Day 1: Our overnight flight to Europe went pretty well overall. The long layover in Philly wasn't even that bad. When we were boarding the plane, I started chit-chatting with a guy from Philly, and I told him the only association I have with Philly is the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He laughed and then we both started rapping the theme song: "In West Philadelphia born and raised, On the playground where I spent most of my days; Chilling out, maxing, relaxing or coolin' or shooting some b-ball outside of the school..." and so forth. We then took turns rapping it back and forth. If for some reason you have never had the chance to watch The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, watch it now!! The theme song alone makes the show worth watching.

The flight went great overall, even though the plane was nothing to write home about. It was a pretty small plane for an international flight. By the time we landed, we were super excited to get off.

Day 2: We arrived in Shannon a little bit late due to our second flight, but our Tour Director Terry was still easy to find. He enthusiastically shook my hand and said, "You must be Tara (he pronounced my name as it looks)." I corrected him, saying "My name is Ter-a." He laughed and said my name is pronounced Tara in Ireland. I went with it, and even got used to it. I am okay now with either pronunciation. It has taken me a while, but whether you call me Tara or Tera really doesn't matter anymore. I even bought Tara jewelry while in Ireland.

Once we were all collected on the bus, or should I say coach, we headed to Killarney and stopped in the village of Adare. It is said that "in the early 19th century, the Earl of Desmond laid the plan for the existing streets and townhouses of Adare. These lands and dwellings were rented to tenants, under various agreements, some of which still exist today. Today, Adare village is an architectural wealth of scenic beauty. The main street of Adare is punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins and the picturesque village park. Adare's streets are lined with original thatched cottages that have survived for hundreds of years" ("Adare"). It really was a sight to behold, especially the park. My mom and I wanted to sit in the park and read our books because it was such a perfect setting. There also weren't very many people in the park, which is hard to find in the U.S. I would love to go back there some day and spend a day reading in the park.

After visiting the village of Adare, we checked into our hotel and had dinner. We were all very exhausted since most of us hadn't gotten much sleep on the plane. Jet lag really hit hard that first day, at least for me and my mother. I heard students laughing all night, so obviously some of them weren't as tired. I brought 13 students on the trip, so my students made up about a forth of the group. We had a total of 52 people in our group, 54 counting Terry and the bus driver. The Nebraska group had the most students overall, along with the most energy. That first night was tough, but after that night, the students didn't keep me up as much. I would walk the halls checking for noise, and I would ask the Nebraska students to quiet down, even though they weren't my students. They didn't seem to like me very much, but when there are several hotel complaints and people can't sleep, I will start taking matters into my own hands. Luckily, there were only a few nights where the students were too loud.

Day 3: I would say this was one of the best days on the trip because we made an excursion around the Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Kerry is said to be "the longest and the most diverse of Ireland's big circle drives, combining jaw-dropping coastal scenery with emerald pastures and villages. The 179km circuit winds past pristine beaches, the island-dotted Atlantic, medieval ruins, mountains and loughs (lakes)" (Lonely Planet). It was an absolutely beautiful day, and we started the day off walking the beach at Waterville. Students loved the beach!!! Terry, our Tour Director, said that a group of his has never spent so much time roaming the beach. Some students took their shoes off and went in to test the water. I spent time trying to find shells and rocks. We also stopped at the Bog Village in the town of Sneem, and then ended the tour at an amazing waterfall. The roads were pretty curvy, so some students got motion sickness. Thank goodness there are motion sickness pills on this planet, or it would have been a really long trip overall.

After dinner, we spent the evening walking around the main streets of Killarney where there is a lot of live music and shopping. I will remember this day as being one of the best by far.

Day 4: We started the day at Blarney Castle. According to Discovering Ireland, "for many years people have descended on the picturesque, 15th Century Blarney Castle with the purpose of kissing the Blarney Stone to be bestowed with the "gift of the gab," the talent for eloquence that the Irish famously possess. Though kissing the stone is a relatively new ritual and one that has proved hugely marketable, the association with smooth talking and Blarney goes back many centuries. When Queen Elizabeth I of England sought to impose her rule on Ireland's Gaelic Chiefs, The Lord of Blarney, Cormac MacCarthy, proving most elusive, would reply to her demands with flamboyant flattery rather than submission. The Queen was to reply, 'this is all Blarney, he never means what he says and never does what he promises.' And so the word Blarney came into the English language, eloquent words that flatter or deceive. Blarney Castle presents a fairytale picture; its tall towers are set within wonderful gardens containing such romantically named landmarks as, the Druids Altar, the Witches Kitchen and the Wishing Stairs - all of which add to the whole magic of Blarney Castle."

Most students kissed the Blarney Stone but had to wait in line in for a while in order to do so. My mom also kissed the Blarney Stone, but I couldn't do it. I am too much of a germaphobe I guess. The thought of kissing a stone that everyone else was kissing grossed me out. I didn't want to catch something early on in the trip, and I have a history of getting sick while traveling...and guess what? I didn't get sick on the trip!! Maybe it had to do with not kissing the Blarney Stone.

