Sunday 30 October 2016

Iconic Ireland

In the mood for an easy get away? To a place where you'll rarely have to fuss around with sticky sunscreen, but you can snuggle up next to each other under an umbrella 200days a year on average. Then Ireland is your place to go!


Fáilte go hÉirinn !

(Welcome to Ireland)


As described by the lonely planet the land of ancient rocks and great legends this country has something for everyone. Looking for vibrant city's? feeling like long coastal hikes? In the mood for viking history or just a good pint of Guinness? 
Daily flights from Brussels international airport will bring you to Dublin, the beating hart and capital of this extraordinary republic. From there it's easy access all across the country by car, train, bus, coach bike or hike if you're feeling very adventurous.

My friend and I only had just over 60 hours worth of city trip, I think we're safe to say we got absolutely everything out of it we possibly could.

So early evening flight out of Brussels got us to our hostel by 10pm and out for dinner, a beer and a bit of live music in the bar around the corner from the hostel.

DAY 1 - rain/sunshine/rain/clouds/rain

TIPP: always find a hostel that offers free breakfast! even if it isn't much, it's always better than starting your day having to getting your money out right away.
To get the most out of our day we sorted ourselves out with a 24hour Hop on Hop off bus ticket to get us to all the must see places easiest.
The spire

So of we where, hopping on and off busses every time we felt like it.

Beginning at the spire, ...










..., eavesdropping on walking tours through the Trinity College grounds, ....
Ireland houses of Parliament on your right and the Irish whisky museum on the corner right in front 





























..., taking out our sunnies for every ray of sunshine on the rooftop of the bus, ....


Saint Andrews Church 









..., getting of at Temple bar coming across the Molly Malone statue by accident, ....










Molly Malone 



..., finding an awesome 60ties diner called Eddie Rocket's, reasonably priced sliders, fries and a soda in a real old school fashion city diner is all we needed for lunch, ... 

Dublinia
.., stepping back in time in the viking history museum in Dublinia, wandering some more around Dublin castle, St Patricks Cathedral, the huge Guinness brewery and storehouse and Phoenix park among many others. To end a very busy day with a good meal and a big pint of Guinness accompanied by some live music as you must whilst in Dublin.


Christ Church Cathedral
Meanwhile we had decided to take a day tour to the west coast the next day and so we did.

After a painfully early morning we got on a coach for DAY 2 - rain/wind/rain/more wind/sunshine!





First stop; walking tour around charming Galway city

This 'City of the tribes' will be European capital of Culture in 2020 and for good measure. The cultural heart of Ireland, the city has over 23 festivals a year finding a reason to celebrate just about every,- and anything!











The Lynch window






Ireland might ass well be the land of the legends under the motto: "never let the truth get in the way of a good story".  

That being said, legend let's us believe that from this very window former mayor James Lynch FitzStephen hanged his own son, as judge and executioner,  for the murder of a Spanish young man who he had mistaken for being his girlfriend's lover.


St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
This collegiate church in the city centre, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra (the patron saint of seafarers) in recognition of Galway's status of being a port and always stood central of life in Galway (literally and figural speaking that is).  

Fun fact: In 2002 the church hosted the first same-sex marriage in an Irish church.


As you may notice the tower has a clock missing on it's north-western side. This because, the roman catholic Galway Cathedral sits on that side of the city and the parish church didn't want the roman Catholics to be able to see the time from their clocks.


After a few hours in a cosy bus listening to, possibly, the best tour guide/bus driver talking about the Irish desert, Halloween by the Celts and how it all started, about the Wild Atlantic way on which we were driving and how it's the longest designated coastal road in the world, teaching us Irish and so much more. To stop at the best places for pictures through the bellowing wind and horizontal rainfall.


Around noon we stopt in a little village of Doolin with an old fashion pub where we had an absolutely mouth watering home made beef Guinness stew to brace ourselves for the absolute cherry on top of our trip, the Cliffs of Moher.
These magnificent cliffs rise about 214m out of the Atlantic Ocean on the highest point which O'Brien's tower marks, but have an average height of 120m from sea level.

It was down right jaw-dropping amazing to be on the edge of the Atlantic ocean. It's an absolute must-do if you're in Ireland, because even the most beautiful pictures can't capture the essence of this extraordinary site. Yet, we try.


travel buddy, Manon, looking over at O'Brien's tower

Manon and myself being blown away by the wind, trying to take a selfie


lushes green grass sides and slithers of blue sky and sun after a long days rain,
things couldn't have been better.




Feel like hopping on a coach to see these beauties for you self? Head over to the Dublin tour company website or ask your hostel is they go with the company for more information on all the different tours and prices, don't forget your student card, most tours give student discounts!!





