So so so so so sorry I have not been writing/photo-updating!  Finals are crazy!

So, I’m just going to write about Italy and not photoblog about it, because I don’t have time to photoblog right now.

We flew into Milan and slept in the airport night #1 in order to save money, because hostels in Milan are CRAZY EXPENSIVE.  Just like the rest of the city.  Everything was very elegant and there were just dozens of designer stores everywhere.  We explored a bit, got some solid gelato, and wandered around a big flea market.  There really isn’t too much to do except shop in Milan, so we headed to our hostel in Genova a bit earlier than expected.  HELPFUL HINT:  We had a ton of luggage for our trip, and we didn’t want to lug it around Milan all day.  SO we ended up storing it at the train station for very cheap.  I highly suggest doing that if you aren’t checking into your hostel right away when you are traveling.  That was awesome.

Anyway, Genova was sweet.  It was SO HIGH UP.  The roads are very narrow and windy.  Seriously the craziest bus rides ever.  But the view from our hostel was spectacular.  And we went out to dinner and got some delicious pizzas (the first of many we would get on this trip).  We left Genova early in the morning to get our train to Monterosso in Cinque Terre.  We arrived and it was BEAUTIFUL.  We stayed in an apartment than an American girl and her Italian boyfriend owned.  It was awesome.  There were 6 of us total, so it was a little tight, but our view was spectacular and we had a grape vine and a lemon tree (AWESOME).  It was also very close to everything (though the towns are very small, so unless you are halfway up the mountain, everything is rather close).  We were beach bums most of the time.  On my 21st birthday, I decided to do a 3 hour hike into the next town with my friend Brittany. HELL OF A HIKE.  Holy hiking, seriously.  It was the scenic route since all of the coastal trails were closed due to rock slides and such in the winter.  And it was HARD.  But we made it to the other town, and saw some incredible views.  We also went out for a full 3 course Italian meal on my birthday.  SO GOOD.  Then we passed out (hell of a birthday, huh? haha).  The rest of the week we explored more of the towns, hiked some more, and laid on the beach.  Our town was by far the best town out of the 5…mostly because we had a huge beach and they didn’t have any.  I don’t know what you would do there without a beach, really.

So. Came home from Italy on Easter.  Started to prep for finals.  Have had my Irish Music and Dance, Geoscience, and Irish Folklore exams so far.  I only have one left, and it is for my Psychology course…and it is on a Saturday (really?! Saturday exams? That sucks). 

I am also very torn about coming home.  I want to see all of my friends from home. A lot. I miss them so so so so so so so so much.  But I don’t want to leave my housemates and friends here.  But I am INCREDIBLY sick of the immaturity level of Irish people.  The series of events that have led me to hate Irish people:

1.  These kids were in my house one night and threw my shoes out of my house.  MY NICE RUNNING SHOES.  And I found one in the neighbors bush the next morning. But the other is nowhere to be found. Thanks for that.
2.  That same night, my friend Katie and I were getting kebabs before going to the pub.  Katie gets hers and pays for it, and this Irish guy literally takes it right out of her hands and runs away with it. Her response, “MY KEBABBBBBBBB!!”  But…really? REALLY? It’s 5 euro. You can’t get your own damn kebab?
3. Someone stole my housemate’s student ID card.  They checked out a book at the library then returned the card. So now she’s receiving all of these emails saying she owes money for this book she didn’t check out (late fees). And she’s going to end up paying for the damn book.
4. Someone broke into my friend’s house one night while we were all hanging out and broke the “break in case of fire” box.  250 euro fine.  STUPID.
5.  Eggs. People throw eggs everywhere. DISGUSTING. GROW UP.
6.  I was walking home happy to be back in Ireland after a trip, and these guys drive by in an SUV and pull out a giant super-soaker…and I get soaked (good thing the name rings true to its outcome, huh?). 

I am so lucky to have awesome housemates and friends, cause if I was stuck purely with college-aged Irish kids, I would be pissed off.  My best Irish friend here is 28 years old. Go figure.

So. Yeah. One week til I go back to the states. The first thing I am going to do is go to several doctor’s appointments, because Ireland has destroyed my immune system.  Then I am going to go to Fatheads in Pittsburgh, order a bangin’ sandwich with their homemade french fries and ask for a vat of ranch dressing.  Seriously. Why don’t they have ranch in Europe?!

Might do one more entry before I leave, depending on my time constraints.  Packing is NOT going to be fun.

Cheers,
Melanie

Oh, PS. I also won a photo competition at UL for my photos in Ireland.  Won a hoodie and 40 euro (could have taken 80 euro, but the hoodie is pretty cool. haha). SO YAY!

Location: Limerick, Ireland