Dublin, Ireland - Part Two!

Why hello again! So a few months ago i shared an experience from Dublin with you. I want to elaborate more on how this experience really was one of the best times I've ever had over sea's.
Of course when I went to Ireland i was hoping to meet a cute Irish boy, or even just a leprechaun. Let me tell you that when i found a leprechaun i made him stop dead in his tracks to take a picture, but this was not the ordinary leprechaun you usually would think of. He was taller than me!

I make it a point to try and visit places that have a Hard Rock Cafe, this restaurant is a place that always has consistently good food and surrounds you with legendary rock 'n ' roll! I ended up taking shots of Jameson whiskey with my brothers to celebrate the occasion. We ended up leaving with a cheap bill, but a hefty bar tab, i guess that's the price you pay for some good memories right?

My first Irish breakfast included coffee and a scone. To say the least my American taste buds didn't really enjoy the coffee but the scone was delicious!
One of the cool things about Ireland, besides the fact that it was so clean was how citizens used a Luas Train to get across the city. This train travels pretty fast and can accommodate a lot of people.

St Patrick's Cathedral is one of the places you should definitely check out. The walls are filled with beautiful ancient art and when walking into the church you cannot help but feel upraised.
Finally, I want to retouch on how by far my favorite en devour in Ireland was taking the tour at the Guinness Factory. The way they constructed the tour is so creative. You learn diligently about all the steps it takes in the process of making the brew and by the end of the tour, you are offered the opportunity to learn how to brew your own free cup!

I have no other comments but before you die, put this destination on your to do list!

Kingston, Rhode Island

When beginning my college search, i came across a place that i truly fell in love with at first sight. This is the place i have currently resided for the past two years and the love i have for it has only grown. The University Of Rhode Island is located in Kingston and is conveniently located less than 10 minutes from the Narragansett Beach.

When I first arrived for my first visit to the University of Rhode Island i noticed the beautiful passage way which led to a road filled with beautifully arcitectured buildings. These buildings have know become more than just an image in my mind but places i have to go every day for class. Going to a school that is so visually appealing was important to me. These buildings surround a quad which is a popular hang out place when the weather is warm. Students fill the quad playing any kind of sport you can think of such as Frisbee and other choose to lay out tan, go on their computers or read. The quad is a very inviting beautiful location on campus that I immediately fell in love with.

Located conveniently at the top of campus is just about anything a college kid would need. Any kind of food you can think of from pizza to subway to Greek food or Mexican, the Emporium has it all.The weather in Rhode Island can be somewhat frustrating, it can be very windy and cold but the rain sometimes becomes to much. With that said the days Rhode Island brings in sunshine are breathe taking. Pink sunsets, a light breeze in the spring and summer Rhode Island is a home away from home. Whether its a night down at the bar, a day at the beach or a drive to Providence or Newport, Rhode Island provides a good time for anybody.

Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Growing up as a kid, my family vacationed at the same place every summer, Long Beach Island. This place has become associated with a good time to escape with your family for me. Unlike any other place down the shore in Jersey, LBI is a very well known place for families with young kids to come vacation. LBI doesn't have a boardwalk like most places you would visit down the shore in Jersey, but it has so much more.

The island is only accessible by a bridege that leads you to make a choice, left or right. For many years i had stayed on both ends of the island but Ship Bottom was always my favorite. The beach is very well kept and there's always the perfect place in the sand waiting for you. Whether you enjoy boogie boarding, flying a kite or tanning under the sun, LBI is one of those places thats assures complete relaxation and definitely a stress free zone.

You might be asking, what is there for me to do here? It has become very popular for tourists to rent bikes, single or 5 person and bike down the island. Fantasy Island is one of the most popular attractions in LBI, many shopping stores, miniature golf and a water park conveniently next store are fun to check out.

Last summer i decided it would be fun for me and my brothers to try out jet skiing. We drove back over the bridge and jet skied around the whole North end of the Island. We rented the jet skis for an hour and cruised around racing each other, it really was a fun experience.

One fo the best parts about LBI is all the great food and ice cream that it holds. Jason's Pancake house is one of my favorite and i always walk away happy and full. Getting ice cream while my stay in LBI is one of my favorite things to do because it is absolutely delicious.

Saranac Lake , New York

Some of these posts are from different countries, but this post calls close to home. One summer i witnessed a different kind of summer vacation in upstate New York. Born right outside the city in New York, I am not very well accustomed to the up state mountains and colder weather. I got the opportunity to go with my friends family to Saranac Lake which was an experince to say the least.

Driving up New York State took quite a few hours but once reaching our destination I realized why this family vacationed here so often. Unlike any place I have every seen, Saranac Lake was filled with beautiful full mountains surrounding a lake.

We stayed at my friends house which was only obtainable by boat. This factor was both interesting yet annoying because to get anywhere you had to cruise to shore first. Upon reaching their cabin, I saw the most beautiful scenery from their kitchen window. There are not many things to do in Saranac Lake that you couldn't do else where, but i believe that that was okay. Sometimes we are meant to go places for the shear beauty it beholds, and this was one of those places.

