Semi- Marathon de Paris

Let me just begin by saying I have been slacking terribly on my blog posting, but, never fear, I will recount everything, well not everything maybe just the big things, from the past three weeks in detail little by little. To start, I will begin where I left things off. I was just leaving Dublin and the Darcy’s and was making my way to Paris for the second time.

In my opinion, the public transportation is one of the easiest to understand- even for the French impaired. Everything is labeled so clearly, and there are signs pointing you in the right direction throughout your entire underground journey. This being said, I had very little trouble finding Stephanie’s, my sister’s childhood friend from camp who now lives in Paris, apartment in Montmartre. Stephanie lives directly up the street from the Moulin Rouge, and that was the first site I saw after exiting the subway station- not a bad location! Stephanie was so kind to offer me a couch to bum on and a delicious cheese tart and salad for dinner. We stayed up and talked for quite a while before we said goodnight and both hit our beds, exhausted from yet another day of travelling. However, I must say that I did get used to the traveling, and I grew accustomed to it after a while. When you are getting to see all of the things that I had the opportunity to see, the travelling day is not really that bad, and you learn to recover pretty quickly.

The next day, Friday, I said goodbye to Stephanie as she left for her lawyer workings in downtown Paris, and I made my way to the hotel that Casey, her dad, and I would be staying. The hotel was across town, near the half marathon and Parc Floral de Paris. I went for a short jog once I got there to scope out the course and just take in the beautiful day and the area. Casey arrived at the hotel several hours after her estimated time of arrival- needless to say my motherly side was having a heart attack- because she had some unexpected transit complications. Luckily, she made it to me, and it was wonderful to see her again, as always! We went to a late dinner in the Bastille area, and I had my first Salade Nicoise (just for you, La) since coming to Europe. It was so nice to just spend the time reconnecting and getting caught up on each other’s lives. (That is probably the strangest part for me about being over here, having no idea what is going in on the people’s lives that I am normally so involved in. We are all just having our own experiences apart from one another, and I think it will be so great for me and my relationships with everyone at home, but it is still just very strange sometimes.)

The next morning Casey and I made our way to Charles de Gaulle Airport, my second of three times in four days- let’s just say I know my way around that airport pretty well by now- to pick up Mr. Smith! Casey was so thrilled to see him as was he to see her, and I could only imagine their mutual excitement. After the hugs and tears, we made our way back to the area of the half marathon so we could check-in for the big race in the morning! We received our t-shirts and other goodies and just being in the general vicinity of the race got my blood pumping a little faster. The rest of the afternoon was spent sightseeing. Casey and Mr. Smith had never been to Paris, so we took the rapid tour of all of the highlights. First was Sacre Coeur, this stunning cathedral that sits atop the city, followed by Moulin Rouge, the Louvre, the Champs-Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower. It was a moment of sheer happiness as we walked down the Champs-Elysees and the Eiffel Tower’s lights began sparkling. Some moments are just too good to be true. It was a pretty decent crash course of the city, and they returned to The City of Lights just a week later as a family. That night Mr. Smith treated us to a delicious French meal at a restaurant near the hotel, and then we crashed fairly early so we could be ready for the race on the horizon.

In true Parisian fashion, the half-marathon did not commence until 10:00 in the morning, so we were able to get a proper rest and have a decent breakfast of Wheat a Bix and banana before jogging over to the start area. Equipped in my running tights, army shirt from Hannah, and running top from my parents, I was ready for the challenge in front of me. The weather was just perfect, a little cold if you were not racing but perfect for a run. The atmosphere before the race is intoxicating. People are here to test themselves, to prove something to themselves, or simply to make a memory. There is really no way to describe the emotions I was feeling at this time: nervous, proud, scared, accomplished, but mostly excited and purely happy in the truest sense of the word. As most of you know, this race meant more to me than just completing 21 kilometers in a certain time. I was there, I was healthy, I was strong, I was in Paris, and I was living my dream. It was all that I could have asked for, and I couldn’t have asked for better people to accompany me in accomplishing this goal- Casey and Mr. Smith. Before we knew it, the race was had begun, and we were off. We stayed together for the first 5k of the race, and then we split our separate ways. The views during the run were enough to keep anyone motivated- the Bastille, the Seine River, Parc Floral, the screaming fans. I felt strong throughout the whole race and that was all I wanted from my first half-marathon. Casey and her dad finished together, and they did incredibly. Casey is now a seasoned pro, and she makes it look effortless. I have the utmost for respect for Mr. Smith who flew in Saturday morning, ran a half-marathon Sunday morning, and then flew back to the states on Monday!

After the race we received our awards and then sat down in a café for a cappuccino before going back to the hotel to back our things and head back to Florence and Bordeaux, respectfully. I had the most incredible two weeks of my life, and it came to a close in the most perfect manner with the Semi-Marathon in Paris.

