December: Almost New Year!

Hey Guys! It's December 27th! Christmas Day has been and gone and so has Boxing Day. Hope you all had a great holiday, ate lots and drank yourselves silly. New Year is fast approaching and I, for one, am totally excited to check my Facebook and Instagram on the 1st of January to the #NewYearNewMe posts. I might even contribute!
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I began writing this blog post on the 21st, which was last Wednesday. The process began on my flight from Madrid to Dublin, on my way home for the holidays. The day started quite late, to be honest. Waking up late after having a few friends over for some farewell drinks! That turned into a late... or maybe

an early one. But after a late start, packing had to be finished and everything finalized before leaving. The flight was at 17:35 so we left at 15:30 for the metro. Living in the area that we are, it took us the guts of 50 minutes to reach the Terminal 1 station, traveling up line 9 towards Columbia and then switch to line 8 towards the airport. Getting through the airport was simple enough. Once you get off the metro and go through the barriers, you go up the escalator and literally keep walking straight and you'll arrive at the security gate. The lines weren't that tedious either. Simply made it up to the detectors quickly, passed through. However, I was stopped. Random frisk search and all that.
The other side of the security gate, it was then 16:45. After a quick look in the duty-free in the airport, we moved along towards the gate. As usual with Ryanair, the terminal wasn't so close but not incredibly far. Good way to burn

off anything you ate in the morning! We made it to the gate at 17:15, with boarding expected to start soon. In the end, after getting our bags transferred to the holding, we boarded at around 17:45/17:50. Take off time was then, in turn, 6pm. No complaints however, the flight itself was relatively smooth!
We landed in Dublin at around 8pm, Irish time. The disembark was quite quick also. They had us out of the plane not 15 minutes after landing. It was great then to come to Irish Immigration as you could see everyone coming home for Christmas and passing through the border to get onto Irish soil. It was one thing I was excited for, to be back on Irish soil, even if it was for a few days. Baggage claim was quick enough too. Then it was up and out through arrivals. As the doors opened into the public, a choir of singers were caroling outside the door, making the welcome home feel very warm. With no time to ponder the singers or anything else, I walked out to the bus station which was out of the terminal building. From the bus stop, I took the GoBus from Dublin Airport to Galway Coach Station, which took 2.5 Hours exactly. Departing the airport at 9 and arriving at 11:30. At just €20, it was well worth it, with free wifi and charging stations on-board.
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So enough of my day of travelling and more about what I experienced over the past few weeks in Madrid, right?
Since my last post talking about how another month has been in Madrid, its been quite a crazy time with exams starting from the 1st of December. With my few days of freedom, I headed back to Ireland for a few days as I want to ring in the New Year in Madrid and have a little while to myself to do some independent exploration and get some work done.
Over the last month, I mean, as an Erasmus student, it wasn't purely study time

of course. I had to keep enjoying myself and my experience in every aspect possible. The last month or so saw a lot of exciting and amazing experiences. One of the things to happen at the end of November was the release of another movie in my favorite film world: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" as part of the Wizarding World of J.K Rowling. It was, and I dare say, a magical experience. Obviously, going to a movie in Spain, you're hoping the movie will be in English. Thankfully, I found and came upon a theater "Cine Princesa" near the Plaza España and Gran Vía (Line 3 on the Metro). This cinema, you pay €9:20 for the ticket but expecting that it is the original version of the movie in a Spanish theater with Spanish subtitles, it's quite an okay price. The movie itself was fantastic. I grew up watching the Harry Potter series of movies, so with more exploration into J.K Rowling's world of magic, it's safe to say that I am delighted!
More exploration was done throughout Madrid. One of the most therapeutic things to do in Madrid is, considering I have my transport card which works on bus, metro and cercanias train, is to pick a random metro station and to travel and walk around that area. Coming across cool stores or fun things to do. In the past few weeks I've visited and found some nice places which were: Nuñez de Balboa, Puerta de Arganda, Bilbao, Avenida de la Paz, Callao, Goya and

Velazquez. Madrid is a fantastic city to get lost in. No matter which way you go, you're never too far from a metro station. One of the biggest tourism niche markets in Madrid is shopping tourism. The city has a magnificently vast variety of stores from International, national and local brands and retailers. Exploring these or any area randomly, you discover these gems. One of my favorite places to meet with friends is a place called "Casa Parrondo". An Asturian Sidreria. Sidre is a type of apple wine. At first, admittedly, I was apprehensive about the taste of apple wine but the taste, atmosphere, the consistently good company, the friendly waiting staff and FREE TAPAS! As I have stated in many blog posts, food for me is an emotional experience. We went so frequently that the staff put a picture of me and my friends up on their wall, You know, next to the famous people. #Famous

In the last weekend, on of the cool things I went to see was the Christmas Market at Matadores in Legazpi, a former slaughterhouse and now a cinema

center. This was an International market and what was so cool was that it had stalls from all different countries and nations. I'm talking Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Vietnam, Philipines, South Africa, Columbia and so many more! If there was ever a reason to want to travel the world, this market would kickstart it. I filled my belly with Gluhwein, Belgian lager, Danish cookies, Soutg Africa Amarula, Greek pastries and Italian panettone and so much more. There was a stage which displayed dances and artistic pieces of local tradition from different countries.
These were some of the great things I discovered in Madrid over the past month. Writing this, I'm close to finishing my packing to head back to Madrid for another semester! So much more to come. For now, time to enjoy the New Year festivities!
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Social Media Update

Hey guys! Just a quick little post!
As some of you may know, I use my social media a lot to promote my posts, put a picture to my posts and try and get readers from everywhere. I'm a big fan of Instagram because I may post pictures about a post that may not be in the post itself, it can connect to the right people with hashtags and you can see what they're doing. I also like Twitter because you can directly link someone to whatever you want, which is what I do with my newest blogposts. You can link Instagram up with twitter also. Another great form of social media marketing is definitely snapchat. It's instant. It's quick. You can take pictures right now and tell people what you want them to know. 
One form of social media that I haven't quite utilized yet is Facebook. Sure I post a new blog post on it, but up until now, I haven't done too much with my Facebook for my blog. As of today however, I've decided it was time to create a Facebook Page for my blog. So, I give to you:

https://www.facebook.com/ThePoorStudentTraveller/

My Facebook will have the links to my latest blog posts. Updates on blogs that you should see. You can leave suggestions, comment, like, share! I thought it would be a great Christmas present for The Poor Student Traveller but also a great opportunity for people to connect with me there!