By taking a step away from life, with no cell service, television, or computer access,, I got to experience what life really should be like sometimes. Camp fires outside and making marshmallows had never been so fun so close to the water where i watched the moon reflected from the water. If you are ever to travel to such a place, renting or owning a boat would be ideal. The amount of fun you can have with a boat really surprised me. I got to go tubing up and down the lake and it was so much fun. We also drove over to a very high cliff rock, at least 50 feet and jumped off which was both risky and thrilling.

This trip definitely convinced me that one day i want to have my own boat so i can can cruise to where ever i like and stop where i please just to sit around with some close friends and munch on a sandwich i had packed from home. I hope you can come across such an experience like this one, it brings perspective back into your life.

Wildwood, New Jersey

Wildwood is located towards the end of South Jersey and provides fun for all ages. The Jersey Shore has become a popular place talked about in television these days and that may be because of how scandalous it is. I have visited Wildwood on many occasions, one of my favorite memories including my vacation for after prom when i graduated high school.

Wildwood has something for everybody, a water park, amusement parks, bars, restaurants, miniature golf and of course the beach! One thing i do not like about the Wildwood beach would be the distance from the boardwalk. Get prepared and have some flip flops on cause if your carrying a handful of things, prepare yourself for a decent 5 minute walk to the ocean.

This beach has a good tide, bringing in lots of waves that i took up on my boogie board. People of all ages are out in the ocean having a good time and its very easy to meet people. The boardwalk is a lot of fun. It is filled with many souvenir vendors, tons of food places from anything to pizza to any snack you can think of. The Jersey Shore is well known for their boardwalk funnel cakes, fried oreos and ice cream.

What makes Wildwood different than any other place down the shore? I would say the tram car that goes at about 5 mph up and down the 3 mile boardwalk. I hope you can agree when I say that sometime its nice to watch everyone walk around when I can sit and put my feet up as I watch people go by. The people who work over the summer in Wildwood are the most entertaining fun people i have ever crossed paths with.

One day while staying in Wildwood, me and my friends ventured to a close city called Sea Isle. In Sea Isle we went on an crabbing endeavor. To say the least, it was an experience I'd recommend to just about anyone. Hours under the sun with your friends or family waiting for the crabs to tag on your line became a fond memory and for a very cheap price of entertainment. Boats can fill up to about five people comfortably and as long as you have someone who doesn't mind doing some dirty work. After a long day and a lot of crabs later, it was nice to come together and cook a great meal we had worked hard for.

Miami, Florida

I believe sometimes its all about who you know to get what you want. Thankfully, one of my best friends from my hometown currently lives in Miami, so i thought what would be a better place to go to during Spring Break? Miami is filled with high energy, tons of beaches under the hot Florida sun, and is located off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Miami is much like New York City, bringing forth a city with the latest fashions, entertainment and big business. Many people fly in and out of Florida each day but miss the beauty the state can give. Many cruise ships also depart from this state so if you have never been down south it is something you must do. One thing many people aren't used to is how flat the drive is, there is no mountains or hills in sight. It is also very internationally influenced.

Ocean Drive is one of the most well known streets in Miami, filling the streets are hundreds of people checking out the up scale shopping stores, bars, restaurants, and Ocean Drive conveniently neighbors South Beach. Many famous celebrities live and vacation in Miami so this is a very highly tourist attracted area.

Taking drives up and down Miami, I began to realize its a lot bigger than you think and CSI Miami perceives the public to believe. Days are filled with sunshine and few rain storms that last less than a few hours. Upon night time, the city glows for miles with all the lights.

The night life is one of many things Miami is well known for. Whether its a night on the town at a local bar or an up beat club, there is something for everyone. My friend's apartment was located in Coral Gables which overlooked the beautiful city. Many Floridians will tell you just about everything in Miami where ever you are is less than twenty mins from you.

Many of the Florida Keys, the Everglades and Biscayne National Park are in relatively close driving distance and behold a treasured paradise. Other places i would aso check out that really caught my interest were Coconut Grove. You should definitly consider going out for lunch or dinner and shop around. It was fun to walk around and see places such as Dash Miami owned by the famous Kardashian celeberities. I also checked out Miami Ink but it is not owned anymore by the owners who had the television show.

I walked away from Miami with a great time from the days at the beach, to the drives along this large city, but i also had tasted some of the best food ever. You will not leave Miami unhappy, that i can assure you.

Montreal, Canada

A few months ago, I took a spontaneous trip over the United States border to Montreal, Canada. This was a thrilling experience to be in an area that is so culturally different, citizens speak both French and English. When crossing the border, I urge you not to forget your passport! Driving along the Canadian border another thing to keep in mind is the speed limit is not 90 mph, but kilometers! It took me a few miles to realize that I was going entirely way over the speed limit.

