Adventures to Kinsale and Dublin

June 2

Yesterday our group traveled to the city of Kinsale.  The city is off of the Atlantic and was a fish port.  Kinsale was so pretty and everything was so old. There was a bar called, Grey Hound Bar that was built in 1690.  Lets just say everyone from that era was a leprechaun, very tiny.  

After a tour and shopping in the city we headed to Charles Fort, a mile outside of the city.  It's a castle on the ocean.  Mariah and I galloped to the water and found sea shells by the sea shore!  We didn't learn much about it, but Thursday we will.

Things I learned:

  1.   Artisans make great things

 2.  The Irish have horrible lucky in war situations.

 3.  800 year old church's smell, but have huge organs!

 4.  So many boats!

 5.  The marina was a lot bigger back in the day

June 3

Today our little group took the train to Dublin at 7 am.  We got into Dublin around 10.  The first thing I thought was, "I miss Cork."  Dublin is huge and full of several trillion people (maybe that's too extreme).  

After checking into our poop of a hotel we went to Trinity College and saw the book of Kells and the Long Room.  One day I will have a library like that!   

For supper we went to Brazenhead, the oldest bar in Ireland.  Once there Johnny taught us all about the potato, old Irish life, the evil English, the famine, fairies, and folk tails.  It was so cool!  We ate so much food as well, and Irish coffee is yummy.  

Dublin taught me:

  1.  "The fairies made me do it,"

  2.  Just cause the hotel looks nice don't think it comes with free wifi. (This is my reasoning for not posting for a bit! Sorry!)

  3.  Beef and Guinness stew is the best stew in the world.

  4.  People should actually be afraid of leprechauns.  

  5.  Whoever translated the Book of Kells should get a million high fives and a pint of stout.

  6.  There are a lot of homeless people cracked out on heroine.

  7.  Bathrooms are either toilets or WC (water closets)

June 4

Today we toured Dublin twice on the hop on, hop off bus.  And very happy to be back in Cork.  There wasn't much learning today, which was a nice break!

Pictures will come when I have a real computer..

Teagasc and The Ring of Kerry

Yesterday (May 31), we went to Teagasc (pronounced Chaw-Gus), which is for agriculture and food development for farmers and other small scale entrepreneur's.  The business helps support these individuals with making, marketing, and saling of their products,  it was a neat facility.  I mostly learned that everyone should buy local.

When we came back to Cork, we all stopped by the English Market.  The goal was for everyone to buy something and we all share what we found,  it was awesome! We got to see carcass' of animals!

The butcher!

Desserts!

Some of everything!

Then last night we went down to the pub and had a few drinks.  Don't every tell an Irish bartender to surprise you with a drink. Which made it difficult to blog... But now you know!

Today's adventure started at 9, yay early.  We made our way to the Ring of Kerry, only doing half of it.  It took us a while to realize that the Ring of Kerry isn't a ring,  but a round area of historical places.

We stopped First at Kenmare, did some shopping. Then to Molls Gap which was beautiful!  We learned about the BlackValley, a mass grave of people who suffered for the famine. Our next stop was to see the lakes of Killarney (or Ladies View).  The waterfall was breath taking!

We saw the Abbey and the house.  http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/history.html

Day three and four

Sorry about yesterday, I managed to pick up the plague here (ok, maybe it's just a cold).  Class yesterday was nothing to brag about...it even put our professor to sleep. One of the people speaking managed to say "um" 378 times plus he was monotoned and quiet.  So I managed to make pretty notes...

I'm not sure what anyone was talking about, but some of the words sounded important, so they were written down.

Today I did the same thing, but I wasn't as bored, although Mr. Um was there.  Today it was 408, that has to be a record or something. But the good news of today was that we got to eat some yummy desserts! We had a cheesecake with a pop rock crust (yummy!) that was wrapped up like a little cheese wheel and then a little carrot cake in a pot (it looked like planting soil). Brían (pronounced Bre-an) was the creator and I should say a FABULOUS chef and entrepreneur!  

We then met a group that made Rooties, which were a freeze dried veg with flavor crisp (chip). We didn't get to try them but it was interesting to see their product.  The only bad thing was, Mariah and I had discovered from spring semester that freeze drying is expensive and their product would not make a lot of money. But I hope I'm wrong and they kick some butt!  But here are my notes from today:

Random thinking:

1.  Toilets.  They aren't restrooms or bathrooms. Just toilet, which is very direct.  But they are so little and the flusher things are peculiar.