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So lately I've been slacking a bit with my posting! I've been knee deep sludging through the torments of university and adult responsibilities of living in Spain alone, but it's manageable. So far, I've written ideas for posts and have some drafts that need editing before posting! But be sure to see something in the next little while and be sure you'll be getting more content coming into the New Year!

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As always guys, read, like, share and enjoy the posts that are out there and be sure to like and share my new Facebook Page!

Or find me on:

Insta: DavidCandykeane

Twitter: Davidko49

Tips for the Cliffs

I realized, looking back at my posts, I haven't done a post on tips or travel guides in a long time! So, after being to the Cliffs of Moher this past summer, I thought I'd give you guys my tips for dealing with the Cliffs of Moher, but most importantly, dealing with the Cliffs on a windy day!
So as you may know, my post before I moved to Spain was about my trip to the Cliffs of Moher, where and what I ate and all of the fun surrounding almost being blown into the Atlantic ocean. All in the name of tourism, I suppose!
As well as providing tips for the Cliffs, I'm gonna give some suggestions for prospective tourists on what would be cool to do in the area, where would be cool places to stay and why you should stop in Clare whilst travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way. So, enough jibber jabber! Onto the tips and suggestions!

TIPS:
1) Suitable Clothing: It's the Atlantic Coast, people. It's gonna be a cold one! Ireland is known for its unpredictable weather. So a coat or windbreaker is definitely a must-have for anywhere in Ireland, really, but especially on the Cliffs. The wind is pretty powerful and also cold, sea foam floats around and the mist certainly isn't dry! So for the outer layer, definitely bring a coat/jacket. A hat, if its windy, is a very good option. Wind swept hair is one thing,

but gale force wind swept hair... you'll be leaving Ireland like a hairless cat. So definitely bring a hat. In terms of footwear, definitely wear something suitable. Walking cliffside, there are steps and uneven surface as well as slopes, makes for hard work on the feet, so comfortable soles will mean that there is one less thing to worry about. In terms of accessories, I'm kind of on the fence about whether to advise an umbrella. In theory, its great if it starts raining, which it most likely will but in reality, I can see that umbrella turning inside out and the struggle to get it back in formation.
2) Experience the Visitor Center: Not only is it educational, but its actually super interesting and fun. For secondary school students in Ireland, persuading you geography teacher to bring you to The Cliffs of Moher, which is really near to the Burren, one of the largest Karst Landscape areas in Ireland is a great way to get a day off school while also going to the place where they filmed Harry Potter! Inside the visitor centre, you get to see many cool things. First of all, the visitor centre is inside a hill. Literally inside a hill. If any of you have seen the Teletubbies,

exactly like their house. Then you go inside. Small stores and cafes are visible when you enter, and then you go into the main lobby. Here, there are many interactive displays. One of my favorites was looking at what the earth looked like centuries ago and what it will look like in the future, it was super cool. There were posters and signs at every turn, showing what animals were known in the region, what it would have been like here in Ireland years ago and what the people who lived in the area were like and what they did. There were applications to send postcards, a screening of a birds-eye view cartoon of the Cliffs, which was neat as you saw parts of the Cliffs you may not see. So, taking a look inside the visitor centre is a definite must as you get an indoor experience of the outdoors, something I thought I'd never say!
3) Invest in the local businesses 
What's great about about the area in which the cliffs are, is that the region is surrounded by local business. From Ballyvaughn on, there is a variety of local businesses the come to and beyond the Cliffs. Doolin, the closest village to the Cliffs has a lovely little cosy restaurant known as the "Stonecutters Kitchen". I've never been to Stonecutters myself, but from the reviews I've read and the things I've heard, they serve the best fresh fish and chips as well as the best seafood chowder along the Wild Atlantic Way, one review claimed that the food was "the best fish I've ever had" So, gastronomy is a very wide part of the local business in the Cliff region, with fresh fish being a giant contributing factor. On the cliff site itself, there are the Puffin Nest Coffee Shop and the Cliff View Café which serve great food with locally sourced produce. As well as these places, there are souvenir shops as well minted into the hillside. It would be worthwhile, when in the Moher region, to check out other local

attractions. The money spent in this region is definitely well worth it.
4) TAKE PICTURES!
It is one of the most beautiful, picturesque view I think I've ever come across. Totally natural, when looking out at the ocean. You see the sea foam, the erosion-caused sea stacks, the wildlife and most importantly, the amazing Cliffs themselves. You can see the sea stack that Dumbledore and Harry were on in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". You really get to picture a bit of everything! Wildlife, Nature, Landscape and a piece of movie culture! Even on a cloudy, misty day, the pictures, along with what you see with your own eyes are really just one of a kind!
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I highly recommend for anyone who is thinking of travelling to Ireland, thinking of finding a place to visit in Ireland or if you're Irish and you haven't been to the Cliffs, to definitely go and take a look at the amazing landscape.
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Another Month in Madrid Gone

Hey guys! So here we are in November! Know what that means?! Halloween is over the hill and now it's time to get ready for Christmas! It's weird that another month is gone already! Time is going so quick here! But we've gotta look forward and be excited for what November can hold (Some studying

required for me but oh well!)
October has been a weird and wonderful month here in Madrid. I think I've been sick for most of the month, toothaches, flu but that didn't stop me partying studying, and most importantly, discovering the city of Madrid and all its glory, obviously! So now we're more familiar with Madrid, which means that the chances of us getting lost when we go out in the city is less likely and less frequent. So let's start with some of the things that Madrid had to offer in October;
I guess you can't really talk about October and not mention the all-Ireland Senior football final between the hopeful Mayo and Dublin. Considering it was

a national sporting event for the Irish nation and the hopes were high for Mayo to win, a trip to the Irish pub was necessary to watch the game! We went to the James Joyce Bar (C/ de Alcala near Banco de España station http://www.jamesjoycemadrid.com/index.asp), which I've mentioned in previous blog posts. It's one of my favorite haunts in Madrid for a nice drink and some good food. Now when I say that the place was full, I mean it was wedged from wall to wall. Even the poor waiting staff had a difficult time getting through the crowd. It was fun to see the place wall to wall Blue and Green with supporters with the odd person from another Irish county in between (Shoutout to the guys from Donegal and Tipperary!). All out to see who would win, with it being a national sporting event and all. Guinness in hand, the match started. Let me tell you. I've never felt such an intense atmosphere in such an enclosed space. Being from Galway, I just sipped my beer and enjoyed the match both on screen and the amusing intensity out of the supporters!
After the match, a trip to a tapas bar seemed like the best option in order to some of comfort the blow felt by the Mayo fans by Mayo's unfortunate loss. One place came to mind for such an occasion. El Tigre is probably my favourite

tapas bar in Madrid and it's a place I would highly recommend to anyone if they're visiting Madrid with friends or a small group. As soon as you walk in to El Tigre, a member of the waiting staff greets you, takes your order and brings you to a table. Along with your drinks, multiple plates of tapas are given as well. I'm talking marinated chicken, patatas bravas, croquetas and ham dishes! And the price at the end? €5 per person! For all the tapas and the drinks, it's well worth it. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Tigre-de-Hortaleza/260790540642267)

