How will I Cope without Cork?
Belfast Week 3
Since we last spoke I took a flight from Cardiff to Dublin and a bus from Dublin to Cork. Week 3 was our midterm break, so I had the whole week off. Please name something that tops free housing, spending a week in a new city and visiting your best friend!
Let me start off by saying: Cork, Ireland...what a city.
The first day in Cork was my 21 birthday! I've never done a large scale solo adventure before and figured now that I am a literal adult, excuse me when did that happen, that I should test it out. I chose to do the Ring of Kerry tour and it was a great decision. We got to see Killarney, a little town filled with colorful houses and quaint shops. Unfortunately, our bus broke down so we had to switch to a smaller van. The van only had 20 seats but, with our luck, there were 21 of us. The 60+ year old bus driver and I became pals and he offered me to sit in the front, crew member seat. I mean I am an adult, how could I say no!?
As we adventured along Dingle Bay and the Ring of Kerry we listened to Irish music and enjoyed the view. I made friends with a little couple from Tipperary who were celebrating, 71-year-old, Michael's birthday! As we road along, the bus driver turned off the music and rallied the whole bus to sing happy birthday to Michael and I...so cute! Lunch in the beach town of Waterville, Ireland was just spectacular. I snagged a seat on a rock, plopped my feat in the sand, sat back and ate my sandwich with the sun shining down. Man, I love it here.
Arriving back in the wonderful city of Cork, Caroline, Kerry and I hit BROG for the big 21st celebration. There we met up with some of Caroline's Cork friends and had ourselves a time, to say the least. On our walk back to the Spires, Caroline's apartment, I was not paying attention while texting and promptly walked straight into a medal pole which echoed throughout the entire street. The people outside the pub all stared at me with jaws dropped. In my newly concussed state I proudly took a bow and proceeded to the gates of the Spires. Caroline yells, "Run, the Warden!!". Kerry begins to run and I trip on my own feet and fall face first into the cement, only to find out Caroline had actually said "SHH, Warden" meaning I should not be yelling...but let me tell you that fall definitely hushed me up. I broke my toe nail off but the pain was quickly cured by the thought of Caroline's melty grilled cheese a few steps away, yep...they ROCK!
Day 2 in Cork was pretty mellow, as you can imagine. We slept in, went shopping and had dinner in. The next day was another solo adventure, but this time to Cobh, Ireland. Oh my goodness, I think it might be one of my favorite places I've visited so far! Coastal town, colorful houses and flowers, boats and a massive cathedral. I only spent about 3 hours in Cobh before I caught the train back. I met a lovely woman from California named Sheri who was an absolute character.
Night 3 in Cork called for TRAD music at The Rock, where I convinced Caroline I knew how to play the piano...which is just completely incorrect lol. After The Rock, Caroline manages to rally the group to continue the night at BROG. I've learned Caroline is the ring leader and I am her hype girl; we are a deadly combo! Again, we make the executive decision that we need Fast Al's pizza...yes, it's as greasy as it sounds. Apparently the pizza wasn't filling enough for our group because Caroline invited everyone over to for grilled cheeses, but doesn't have the supplies. Not to worry, Kerry comes through with the bread and cheese LOL.
To say the least, Glashy and Marg did not have any business staying out so late before a 3.5-hour bus ride and 2-hour flight to Copenhagen, Denmark but we're abroad so pour us another!!
Zombie Glashy and Marg venture to the bus. We arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark to find out we don't know the slightest bit of Dutch. I mean I guess we technically knew this but it didn't click while we were planning the trip HAHA. We pull out our phones and somehow manage to find the train tickets we needed.
We got to the correct terminal to find out, through google translate, our train is cancelled...not once, but twice. Caroline and I are some great trouble shooters and pretty optimistic, so we sat in the train station eating our sandwiches at like 10pm in baltic temperatures hoping another train would come. WE ARE ABROAD SO WE DON'T CARE!! All bundled up, we enjoy our people watching and sandwiches in anticipation of our next adventure. One of the people in the train station, who Caroline and I both were constantly watching, only had the top half of his shoe, his toes were poking out the front of them. As he walked he seemed a bit unstable and was constantly pacing and jumping on and off the trains. After he safely got on a train, Caroline and I both looked at each other and confessed we thought he was going to jump in front of the train...but showing-toe-shoe-man got on the train and nobody was hurt...AMEN! Finally, we arrive at our hostel, which was perfect!
Nyhavn for brunch was the move, but obviously there was some sort of commotion because, at this point, I'm sure we have some sort of weird karma. I almost get demolished by a car because adventurous Caroline walks at the quickest pace known to mankind. I hadn't been feeling well and was pretty sure I was going to pass out while Caroline is trying to qualify for the Guinness speed-walking world record HAHA just being slightly dramatic. Finally, I ask her to slow down and she turns around and I'm white as a ghost and about to go down so we decide to get some water...I'm a mess but the spirits are high!!
We adventure for the rest of the day around Rosenberg castle, Frederiksberg Garden and the pier. So crazy, there were people ice skating but it was 50 degrees and I was wearing a dress with no tights! Too funny. We had an early night because I was literally dying.
Day 3, Caroline and I checked out of the hostel and lugged our backpacks on an adventure over to Freetown Christiana. Christiana is a section of Copenhagen but is self-proclaimed a free town and independent country, which is also known as the hippie village. It was full of amazing art and overall a really interesting culture. In Christiana, there is a section called the Green Light District where marijuana is legal. I took one step in and was hit with an overwhelming invisible wall of weed. Still in my ill state, I looked back at Caroline and yelled back "I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS!!!" Timid me skips out on the Green Light District but enjoys the walk back to Nyhavn.
Our last stops on the Cope trip were Amlingsborg Palace and the Marble Church. My speed walking buddy, Caroline, also has a tendency to stop abruptly. She yells "WE'VE ARRIVED" and stops dead in her tracks and my knee locks up and fall to the ground with the oversized, turtle backpack on! God I love her but we haven't gotten our walking mojo down yet.
COPE....you did us dirty--locked up knees, almost hit by a car, terror in the green light district, but you were good to us and we cannot say thank you enough!
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
PQTH,
HAN