True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise; it arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self, and in the next from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions.

Slàinte

Translation: Cheers in Irish (interesting fact- everything in Ireland is written in English as well as Irish or Gaelic and all of the children are taught it in school and speak it fluently, but it is rarely used)

Another successful touchdown in Dublin, a bit of a goose chase in the airport (yes, Megan, there are two terminals in the Dublin airport, not just one), and a joyful reunion with Mary and Megan later, we arrived to Megan’s house where the smell of the dinner cooking in the kitchen greeted us at the door. This delicious smell marks the beginning of ultimate “spoilfest” by Megan and her parents. I walked in to meet her father, Dave, her mother, Adrienne, and her sister, Faye. They are all just genuinely kind, caring people, and I am lucky to have found someone like Megan and to have been so warmly welcomed by her family. (The only down side was that it made me miss my family so much more because I know they would have acted in exactly the same manner. It was a happy miss, however, not a sad one; it just made me once again realize how incredible they are). Dinner was incredible- home cooked meals in the oven seem heavenly after the stove top meals I whip up at Domo-, and it was followed by traditional Irish desserts and visits from Megan’s friends from university. Her friends, Nieve, Sarah, and Aisling, seemed lovely, and we all swapped stories about Ireland and American customs/ ways of life. It was so nice to be able to meet some of her friends from home and really get a glimpse into her life in Dublin. We meet each other in Bordeaux and form our friendships based on this initial encounter, never knowing anything about their families of their friends back home. I like this because in a sense one could start over and start new if they wished, much more than in university, but there is something to be said for understanding a person’s background.

Tuesday we woke up at a decent hour at made our way to the seaside city of Howth. One thing I loved about Dublin was that it has every type of geography just 30 minutes outside of its border! Howth was so beautiful, just this little town set into the cliffs with incredible views of the water. We ate tapas lunch at a restaurant right by the pier and took in the gorgeous Dublin weather from the patio. We took the train back in so we would have time for (drum roll please in honor of Georgie Nixon)… the Guinness Factory. Megan had never been, despite living in Dublin her entire life, so it was a new experience for all of us. The factory is so modern, and you are walked through the entire production of the famed Guinness beer, up several flights of stairs, to the very top of the building where you are served a complimentary pint! The Galaxy Bar, as it is called, provides panoramic views of Dublin, so we sat up there for a while enjoying our Guinness and the company of one another. Megan gave me and Mary her own tour of Dublin afterwards, and I loved everything I saw. The city has a comfortable feeling about it, and maybe it was just because I was with Megan, but I did not feel overwhelmed by its size. The streets are lined with cute cafes and restaurants, clothing stores are visible on most every street, and then there is historic, gothic architecture thrown in the middle of it. We went for a late dinner that evening at Elephant and Castle, where the food was delicious, but the conversation was the highlight-well, it might have been a close second to the dessert actually, hahah!

Wednesday we slept in and lounged around Megan’s house for the morning, which was perfectly fine by me. We headed out to Powerscourt in the afternoon for a picnic and some of the most breathtaking views I have seen thus far on my travels. Powerscourt, again only 30 minutes at most outside of Dublin, is this giant estate that housed royalty and aristocracy for centuries and was used for protection from enemies during battle because it is set high above the hills. Aristocracy imported trees and shrubbery from around the world into the gardens of this estate, and that is the main attraction. We wandered around feeling as if we were in our own version of Alice in Wonderland of The Secret Garden. After coming out of our fairytales, we lunched on the lawn, or rather the wall, of the golf course that sits on the property before heading back into the city. Megan dropped us off at Trinity College to meet our friend Emma, also from Ireland and UCD, while she put the final touches on her school paper. It was so nice to meet Emma and her friend Susie in their own environment, and we got to hear about her internship with Deloitte that she just accepted! After our brief rendezvous, it was back to Megan’s house for yet another gourmet meal, courtesy of Dave and Adrienne. Megan and Faye went to a concert that night, so Mary and I reveled in the sheer relaxation time- we, of course, used it to watch The Bachelor- and bonded a bit more with Megan’s parents.

Thursday morning Mary and Megan left at 5:00 in the morning to catch their flight to Milan, so I was left to my own devices with Megan’s parents. I prepared myself for my Skype interview, which was surprisingly not awkward or weird at all despite the thousands of miles separating us, had a nice run, took a hot shower, got lunch served to me by Dave, and then headed to the airport with Adrienne.

Dublin was without a doubt one of my favorite cities due in large part to the hospitality of Megan and her family. I cannot wait to go back to Ireland with my Dad now- we are going Dad, you would fall in love. Now I am on to my final destination of this two week excursion, Paris, where I will run my first half marathon on Sunday morning beside Casey and her father. I cannot wait!

Is This The Real Life? Is This Just Fantasy?

