Wendy’s Blog

Today I decided to go solo to the city centre. I did all my research, figured out which station to get off (Tara Station) and the directions from Google Maps. I was all proud of myself because it’s my first solo trip in the big city! Well, that’s quite true, when I worked here for a few weeks back in the early 2000 I had a lot of fun exploring the city by myself. But that was different, I was here for work and when I say explore I mean walking 5 minute from my hotel to the O2 Irish office. Those were fun and crazy times!

I got off the Tara Station and the Mr (he was there to meet his brother for lunch) pointed out where south is and off I go. I never understood why directions say south, north, or whatever. What happened to good old turn left on the street. How does one know where south is? At least you will always know where left is because you can always look at your left hand!

Anyway, the journey started out pretty badly. I went the wrong way, though it was south it was south on the wrong street. I was able to correct myself and find the right streets.

Dublin should coin itself as where the street have no sign because the street signs are pretty scarce. I guess it’s the American in me where every street corner has a sign that tells you ‘hey you are here!’ like the giant red X on a treasure map.

I was able to successfully navigated myself to the 3rd street (College Street), and I was able to go no further. The street just ends, there is College Greens Street, but no Sutton Street (the 4th Street). I know I could have asked someone, but what fun would that be? That would be admitting that I have failed! I will not let Dublin be my Waterloo!

After a few hours (it seems like a few hours it’s probably like only 40 min or so) I waved my little white flag in defeat and pray that I still remember how to get back to the station.

The lack of street signs threw me off once again, I went in to the wrong entrance. It seem like a legit entrance because it said ‘Entrance to Tara Station.’ But it also said it was closed at certain times, and it should have been open! I read another sign and it said to go to Charles Quay Entrance but it doesn’t tell you how to get there. After some trial and error I found the station and got on the train and headed out of the city centre! I end up taking the train until the end of the line and came back just to see what’s out there.

You might think from reading all that I had a horrible day, but I really enjoyed my day. It was nice to get out of the house and look at the people. Dublin has gotten very diverse since I was first here in 1999. You hear all different type of accent and language being spoken or maybe I still can’t Irish accents.

Anyway, best thing heard on the train today:
High School Girl 1 : .. like War of the Worlds.
High School Girl 2 : What’s that?
High School Girl 1 : You know, the Tom Cruise movie.

Orson Welles probably is rolling in his grave.

We are leaving tonight to Milan and train it to Turin tomorrow to see the Holy Shroud!

Regardless of people’s opinion of authenticity, it is still a piece of great history. It also are not out on display very often. So when I heard it finally came out on display last winter I had to make reservations to go see it! You only get 15 minute to look at the Shroud so I am hoping we don’t miss it!

Booking holiday on line in Ireland is n very difference experience for me. I don’t have a list of my normal on line booking agencies I can use so I have to do some research. I also am bad at geography and don’t know much about European airports and streets. Makes booking the holiday just a bit harder but learning a lot as well. New experiences!

We opted to fly to Milan and use Milan as a ‘home base.’ We’ll train it to Turin on Saturday and spend Saturday there looking at the sights. But the rest of the trip we will be in Milan. I have never train it in Europe before so it should be a treat!

Today was my last day at work!  WHOHOO!Here’s the high level itenenary! None of us are power vacationers so we’ll see how many of these sites we actually hit.Joe calls this the temple, tombs, and palaces tour. We’ll see.Saturday -

• Transportation : Hop on a taxi, train, subway to the Fraser Suites in Isadong
• Eat: Gogung : Get some bibimbap!
• Sights : Walk around Isadong – Knowing Mr, I will be exploring it with Joe.

Sunday : Exploring North of the River

• EAT : Go get breakfast at Juk 101 for some chicken and ginsen rice porridge
• Dongdaemum – Great East Gate
• War Memorial & Museum  – Learn about the Korean War
• Eat: Whatever that looks interesting hopefully street vendors
• Seodaemun Prison / Donginmmun Park
• EAT! (YAY!)
• Go hit the bars!

Monday – Take me to Myeong-Dong & Namsan

• Deoksugung – Palace of Virtuous Longivity
• Myeong-Dong Catholic Cathederal
• EAT!
• Namdaemun – Great South Gate
• Seoul Tower

Tuesday – Jamsil baby!

• Bongeunsa <- Temple!
• EAT
• Seolleung Park Royal Tombs
• COEX Mall – Kimchee Museum!!!
• EAT!!!!
• Hit the bars!

Wednesday – All Gwanghwamun all the time

• Tapgol Parks
• Changdeokgung – Palace of Illustrious Virtue <- Palace!
• Jongmyo & Changgyeonggung – <– Tomb, well kind of like a temple that house the spirits of the kings
• EAT : Some where
• Korean Comfort Women Protest
• Cheongwadae – The White House of Korea (except it’s call the Blue House)
• National Palace Museum
• EAT!
• Hit the bars!

Thursday – Don’t forget the DMZ!

• Eat
• DMZ!!!!
• Eat
• Hang out near by Isadong

Friday – Say goodbye to Seoul

•  Fly to Bali!

That was a lot of work.  I hope it’ll work out at the end!  I will post more about Bali later.

Previously on Euro Trip 2006 part 3, we were in Dijon drinking wine and snacking on  most delicious chocolate croissant and sad to be leaving to go on our last destination Morocco.

By this time, some of the party member are getting tired of each other. We have spent time none stop with each other for a week now.  And I was kind of starting to miss the Mister.

Anyway, we arrived in Morocco in the dead of night.  The Mister was waiting for us at the airport.  We got in this van and he drove us to the Medina, and well, it was kind of scary.  He took us down to this long narrow alley way and I was not quite sure what to expect.  We booked this Riad sight on seen. But we were pleasantly surprised when we saw the riad. It was gorgeous. The housekeeper had refreshment for us.

The place was gorgeous.  It had a open roof! We ran around taking pictures.

The 2nd floor.

Our Room.

We were all pretty tired.  But the next day, we got up and start to explorer around the house.

We found sound outdoor showers on the top floor! And naturally, we have to take picture of Joe taking an ‘air shower’.

We decided to take it easy and walk down to the town square (it’s been like a year I can’t remember the name of it, if you know leave a comment.)

We saw lots of interesting things on the way to the square.

I have more to say about Morocco but I am getting quite tired.  I’ll pick this up some other time!