Even More Pics

These pictures are of Paris.

Pictures

Here are more pics from Inis Mor. I distant scenery is from the airplane over France. One is a picture from our hostel and a pic of the Cathedral de Notre Dame. KC is playing while we were waiting for the ferry back to Galway.

Pictures

Here are some pictures from the last 4 days. Most are of Inis Mor near Galway. There are also some from Paris.

PARIS

FIRST OF ALL THE REASON WHY IM TYPING IN CAPS IS BECAUSE IM ON A FRENCH KEYBOARD AND THE BUTTONS ARE NOT IN THE USUAL PLACE. WE ARRIVED IN PARIS YESTERDAY. THE NIGHT BEFORE WE "SLEPT" IN THE DUBLIN AIRPORT. I ONLY GOT ABOUT AN HOUR SLEEP AND THEN 20 MINUTES ON THE PLANE. IT WAS PRETTY INTENSE GETTING OFF THE BUS AND NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO. LUCKILY MY HIGH SCHOOL FRENCH CAME BACK TO ME. IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT 45 MIN TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THE METRO AND GET TO OUR HOSTEL. AFTER WE GOT SETTLED IN WE TOOK THE METRO TO THE CATHEDRAL DE NOTRE DAME. THAT PLACE IS AMAZING. WE THEN WALKED FOR WHAT SEEMED FOREVER BUT ONLY TOOK 45 MINUTES TO THE EIFFEL TOWER. WE HAD TO WAIT INLINE TO GET TO THE ELEVATOR FOR 1 HOUR THEN WHEN WE MADE IT TO THE SECOND LEVEL IT WAS ANOTHER 20 MINUTE WAIT TO THE OBSERVATORY LEVEL. IT WAS WORTH IT THOUGH BECAUSE THE VIEWS WERE SPECTACULAR. WE WALKED TO THE CHAMPS ELYSEES AND THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE FOR DINNER. THATS WERE THE STEROTYPE OF THE FRENCH BEING ASSHOLES CAME INTO PLAY. WE FINALLY DECIDED ON A PLACE TO EAT AND WE GOT A SPOT RIGHT AWAY. WELL THEY WERE TAKING ORDERS AND ALREADY BRINGING THE FOOD FOR THE TABLES NEXT TO US WITHOUT EVEN AWKNOWLEDGING US. WE DECIDED TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF IT. AS WE WALK OUT THE WAITER WHO SAT US DOWN SAYS,"MERCI, AU REVOIR". KC WAS PRETTY UPSET BUT IT DIDNT REALLY BOTHER ME. TODAY WE GOT UP AND WENT TO THE LOUVRE. ITS CRAZY SEEING ALL OF THE PRICELESS ARTWORKS. THE HIGHLIGHTS WERE OF COURSE THE MONA LISA. THE VENICE DE MIO, AND LOUIS XV CORONATION CROWN. TOMORROW NIGHT WE ARE OFF TO VENICE. I BOUGHT A USB ADAPTER FOR MY MEMORY CARD BUT THIS COMPUTERS USB DOESNT WORK. I HOPE TO HAVE SOME PICS SOON. MAYBE I CAN FIND ANOTHER CAFE. AU REVOIR.

Galway-Inis Mor

We just got back to Galway today. Last night we took a ferry to the biggest island in the chain called Aran Islands. It was pretty crazy place. There are stone fences everywhere. We biked and hiked all day long. We must have biked at least 10 miles and walked about half that. The previous day we spent here in Galway. I like Galway better than Dublin. This city is more artsy and way smaller. The people are more likely to talk to you than in Dublin. We met a couple of local Galway chaps and went pub hopping with them. I wish I could post some pictures but this computer doesnt have a memory card slot and I forgot my usb cable. DOH! So we are here in Galway for another 3.5 hours. The bus to Dublin airport takes about 4 hours. We are hoping to stay in the airport tonight and not get kicked out since the flight leaves at 7. Cheers!

Dublin

We got to Dublin yesterday. I was only going on a few hours sleep from partying the night before and jet lag. Dublin is pretty crazy. Its funny because you always here about Europeans taking their time. Thats not the case here. Maybe when they eat but as far as walking and driving are concerned, they would rather run you over than go around. Yesterday we must have walked about 8 miles easily. We went to the Guiness brewery. That was sweet. It was interesting to see the history behind such a great drink. Then last night we played our first "gig". It was on Grafton St. Its a closed street only open to walkers with tons of shops and bars. I will admit I was pretty nervous so I had to get a few Guinesses in me. That loosened me right up. We probably made about 3 Euros for 30 minutes of playing. I had a good time. Since Dublin is so expensive we are thinking about cancelling our last night, tomorrow night, and going to another city on the way to Gallway. Gallway is on the other side of Ireland. Here are a few pics from yesterdays journey. Cheers!

So Long Jefferson, Iowa

The time has come for me to leave the corn fields and the heat of the Hawkeye state. I'm off to Ashland, MO where KC is from. We are staying in St. Louis Saturday night since we are flying from there to Chicago on Sunday. I hope its awhile before I return here.

Moving Day....Almost

Its 11:26 PM and I am getting up in less than 5 hours. Wow! I can't believe tomorrow has almost come. My parents and I finished packing about an hour ago. After that KC and I had to get some last minute practicing in since we wont be able to play until we get to Dublin. A lot of things have happened in the last year to get to this point. At the time I wish I could have stopped them from happening but now Im sort of glad things turned out the way they did. Don't get me wrong, Im sure I would be just as happy if they didn't but that was out of my power. As I go to bed I leave you with this.......you never know what tomorrow will bring. It could be a day just like anyother or it could be the day getting you closer to a new beginning and a new life.

Its On Now

Yesterday I informed my company that I was quitting. My last day is July 26. Everyone has been really supportive towards my decision. A handful of people were jealous that they didn't do that when they were younger. That countdown is t-minus 31 days until I leave Petaluma and t-minus 53 days until I leave the States.