After watching students kiss the Blarney Stone, we went and explored the caves within the castle. The one cave I attempted to explore was damp and became narrower as I progressed. I gave up when I had to start ducking my head. Some students went in further, but they said it was hard to navigate, especially without flashlights. Based on what I have read online, the caves took people to the village. They were pretty cool, but I couldn't imagine going all of the way through one of those caves.

After exploring Blarney Castle, which was beautiful, we went to Cashel Rock. According to Sacred Destinations, "The Rock of Cashel (also known as Cashel of the Kings) in County Tipperary is home to the ruins of a great Celtic cathedral. Legend associates the Rock of Cashel with St. Patrick, but the name comes from Caiseal, meaning 'stone fort,' and the hill was originally the residence of the kings of Munster. Excavations have revealed some evidence of burials and church buildings from the 9th or 10th century, but it was in the early 12th century that the Rock began to be developed into a major Christian center." It was great seeing all of the ancient graves and a Celtic cross. We were told that people who could put their arms all the way around the cross would have good luck and would be married soon. I couldn 't get my arms all the way around the cross unfortunately. Oh well...

After visiting Cashel Rock, we headed to Dublin. We had dinner at a restaurant a few blocks away from our hotel and then had time to walk around before calling it a night. I listened to a great Dublin band and decided I had to buy their CD. Dublin is an amazing city!!

Day 5: We started the day with a guided bus tour of Dublin. We learned a lot about the history of Dublin, which was great. Our guide then took us inside St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was gorgeous, and we learned that "Saint Patrick's Cathedral has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland's history and culture for over 800 years. For long periods it was the largest enclosed space on the island, and it remains the largest Cathedral in the country. It has been visited by some of Irish history's most influential individuals from Cromwell, William of Orange and King James I, to Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. It is the final resting place for one of Ireland's most famous men, Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's travels and Dean (head) of the Cathedral. It has witnessed the birth of the expression 'to chance your arm' within its walls as well as being the site of the very first school in Ireland, the Cathedral Choir School. It is today the National Cathedral for the Church of Ireland- a place of worship" ("St. Patrick's Cathedral").

Our guide focused a lot on Jonathan Swift and how towards the end of his life he thought he was crazy due to hearing voices. His skull was examined by some physicians after he died and a mold was made. It is displayed in St. Patrick's Cathedral, along with his death mask. After examining his skull, it was said he suffered from Meniere's disease, a disorder of the inner ear. I am an English teacher, so I found all of this to be super interesting. I don't think the students did though.

After visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral, we headed to Trinity College in order to view the Book of Kells in the library. Trinity College is "located in the heart of Dublin City [and] . . . . will bring visitors back to the 18th century, when the magnificent Old Library building was constructed. Inside is housed the Book of Kells - a 9th-century gospel manuscript famous throughout the world. . . . .The place of origin of the Book of Kells is generally attributed to the scriptorium of the monastery founded around 561 by St Colum Cille on Iona, an island off the west coast of Scotland. In 806, following a Viking raid on the island which left 68 of the community dead, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery at Kells, County Meath. It must have been close to the year 800 that the Book of Kells was written, although there is no way of knowing if the book was produced wholly at Iona or at Kells, or partially at each location" ("Trinity College").

Trinity College displays different pages of the Book of Kells throughout a given year, so some come to visit on a regular basis. The two pages that were displayed for us were very interesting. The pages are written in Latin, so I couldn't read them, but the paintings were very detailed.

Trinity College was amazing, but I was shocked that so many of the ancient books in the library were exposed to sunlight. There are a ton of windows in the library, so a lot of sunlight comes in. It was great seeing all of the books, but hopefully they will be preserved at some point. I love books, especially old ones, so I want them to be taken care of. The Book of Kells was in a dark room and in a display case, so at least they are taking care of it.

After visiting Trinity College, we had free time for the rest of the day. Terry told us it was Bloomsday, the celebration of James Joyce, so we might find people dressed up. On Bloomsday, people dress up and relive the events that take place in Ulysses. The events in the story take place on June 16th, 1904, so Bloomsday always takes place on June 16th. I am glad we were in Dublin on June 16th because we saw several people dressed up and even had the opportunity to take pictures with two amazing Dubliners who were celebrating Bloomsday. They were so adorable!!

We did a lot of shopping that day. My mom bought me a claddagh ring, and then I bought matching earrings and necklace. I have always loved the symbol. The "distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown). . . One legend . . . is of a man named Richard Joyce. He left his town to work in the West Indies, intending to marry his love when he returned. However his ship was captured and he was sold as a slave to a Moorish goldsmith. In Algiers, with his new master, he was trained in his craft. When William III became king, he demanded the Moors release all British prisoners. As a result, Richard Joyce was set free. The goldsmith had such a great amount of respect for Richard Joyce that he offered Joyce his daughter and half his wealth if Joyce stayed, but he denied his offer and returned home to marry his love who awaited his return. During his time with the Moors he forged a ring as a symbol of his love for her. Upon his return he presented her with the ring and they were married" ("Murphy").