Even typing this, I cannot believe my life at the present moment. Prague is a city I have dreamt of visiting since high school, and I thought it would always be this illusive city that I would never quite get to. All of that changed on Thursday when I set my feet on the ground in the Bohemian city of Prague, Czech Republic.

I took a bus and then a train to the apartment that we rented for the weekend. It was stunning- on the top floor of the building fully equipped with a microwave, oven, internet access, the most comfortable beds, and a scorching hot shower. I met David at the apartment, and I was thrilled to see him and have the opportunity to catch up with him and hear all about his time in Sevilla. He and I headed out to explore the city (Prague is split in half by a river, and our apartment was on the opposite side from the center of the city, so we were somewhat isolated from the hustle and bustle in our little haven of an apartment which only added to its appeal). We crossed the famous Charles Bridge, walked around the Jewish neighborhoods known as Josefov, grabbed a Starbucks coffee (yes, even in Prague) to warm our frozen bodies, and then made our way back to the apartment to wait for Casey. When she finally knocked on the door I nearly tackled her to the ground- I was a little excited to see her. She got settled, and then we picked out a restaurant (courtesy of the guide book I purchased in the airport which proved invaluable for food recommendations and directions). We decided on Stoleti, and we were not disappointed. I had a chicken breast with seared pears in a marmalade paired with steamed carrots and broccoli. (Another great thing about Prague is that, unlike every other European city I have visited, the dollar is extremely strong here. For example, when I first arrived I skeptically withdrew 3,000 koruna from the atm, which just seems like a lot, but it was only the equivalent of $150.) Thus, our elegant meal was rather reasonable, and the company was priceless.

The next day we got going early. We walked through a park to the castle which towers above all of Prague. Inside the walls of the castle there are multiple churches to walk through and take in. We were enjoying the beauty of the buildings, but we were also all freezing, especially since none of the churches were heated- it was colder inside than outside! The castle tour took several hours, and then we whipped out the guide book for assistance in choosing a lunch destination. We crossed the famous and stunning Charles Bridge to get to the other side of the river, and we made our way to Lokal. We knew it would be good when almost no one spoke English and the entire menu was in Czech- they quickly realized we were American and brought us one in English. Casey and I thawed our toes with the help of some tea, and we all enjoyed some sausage and lentil soup followed by a beautiful, fresh vegetable salad. The rest of the afternoon we spent in the Jewish area of Josefov, because it is closed on Saturday, the holy day. We walked through the Old Cemetery and several beautiful synagogues in the area. The cemetery was deafening, and we were all incredibly moved by the memorial to the Czech and Bohemian Jews who died in the Holocaust. The memorial is inside this building, and it is simply names written on the walls, but it is two stories and seeing the names reminds you of their identity and how similar they were to you and me. Following Josefov, we were ready to get back to our haven and warm up. Once inside, we could not bring ourselves to venture out again for dinner, so we ordered Chinese food and washed it down with beer. I have not had Chinese food in the longest time, not even at home in the U.S. It absolutely hit the spot, and although we all ordered different things, we are pretty sure we all received the same thing with varying degrees of spiciness. (The language barrier was horrible here. We read several things that told Americans not even to attempt to learn any Czech because we would only butcher it.)

Saturday, Casey and David’s final day, we slept in a little bit, and then made our way to John Lennon’s Wall. The wall is a memorial to John Lennon that is spray painted with Beatles lyrics and quotes about love and peace. After his death, the youth in Prague began spray painting the wall in his honor, and the police protested and fought it for several years, but they finally gave in, and it is now a huge tourist attraction. Following this, we walked to Communist Museum and stumbled upon the city center of Prague. We would have never found it and discovered the more modern part of Prague had it not been for my lack of knowledge with the map and directions… we literally just stumbled right into it. The Communist Museum was in a questionable building, and we all had our doubts, but it turned out to be extremely informative. We spent a good two and half hours there just soaking in the history. Another check off our list, and then we headed to lunch. We pulled out the guide book and were on the hunt for the Opera Garden. Tucked away behind several buildings, this restaurant was a true gem. Once again, we were the only customers that did not speak Czech, and only one waiter spoke a bit of English. They started us off with free aperitifs (this shot of two beers, one light and one malt, with bits of cookies on top), we ordered traditional dumplings for the table, Casey and I got roasted eggplant with poached egg, David got a steak (they had actual slabs of meat hanging in the back of the restaurant), and then we polished it off with a chocolate fondue for the table.. Needless to say it was delicious. Following our gourmet meal, we did some souvenir shopping at a huge outdoor market and then made a pit stop at this adorable café, Bakeshop, for cappuccinos and cookies, just in case we didn’t have enough at lunch. After our snack, we made our way to the cathedral to see the famous clock show. The lighting was perfect, and we were all just taking in the beauty of the moment and the shear perfection of our lives at that very moment. That moment was the best of my entire trip thus far. I was perfectly content, perfectly happy. Later in the evening, after relaxing in the apartment for a while, we went out for some Czech beer at a local pub to toast our last night together. The atmosphere was great, and we were once again amidst mostly locals.

