Ireland: A Weekend In Sligo

Hey guys! Hope your July has been great and you all are enjoying your summer! It's been a mixture of good and bad weather her in Ireland, as per. But we did get some really warm weather, which was great!
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Friday:
In the weekend just gone by, a friend of mine returned to Ireland and returned to Sligo, the town that I attend college in. So of course, being that I don't get to see her often, I made the trip to Sligo for the weekend to both see her and to get away for a couple of days. 
I left Tuam on the 9:25 Bus to Sligo with Bus Feda, a bus company that drives the route from Galway to Donegal and vice versa. The bus fare only cost €22 which paid for my trip up and an open return for the week, which is actually quite good! I left Tuam at 9:25 and arrived in Sligo at about 11 a,m or shortly afterwards. So the trip took only an hour and a half. The bus journey from Galway to Sligo is really beautiful. You look either side on the way and you're

captivated by picturesque scenes of Galway, Mayo and, of course, the Sligo region.
The bus pulled into Sligo just after 11. The bus pulls in at basically the center of town on Markievicz Road and beside the Garavogue River. As a traveller, it is prime location to stop in Sligo, with the Glasshouse Hotel (http://www.theglasshouse.ie/) literally in front of you as you get off the bus.
I got off the bus and got my bags together. I took the short walk to my friends house, where I was staying for the weekend. Dropping off my bags, the first thing I could think of after greeting my friends was "Food. Coffee. Now". Luckily, the location of my friends apartment was along Rockwood Parade, beside the river. I was hungry after the bus journey, so we went across the bridge to the other side of the river to a café called "Ósta". What made that side of the river nicer was that it was also a Pokemart, so not only were people out enjoying their food and coffee, but the sight of people walking around playing Pokemon Go was hilarious!
We arrived at Osta. The café hummed with customers and the background noise of the river made for a pretty amazing atmosphere. We took a seat outside and were greeted immediately by a waiter. Vanilla Latté for me. I was promised a nice meal cooked by my friend later in the day so I didn't want to ruin my appetite! The coffee was served in what felt like no time at all. It was kind of cloudy in Sligo. But it wasn't a bad day. So sitting outside and watching the river and people walking around whilst drinking coffee was actually really refreshing and relaxing. 
After that little coffee break and catch up with my friend, we decided to head off for a walk towards the college in Sligo. A nice walk out, passing the Model Arts Centre and the Collegiate Cathedral, the walk is nice and once you pass the hospital, the skyline is met by the peak of Knocknarea. We walked and chatted and made it to IT Sligo. The memories of exams, assignments and presentations began to make us rethink the decision to visit! We took a little walk around and then decided to head back towards town and get some more coffee.
Landing back in town, we made it to the Swagman Bar. A really cool pub with

