Basketball, Paddy’s, & Loads of Friends

We have had a very eventful, non-stop, packed last few weeks here in Dublin. Brayden is so insanely busy that I again will have to do the blogging. Let’s start with basketball. Brayden’s college team, DBS, made it to the National Collegiate Championships and killed it! Brayden was the leading scorer and led the team to an easy victory! As the school was in the 2^nd collegiate division they will now move up to the 1^st division for next year, which was the goal of bringing over American’s. Fair play to you Brayden! (that’s what Irish people yell during sporting events).

Fair Play!

Unfortunately the Tolka Rovers season did not end as well. Going into the playoffs with a No.2 seed Tolka was upset in the 1^st round by a team from Galway that they had previously beaten L Brayden did play really well though, and again led the scoreboard. None the less, tough way to end the season.

Now onto all the visiting friends! The Saturday prior to Paddy’s Day my good friend Laura and her boyfriend Chris arrived in Ireland. Laura was one of my teammates in college and her aunt lives in Galway - so Laura and Chris stayed with us Saturday night, then headed onto Galway, then returned to Dublin the Eve of Paddys. Anyways we had a great time with them and showed them a fun Dublin Saturday night.

That Sunday morning one of Brayden’s best friends from home, Peter, arrived in town with his girlfriend Allison. We hosted a typical big-weekend-morning breakfast for everyone, then Laura and Chris headed on, and Brayden and I took Allison and Peter to the Killmainham Jail (our favourite tour in Dublin). We then showed them all around the city, had a carvery, and headed home after a long day.

Peter and Allison went up to explore Northern Ireland for the early part of the week, and then everyone was back Wednesday for Paddy’s Eve! Including Brayden’s other best friend from home, Paul, and his girlfriend, Megan. We all went out on the town for one of the biggest nights of the year here, as everyone in the country has Paddy’s Day off.

Paddys Day. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience to celebrate Paddy’s Day in Dublin, and especially with so many good friends from home! We had the huge group of us- 4 couples + Glenn (unofficial ‘x-wheel’ in this case 9^th!). It was sooo much fun. We all got decked out in green and flare (me in charge of facepaint) and headed to watch the parade.

My artwork... note the stick figure leprechaun

It was really packed but we met up with some of our other local friends here too and watched the weirdest parade I have ever seen!!! It was not what I imagined at all... a cross between circ-de-sole and a Tim Burton movie. I later found out that it was based on the short story “Brilliant” by Roddy Doyle.

The MI guys: Paul, Peter, Brayden, giant parade insect

Me & Miller reunited by Paddy's Day

It was a beautiful day and we all hung out by the river for awhile, visited some of the pubs in Temple Bar, and then called it an early night after a long and crazy St Paddy’s Day!

The Gang by the river

The most Irish couple... by present standards

Friday morning six of us - me and Brayden, Peter, Paul, Megan and Allison hit the road for Galway and County Mayo. We stopped on the way in a cute little town, then again at these caves in the middle of the countryside, and then drove through a strange desolate area called The Burren.

We then arrived at the famous Cliffs of Moher and watched the sun set there. Despite having heard that the Cliffs are a tourist trap we found it breathtaking and not too crowded. We then drove to Galway, all very tired, and caught up on sleep.

Us falling over the cliff wall... obviously

Saturday we woke up early to catch the ferry to Inish Mor, one of the Aran Islands. Brayden and I did this trip last summer and it was really great so we wanted to show our friends. The day started out lovely but unfortunately early on in our bike around the island we got torrentially down-poured on... can’t win ‘em all! We still had a great time, but the short ferry ride back to Galway didn’t feel so short all soaked wet... typical Ireland!

We enjoyed our last night together as a group by hitting the town in Galway, which is a great little city with a very musical night-life. Proving to be a small country in-deed both Brayden and I bumped into people we knew from Dublin. Anyway it was a great last night with everyone.

Sunday we got up and went for a nice drive up through County Mayo. Brayden and I hadn’t been up there before and it was really really beautiful countryside! So many sheep.... We stopped for one last hearty meal and in a village called Cong, where I had about the best Beef & Guinness stew I’ve ever had. There was also an old abbey in the town which was very nice.

We drove back to Dublin, dropped Meg and Paul off at the airport, took Peter and Allison through Phoenix Park, and wrapped up the trip with them departing the next morning. Overall it was a crazy 2 weeks - lots of fun, and lots of memories made :)

Skiing Italian Style!

Last weekend I took a little trip to go visit my cousin Lisa and her husband Benson in Italy. It was a great weekend of skiing, Italian food, and a bit of military persuasion mixed it! I arrived Friday morning in Milan and Lisa and I drove towards their little town outside of Venice. We made a stop at ‘Post’ on the way, marking my 1st experience on an active International US Military base. It was very exciting! It was sort of like a little American commune with its own hospital, schools, post office, grocery store etc. and where Lisa and Benson both work as well. Then right outside the guarded gates is small town Italy!

The Kelly-Hart's live right below this Church steeple

We then headed to their cute little town and the weather was great so I enjoyed a nice lunch and a long run (ending in me being chased by a little dog). Later we had dinner at their friends’ house and had a good night sleep for the skiing ahead. Of course before bed I had to get a bit of American TV in and very much enjoyed the many military ads and PSA’s which replace commercials (ie 'I will not use smokeless tobacco, drink and drive, abuse my spouse, or dress overly American while abroad - but I may join the military and seek counseling for PTSD'). Ok I joke but it was very cool and interesting to see the military life-style.

Onto the ski trip! Lisa and I headed out on a girls ski weekend. Saturday started out lovely with a few hr drive into the Dolomites of Northern Italy. The mountains were absolutely gorgeous and the skies were a perfect blue. Despite the narrow and curvy roads up in the mountains the drive was quite nice until a certain traumatizing incident... (queezy stomachs move onto the next paragraph!). We were driving along, and got quickly passed on a corner in typical Italian fashion, when we then see Bambi prance into the road... the aggressive SUV that had passed us plowed into her and didn’t even flinch! Though the scence was extremely disturbing we were very lucky no one was hurt (except Bambi). I haven't seen anything like it before.


Finally the skiing. So we skied the 1st day at Araba/Marmalada. It was a massive resort, connected as they all are to many other seemingly endless skiable mountains. The day was amazing, snow was great, powder was plentiful! At one point we had to take 3 cable cars to get to the top of Marmalada (3.3K m, a glacier!). The most exciting part of the day was when Lisa and I decided to ski a bit of what they call ‘off pista’ I think- backcountry or off trail basically. We found this epicly massive powder bowl for which we were the partakers! Ultimately I think it was worth it, however the hike back to civilization (though done by a few other tracks earlier that day) was very sketch and time consuming to say the least. All in all, a great ski day!

Lisa and I with a view that almost reminded me of a snow covered Grand Canyon

Lisa coming down solo in the pow!

We then headed about an hr away to Cortina, where we stayed in this old very nice, but kinda creepy hotel overlooking the mountains. Since the guys couldn’t join us we had a 2-rooom suite... it was awesome! Of course we were so exhausted so we had some good Italian and fell asleep.

Sunday we skied the famous Cortina and again it was a picture perfect day! The top had a great view and skiing was great again. Not too much to say here, just a great day... We headed back after skiing, had some good pizza for din, and wrapped up the weekend. I headed back to flat 'ol Dublin on Monday... wishing I was still in the Dolomites!

Cable Cars

Me at the top of Cortina