The Purple Palace

I apologize readers once again for not updating my blog as often as I should. You may take comfort in the fact that my lack of postings is an indication of a life filled with joy, laughter, and good times, which has caused my memory to neglect my blogging duties. Since returning from across the Atlantic I have done what I said I would never do, put down roots in a small town! That's right, I, Erin...lover of adventure and hater of stagnancy, has finally realized that true authentic community and a simplistic living exceeds the thrill of discovering new places and adapting to new cultures. This is not to say that I plan on retiring as traveler, but more-so that I this summer I had a period of enlightenment. I saw amazing things, got to know amazing people, and grew tremendously, but I realized that during all of this I missed home. This is strange as I have never before been homesick in my life. I found myself yearning for those who truly know me and grew tired of having to start fresh with every person I met. More importantly, I realized that true community is hard to find and that I have hit the jackpot back in A-town.

So here I am, living, breathing, and embracing small town life with 2 wonderful roommates in our apartment we like to call, The Purple Palace! All three of us are so different yet, God brought us together and knew what each of us needed...each other! We are definitely the loudest bunch in the building and have gotten noise complaints on more than one occasion due to our zest for life! Life is simple, funny, and rich at the moment...I may be the happiest I have ever been...and I'm in freak'n hick ALTONA!!! Below are some pics of live at the PP...enjoy and stay tuned as I am continually crossing things off my Top 10 Goals for my year off!

Roomy Richelle and I testing out my MacBook Camera.

There is a lot of cooking that goes on at the PP...Thursday's are dinner night, filled with flavor and company!
If there is one thing that we value the most, it is atmosphere! All 3 of us are allergic to Florescent lights...thank goodness!
Made bread and pie for the first time while cleaning the apt...yes I have been deemed the PP House Wife!
There is also a low tolerance for poor-coffee at the PP... only the best for us!
Annie...our honorary roommate!
Much reading, listening, singing, and solitude!
Fiesta with Roomy Char!
Delicious drinks are always at hand!
La Tres Amiga's!!! The Queen's of the Purple Palace!

There and Back Again...Ireland Concluded

Even though I have been home for over 2 weeks, I have been told by MANY people that my blog lies unresolved as if I am stuck in Northern Ireland. So, with this in mind, I write a concluding entry to my trip over the Atlantic, but not a conclusion to my blog, as my entire year is to be documented.

Ireland will forever be a place I will want to return. Something has always called me there and continues to even though I have hiked its cliffs, drank its beer, and wandered with its sheep.

Since my last entry, Michelle and I made our way down the West Coast through the counties of Donegal, Galway, and Dingle. Here are some of our favorite moments:
Going to the Dingle Spa for Michelle's Birthday!

Reading by the fire in our B&B's sitting room on the one and only rainy day we had.

Walking by the sea and hearing the Celtic movie soundtrack to life in the background.
B&B's!!! I have officially outgrown Hostels's!
Tea time!!!! Favorite...something I have definitely brought home with me.
So we have walked along 200 foot ocean cliffs with me caution signs, but here with a 2 foot drop, authorities have made sure that we are aware of the "danger"....

Green, green green....sheep sheep sheep...quaint, quaint, quaint

Our route around the island.
Exhausted in Heathrow, London...making our way home.

Favorite Nature Outing:
* Hike from Carrick-A-Rede Bridge to Giants Causeway
* Walk to Kinsale Fort
* Bus Ride to Dingle from Tralee

Favorite Outing:
* London
* Cold Play
* Spa

Favorite Pubs:
* Temple Bar, Dublin (Great dancing)
* Dingle Pub (Great local music)
* Cork

Favorite Foods:
* Fish and Chips
* Amazing food for both of our birthdays
* McDonald's after Cold Play (standing in line for 45 min after walking 10 miles)
* Rhubard Pie in Kinsale
* Guinness Beef Stew (with a pint of course)

Favorite Drinks:
* Bulmers (Apple Cider)
* Smithwicks (similar to Alexander Keiths)
* Carlsburg (Danish light Ale)
*Vodka, sparkling water, with a dash of blackcurrant concentrate

Favorite Breakfasts @ B&B's:
* Breakfast Bruchetta
* Poached eggs on a toasted bagel with a chive cream sauce
* Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon

Favorite Places we stayed:
* Cloisters B&B, Kinsale
* Clontarf Castle, Dublin
* Seamist B&B, Clifden

So I am now back at home...In Altona...AND LOVING IT!!!! Stay tuned for this year is sure to bring more stories!

Northern Ireland

Making our way up to Northern Ireland, Michelle and I did a 20 km hike from Carrick-a-Rede Bridge to the famous Giants Causeway. The only thing is we did not know it was a 20 km hike and also did not realize how far away the trail was from any sort of civilization, like food, water, and transportation. It only took us 7.5 hours to complete the hike and after almost dying and exhaustion, we managed to make our way back to our hostel. The views were well worth it though...at least now I think so...hindsight is always more positive than living in the exhaustion of the moment. Having walked for almost 8 hours, I fell off a cliff from exhaustion and was washed up on shore.

The stones of Giants Causeway. One of the wonders of the world.

Eye spy with my little eye, something that looks like an Elephant...can you find it?

Yes, we did frolick through the medows.

Michelle trying to blend in with the sheep.

Sheep here, sheep there, everywhere there are sheepies. There were parts of the hike where no we were once with the sheep and cows, walking through their pastures and stepping over their cow/sheep pies. One unlucky step, however, did not make it over but rather, landed in.

Roars Kitchen, a little tea house where we stopped to have lunch and enjoyed homemade soup and pies...so tasty but not quite as good as my both my Grandma's and my mom's.

Going across the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge.

Michelle, expressing our excitment upon being here and seeing such beauty.

PPP (Partying with People from different Places)

One of our favorite parts about Ireland is both the music and the people you meet in Pubs. Below are some pictures of the different beers we've had, the people we've met, and the places we've had some of the best Irish dance-a-thons with people from all around the world!


Temple Bar in Dublin is known for its nightlife and music. We enjoyed strolling the streets and tapping our feet to some local buskers as well and dancing the night away with fellow travelers.

Michelle, listening to some celtic fiddle players along Temple Bar area.

Bulmers is our new favorite beverage. Being a cider it is a nice option when you are in the mood for something sweeter but still want to have a pint.

Of course, when in Dublin one needs to try Guinness. I was actually surprised at how much I liked the thick beverage. The foam on top is quite impressive and leaves behind a very fashionable mustach.

The girls who introduced us to Bulmers...Belgium girls know how to have a good time:)

Michelle's dance off with the Danish guys.

I think we have representation here from 3 different continents.

Canadian girls and American boys...a little North American reunion. We busted up the dance floor with our flailing Irish jigs.

The male form of Erin, as Michelle refers to him as, who has now become my personal hair stylist.

Yes we have had quite a few good times with people from across the globe.