While visiting Canada I had to exchange my currency and got to see the beauty of this capital, although unfortunately only from nighttime because slept the days away.
Montreal is the largest city in the providence of Quebec and the weather is relatively cold due to its location up North. I frequently used the Metro line to get from one part of the city to other, one thing Canada definitely has on America, it was so clean!

A few things i would check in Montreal upon your visit would be the underground mall. Hundred's of stores are lined throughout passage ways, you are bound to find anything you need. From my long weekend stay, my biggest thrill endured from the city was the exciting night life. Montreal is much like New York City in the sense that the city never sleeps. Many night clubs and bars fill the streets of downtown Montreal. Time Club is one I recommend you go to, have a late dinner and dance the night away after 11pm when the restaurant turns into a full nightclub. The center of the club stations a cat walk for anyone to dance and the layout provides ample fun and a chance to get to know other Canadians and tourists. Canada is on of the funniest experiences I've had in awhile, the drinking age is 18 in case you were curious!

Florence

If your looking for a place that's filled with history with tons of places to visit and long pathways of scenic views; Florence, Rome might be for you! Florence is the capital of Tuscany, and is famous for the art and architecture built and created throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. I traveled to Florence last May and the weather was beautiful: nice, warm, and sunny this time of year.

One of the first destinations I had on my list was the Colosseum, which began being built around 72 AD and wasn't complete until 80 AD. This very popular landmark s four levels high and could fit up to 55,000 people. One side of the Colosseum was damaged by an earthquake in 847 but this brings appeal to the architecture as you walk around to see all sides. This circular amphitheater was the largest building built throughout the Roman Empire. The Roman public filled the arena to spectate gladiator battles, mythological dramas and other events.

The Vatican is located in the heart of Rome and holds years of history behind the Roman Catholic Church. The pope lives in Vatican City, which was established in 1929, and is also the capital of Italy. This is a popular tourist attraction for people all over the world, not just people who practice the Catholic religion. After walking down a road, this vision of many buildings surround a open circular space of ground tile. As you walk up to the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, you see thousands of seats lined up for when the Pope greets and makes speeches. The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter holds over 60,000 people and s the largest interior church in the world. Michael Angelo's artwork is displayed on the walls from the bottom all the way to the top, it is absolutely beautiful. Saint Peter, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus s also buried here. The Apostolic Palace is also located here which currently is where the Pope resides.

If you are interested in accent sculptures, the famous Statue of David, which was built by Michael Angelo in the beginning of the 1500's. This sculpture is the symbol of David before his battle of Goliath who was a historical figure from the bible.

Destination: Cannes, France

After visiting Cannes for a short stay, I would urge you to definitely put it on your list of places to see. Upon walking off the harbor, the warm weather and fast traffic puts you in the feeling of being in Hollywood. The streets are filled with high end hotels and shopping as well as beautiful scenery. This is a highly tourist attracted area and in case you were wondering you’ve got to pay to use the restroom on the go so good luck! If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to see as many things in Cannes in a short time, try out a mini train tour. I took advantage of the tour and was able to see the beauty of Cannes in an hour; the train is out door it’s great for taking pictures and very entertaining. It started with a view of the downtown city and brought you up through the hills to see other historical hot spots and breathe taking views of the whole city.

Palais des festivals hosts award festivals every year around June which attracts many famous celebrities from the United States as well as other countries. It is right off the water and while walking you can see the hand prints of many stars in the concrete much like Hollywood. This was one of my favorite spots while visiting Cannes and you should definitely check it out!

Destination: Dublin, Ireland

I visited Ireland three summers ago, being Irish I was very excited upon starting this trip. Ireland, although filled with accents and a good amount of rain, has many beautiful places to visit. The Guinness Brewery is located in Dublin. Taking a tour should definitely be on your list of things to do while visiting this city. You learn all about how the beer is brewed and upon ending the tour, they not only teach you the correct way to serve drafted Guinness but greet you with a complimentary beer. Jameson Whiskey Brewery is also located in Dublin, I never got the chance to check it out but it sounded very interesting. The Blarney Castle is one of the main tourist destinations in Dublin. It is a very narrow, steep castle in which you climb all the way to the top to kiss the Blarney stone which is supposed to be good luck. Though the thought of kissing something that millions have people have pressed their lips upon is unappetizing, it is a Irish tradition. One of the most interesting tourist attractions i visited was the Kilmainham Jail. Most likely while visiting a different country, I doubt that seeing a jail is on the top of your list of things to do, but this was definitely one of my most memorable places in Dublin because of how different it was. While entering the jail you witnessed how old jails were set up in Ireland and how they were housed. The tour gave off lots of interesting facts that i had never known and it was very interesting. Because the Irish are known for their drinking, I am going to recommend The Temple Bar for you to check out. It is very historically popular in Dublin because it is the oldest bar still around. Go grab a drink and celebrate standing in one of the oldest places to kick back and relax!