One of my favorite things to do in Madrid with friends, is to go to some nightclubs and have a good time. Being an Erasmus student, we are part of an ESN Group which holds events every week. So, sometimes we end up going to these events, For example, we went to a Animal themed party (I got my face

painted like a "dog") and at the start of October, we went to a neon party, which was an amazing night out. A lot of friends were at Nomad Nightclub (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nomad-Madrid/1543729569251356?fref=ts), the home of Erasmus parties so it was a great night. Messy, with the

neon paint, but great fun. Nomad nightclub has great music and great drink offers for students, especially those on Erasmus. As well as Nomad, another nightclub that always has a good night is Moondance Nightclub! This place is a must-go place for people looking to party here in Madrid. The line to get in isn't too long but once you're inside, the place has three bars, a great dancefloor, good drinks and amazing music. I've had one too many good nights in both Nomad and Moondance and I would recommend anyone who is gonna go party in Madrid to check them out. (https://www.facebook.com/Moondance-Madrid-511225095607096/?fref=ts)

In the middle of October was a pretty fun time. Assignments from University started pouring in slowly, I got a package sent from Ireland from my family (a late birthday present) full of sweets, treats and Irish teabags... The essentials really. But also the arrival of my roommates parents, which was nice. So it was time to put my tourism knowledge of Madrid to good use and show them around some great parts of Madrid, some of which I mentioned in previous Madrid blogs. We left our zone and headed towards Sol, the main center of Madrid. All roads seem to lead to Sol. We made our way through the mass crowd in Madrid. Coming from the small town of Tuam, it's always amazing to see the hundreds of people around Sol on a given afternoon. We walked down towards Opera, taking in the sights of street performers and music happening on the street. We came the the Teatro Real, where there was a farmers-style market. We browsed briefly before heading into the grounds of the Palacio Real. The Palacio Real is actually a superbly beautiful building. During the day, you get natural light showing how beautiful it is but even at night, the place is just amazing! We walked around the grounds for a little while, gazing at the Palace. One of the cool places adjoining the Palace is the Almudena Cathedral. For anyone who has a proclivity for art, history, architecture or religion. This place will blow your mind entirely. I'm always

gobsmacked when I'm in the place. It has so much culture and art. We walked around taking in the religious sculptures and artifacts. It was pretty interesting! From Almudena Cathedral, we walked to Plaza de España, one of my favorite plazas in Madrid. It is one which links with Gran Vía, the way to the Temple de Debod, a gift from the Egyptians, and hosts the statue of Don Quixote. I love this place too both in the day and in the night. The sculptures and water features create a picturesque vibe to the plaza, along with the trees surrounding the area. From the Plaza de España, we went towards Callao to get food in my favorite Italian restaurant in Madrid. Di Bocca is an amazing eatery for lunch or dinner. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Di-Bocca/183032268377684?fref=ts) With dishes that will surely fill you, their food is really good. I got the Spaghetti Carbonara and the rest got lasagna and pizza. The silence from the table was a good sign of a good meal, I reckon! The food hit the spot and it was enough to fuel our energy for another hour. From there we continued down through Gran Vía and down through the Paseo de Prado and back up towards the Sevilla metro to head back home! It was quite a foot-aching adventure! That evening was a quite one and also one where Meghan Trainor was tracing around Madrid, weird, right?

The rest of October was a bit up and down. Some of which was surrounded by sickness and studying and the rest was having a nice time around Madrid with friends, eating one-too-many Burger Kings and sometimes getting caught in the rain! But one of the nice places I discovered towards the end of October was the Cuatro Caminos area of Madrid. I traveled from my area to Alonso Cano and

from there I walked towards the Rios Rosas area to try and find a costume shop so I could get some stuff for Halloween. The Barullo Company is a great costume shop just beside the Rios Rosas Metro station (Which was closed for repairs which was why I went to Alonso Cano). I bought my goodies for Halloween, including fake glasses and fake blood.(https://www.facebook.com/barullocompany/?fref=ts) And after shopping I decided to walk in the opposite direction, because no matter where you walk in Madrid, you'll stumble upon a metro station! I walked up the boulevard towards Cuatro Caminos and it was a very nice neighbourhood. Not too busy in the evening that I was there but it was nice! You come to the main roundabout beside the metro stops, Cuatro Caminos is the start of Line 2 and is on Line 1 and 6. On the roundabout is a 24 Hour Carrefour, in the area there is a Mercado de Maravillas and it is definitely a place I wanna discover more, as I am sure there is more there.
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That's some of the things I've been up to in Madrid in the last month. Stay tuned for more and I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on things here in Madrid with tips and recommendations!
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Be sure to like, comment, share and enjoy guys! Any blog hints or anything is welcomed! 

Brace Yourselves: Halloween is Coming!

Hey guys! As is the normal custom, it's been a while since my last post! Life is busy with college and you know, living here in Spain! So, sorry for the long waiting periods between posts!
So it's the coming to the end of the fall season with Halloween coming around the corner which means... Christmas is coming! What is it? 9 or 10 weeks before Christmas? This year is going scarily fast!
As a change up from talking about myself. A difficult task to not talk about myself... But I think you might enjoy if I share some cool events and stuff that are happening around the place for Halloween this year. Some cool stuff here in Madrid, parties and events in Ireland for those of you looking to party elsewhere! And lets hope you all find a good party for All Hallow's Eve!
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Madrid:
Here in Madrid, clubs can be quite mysterious about events up until the week of or even a few days before the event is happening, So, when planning a night out in Madrid, it's cool to check all the nightclubs, their offers and cool things going on. As it stands, there are a few events listed in Madrid so far, and I will keep the events updated when new information comes about.

