Rory Cayer ’24

Last weekend I finally lived out my dream of going to Paris and it exceeded my expectations! I departed with my friends Sidney, Grace, and Gracie and we tried to fit in as much as we could into two full days!

Our first day started off with a bang at the Eiffel Tower. We climbed the stairs halfway and were able to look out at the beautiful city.  Although it was chilly, we were lucky enough to get a sunny day.

After taking thousands of pictures we walked along the River Seine which was beautiful and made for another amazing photo opportunity. We also got to try some delicious crepes which was something I was looking forward to. I got mine with Nutella and strawberries and it was delicious. 

Next, off to the Arc de Triomphe where we climbed some more stairs for yet again an unreal view. We then got some bread and cheese (a french staple) to munch on while we waited to see the Eiffel tower in the dark. Although we did not get to see the twinkling lights, the tower was lit up in blue in yellow in solidarity with Ukraine which was very special to see.

Then we headed to dinner where we obviously had to try escargo. Which after many years of taking french in middle and high school, this is something I knew I had to try. I will say it was different but I enjoyed it!

Saturday we took on the Louvre to see the famous Mona Lisa which was a lot smaller than I anticipated. But nonetheless it was something I had always hoped to see so I can check that off my bucket list! We then spent the next few hours looking at various pieces of art work.

Afterwards we took a train to the Palace of Versailles. Unfortunately they were sold out of the tickets but the outside was beautiful as well. We were able to again enjoy the sun and admire the beautiful architecture and gardens on the outside. We finished off the night with dinner and one last look at the Eiffel Tower in the dark! 

 

Check back in soon to hear about my trip to Spain!

 

Last week I was lucky enough to have my parents and grandparents visit which was the perfect opportunity to explore more of Ireland. One of our day trips was a trip to Howth. This is a beautiful Irish Village on the Howth Peninsula less than an hour from Dublin. We also stopped at Malahide along the way which is another cute city on the water. Here we got out and walked around the Malahide castle, which is beautiful and we were lucky enough to get a sunny day to see it!

The views at Howth are breathtaking, it was the perfect spot to show my family! Their last day they came to the UCD campus and I showed them around the campus (and convinced them to buy me a sweatshirt). They were very impressed at how large the campus is.

Another spot we toured is the Kilmainham Gaol Museum which was fascinating. This is a former prison that is now a museum. Several movies have been filmed here like Paddington 2 so this was very cool to see! It was great to see some new spots in Ireland and to show my family my new home!

 

Last Thursday I took off to Vienna, Austria which is somewhere I never imagined myself going! I had the opportunity to explore the somewhat quiet city for a day. We started our day by visiting the Hofburg Palace and the Schönbrunn Palace which had beautiful architecture and then we walked around the Kunsthistorisches Museum which means art history museum in German! We could have spent hours roaming around looking at all of the different pieces of art! 

The next morning we took a train to Salzburg, Austria where we got to see where The Sound of Music was filmed! Although it was cold, there was a gorgeous snowfall while we were there which made for some great pictures. We got to see inside of St. Peter’s Abbey and take a tram up the mountain to get an amazing view of the city. We ended the day with delicious pretzels and a warm cappuccino!

Sunday morning we hopped on another train to head to Prague for the night! The architecture in Prague was unbelievable. Everywhere I looked there were buildings of different shapes and sizes. We climbed the Old Town Hall to get amazing views of the city and toured a few more cathedrals with breathtaking art and details. We also came across the Prague Castle where we got to see the changing of the guards. Last but certainly not least we tried the most delicious dessert called trdelnik which is something I will dream about having again!

I made it through my first week of classes and then prepared to fly to London! Classes were definitely different then what I am used to. Instead of a 20 person class with all familiar faces, my classes consisted of a hundred people I had never seen before (besides a few Holy Cross students). Even though this is completely new to me, I enjoyed it because it put me out of my comfort zone. I surprisingly can make my way around campus already and still manage to run into people I know. With no classes on Fridays, I was able to depart on Thursday night to London.

I had never been before so I was beyond excited and it fulfilled my expectations. I got to see Buckingham Palace, the London Bridge, Kensington Palace, and in typical Holy Cross fashion we ran into some of our classmates that are at NUIG in front of Big Ben! After seeing so many pictures of these different sights it was amazing to finally get to see them in person. 

Covent Garden was one of my favorite spots! Here there were a variety of restaurants, shops, and street performers. The crowds and chaos of it all was a fun change of pace from the peacefulness of Ireland. It was here where I had one of the best avocado toasts of my life along with a warm and delightful cappuccino! I’m looking forward to exploring London more when I return with my family in April! 

 

Check back soon to see where I head next!

I have made it to Dublin and am excited to report how my first week and a half went! After landing, we hopped in a taxi and lucked out with a taxi driver who almost immediately began sharing his favorite spots in Ireland. As someone who grew up in Dublin, we asked what he liked most about it. He replied with no hesitation, “the people.” 

Even though I have not been here for very long, I can already tell why this answer was so easy for him. Everywhere I go, the Irish natives are more than happy to give recommendations, directions, and advice for what to do in Ireland. This has made me feel at home almost immediately.

I spent the first few days getting to know Dublin’s city center. Shopping and trying new restaurants was the perfect way to kick off my first weekend here. Then I was reunited with many other Holy Cross students as we toured the Guinness Factory. Then I spent some time getting to know the huge University College Dublin (UCD) campus. It is definitely going to take some time to learn my way around! At least I’m getting a break from the hills for a semester!

The following weekend I traveled out of Dublin with some friends to Galway! Only a two and a half hour bus drive away, this was the perfect first trip! I was able to see more of my friends that are studying abroad at University of Galway (NUIG) and the beautiful sites of Galway like the Dunguaire Castle and the Cliffs of Moher.

 

 

Check back next week to hear about my first trip out of Ireland!

 

After a busy first semester on the hill and a relaxing winter break, the time has finally come! Following weeks of preparation, it is January 12th which means it is time for me to fly to Dublin, Ireland. I am squeezing the last few things into my suitcase and double checking my lists to make sure I don’t forget anything important. It is hard to wrap my head around the idea that I will be living in Ireland for the next four months. 

I am going to be living on campus at University of College Dublin and I cannot wait to see what it is like! I have seen so many pictures, but I know that they probably do not do the views of Ireland justice. I have been constantly texting my friends Gracie and Grace as we anxiously await to be reunited at Logan Airport tonight. I am so ecstatic to see what this semester has in store for me! 

I hope my blogs are able to give you a taste of what traveling around Ireland and Europe is like, as I detail my experiences this semester. I will be back soon with a recap of my first week in Dublin!