Vienna

Vienna
Love & Vienna

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Graffiti on the canal

Besides the big Danube river flowing through the outskirts of Vienna, there is a smaller canal that snakes it way through the city. I first noticed the walls of the canal were lined with colorful graffiti when I took a boat from Vienna to Bratislava. In an effort to check off all the things on my things-to-do-in-Vienna list I went on a chilly but nice photo stroll down the canal. I find it very cool that in such an old traditional city, they have this area of contemporary graffiti art. Interestingly, in the summer along the Danube river, the Viennese have big versions of sandboxes imitating beaches where everyone relaxes and soaks up the sun.
















































Thursday, December 5, 2013

A week in the home country


My previous post on Ireland was compiled solely of photos from my phone. This is a more comprehensive post dedicated to covering my entire Irish trip starting on the east coast in Dublin and ending on the west coast in Galway.

Dublin, Ireland

These photos are from a stroll down the Liffey River





Dublin Custom House










Samuel Beckett Bridge 

Paper boats floating down the Leffey

Samuel Beckett Bridge



Random Photos Around Dublin







Tempe Bar Area







Dame Lane - Another festive street of pubs





The first Parliament building. It turns out his building has no windows as a way to avoid paying higher taxes


Old Viking Mural
Practicing traditional Irish dancing


Trinity College
The college was founded in 1592 and played a major role in the development of a Protestant Anglo-Irish tradition. It is the home to the Book of Kells, and the sight of multiple Harry Potter films.










Grafton Street
Dublin's boutique shopping area which starts with Molly Malone and ends at St Stephen's Green



The Statue of Molly Malone 
See previous post on Ireland to see the famous song about her



Apparently it is good luck to touch her boob!

St. Andrew's Church





Dublin Castle









Memorial garden beside Dublin Castle



Christ Church Cathedral







Guinness Brewery




The important ingredients of beer: barley, hops, yeast (not shown), and water!





The inside of the Guinness storehouse is shaped like a giant pint



View of Dublin from the Guinness storehouse sky bar


Old Jameson Distillery



St. Stephen's Green
At the end of Grafton Street










St. Patrick's Church





Galway, Ireland

Galway... the city by the bay... Oh wait, wrong city! I absolutely love this small Irish sea town. After three crazy days in Dublin, I knew Galway would be the perfect place to relax and really soak up the Irish life... and I was right. The entire town is easily walkable. All you need for a perfect morning is a coffee in your hands and taking in the sights as you walk down the pier. I'm not sure if it was the great hostel I stayed at, or the vibe of the town, but I met some really incredible and down to earth people. Day trips outside of Galway are also incredible whether its Connemara or the Cliffs of Moher.





The Claddagh District
This region by the bay is where the old fishing village that once stood outside the city walls once stood. It is famous for the claddagh ring which symbolizes love, loyalty, and friendship

I bought meself a claddagh ring. If the heart faces you, it means you are taken, if it faces away from you it means you are single. The crown represents loyalty, the heart represents love, and the hands holding the heart represents friendship.











Rugby Fields


Feeding the birds









Cathedral of St. Nicholas






The Spanish Arch
The first time I walked through the arch I almost took out my camera to take a photo, but decided not to. I learned later that it is one of their sights to see, so I went back to nab the photo. The arch is a sixteenth-century structure that was used to protect galleons unloading wine and rum




Viking Pub Crawl
Students host a pub crawl for tourists each night, and I decided to go with two girls I had met at the hostel. When we showed up for the pub crawl, we were the only ones! Just as we were about to say forget it and head home, two more lively girls from Belfast showed up and somehow the pub crawl was back on. The night was crazy good fun with just five girls, and consisted of a pub crawl to four bars, with a drink at each, flip cup, beer pong, and dancing. It even snowed!









The Food and Drink of Ireland

Beef & Guinness Stew and a Smithwick's beer in Galway

Guinness and Shepherd's pie from O'Neills in Dublin

Jameson whisky & Guinness

The Irish love their tea!


Irish whisky from the Old Jameson Distillery

Fish & chips from McDonaugh's in Galway

Guinness beef stew and Guinness beer
(This was the best guinness & beef stew by far)