• Joy Eslava: "Halloween 2016 @ Joy Eslava" This party is said to be the biggest costume party in Madrid and has been hosting an annual event since 2003 with "some of the most impressive and elaborate costumes in the city". A No-Costume, No-Drink Deal promotion is on, so if you're thinking of going to Joy on the 31st, be sure to dress as scary and cool as possible! (Joy Eslava- C/Arenal, 11. Near Sol Metro station)
• Moondance: This costume event is set to be a real scare and an awesome night. Moondance is one of my favourite clubs in Madrid. Some of the best music and cool atmosphere. On All Saints Day, this will be the darkest night in Moondance and is said to be a real "Night of Terror". Offers are 1 drink and entry for €6 and 2 drinks and entry for €10 between midnight and 1am, 1 drink + entry = €8 and 2 drinks + entry = €12 until 2pm. This place has some good offers and I'm sure their costume party will be awesome. (Moondance- C/ Aduana 21. Between Sol and Sevilla Metro Stations) https://www.facebook.com/Moondance-Madrid-511225095607096/
• Shoko Madrid: Shoko Nightclub is one of the coolest nightclubs I've been to in the La Latina area of Madrid. A very funky and vibrant area. The nightclub boasts a local crowd and the music is a real mix of latin music and top 40 bangers. This Halloween at Shoko, they've posted on their Facebook "This #Halloween promises to be unique! Get ready because this month we'll offer some of the most special nights of the year." So I'm expecting that there will be a great party there, for those of you who like a cool environment in a nightclub, I think Shoko is the place for you! (Shoko Madrid- C/ Toledo 86. La Latina Metro)  https://www.facebook.com/salashokomadrid/?fref=ts

Ireland:

Of course I gotta mention some of the parties happening in Ireland. I have a biased opinion that some of the greatest parties you'll experience will happen in Ireland. Debatable opinion, I know, but I mean, we always gotta party to live up to our stereotype! So here are a few of the haunting events happening on Halloween in Ireland, that if I was there, I'd wanna check out:

• Sligo: 
• So Halloween is starting early this year in Sligo as Sixth nightclub are hosting "Halloween Horror Story Monday" starting on the 24th! This night is gonna be a fun one, I think! €1000 prize for the best costume plus a €2 entry I mean, if that doesn't sound good to you. A grand for the best costume! You'll be laughing with that kind of cash! I'm kind of annoyed that I'm not there for it, to be honest. Sixth always has great music and a real student atmosphere. Check out the event page for "Halloween Horror               Story": https://www.facebook.com/events/556353551224103/  
• Also in Sligo during this Halloween period is the Garavogue Bar is throwing a shindig for Halloween on the 30th with a €250 best costume prize. I love the Garavogue. You'll almost always have a really good night here. Drinks a bit pricey but the music is always banging! On a night out in Sligo, the Garavogue is definitely one of the regular haunts of mine.
• HMVSoundgarden is a nice place for a night out. The place is massive and the music is always good too. For Halloween this year, HMVsoundgarden are doing a "Chamber of Horrors". This looks like it'll be a cool night and the party will be creepy AF! But also extremely lit. "what will undoubtedly be a very impressive performance from Extreme Rythm! We will also have performances from Fire Breathers, Stilt Walkers, Crazy Doctors, Blood Thirsty Nurses, Monsters, Tribal Dancers! This is NOT a night to be missed!" The event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/836625513139361/

• Pulse Letterkenny: Letterkenny is gonna be lit on the 30th of October this Halloween with a cool Halloween party. Not much info has been released yet but David Graig's band is to play at this Halloween gig with other cool performers and a great and haunting atmosphere. Here is their page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/pulseletterkenny/?fref=ts
• McGettigans- Galway: Most of the nightclubs in Galway City haven't stated Halloween parties yet, but I'll update this page as soon as they are revealed. In McGettigans, Galway, which is just on Eyre Square, they are hosting a "Spooktacular Session" and you know, you gotta say yes to the sesh. Happening between the 28th and the 31st, I'd say this is one hell of a session to go on. They'll feature many spot prizes and also, I see the words "Late Bar", so a session has to be had! Stay tuned for more info on the nightclubs of Galway :)

*Leave a comment on where you guys will be going in Ireland for your Halloween Night Out!

*Stay tuned for more information on Halloween events in the lead up to Halloween!*

*Leave a comment if you want me to add some cool parties in your area!

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Madrid: The Start of the Erasmus Year

Hey guys! How's everyone doing? So yeah, almost 3 weeks here in Madrid. It's starting to get a bit colder, much to most peoples dismay. I mean, you can still go through your day with 20-25 degrees, which, for an Irish person, is our summer. It's about the second week of university too and still I'm confused about where I'm going and stuff like that, but I'm taking it all in stride. So, being in Madrid this far, I've discovered some things that I think are worth sharing for those of you who are considering visiting this beautiful city. Things that are must tries and must sees.

Here are a few things that I found interesting and want to share with you guys!

1. The Amazing Palacio de Cibiles: On my first few days here in Madrid, I walked through the Plaza de Cibiles numerous times, gazing at the sheer size of this incredible building. The Palacio de Cibiles is an emblem of Madrid. One of its incredible landmarks and something worth seeings. On one particular afternoon, on the first Wednesday of September, a couple of my friends and I took the opportunity to climb to the top terrace of the Palacio de Cibiles and gaze out over the city of Madrid. The view was absolutely one of a kind. The hustle of the people down below as they went about their business, the statue of Nike on top of the Metropolis building clouded by shadow, giving light to a massive Rolex logo and a 360 degree
   
   panoramic view of the city and sometimes its surrounding communes. Another cool sight to see once on top of the Palacio de Cibilies is the amount of Spanish flags, billowing gently with the breeze. On a separate occasion, whilst going through Madrid after the sun had set, I walked through the Plaza de Cibiles and past the Banco de España and the Palacio de Cibilies was illuminated and basking in a purple glow, making the building look extra extravagant and super eye-catching. Another amazing thing about the Palacio de Cibiles is that you can also dine there too. Personally, I have not eaten there, but I have yet to try it out (And when I do, you guys will be the first to know!). According to some reviews, the terrace on the 6th floor of the Palacio serves high
   
   quality food which isn't too expensive and the glow from the sun gives an amazing atmosphere. If there is one thing I recommend you seeing whilst staying in Madrid, its checking out the Palacio and its amazing views. They are really one of a kind!
2. Walking Madrid at Night: I highly recommend this one! One one particular day last week, my roommate and I decided to go and see what the center of Madrid was like during that night, whether it was quite, or there was something on, but mostly to try and take pictures in the
   