really cool vibes and amazing food. Grabbing a seat, the waitress came to us. A very friendly and chatty waitress, promising to make us the best coffee. Not long afterwards, she served us our coffee and we were not disappointed. She made a mean cup of coffee, and was nice enough to give us a nice chocolate treat! I was in my element. One thing that is on par with coffee is chocolate!
The rest of the afternoon consisted of walking around and falling back in love with Sligo. 
Evening time came around and after possibly the best Italian dish I've ever eaten, we decided we'd head out and go over to a bar that was hosting "80's Night". We first headed to the Swagman for a drink and then over to the other bar. The bar is called 5th on Teeling and is a popular bar in Sligo. The DJ of the night, DJ Gingerbread Man was banging out some serious 80's music, getting everyone dancing. The place had a great crowd and it was a great time with great atmosphere.
Saturday:
The morning after the night before. Heads were sore and people were feeling tender. By people, I mean me! Not being able to sleep, the only thing I wanted was to head out for a walk. I walked out by the river and took in the fresh air for a good hour, letting the queasiness subside a bit.
Going back to the apartment, hunger started to step in a bit. So while my friends were getting ready, it was perfect time to take my piece of leftovers from dinner the night before. Pesto Lasagne is a god among foods, let me tell you. And as you may know, food is an experience for me. So, it was savored. After we all had a bit to eat and chilled out for a little while, the one thing we wanted was... Pancakes! 
Off we went across the bridge to Osta again for the second time during the weekend. From what I'd been told, they served the best pancakes in Sligo. Sitting down and letting the cool breeze pass by, it cured the sore head. What was interesting was the water that Osta served. They add fresh lime and other nice flavors to the water which settled the stomach and was really tasty! The waitress took our order and we watched the people going by. Pokemon Go players again, A wedding on the other side of the bridge and other cool things like musicians too. Then out came the pancakes.
Heaven. Absolute heaven. I've never inhaled anything as quick. Like... it was actually perfect and a proper hangover cure. Like, these pancakes had a reason to be called the best pancakes and if you are visiting Sligo, check them out!
Still not feeling 100%, we went to the Swagman to try and figure out a cure. The same waitress, our friend, came over, seeing us looking hungover. Well, me anyway. And said "I have just the thing. Trust me". I shouldn't have trusted her! But as they say, the hair of the dog and all that. Here she came with two Irish Coffee's. A delicacy over here but not something for a hangover. It was making me nervous in front of me. So I had to settle for water haha!
As evening came by, the only thing we could do was take a quick nap and then get ready for dinner. We ate in again, making dinner. Which was delicious. And tried to come up with a plan for the night. And of course, we decided to head out to 5th on Teeling. There was a live band called "Mass Band" A disco funk band (https://twitter.com/THEMASSBAND). A few people I haven't seen in ages. New people I made friends with. And it was just a really good night and a great atmosphere!
Sunday:
I woke up super late. I'm sure it was closer to afternoon than morning... The only place I managed to take myself was right next door to a little cafe, Grappa. I've been here a couple times before. The one thing I really needed was soup. Carrot and Sweet Potato soup. Let me tell you. One word to describe the soup. Yum.
Unfortunately, nobody was in a mood to go anywhere on Sunday, so we just chilled out before it was time for me to leave.
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A weekend in Sligo is never disappointing. You'll have great craic, probably meet a load of new people in the bars and just have a great time!
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Italy: Where I Want To Go- Part 2

Following on from my Part 1 post on where I want to travel in Italy, this Part 2 will look at other places I want to travel to in the boot-shaped country. 

As I have stated in my previous post, I have been to Italy once before. Whilst being in Italy in June 2014, I flew into Rome but however I did not stay there. From Rome, I traveled to the Adriatic side of the country to the region of Marche, in the paper-making town of Fabriano. From Fabriano, I traveled to the coastal town of Senigallia and the religious town of Assisi in the Umbria region, bang smack in the middle of Italy. Being in Italy for 2 weeks, I did not travel much within the country, regrettably. I do hope to return to Italy and I wish to travel around and see different places and immerse myself in the culture, art, cuisine and scenery of Italy. Having friends in Italy gives me an added desire to visit the country and the possible insight into places that wouldn't be especially popular. 

In my first post, the three places I wrote about were: Rome, Venice and Genoa. Popular, well known places and destinations I am sure to enjoy. In this post, featured destinations will be: Florence, Naples and the region of Puglia. These are more places I'm anxious to visit also.

Florence:

The City of Florence is the capital of the region of Tuscany. Historically, Florence appeals to me as it is said to be the birthplace of the Renaissance and also the home of the Medici family so I am sure these facts enrich the art

culture and history in Florence. Called "The cradle of the Renaissance", Florence boasts many pieces of architectual beauty and heritage sites. There is so much to see and learn about in Florence, I'm incredibly anxious to visit. It is kind of a must-visit place in Italy. Places in Florence I wish to see are:

• Uffizi Gallery: Commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici, a member of the Medici family to display grand works of art. Because of the vast size of the collection that has been gathered from the renaissance era, The gallery boasts so many masterpieces and amazing stamps of history including: Leonardo di Vinci's "The Annunciation", Michaelangelo "Tonto Doni" and Caravaggio's "Bacchus". The most represented and an artist whose work I want to see is Botticelli and his "Primavera" piece of art. 
• Ponte Vecchio: A medieval-stone closed bridge over the River Arno. The
  
  bridge has stalls and stores, which back in medieval times was a common thing. Dating back to 996 in documents, this structure is a big part of Roman history and trade culture. A commemorative statue of Benvenuto Cellini was built in 1900. Benvenuto Cellini was a master sculptor and goldsmith of the area, to this day, the bust of Bevenuto still remains. I think seeing this historic part of medieval Italian trade culture would be incredible.
• Piazza del Duomo: I've heard people talk about the heart of Florence, how amazing it is and anyone who has traveled to Florence that I have spoken to have said the the Piazza del Duomo is worth seeing as you would be in the heart. It is one of the most visited places in Europe and the world. From this piazza, you can access many amazing historic buildings including: Florence Cathedral, Baptistery of St. John, Giotto's Bell Tower and other well known buildings.

Florence is one of the top places on my bucket list for traveling in Italy. It's one of the prominent destinations in Italy and I'm dying to visit!

Naples:

After Milan and Rome, Naples is the third largest city in Italy and the capital of the Campania region in the south east of the country. Like Florence, Naples,

during the Renaissance and also the Enlightenment eras, played an important part in history. In the immediate vicinity of Naples contains a plethora of historic and culturally significant landmarks. The cuisine of Naples is world-renowned. Naples is recorded as the home of pizza and being a coastal city, I'm sure the seafood is quite tasty too! And you know me, food is an emotional experience! Besides the food, I am looking forward to seeing a few sights in Naples:

• Via Caracciolo: A walk along the Mediterranean coast, there is nothing better. According to what I've heard and read, walking along the Via Caracciolo, you are immersed in the cool sea breeze and refreshing Mediterranean sunshine. There is all sorts of street food and vendors in the area also, so dining whilst looking out at the coast sounds very appealing! I really want to take a look down around the Via Caracciolo as it seems very picturesque. And food reasons.
• Catacombe di San Gennaro: These catacombs have been carved out of volcanic debris and rock that form the Naples hills. Rooms and rooms of burial tombs in a labyrinth formation carved out through generations.
• Pompeii and Heculaneum: With Vesuvius on the Gulf of Naples, in ancient
  
  times, these two settlements were ruined by the lava, ash and smoke that came from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Being in the area and not going to see Pompeii and Vesuvius, it's something definitely to see and is on my bucket list.
• Italian Architecture: Like most places that I want to travel in Italy, the infrastructure, design and building of Naples, I feel, will stand out and capture my attention, ten fold. The regular buildings and how they contrast to places like the Castel Nuovo or the Palazzo Capodimonte. The most prominent forms of architecture in Naples is Renaissance and Baroque. I look forward to see all the designs of Naples.
• Food: The birthplace of pizza... That is all.
• Speaking about Napoli, a friend of mine, Giovanni. He said that when he visited the city "the thing that most interested me was the legend about St. Gennero". 18 times a year, for over the past 600 years, the blood miracle or the liquidation of of his blood happens and is one of the only blood miracles to still happen today. Great crowds gather in the Cathedral of Naples to pay homage and be immersed in the holiness of the miracle. Most notably happening on the Saints' Feast Day (September 19). According to Giovanni "If the blood doesn't liquefy, the legend says that a catastrophe is imminent to occur. This is very interesting because all the people, during the ceremony, start screaming and yelling"

Puglia:

Before I continue with my section on Puglia, I want to send my thoughts to the people affected by the train crash that happened in Puglia recently. A tragic thing to happen and affects the Puglia region. 

The heel of the boot. Puglia is a region of Italy in the south of Italy. The Adriatic Sea in the East, the Ionian Sea in the South East and the Gulf of Taranto in the South. Lets be honest, with this many sea's surrounding it, Puglia is said to have some of the best coastal beaches and sights near the sea. Sun holidays are always welcome, right?  Puglia has risen to one of the places I wish to visit in Italy. I've seen pictures of the landscapes and beaches and I've heard some great things about the region from locals and tourist to the region. I'm dying to get there. Some of the places in Puglia I wish to visit are:

• Bari: The capital of Puglia and is on the Adriatic Sea. In the South of Italy, it is the second largest city after Naples. The city of Bari and the surrounding areas contain a weight of history. So many sights and it's a coastal city too. Some of the sights contained in the beautiful Bari are:
• Bari Cathedral
• Swabian Castle
• Pinacoteca Provinciale

Bari, when looking at pictures and research, it becomes so much more appealing the more I see and learn more about it, I just wanna book a flight and go! 

