London and St. Patrick's Day

   These past couple weeks have been very busy here in Ireland for me. From the 9th-13th I was in London with a friend and we had an absolute blast! We spent our Friday night figuring out the public transportation so we had some sort of idea of what we were going to do for the weekend. Saturday was a very long day for us. We spent the morning getting into the city centre and going to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, looking at the London Eye and venturing into China Town. After a late lunch we took the underground to King's Cross Station which is home of Platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter. We stood in line for over an hour to get pictures, but it was so worth it! After we were finished there, we just walked around the city and saw London at night, which was so much different than during the day. Sunday was a relaxing day and we ended up eating at a restaurant called Maxwell's that serves cheeseburger bombs which is a bacon cheeseburger with a coffee mug full of melted cheese to pour on top. It was everything it sounds like and so much more! 

Buckingham Palace

Tower Bridge

   The following week was crazy as it was the week of St. Patrick's Day and it was my most crazy week for school work as well. I was able to turn all my assignments in by Wednesday, however, and was able to spend Thursday night bowling with some friends. Friday, I went with the International Society to Dublin to see the most popular parade in the world! I was told by various people that St. Patrick's Day was overdone by Americans and that it was more of a day to celebrate a saint rather than to dress in green and drink all day. That was proven wrong starting at 00.01 of that day. When I arrived to the block the parade was on in Dublin, the street was covered in green. There were groups of people with solid green suits on or suits with shamrocks to get in the spirit. There were people drinking every which way you turned, including in front of garda. This came as a shock to me, coming from small town Iowa, but at least I can give an accurate description of Ireland on St. Patrick's Day! 

   I'm officially two months away from my fly home day and I only have 4 weeks of classes left! I received my final exam timetable today and lucky for me, I only have two exams to take this semester which means I have three weeks for traveling at the end of my time! Today also marks 16 days until my parents come to visit and I could not be more excited for them to arrive and for me to show them around this beautiful country!