   moonlight. We started by getting out at Banco de España metro station (Line 2) and decided to start out night with a nice drink. Feeling slightly homesick, our choice ended up being The James Joyce Irish Bar, the same place I visited with my family back at the beginning of this adventure. I always enjoy going into The James Joyce Bar, the staff are friendly, the drinks are on point, the food always hits the spot and the atmosphere actually gives an Irish feel to it. We sat and drank our drinks for a little while until it was starting to get late. So off we went back towards Banco de España, looking at all the buildings glowing in florescence. It was really cool to see and it was a quieter time of evening also. The metro stations were lit up, the evening crowd were sitting and enjoying their drinks while in conversation. The evening has a nice feeling to it in Madrid. As we walked up, passing Sevilla station and getting on to the Gran Via, the night was coming alive. We made our way towards Sol and took pictures along the way. The Gran Via was electric with the sound of people. The streets were glowing from the lit up buildings and were alive with activity. We then continued through Gran Via and down towards Sol. I love Sol at night. It's busy. There are always a nice crowd around, give or take the promoters trying to get you into their nightclubs, but it's never
   
   
   dull in Sol. The infamous Tío Pepe sign looms over the square, which is quite cool too. On towards Opera, the street towards the Palacio Real is always such a nice street. There is so much to see and nice shops along the way. And then it opens up into the Opera plaza where the Teatro Real is. People sit around the square and it, as well, is a great atmosphere. I do highly recommend walking Madrid in the evening between sunset and nighttime as it gives the best authentic atmosphere to your Madrid experience. Amazing buildings, amazing activity and never a dull night. 
3. Gastronomy: It wouldn't be a Student Traveller blog post without a mention of food. And as I write this, my stomach is speaking to me. "Hurry up and feed me", I assume. But here in Madrid, I find the range of cuisine and gastro-outlets to be something magnificent. I'm a lover of food. It's an emotional experience for me. From tapas bars, to paella restaurants, Latin
   
   American bistros, European eateries and many many more. I am always happy to try some place new in Madrid. But some places leave such a lasting impression that you can't forget. And some places are good and are a good value for money. One of my legit favorite places in Madrid to eat right now is "100 Montaditos". Especially on Wednesday and Sundays! 100 Montaditos offers a variety of different foods, they come the size of tapas, they fill you and are an amazing value for money. Walking in to a Montaditos with €5, you can eat and drink a good amount of food and be full afterwards. Their chicken bocadillos are amazing, if you want a recommendation. The order system is pretty fantastic and quick. The service is speedy and the quality is quite good for the value of money.It's a great place to go between shopping, studying, to hang out with friends, generally I hang out there with my housemates, my classmates or my Finnish friends and to drink a nice beer. And the best part is, Montaditos is a massive chain in Madrid, so you're never too far away! Apart from Montaditos, one place that I love a lot in Madrid is "Venta el Buscon" (C/ Victoria 5-7). This place is so friendly, you could walk in super hungry and leave super full, guaranteed. Their steak is TO DIE FOR! Once I saw the beef last Wednesday (My birthday, just throwing that out there), I thought that my eyes were bigger than my belly. But no way, I devoured the beef. It was sizzling hot, it was cooked perfectly and it tasted phenomenal. My friends ordered: The Buscon Burger, my friend Wille looked super happy with his choice, which I have also tasted and it is amazing. And some of their Jamon Iberica tapas. Which looked incredible. I highly recommend eating in "Venta el Buscon". As for other places, I will try out more bistros and eateries to give you a list of where to go in Madrid. This place has so much food experiences to offer. 

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So those are three things I recommend in Madrid so far and some of the things I've experiences in Madrid up to this point! The more experiences I have, the more I'll share, I still have more to tell you guys! So stay tuned for more!

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First Few Days in Madrid

Hey guys! I know, I know. It's been a really long time since my last post! I apologize as it has been a very stressful time packing and getting everything sorted to come here to Madrid. So, as eluded to by the title of this post, I am now officially living in Madrid! I don't start university over here for another day. For the past few days I've just been re-familiarizing myself with the area, finding out how to get from A to B and of course, enjoying some sun. 
So lets start from the top!
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Tuesday evening was a pretty stressful time in my house. Getting the rest of the packing done, making sure that all the tickets were in check and everything was set to go. My father and my sister took a nap before the drive from Galway to Dublin so that they wouldn't have to sleep on the plane. I finished my packing and got myself ready to go. In the week or two leading up to Madrid, I had already packed my closet and all my stuff to go over. Fortunately, I had some pairs of shorts. I mean, why would I need shorts in Ireland. So luckily I had some! So the last hour or two at home was spent with my dog, because I'll miss her so much.
It came around to go time to get up and head off to the airport. Leaving my town at around 1:30 am as we had a red eye flight at 6:15 am. I'm a nocturnal sort of person, so staying awake through the drive wasn't particularly difficult. We drove on the old Dublin road from Tuam towards Ballinasloe as we thought there would be a 24 hour store open there. Unfortunately, going to Ballinasloe proved to be a bit of a waste of time as the store was closed. We drove onto the motorway at Ballinasloe as it was way quicker. Legit, an hour and half later, we were coming into the Dublin and coming up to the exits for the airport. My dad is a good driver! We pulled into our parking space in the blue zone. My father booked the parking online at the Dublin Airport (https://www.dublinairport.com/). From this parking zone, it was easy to get on the park and ride bus that would then drive you to the door of the terminal. 
We checked in our bags and headed through security. Quick and easy pass through security, which is always nice. And then, straight into Starbucks. The Starbucks in Dublin Airport is very comfortable and a nice waiting area whilst waiting for the gate to appear. We waiting for an hour or so and then
headed down towards the gate. We waiting for another 45 minutes before the gate opened. It didn't take long for the boarding to start and the safety demonstration to begin before take-off. Annnnnnnd off we went into the skies and the rest of the flight is a bit so and so as I was in and out of sleep. 
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Wednesday. We landed in Madrid just after 10 and waited for our taxi to come get us. We waited and looked around for a little while and then eventually, the taxi came for us. We drove out from the airport in through the outer part of Madrid to where my father in my sister were staying in an area called "Alsacia". The taxi dropped us off at the Silken Torre Garden Hotel. This hotel is basic enough, Bed. 4 walls. Toilet and has a very nice view of Madrid. However, the hotel doesn't have a pool, a proper bar or a proper restaurant. But staying a couple of days, it does the job quite alright. From there, we took a trip to town where we had a look around Sol (the central plaza of Madrid), went for some food in El Busco (a lovely restaurant near Sol) and from there we headed down towards the Palacio Real, the Royal Palace of Madrid. A palace 3 or 4 times the size of Buckingham