In the morning Casey and David left early for the airport, and I was left to my own devices in Prague. I went for the perfect long run through the castle and then headed into the city to get some last minute souvenirs and a cappuccino at our favorite place, Bakeshop. I had the most enjoyable day to myself, and I realized half way through that that was the first day I had been truly alone since coming to Europe. As you all know, I cherish my alone time, so this day came at just the right moment. I got to catch up on some television shows, Skype for a little while, and hit the sheets early.

My final morning in Prague, Monday, came to a close with a quick morning jog, long shower (oh how I have missed them), and train and bus to the airport. Prague met and surpassed my every expectation, and the company completed the trip. Now I am headed to Dublin to discover my dad’s heritage with Megan and Mary!

A Day Does Not Do It Justice

Tuesday evening I arrived in the 16°C beautiful Barcelona. Leah and I were reunited under the Arc de Triumf, fitting since we have our very own one of these in France as well. No problems getting from Girona to Barcelona (not to worry Mom, almost everyone was taking the bus as well), and the cheaper flight was definitely worth the 12 euro bus ride into the city. It was so good to see her. We were saying the last time we were face to face was in late July. It is so ironic that here in Europe, even though we are a country apart, we are closer to one another than in the states.

After our joyful reunion, Leah walked me around Plaza Cataluna and La Rambla for a quick minute before we headed to her home for the semester. The apartment is beautiful- the most beautiful home I had seen since coming to Europe and it was a reminder of how life can be if you work hard enough. I was greeted my Leah’s mom for the semester, Monica, who is the most incredible woman. She owns a jewelry store near her home, is 60 years old and looks about 45, and lives in the same apartment building as her two brothers (very similar to Italian culture). She is a genuinely kind woman who showed me incomparable hospitality. She cooked us all dinner- a delicious meat wrapped in a sort of lettuce, potato chips, Spanish ham, and wine-, and I struggled to communicate with her and express my gratitude. It was very frustrating not being able to say one full sentence to her, and I found the same frustration throughout my stay. I could not communicate in the slightest bit. However, this language barrier in no way took away from my love of Barcelona. Leah and I headed to bed, me from sheer exhaustion and she because a full day of class was looming.

Wednesday, my only full day in Barcelona, I met Leah in Cataluna in between her classes that she decided to skip for me. Monica made me fresh squeezed orange juice, and I had a long, hot shower before heading out the door- I could definitely get used to life as Monica’s daughter. Leah was the perfect tour guide, and she showed me all around the city that she has made her home. We saw the beach, a gorgeous open market, Boqueria, which I would live in if I could, Gaudi’s apartment, the cathedral, the Arc de Triumf and the surrounding park, Leah’s two schools, and just took in the feel of the beautiful city. It is without a doubt collectively the most beautiful city I have visited. It has this tropical feel to it, due to its proximity to the beach, which I have not experienced yet. After our tour, we grabbed sandwiches at Leah’s normal spot, and she planned out a route for me to follow while she returned to class for the rest of the afternoon. I was an aware and independent traveler for the rest of the afternoon. I first saw Dahlia’s extraordinary church that was never finished because he died mid-construction. It is massive and just stunning. Next stop, via train, was the breathtaking Miro Museum, which serves as an art museum, that sits atop the city of Barcelona. The building is enormous, and it offers views of the entire city stretches beneath it. Directly behind the Palace sits the Olympic Stadium that was used when Barcelona hosted the 1992 games. I was in all of my glory, standing in the arena that at one time housed the greatest talent in the world. Following these big sites, I did some souvenir and clothing (I needed some sweaters for my next stop to the frigid Prague) shopping on La Rambla while waiting for Leah to finish class. We met at our rendezvous point, the fountains of Catatluna, and then got on the train to Leah’s home and Monica for another delicious dinner. We had a fresh salad, Spanish omelet, and more wine. A Spanish omelet is arguably one of the most delicious things I have had the pleasure of eating. Monica made hers with onion and potato, and I could have easily devoured the entire thing myself. After dinner Leah and I decided to go for some Sangria and what somewhat resembled chips and salsa at a restaurant near her home- I was in Spain after all. The Sangria was delicious, and it was second only to my conversation with Leah.

Thursday morning I rose early to head to the airport and was greeted by Monica who was holding a ham and cheese sandwich and, what else, freshly squeezed orange juice. Leah walked me to the train station, and we parted with a see you soon (we will be going to Italy together during Easter break, and we might even see one another before then because I am dying to take in more of Barcelona) rather than a goodbye. It was a most successful trip and now Prague, David, and Casey were waiting.