick’s parade and multiply that by a hundred. Now add some genuine community interaction and you have my favorite holiday!
Bustling Parade Crowd
We started the day with an adorable parade that consisted of mainly primary school children chanting their school spirit. The firemen from all over the county participated as well, along with a distinct group of cultural displays from each of the cultural minorities here in Galway. There were two Chinese dragons, a Bollywood dance display, and even a Cambodian singing group interspersed throughout the hour-long parade. It was a wonderful way to start the holiday, even if it was quite crowded.
Parade Captain Clad in Green
By the end of the parade, we were famished and tried to find a pub to grab a pint and some delicious pub food. Unfortunately, we forgot to think about the insane crowds and were unable to find somewhere to eat in the city center. Instead, we went with the old faithful: Subway.
It so happened that the Saturday market that is present every week carried over to this magical Sunday. There were tons of food and art vendors, and I had some of the MOST divine cheese I’ve ever tasted from a local cheesemonger. Something about Irish dairy is just untouchable compared to the US. We browsed for about an hour and perused the streets taking in the decorations and overall spirit of the day. Eventually, we decided to listen to some music and managed to squeeze into our favorite pub, Tig Coili (Tih-coilee).
Saturday Market EntranceInside the Cheese Monger’s ShopFlower Stand Within the Market
As per usual, the music was mind-blowing. There was only standing room, but that meant that we got to dance and sway to the lively trad session. We ended our night by going to a dance club that is normally cowboy-themed. Instead of being for one day only, it was decked out in gold, green, and white making us feel very patriotic.
I feel so incredibly lucky to have been living in Ireland during this holiday. These memories will always stay with me. Stay tuned for some day trips that I will be sharing soon! Do me a favor and listen to the band Celtic Women, there are songs in Irish and English and it’s breathtaking!