Palace. The Palacio Real is a beautiful landmark in Madrid, boasting the wealth of old Spain and shows how lush the life of the royal family once was. Walking from the Palacio, we walked towards and in around the Plaza Espana. Considering out jet lag and the soaring heat in Madrid, we decided to head back to Alsacia and get some food. Luckily, just across the street from Alsacia station was a massive Carrefour shopping mall where we got some shopping and then went back to the hotel room. That evening, I received the keys to my own flat in a different side of Madrid and decided to turn in.
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Thursday. I met my father and sister in their hotel and we all headed into Madrid center to go shopping. We excited at Banco de España station, near to Gran Via and around near Prado. We walked towards Gran Via, looking the the amazing building on the way up. The government buildings, the Metropolis building and the various other places. We made our way to Gran Via where my sister was looking to find Primark. The Primark in Madrid is the largest in Europe and it really is. 5 massive floors of clothes. It was quite amazing to see. I purchased a few

essentials for university and some clothes to wear and then headed back towards Sol. From Sol, we got a bit hungry and decided to have a bit of Subway in La Latina. Sure why not. It hit the spot on such a lovely day. The cool drink and nice food was just nice. After lunch, we continued shopping until my feet started to get sore, so off I went to my apartment where I crashed for the night. Exciting, I know!
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Friday. Friday was pretty lazy day for me. My family decided to take a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home of Real Madrid. They had a really great time, looking around the stadium, in the
trophy room and taking pictures of the pitch. They spent a good while there before heading back to the center. From there, I met them at the Banco de España station. My father wanted to go and visit an Irish bar. The James Joyce Irish bar in Madrid, near the Banco de España is quite a nice Irish bar, ran by Irish people and has a very friendly and helpful staff. We had our lunch and a few drinks. I had the cottage pie, my sister had the bacon and leek pie and my father had the traditional fish and chips. The food went down really well with some cold Kopperbergs. After chatting and eating, we decided to head back to our places and take a well deserved siesta. 
In the evening, we decided to meet up again and head back to the James Joyce bar for some dinner and listen to the live music. We arrived shortly after 10pm and ordered our food. Chicken goujons, chicken wings and a beef burger. All of which were really delicious. The evening was a nice last night for my family in Madrid. Shortly after 12 we all were feeling quite tired and decided to head back home. 
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Saturday. The last day for my father and sister in Madrid. After they checked out, I made my way into town where I met them at the Irish bar where they were enjoying some cool drinks as the temperature kept on climbing. We had no real plan for the day except try and find some souvenirs for some family back in Ireland. We made our way through town, taking in the sights of Madrid. Through Gran Via and in around Sol. We decided then that it would be a nice idea to head to Retiro Park and chill out for a while. At this point it started

feeling even hottter. We caught a glimpse of a thermometre which stated that it was a whopping 38 degrees outside. We made our way to Retiro Park. This park is one of my favorite places in Madrid. It is so nice to just lie out in the grass and chill under the trees and let the breeze just wash over you. After an hour in the park, it came time for my family to leave Madrid. I went with them to collect their luggage from the Irish bar and went with
them to their bus. Off they went back to Ireland. 
After they left, I met up with a friend. We both wanted Guinness so we went to the Irish bar which serve guinness and had a really nice evening in the Irish bar. I stayed at my friends house that night which is near the Palacio Real, so the next morning, it was nice to wake up and go for a walk around the gardens of the palace.
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So to sum up the past few days in Madrid. I've revisited and became familiar with Madrid. Had my family here. Great food. Met some really amazing people. And it's safe to say, I'm going to really enjoy living here.

Ireland: Cliffs of Moher

Hey guys! How's it going? Almost Mid-August! A couple more weeks and I'll be off to my new home in Madrid! Nerves and excitement starting to kick in but I really can't wait! Getting a bit hectic though, organizing everything, finances, school and stuff! But I'm sure the Spanish lifestyle is something I can adjust to. Siestas, fiestas and all the tapas in between! 
And the Olympics is on! Some exciting stuff. Broken legs. Pools turning green. All in all, the competition is fairly heating up! It's really when the Olympics are on that you become a real professional in the sports you watch "Oh, that dive wasn't great. They'll need a 3.5 somersault" and the like. Here's to Ireland

winning some sort of medal.
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On to the topic of this post. 
In the weekend gone by, with nothing to do on Sunday. My family and myself decided to go out for the afternoon. To do something except becoming part of the furniture. It came down between climbing the reek of Crough Patrick and going out to see the Cliffs of Moher. Now, for someone who has done a project on the Cliffs of Moher in college, up until last Saturday I have never actually visited the Cliffs. So it was decided then that we would head off to the Cliffs in County Clare.
It seemed like a really nice day out. It wasn't too cold out so it seemed like the perfect day to head out cliffside.
Off we went at around noon. My sister, father, grandmother and myself. We we're actually looking forward to spending time away from home. We drove on the N17 from Tuam and headed for Oranmore, through Oranmore,

Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Kinvarra, through Ballyvaughan and into Lisdoonvarna, Doolin and Liscannor. The key areas along the Wild Atlantic Way towards the Cliff region. Something cute that was along the way as that every so often, a cool structure made out of tyres was built and designed as flower features along the sides of the road. Teapots, minions and other designs made the road very quirky! The Cliffs themselves are situated on Southwestern section of the Burren, one of the largest Karst landscapes in the world. When driving, its amazing that once you come into Ballyvaughan, that the landscapes changes from the typical Irish rural landscape to this amazing scene of the limestone pavements of the Burren. 
We continued on and it was fun that at a certain part between Ballyvaughan and Doolin, that the climb becomes hectic as it gets bendy. Somewhat of a rally course! Although making me feel a bit queasy, the scenery was still something to admire. The Irish coast is something that you can't experience or imitate anywhere! The closer we got to Doolin and Liscannor, the more grey the sky was getting. We past through Doolin. Doolin is a nice town near the Cliffs. You can get the Park and Ride service from Doolin to the Cliff parking compound, which is a very handy service. It means you wouldn't have too far to travel and you'd be a bit away from the mass crowd