2.  Showers. The shower here gets water everywhere.  There isn't a shower curtain just a glass panel. 

3. Everything here is so green!  And today was the warmest it's been in a while. It's just absolutely great!

4.  We have had so many coffee breaks during the day! America needs to start doing this!

5.  Beer is a stable food group.

6.  I still don't understand the appeal of soccer games, especially when it's 90 minutes and ties 1-1. 

Day 2 of class

Today was lovely. We didn't have class until 930! An extra hour of sleep! Woohoo! When class did start we learned about:

  1.  Sustainable development and food policy issues.

  2.  DIY Pizza.  It was interesting....but it was bothering.  The product is completely frozen with only         three ingredients: dough, tomato stuff, and mozzarella cheese.  They are trying to lable the pizza as healthy, it's pizza we all know its not!  And most of us in class thought the idea wasn't the best idea.  We buy frozen pizza for the convince, not to make it after all the ingredients defrost.  It's not my product so it's not my problem.  It should be interesting to see how it all plays out for the company.

  3.  Strategic marketing of health and development.  This part of the class made me so flustered.  CONSUMERS DO YOUR RESEARCH!  Marketing can sell almost anything, so be careful.  Oh and from the wonderful words of Dr. Taylor, "all foods are toxic, it's just the dose."  Just do your research, k promise?

 After class we had a mini break. Then went to a supper at a yummy restaurant, which I already forgot the name of...shame on me (UDATE: it's Amicus).  It was AMAZING! Lamb burgers are quite yummy!  And so is wine and affogato ice cream! I'm still stuffed!

When dinner was finished the group all headed to a bar that had beer pong on Tuesday nights.  The sad news was they were already full, so we all grabbed a pint and chatted! In Ireland they just know how to enjoy everything and not rush (diner takes about 2 hours).  The pubs have a beer called Bulmers, and the pear flavor is my favorite, if you have the chance to ever try it, do!

Oh and our wonderful advisors (The Zeece's) are the cutest people in the world! And are such amazing people!

So now is the time in the blog were I share what I've learned today..
  1.  I love to ask questions.
  2.  Our group is the BEST group ever and I love each one of them!  And they each bring something so wonderful to this trip.
  3. Food science controls your life.
  4.  Consumers need to do research.
  5.  Wheat bread may actually be bad for you. (According to the book Wheat Belly)
  6.  The Irish are so friendly!
  7.  I need to take more photos..

Well good night! Cheers!

First day of school

Today was a day of riding the struggle bus.  Let's just say the pubs in Cork are all sorts of fun.  Very craic (crazy fun) and the Irish are very huggie people! Our group made lots of friends including a band, Runaway Go.  They were loads of crazy! Oh and Guinness here is delicious.  So in all last night I learned:
  1.  The band manager will give you a piggy back ride.
  2.  Irish girls are hilarious.
  3.  The Irish will and can drink you under the table.
  4.  Doctors play in bands.
  5.  Australians are criminals.
  6.  "Kiss me I'm Irish" does apply here, and the men do try and use it.
  7.  All of #6's attempts failed.
  8.  I need to stay in tonight.

So anyways about class:

Class (at the University College of Cork, www.ucc.ie) was an interesting experience and there is a reason I'm not a business major, economics and marketing aren't my thing.  But we had tea and coffee breaks so it was pretty neat.

Nothing too exciting today...hopefully tomorrow is more exciting!

Today at Cobh

Firstly, Cobh is pronounced Cove. I learned that today! Also 7 more things.

1.  The Titanic's last stop was in Cobh. Then it sank.. It was demeaned unsinkable, jokes on them.
2.  Cobh is on a sea port with a giant cathedral.
3.  The Lusitania went boom two times just not once from the German U-boat. The ship had more fire arms in the bottom so when torpedo-ed by Germans it went boom, BOOM!  And proceeded to sink in 18 seconds.
4.  Men with ear hair are strange.
5.  Stout beer and fish&chips are delicious.
6.  On Sunday everything closes early..boo
7.  Scones are evil buttery angels.

That is about all I have to report today! It's pub time, if we an find an open one.

Bye. :)

Pictures from Cobh:

The port of Cobh looking out into the arms of the island.

This was a cruise ship in the bay.  The same place the titanic would have loaded if they had had time to get into the port, but instead people were loaded onto smaller boats and taken out to the Ship.

Below are just pictures of a beautiful cathedral and homes of the area.

Two day travel. Sleepy.

Well I've been up for 30 hours and I'm sleepy, but I'll try and be detailed.

We chased the sun rise to London then to Ireland.  It's so green here and they have lucky charms;)   We weren't allowed to go to sleep because it was going to mess up our sleep schedule (I still have no idea what day/time is it).

 So after our long flight of cold torture we made it to our purple home for the next fortnight.   It's not all purple but there's a lot of it!  Once we settled in our lovely family of 9 went to Blarney Castle!  And I even climbed to the top and kissed the stone! Bam shzam!

I'm still trying to figure out how to upload photos, so hold on:)