Italy!

Sorry that it has been so long but here is another part of my trip thus far!

17 hours after returning from Ireland 10 of us set out on a journey to Italy! The journey to get there was a bit longer than I would have liked but it was worth it. Our journey began with a train to Liverpool, a bus in Liverpool to the airport, trying to make everything fit into our carry-ons, a flight into Switzerland where we had a 16 hour layover, this is where we learned that we never wanted to sleep in an airport ever again, and finally our flight into Italy.

Italy was a nice change from the U.K and Ireland it was warm and sunny rather than the overcast skies that we have grown to love of the UK. We arrived pretty early in day so it gave us plenty of time to explore Italy. We didn't do much the first day besides having our first taste of amazing Italian food, and visiting a few amazing places in Italy such as the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.

Me at the Trevi Fountain.

The next day we set out to see as much of Rome as we possibly could. We started by heading to Vatican City which I have to say is one of the most amazing places that I have ever been! We made our way into St. Peter's Basilica which I could have spent hours walking about just taking in how beautiful it was. 

Outside of St. Peter's Basilica

After being to Vatican city we decided that we needed to get something really Italian such as Gelato. We went to Old Bridge where they sell the best Gelato in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD!! (So if you ever visit St. Peter's Basilica find Old Bridge you won't regret it!) After or food pit stop we made our way toward some of the most well know monuments in Rome such as The Pantheon, Vittorio Emanuele II, Castel Sant'Angelo, and The Roman Colosseum. Just the feeling you get from seeing these amazing places that until that day I had only heard about in history books is amazing! The only way to see anything more beautiful is to see them lit up at night. Even though we were only here for a few days I can not began to explain how much i would love be able to get back to Italy and see so much more of it! Italian food is never going to be able to compare to how good it was here but I think I will survive and I might come out a little richer due to the fact that things in Rome were a tad bit pricey! Here are a few pictures I took of above mentioned places!

Castel Sant'Angelo 

Vittorio Emanuele II during the day

Vittorio Emanuele II at night!

Colosseum during the day

Colosseum at night!

Ireland!!!

So after only a few days of being in Wales we had an extended weekend trip to Ireland. We left Bangor around 10am to catch our ferry in Holyhead. The ferry ride wasn't bad at all it lasted just under two hours. We arrived in Dublin around 2pm on Wednesday September the 7th. We checked into our hostel and went on a quick walk around Dublin to become somewhat familiar with the city. After that we pretty much had free time until the next morning when we had a more in-depth tour of the city. The first night a few of us went to a pub across the street to experience Irish food where most people got fish and chips and I got Shepard's Pie! Which was delicious.

Us outside the Guinness Brewery!

The next morning our program director took all 29 of us on a walking tour of Dublin showing us Trinity College in Dublin which in the Library houses the Book of Kells. It is also home to one of the three globe within a globes. (The three locations are Trinity College, Vatican City, and The UN in New York.) Next we ventured around to see various statues, monuments, and the historic knockers and knobs (Hardware on the oldest houses in Dublin).  After this long tour we split up and some of us went and toured the Guinness Brewery, which is a pretty cool building even though beer is the most vile tasting substance ever.

Our group at Trinity College

Friday morning we took a tour of the Trinity College Library and the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells is"an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of theNew Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created by Celtic monks ca. 800 or slightly earlier. The text of the Gospels is largely drawn from the Vulgate, although it also includes several passages drawn from the earlier versions of the Bible known as the Vetus Latina. It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure."(Wikipedia)
That afternoon we left for our second destination which was Galway! Galway is a beautiful coastal city that has an amazingly beautiful cathedral. Where the first night was pretty laid back a bunch of groups made big dinners in the amazing kitchen that the hostel had. 

A few of us looking down into the Atlantic Ocean

Saturday morning we hopped on the bus which took us to another Ferry that took us over to Inishmor the largest of the Aran Islands. Where we got to bike around all day and visit the Dun Aengus, where you pretty much feel like you are on the edge of the world. We hiked up to the top of the 600 ft. cliffs. The view from them is honestly breathe taking. The only thing more breathe taking is laying on the edge looking down the cliffs straight into the Atlantic Ocean. Even though it was kind of a rainy day biking around the island was a blast.

The Cliffs Of Moher

Dunguaire Castle Ledge around the top. Very Narrow

Sunday was a chillaxed day with a trip around to Dunguarie Castle and The Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher where pretty cool but I have to say that I love Dun Aengus a lot better! Sunday was a long day due to the fact that some of us decided to stay up all night so that we would be tired for our 3am bus ride back to Dublin to catch our ferry home. When we did arrive back in Bangor I was there an entire 17 hours before starting my next adventure! 