The cuisine of Bari is quite something also to be interested in. A region famous for the likes of olive oil and tomatoes, food like panzerotti and even food like Ragú is famous in the Barese region of Italy. And now I'm hungry...

• Taranto: Reading into Taranto, I was very interested in what it had to offer
  
  and what it's about. Apparently, Taranto is known as the "Spartan City" as it is the only colony formed by the Spartans. Funnily enough, the name for Tarantula spiders comes from Taranto. I might hesitate a bit on going there but I'm quite sure there ain't any in Puglia. The architecture in Taranto is quite unique. Given that it is known as the "Spartan City" I am hoping there will be a bit of Greek influence in the design of buildings. Also situated in Taranto is the Aragon Castle, commissioned by King Ferdinand, which I find interested and would like to seek that. Taranto is also a port city, and is the name of the Gulf. I am excited to visit there, see the beaches and see the unique history.

So far, these are the places in Puglia I wish to visit on my travels, but I'm sure that in time I will have influence and inclination to travel to other parts of the region.

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*Pic Credit: Spalla67. florenceinfermo, paradoxplace, dayofarcheology, weatherforecast365*

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That concludes the second part of my Italian dream destinations that I hope to one day visit. I will be sure to make edits to the information on here, as I plan to get more insight into these three destinations. 

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Ireland: Events in July

Good evening guys! Happy 4th of July and Independence Day to the American readers! With everything going on in the world, crazy politics, countries under attack and scary dynamics in world economies, finding something to take focus off of these things and turn attention to whats important is crucial in having that mental balance.
Summer is here! It's July, which means school is out for most, if not everyone and that means boredom will strike quickly and parents being driven up the walls becoming too frequent which, speaking from experience, I tend to do the driving. But July is full of things to do and places to go. There's lots of fun events to go to all over the places, it's just a matter of finding them!
Here are a list of some events in Ireland happening in July, for those travelling and looking for entertainment:

• Munster:
• 1-9 July- West Cork Chamber Music Festival: An event established in 1995, now in its 21st year is has "grown from a small voluntary organisation to a company which is dedicated to bringing the highest caliber of musical experience to Ireland" and the "day is full of music from morning to midnight". For more information, check out: http://www.westcorkmusic.ie/
• 4-10 July- Clonmel Junction Festival: A non-profit event in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and strive to bring the "highest quality arts events to Clonmel and its environs". Clonmel is situated on the banks of the River Suir and is said to be the "Best shopping town in the south east of Ireland". For more information, check out: http://www.junctionfestival.com/
• 5-10 July- Ballyheigue Summer Festival: This festival in Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry. This festival plays host to events like: sandcastle competitions, pig racing, puppet shows, table quizzes, gladiator fighting etc. Ballyheigue is a coastal town in County Kerry with many beaches, so it can appeal to a lot of interests. More info- http://ballyheigue.ie/wordpress/summer-festival/
• 11-17 July- Limerick Pride Festival: With a thriving LGBT community, the Pride event in Limerick is a staple in the LGBT calender. Events are ran in gay-run or gay friendly venues. Dating back to 2007, the events attracts hundreds of people. With so much changing for the community over the years, it's a real celebration. More information- http://limerickpride.ie/
• 20-24 July- Kilrush Traditional Music and Set Dancing Festival: Open Air ceilis, concerts, workshops, and music and dance displays, this festival in Kilrush feeds nicely to the traditional music setting in Co. Clare. With more live music in the local pubs, the Kilrush Trad Music and Set Dancing Festival shows off real traditions in Ireland. For more: http://www.discoverireland.ie/Whats-On/kilrush-traditional-music-set-dancing-festival-2016/511986
• 29-31 July- Spraoi International Street Arts Festival; Based in Co. Waterford, with Street theatre, parades, music and things for the kids. Being in Waterford is lovely but going to Spraoi would be something exciting to go to and see in the country. For more information on Spraoi, check out: http://www.spraoi.com/##
• Connaught:
• 5-10 July- Cairde Sligo Arts Festival: This is an event in July that celebrates culture diversity and inclusion in Sligo. With a variety of events like, stand up, visual arts, music and performances, the Cairde Festival brings the community and visitors together. This event plans to turn Sligo into "a kaleidoscope of exciting & colorful cultural fun and entertainment. For more info- http://cairdefestival.com/
• 11-24 July- Galway International Arts Festival: An experience that needs to be had by everyone. A mix of performances, visual art, theatre and spectacle. The things you'll experience at GIAF you will never forget. It brings passion, art and inspiration to the Tribes City. This is the 21st International Arts Festival in Galway. For more info- http://www.giaf.ie/
• 13-17 July- The CWMF: The Carrick Water Music Festival in Carrick on Shannon, Country Leitrim which is all about bringing music and art to Leitrim and is sure to please a wide range of artistic taste, For more info- http://carrickwatermusicfestival.com/
• 19-24 July- Sligo Jazz Festival; Another event set in Yeats County. The Sligo Jazz Festival brings Jazz lovers from all over with artists like: The Impossible Gentlemen, Liane Carroll, Federico Malaman and other artists that will come to Sligo for the festival. More information at- http://www.sligojazz.ie/
• 21- 30 July- Boyle Arts Festival: It seems July is full of Arts Festivals in the West! Another art festival to look at in the west of Ireland is Boyle Arts Festival in County Roscommon. With many events, music, performances, readings, etc. The Arts Festival in Boyle is set to bring the community out and show its culture with readings from Lisa McInerney (2016 Desmond Elliot winner) announced. More info- http://boylearts.com/
• Leinster: 
• 1-31 July- PhotoIreland Festival: An event that brings critical awareness to photography in Ireland, which is important for Irish culture. The first event was launched in 2010 and has been a success. "PhotoIreland is committed to the cultivation of a deeper and critical understanding of photography" Events are spread across Dublin. For more information- http://2016.photoireland.org/diary/
• 8-10 July- City Spectacular Dublin: A free event in Dublin in Merrion Square. Amazing performers and spectacles grace Merrion Square. Contortionists, beat boxers, magicians and other fun stuff will keep you entertained for the award-winning festival. More at- http://cityspectacular.com/dublin
• 15-17 July- Longitude 2016: A music festival held in Marley Park. Big names to grace the stage this year include Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer, Laura Mvula, Diplo and many more. For more info- http://www.longitude.ie/
• 22-24 July- KnockanStockan Festival: This Independent Music and Arts Festival, held in Blessington Lakes, Country Wicklow, bring a diverse form of art and music to Wicklow. Food, Music, Dance, BYOB, acrobats and so much more. More info at: http://knockanstockan.ie/
• 23 July- Punchestown Music Festival: Held in Country Kildare with international singer Lionel Richie performing, this music festival will bring a big crowd and will play host to other singers including Shane Filan and James Morrisson. More info at: https://www.thebestof.ie/local/naas/events/feature/punchestown-music-festival-2016
• Ulster:
• 8-10 July- Swell Festival: A music and arts festival held in County Donegal. DJs, Spoken word, music, live art and other performances. This festival will be held on Arranmore Island in Donegal. "5 stages. 3 Days. 1 Venue" For more info- http://swellfestival.com/
• 8-24 July- Earagail Arts Festival: Another event held in County Donegal. This event goes all over the country of Donegal. Be sure to check out for events stretching from Ardara to Arranmore- http://www.eaf.ie/
• 13-17 July- Soma Festival: Held in Country Down, the Soma Festival offers great experiences in art and literature, providing workshops and readings. This event brings a real sense of culture to Country Down. More info at- http://www.somafestival.com/

Ireland is a great place for festivals during the summer! When on your travels, take these events and fun activities into consideration. Some are in places that may not be big tourist areas in Ireland and you may find new experiences enjoyable. Check out the websites and make sure to like their social media pages! 

If you're travelling around Ireland during certain dates and want info on what to do and where to go, leave a comment below or contact me through email!

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Pics to follow!

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