of tourists. It also is, in my opinion, a great place to spend a couple of days. Trips out to the Aran Islands, the Burren and Cliffs are in the surrounding locations, 3 of the top tourist destinations in Ireland.
We made it to the Cliffs. The car park was full with more cars lining up to get in. Amazingly, tickets were cheap! Entrance was €4 for students, so I was impressed to go and check out the Cliffs. We managed to find a parking space. Before stepping out of the car, the sky was still a mild grey colour. So we were expecting it to be windy. We stepped out. And we were hit by a gust of wind. And besides complaining about it, it made for actually unique conditions to go and see the coast.
We walked up through the compound, my poor grandmother finding it hard to not be blown away. We went to the visitor center first. I was actually super impressed by the design of the visitor center and gift shops. They were laced IN

the actual hillside. I've only seen the pictures but we were walking inside a hill. The visitor center was really amazing. When researching the cliffs, I heard of the indoor exhibitions and experiences that I was really excited to check out. Inside, there was the option to stop for a coffee in the Puffin Nest, which was a cute little coffee kiosk or head straight into the exhibitions. Green being a nice glow cast around by the main centerpiece. There were different interactive activities, like looking at the progression of the movement of continents, kids activities, interactive postcards and a display of factoids about the cliffs. We continued on to an area labelled " Ledge Experience".
We went into a dark room that was beginning to fill with people. We took a seat and waiting for something to happen. As more people came in, we watched as the big monitor began playing. We watched as it showed us a birds eye view (Literally) of the Cliffs and the different parts that are worth seeing, including the Puffins, taking a look around the Cliff face at the caves and caverns and everything in between. It was really cool. Looking around, the walls were lined with facts and pictures of the fauna diaspora in the area, which was really cool too. I didn't know Basking sharks were in Ireland at all
We left and spent more time in the main area of the visitor center before heading out towards the Cliffs. As we exited the center, we were met with a powerful wind, Like, I've never felt anything like it in my life. It was so strong. We made our way over to the wall to look at the Cliffs. Let me tell you. It was honestly one of the best things I've seen. Not only was it amazing scenery, but c'mon, a scene from Harry Potter was filmed here, so to say it was magical... I'll just leave that joke there. The wind meant that the waves were choppy against the cliffs. Like, it was pretty amazing to see, and to see the amount of people out on such a windy day to see the amazing landscape.
We looked out at the main edge of the Cliffs from O'Brien's Tower, getting a good scope of the sheer size of these cliffs. What took over 300 million years to form and with earliest records of man being on site over 2,000 years old, the site was also super historical and geographical. They stretch 8 kilometers along the Atlantic coast. 210 Meters tall and offer views of coastal counties, Limerick, Galway and sometimes even parts of Kerry. What was great to see was the amount of foot flow around the cliffs and heritage site but also that the waste

management was top notch. There were rangers monitoring the area, so it was nice to see so many people taking in the fantastic sites. We walked from O'Brien's side up along the cliffs. But could only make it so far, sadly, as it was getting way too windy and I don't trust my balance. Also, someone said "dinner" and I started getting hungry.
We made it back to the car before the mist started getting heavy. We then made the decision that we'll make the way home but once time came that the Kilkenny/Waterford hurling match would start, we would stop for dinner. A safe bet as I was starting to get hungry.
We kept driving until we made it to Ballyvaughan, a nice fishing village. Its position on the coast road, south of Galway Bay and in the Northwest corner of the Burren has built up it's tourism economy significantly. We looked around for a place to eat, passing the Hyland's Burren Hotel. Unfortunately, they were serving lite snacks, all of which were with locally sourced ingredients. We walked down the street to the Wild Atlantic Lodge where they were showing the match. We sat down and were immediately served, which was really great because I'm quite hungry at this stage. "Traditional Fish and Chips" screamed at me. So I had to get it. The wait wasn't even that long! I had time to catch a couple of Pokemon and Instagram what I was doing before the waitress came back out with the food.

Fresh battered fish, fresh cut chips and garden peas. Literally, I inhaled it. I savored and devoured it. And you know me, food is an emotional experience. I followed up the main course with a selection of Ice-cream. Like. I don't know how best to describe the food with anything other than... Yum.
We made it home after the match and literally just spent the evening in a food coma/ Of course periodically splurging with a cup of tea and a couple of digestive biscuits, you know yourself! 

After doing a project on the Cliffs of Moher, I thought I wouldn't be too impressed with the Cliffs. But I have to say. I was actually amazed by what I saw and I can understand why the Cliffs get the attention they are getting. The place should be witnessed by anyone visiting Ireland. Try the food, feel the Clare air on your face and see the amazing structure of Cliffs that took 300 million years to get where they are today. Also, the cave scene from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was there! An amazing day, really!

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Ireland: Events in August

Hey guys! Can you believe it's August already? Just feels like yesterday that summer just started. Craziness. July went so quickly and it just feels like summer just slipped away! It's Autumn now. But there is still another few weeks left until school and universities are back in action, so I'd say make the most of the next few weeks before your days are spent studying and in a rut trying to get everything done.
As similar to last month, I'm here to list out a few events coming up that I think are worth taking a look at! Enjoying summer doesn't necessarily mean to fly out to a beach and spend big money. Going to events and having fun can making the most of summer!
Anyway, enough gibber jabber. Here is some cool events happening across Ireland, and a few international events that would be worth checking out!

Munster:

• 3-8 August: Feakle Traditional Music Festival, Feakle, Co. Clare. A festival that's about 30 years old. for a few days each August the village becomes a place where traditional music, dancing and friends meet in the village of Feakle. Music is a big part of culture in the village, so this festival is important as it celebrates the tradition of music in Feakle. http://www.feaklefestival.ie/
• 10-12 August: Puck Fair 2016, Killorglin, Co. Kerry. Puck Fair is said to be one of the oldest festivals in Ireland. with documented history dating a good 400 years! Crazy, right? This event is one that I find real cool and quirky. A goat will be crowned king during this festival. Yeah, a goat. This festival has a lot of fun stuff to look forward to including: Day/Night concerts, firework displays, horse fair and and parade. Killorglin is a coastal town. Fresh seafood from the River Laune and artisan, locally sourced food is popular in the area. http://puckfair.ie/
• 14-22 August: Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Ennis, Co. Clare is one of the biggest celebrated Traditional Irish music festivals that garners crowds locally, nationally and internationally. For many, it's the culmination of months of preparation, practice and perfecting their pieces. It's a celebration of sorts for trad music, dancing, workshops and singing. It brings so much to an area, including events to be enjoyed during the festival. http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/
• 17-21 August: Masters of Tradition, Bantry, Co. Cork. An event celebrating trad music, like the West Cork Music Festival. http://www.westcorkmusic.ie/mastersoftradition/
• 25-28 August: Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival, Waterville, Co. Kerry. is a four day event that is packed with circus performances, street entertainers, film competition screenings, impromptu comedy performances and so much more. The final day sees a performance from Bagatelle. The event is a homage to Charlie Chaplin. http://chaplinfilmfestival.com/