 An elegant sunset drive across the country back to Dublin brought us to the end of our impulsive 62 hour city trip. As proper broke backpackers we had a painfully early flight in the morning so we slept in the airport to have a Starbucks breakfast at 3 AM before our flight back to Belgium. 





As uni has begun again, it'll be all about city tripping again until time (and money) for more!
xoxo Lizzie



Dublin/Ireland, Sept 6 to 10th 2016

Wednesday 7 September 2016

a glimps of Ghent




Because I've lived in the beautiful city of Ghent for almost a year now, I decided to write a bit about it, as it definitely is part of my world adventures.

Now, there is a lot to see in and around the city but I'll take you on a one-day trip through Ghent.




Start off your day with a big brekkie (or brunch for all yous who can't get out of bed early) at the Pain Quotidien, in the beautiful historic building 'De Post' on the Korenmarkt just across of the square from the Sint-Niklaas church.
The first Pain Quotidien opend in Brussels in 1990, today the chain has more than 200 locations on 5 continents!

Go to lepainquotidien.be/en/our-philosophy/ and learn the story behind this wonderful place.



(Not sure what to chose? I'd recommend the Angler Brunch if you're in for a big brekkie.
<<<--- )




Ghent has a lot of historic sites including the Sint-Niklaas church, the Belfry (Belfort) and the Saint Bavo Cathedral (Sint Baafs). These three medieval towers the old city centre, where you will be heading after breakfast.
(--------------->>>)







Follow the Leie north across the Graslei, where you'll find plenty little boat companies on your left and nice cafes and restaurants on your right overlooking the river,  straight ahead through the cobbled street lined with some more restaurants and cafes, the Pensmarkt and over the groentenmarkt where you take a left across the water to find yourself on the Saint Pharaildis square (Sint Veerle plein) dominated by the great Castle of the Counts on the northern side.





This impressive fortress was built in the early 11th century like you see it now standing tall before you. Head across the square and through the massive entrance, once inside the main courtyard simply follow the signs and numbers up the stairs directly on your right to guide you through and around the Fortress. 

It started out, almost entirely out of wood. Funnily enough. The count of Flanders was the first to fortify the place by building a medieval bastion on the high sand dune as early as 918. 
It wasn't until the 11th century that the central wooden building was replaced by the stone residence.


The ‘Gravensteen’ as you can visit it now has been open to the public since 1907 after restoration.


For more, accurate, history/prices/opening hours/... of the site please go to following link to find the official website. Castle of the Counts, Hart of historic Ghent!


After all that historical wandering grab a bagel at one of the many bagel-bars, such as a cute place on Kramersplein (just behind Sint Pieters plein) in a hipster-y shop with bagels to die for @Bar Jan Creemer or @Jackie's Baglebar which is just a short 15 min walk across the city from the Castle of the Counts where you’ll find plenty of choice in bagels, cupcakes and donuts.



With your tummy full of bagels, donuts and cupcakes from Jackies take a strole by the waterside to the Vooruit, a vibrant arts centre as well as a significant meeting place which is practically around the corner from Jackie’s.
The 100-year old building houses four stages, four studios and a large café. Check the site to see if you can pitch in with a guided tour of this official historical landmark! (vooruit.be/en/








Follow your feet south on the Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat passing the Rectorate and university forum (UFO) of Ghent University on your left just after the Vooruit. 






Feeling peckish already?  Take a pit-stop @Mayana chocolate bar a small heaven on earth place for everyone who loves chocolate! 

(Don't know what to chose? the ice creams are delicious! <<<----)







Keeping heading south for another 300m to find yourself on St Peter's square and thus near the entrance of his Abbey, the St Peter’s Abbey. Find your way through the buildings and beautiful gardens and learn all about the history or just enjoy this calm green oasis in the middle of the city from the vineyard or orchid garden.





Fun fact: Did you know that the manuscripts from the St. Peter's Abbey's library contained a curse until the twelfth century? In Latin it says, 'This book belongs to the St. Peter's Abbey in Ghent, bless those who keep it, curse those who take it away. Anyone who tears out or rips a page, be under the Church's ban.'





Find more on sintpietersabdij.stad.gent/en !


After al long sight-seeing day make your way to Frituur Zorro or De Frietketel for some real upper class Belgian fries and take a final stroll next to Ghent's water banks flowing all throughout the city as if you were in Venice.






















There is so much more to do (and eat!) in this beautiful city, I would certainly recommend staying at least a full weekend if not more. Trust me. It will be worth it! 

It may not be as worldly famous as Bruges but it's just as beautiful and picturesque (if not more ;) ).


Up next is Dublin and Berlin for a couple of days each! I'll be back soon with more worldly adventures. Oh and a foodie post!!
until next time,
xoxo Lizzie

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