A lot of sources say this is the true story, but there are several other stories as well. Every story, though, comes back to the same conclusion: The claddagh symbol depicts truth and honor and is part of the Irish heritage. I wish I had bought more claddagh related items, but I didn't want to spend all of my money at the beginning of the trip. I guess I will just have to go back to Ireland someday. Maybe I will just live there someday...

We ended the day walking around Dublin one last time and watching some river dancing. I love, love, LOVE Ireland. I know I will go back there again.

Day 6: We got up a little early, so we could catch our ferry to Holyhead. It was a very foggy trip, so we couldn't see much. The students found ways to entertain themselves though. Once we arrived in Wales, we situated ourselves on the new bus and headed to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll -llantysiliogogogoch, which translates to "St Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio of the red cave." I have never seen such a long sign for the name of a town.

After stopping in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll -llantysiliogogogoch, we drove to Conwy Castle, my favorite castle by far!! It was enormous!! I got turned around a few times even. It had a great view as well. Conwy was "built for Edward I . . . [and] is amongst the finest surviving medieval fortifications in Britain. In a word, exceptional. You can’t fault it, from the grandeur of its high towers and curtain walls to its excellent state of preservation. An estimated £15,000 was spent building the castle, the largest sum Edward spent in such a short time on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1307. Some say it is the most magnificent of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses" ("Conwy Castle"). I couldn't agree more!! Conwy Castle is exceptional!!

After exploring Conwy castle, we went to our hotel in Liverpool. Terry then gave an optional walking tour of the city, which was great. Some students chose to stay at the hotel, but most of them came along. It was great seeing both the old and new parts of Liverpool-one can really read the history in the buildings alone. The highlight for me was going to The Cavern Club, which is "the cradle of British pop music, the place where the Beatles musical identity was formed & 'The most famous club in the world!' " ("The Cavern Club"). Terry asked the owners if we could all come in for a while, and they agreed. Therefore, even the students who weren't 18 were able to get inside the bar and buy Beatles memorabilia. We could only stay for about 15 minutes, but that gave students enough time to buy what they wanted before exploring the rest of the city. Liverpool is the best place in the world if you are a Beatles fan.

Once we completed the walking tour of Liverpool, I went back to The Cavern Club with some of my 18-year-olds because there was an awesome band we wanted to hear. Once that band finished, another act started, but it was just one guy with his guitar. He was even better than the first act and really interacted with the audience. It was a great way to spend the night. I know I already said I could live in Ireland, but I could also easily live in Liverpool!! It has a lot of character!!

Day 7: We started the day by exploring two different cathedrals in Liverpool. One was gothic and over 100 years old, while the other was from the 1960's and was very modern. Both were amazing in their own ways, but since we had seen so many Gothic cathedrals, it was nice seeing a different style. I really liked the design of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral because the bright colors really brought it to life.

After checking out the different cathedrals in Liverpool, we stopped in Chester for lunch. My mom and I had lunch with Terry, who is not only our Tour Director but an amazing person!! I really miss him actually. He told us a little bit about his life, and he really has led an interesting one. My mom and I shared a tuna and cheese panini and a blueberry scone, which were both amazing. This was by far one of the better lunches we had on the trip, and it was great having Terry's company.

After lunch, we made our way to the Lake District. According to Lonely Planet, "For sheer scenic splendour, few places in England can measure up to the outlandishly beautiful Lake District, where Wordsworth, Coleridge and their Romantic compatriots famously sought their poetic muse in the 19th century. To the literary landmarks of Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount, both former homes of one William Wordsworth," it is definitely worth visiting. We had a guided introduction to Rydal Mount (Wordsworth's last home), and then had time to explore the gardens. No wonder his poetry was so beautiful!!! His inspiration was right at his doorstep. We spent quite a bit of time walking around, but I still didn't have enough time to see everything. The little hideout in the picture to the right is where Wordsworth would go to write his poetry. It was very secluded and had a breathtaking view. I want a spot like that!!! Wordsworth's most famous poem is "Daffodils":

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in a sprightly dance

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed-and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought;

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude
And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with the daffodils.

Terry wasn't very impressed with this poem, but I think it is great!!! I adore Wordsworth!!

Once we finished up at Rydal Mount, we roamed the village of Grasmere and bought some authentic gingerbread. A customer had to spend a minimum of 10 pound in order to use a card at this gingerbread shop though. Everyone was cracking up because one of my students bought quite a bit of gingerbread since he was using his card. Good thing it was good gingerbread.

After spending some time walking around the town, we went back to our hotel and had dinner. The following day would bring us to Scotland.