I MOVED!!!

Well since the last time I wrote (before yesterday that is) I have moved to my permanent dorm, well at least until December! It is a bit nicer then my old one and I thought I would just share a few pictures of my room now that I have done most of the decorating and it is all spic and span!

What my room looks like as you walk in the door!  

The wardrobe covered in Harry Potter posters! Like most of my room. 

My desk area, where I get to stare at Harry Potter posters all the time!!!

Wall next to my desk....Yes those are more Harry Potter posters Its all I had to decorate with!!

My Dumbledore tribute door, all amazing or funny quotes from the great wizard himself!

Inside my wardrobe, still looking for Narnia I'll keep you updated on the hunt.

My bathroom!

Differences that I am learning as I go!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, been quite busy I have. 
I have now been here almost 4 weeks and there are a lot of differences between the UK and the US that one must learn quickly to survive and some that you just learn to live with! 


1) Most of the people find our American accent cute or sexy...I call it my lack of an accent.


2) They use to word Chips to refer to French Fries and what we call Chips they call Crisps.

3) One should look to the right then to the left before crossing the street which goes against all we learned in the US as kids. Failing to do this most likely result in being hit by a car.(As they drive on the opposite side of the road)

4) If you need to buy something on a Sunday you might as well give up hope nothing will be open.

5) I love that they usually have a menu out side of a restaurant or pub so you can check to see if you like the type of food they serve (US take notes on this one!!)

6)  They have different Mountain Dew then we do...I miss normal Mountain Dew!

7) When in a lift (or an elevator) the ground floor is zero and the "first floor" is the first floor above the ground floor. (Which sucks when you live on the second floor and the lift is broken)

8) Windows here do not have screens so a lot of college students open their windows and attempt to dry clothes from hanging them out the window. Except we are in Wales and it pretty much rains everyday!

9) The smallest monetary note they have is a five so they have one and two pound coins, which I hate due to the fact that you jingle no matter what you do!! 

10) Obviously in the US we use the Dollar where as in UK they use the Pound Sterling or for short "Quid". For example a $20 bill vs. a £20 note (sorry to tell you USD the Quid wins!)

Here are just a few difference that I have come across that felt like sharing!!

-More posts to come about my recent adventures around the world!~!

~Jake "Rubix" Myers~

First Few Field Trips

So for the last two days we have been on field trips around northwest wales mainly in the Snowdonia region. Our first stop Monday was Caernarfon Castle one of the largest Norman Castles in Wales. The Second was the sea side village of Cricieth and the Castle there. Where we enjoyed the view from the castle and the worlds best Ice Cream! Last for the day were the Slate mines of Llechwedd. These were interesting but it is kinda creepy being inside of a mountain in a small car that barely fits under the rock. Tuesday was a new day with all new adventures which included a hike up a snowdonian mountain to Devil's Kitchen where we were nearly blown away but made it to one of the most amazing little lakes where it is said that a giant beaver monster lives in the lake. Next we ventured to Llandudno another coastal town that you can see wind turbines out in the ocean (maybe on land but that that you can tell). A few other stops some of us have visited was the pier in Bangor with an amazing view of the Isle of Anglesey and Roman Camp that has the same view only higher up on the hill side with a cool view of the Pier we were on!

Caernarfon Castle

Cricieth Castle

Best Ice Cream in the WORLD!

SLATE!

The Devil's Kitchen

The hike to the Devil's Kitchen

Llandudno Pier 

The Llandudno Sign 

The Pier from Roman Camp

View in Bangor 

The view of Bangor from Roman Camp

Isle of Anglesey from the Pier

Me on the Pier in Bangor 

The view down the pier back toward town.

My Dorm (Well the first one)

Since today has been kind of a dreadful day weather wise I took some pics indoors of my dorm since I took time to decorate and make it my own even if I move in a week lol.

The door to our Flat!! 

The view when you walk in the door to see my window and desk!

My bed and closet with the my day camp sheet hanging!

One of my Harry Potter walls.My Room needed some decoration!

The view from my desk!!

The Bathroom lol, there is not much separation between the shower and it so the entire bathroom is wet after you take a shower

First Few Days Abroad

The Plane that took me away!!

Hatters Hostel In Manchester!

Mini "Time Square" Manchester

So its has been a few days away from home and I can say that they have been pretty interesting! From an extremely long lay over in Stockholm, to dragging lots of luggage several block (first in the wrong direction) to getting to meet some of the people I would get to be studying with and going for a night out! Then driving into Wales this morning was amazing with ocean on one side and mountains and castle on the other!!