Connaught:

• 6-10 August: Tubbercurry Old Fair Day Festival, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. One of the oldest crafts festivals in Ireland, focusing on heritage, crafts and culture with family friendly events. "Relive Yesteryear" with rustic displays of buttermaking, weaving, pottery making and so much more. Stalls and displays open during the event. Tubber is close to Sligo town. It would be worth while to visit and see the surrounding areas! http://www.oldfairday.ie/
• 7-14 August: Ballinamore Family Festival, Co. Leitrim. A family fun event in Co. Leitrim. Free open air concerts and appearances from Irish Country music stars including Mike Denver, Robert Mizzell and Cliona Hagan. https://www.facebook.com/events/300921976912519/
• 12-21 August: Belmullet Gala Festival, Bellmullet, Co. Mayo. This festival is another family friendly event including Heritage Day and other fun events. Fishing competitions, treasure hunts, pig racing, busking, water sports and so much more. http://belmulletfestival.ie/
• 15-21 August: Galway Pride Festival. One of the staple events in Galway's event calendar. With a thriving LGBT community. Events are ran throughout Galway City with some special guests, amazing sponsors and what are said to be some kick-ass parties. The Grand Marshall for the Pride Parade is social media personality James Patrice, who features on TV3's Xpose, RTE Two and a fixture on RTE One's social media. Also named to appear is Irish comedienne Kathrine Lynch, known for her RTE hit show- Katherine Lynch's Wonder Women and other hit shows. I'm sure it's going to be a massive success! With Event Manager, Bruce Henry at the helm, I'm sure it'll be fantastic. A quote Bruce (Chairperson)- "This year will be the largest Pride Festival in 27 years and is jammed with great workshops for everyone and great parties. For all the details, go to www.galwaypridefestival.com" https://www.facebook.com/galwaypridefest
• 20-28 August: Galway Heritage Week. Galway's vast heritage is set to be celebrated across the country with so many events across the city and county from Ballinasloe to Inishbofin. Everything from genealogy to history will be celebrated during the week. 

Leinster: 

• 5-14 August: Kilkenny Arts Festival. This festival, since it's inception, has garnered talent from the finest musicians, artists, writers and performers in Ireland's medieval city. Classical music is at the heart and foundation of the festival. Alfred Brendel and Joshua Bell being a few names to mention as performers. Open air productions of Shakespeare and Poetry have become a popular part of the programme. For all you literature and classical lovers, it's certainly an event for you! http://www.kilkennyarts.ie/
• 6-7 August: Dublin Comic Con, Dublin Convention Centre. The most outrageous and unique convention to grace Dublin. Cosplay and costumes will lace the center as well as guests and fun stalls. Some names announced include: Brian Krause (Charmed), Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead), Paul McGann (8th Doctor- Doctor Who) and others. http://dublincomiccon.com/
• 12-14 August: Blue, Roots and Brass Festival. A celebration of the three genres of music that has been coming to center stage recently, not just in Ireland but all over the world. The event takes place in the Camden Quarter, Dublin which includes 4 stages and 2 venues. Support from local businesses and Failte Ireland is placing this event on the map as one of Dublin's coolest free events. http://www.whelanslive.com/index.php/blues-roots-brass-festival-3/
• 20 August: OurLand Festival. A brand new family friendly festival with singer, Mundy and Phil Smyth, star of RTE's Insiders who will join a line-up of great acts for the festival set against the backdrop of Lough Boora Discovery Park. The festival has 4 themed stages. Energy, Air, Earth and Fire. http://www.loughboora.com/events/ourland/

Ulster:

• 5-7 August: SunflowerFest, Hillsborough, Co. Down. A music festival with 100+ performances of music, comedy and dance. Along with food stalls, this festival is set to be a good one.
• 11-14 August: Carrickmacross Arts Festival, Monaghan. This festival returns this year with a line-up of Art, Music, Drama, Comedy, Food stalls and many more. This event was set up to showcase the talent and uniqueness of Monaghan and the surrounding counties. Just 45 minutes from Dublin and an hour from Belfast. This event is a perfect stop-by and see event. http://www.carrickmacrossartsfestival.com/
• 12-13 August: Taste of Cavan 2016. An event to showcase the cuisine and diversity of local produce in County Cavan and gives visitors the chance to purchase from Cavan fair. Food demonstrations happening throughout the event and some of Ireland's famed chefs making appearances. https://www.facebook.com/TasteofCavan/
• 14 August: Richhill Music in the Park, Richhill Park, Armagh. In it's fifth year, and attracting audiences to Richhill Recreation Center. 
• 26-28 August: A Taste of Donegal. Set in Donegal Town, this three day event is a celebration of great food and drink with stands, demonstrations, tastings, entertainments and more. http://www.atasteofdonegal.com/

International Events to check out:

• 10-17 August: Szigit Festival, Budapest. Hungary. This event is on the NGO Island and looks like it's an amazing festival with so many cool amazing performers. For example. Rihanna, Jess Glynne, Sia, Muse, Afrojack and more are set to perform. Check out the link for more: http://szigetfestival.com/
• 12-14 August: London Craft Beer Festival. For the fourth year, the London Craft Beer Festival is back at Oval Space, London. The international line-up of breweries include Buxton, Brew Dog and Magic Rock breweries. http://www.londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk/
• 13 August: Appelsap Fresh Festival, Flevopark, Amsterdam. This festival represents everything fresh. Cool drinks, fresh food and fresh music. A line-up of some locally grown talented DJ's. Be sure to check out the line-up and check ticket availability. http://appelsap.net/festival/
• 31 August: Tomatina Festival, Valencia, Spain. The last Wednesday in August in Valencia. The weeklong festival features music, parades, dancing and fireworks. The festival features a tomato fight, the night before the participants take part in a paella cooking contest. http://www.latomatina.org/tomatina-festival/

These are just a few events to check out over the next month! I'm tempted to get to all of them! Be sure to enjoy the rest of the summer break guys and have fun!

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