Training for the Amazing Race... otherwise known as Milan and Dublin

This weekend was totally training for that reality TV show The Amazing Race.  It was so much fun but I felt like I was just raining from one airport, bus or train to another.  But it was totally worth it!  In order to get super cheap flights me and 3 other girls, Brittany, Melissa and Kritsty, all went to Milan for a day then to Dublin for two then back to Milan for another day.  It was crazy but so much fun!
We got to Milan on Thursday and got some good 'ol Italian pizza then went back to the hostel and went to bed because the next morning we had to wake up super early to go to airport to head to Dublin.  But getting to the airport was kinda a mess.... we got lost trying to get to the bus station so we were wandering down Milan trying to ask for directions.  Once we got to the bus station it was an hour ride to the airport.  The bus left at 9:00, our flight was at 10:30 and the gate closed at 10:05.  We had to haul butt!  As soon as the bus pulled up to the airport the four of us were off it 

and running to the gate because we had to get our passports cleared before we could go through security.  After we were cleared with them we had to run to security, literally stripping all our metal on the way.  We got through security were we had to run to the gate and again go through a passport check.  We managed to do all this and get to the gate right right before they closed it!  

Once we finally got to Dublin we were in awe of how amazing it was!  So different than Athens!  It was new and clean and very modern!  We caught the double decker bus to the center of town and it took us half the ride to realize that they were all driving on the wrong side of the road!  It was crazy!  Crossing streets was so hard, I had no idea what way traffic was coming from!  

                   We just wandered around the city 

the first day.  Went up and down the Liffy River and found some good shopping!  That night we went to a little Irish Pub/ Restaurant where I had some delicious fish and chips!  YUM!  We then headed over the the famous Temple Bar area and got a half pint of Guinness.  It was so gross!  Such a dark beer, but I felt like I needed to embrace the Irish culture and try some!  We then went to another little pub where they had live music and just hung out for the rest of the night!

The next morning we got up and went on a free walking tour of the city!  It was so cool because it literally took us all around Dublin.  We saw castles, the government buildings, awesome colored doors, parks and even Trinity College.  It was so much fun seeing the city that way!  There is so much to see and there is just such an interesting dynamic to the Dublin.  After the tour we went and got some lunch at a Pub and watched the big Ireland vs. South Africa rugby game!  Rugby is so interesting!  I was getting so into that game!

That night we met one of my friends Kate who is studying there and she took us to one of her favorite little Irish Pubs.  It was fun to just sit and relax while drin

king some very delicious Irish cider!  But Ireland is a very interesting place, one that I would love to go back to and visit the countryside and the coast.  It was an amazing country.  And everyone spoke english!  It was so weird!  I could actually understand what people were saying when they passed me on the streets!  Not something I was used to!  

Sunday morning we woke up so early to get to the airport to head back to Milan.  This time we weren't so rushed!  We got to Milan and just like Dublin, it was raining.  So sad.  We grabbed food and went down to the city center where there is this huge cathedral

right in the middle of it, the Doumo.  It was a beautiful gothic style church.  It was incredible.  Then

 since Milan is the fashion capital of the world we decided to check out the shopping!  We went into one of the department stores right there by the cathedral!  It was insane, so many people swarming in and out!  It was crazy!  And I've never seen so many designer names in one place.  I was blown away.  And of course with the names comes the prices.  WOW!  I can't even imagine!  There were jackets for 600 euro, jeans for 300 euro and even an ACDC t-shirt for 160 euro!  A t-shirt!  I could buy that at target for $10!  It was insane!  We were so overwhelmed by it that we left!  Other than the cathedral, I really wasn't impressed by Milan.  I guess you can't go to Rome and be so blown away by it then go to Milan and expect it to be the same kind of "Italy."  But I really wasn't too keen about Milan.  But it was still fun to see different cities, and going to Dublin was totally worth it!  I absolutely loved that city!  It was an incredible trip!  But yet again I am so glad to say that I am "home" in ATHENS!  Just proving once again that I picked the right place to spend 3 months of my life!!!