Tag: travel tips

~Belfast Solo Trip~

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, Working HolidayLeave a comment

This past weekend I finally took my first solo trip! Friday morning I packed up my things, loaded them all into my backpack and headed to Connolly Station. I had pre-booked my tickets from Dublin to Belfast on the Irish Rail website, which meant that I could choose a window seat (which was prime). When you order online you can collect your tickets at the station kiosks, which was really convenient and saved me having to rush to buy them on the day.

Once I’d boarded the train (nobody had booked the seat next to me #winning) it was only a 2 hour ride until we arrived into the Belfast train station. I must admit, when I first walked out of the station, I questioned my decision to travel alone just a bit. The station is in sort of an industrial area without many things around it, but once I started walking towards city centre and my hostel, things started looking better and my nerves calmed down.

The hostel I stayed at was awesome. It’s called Vagabonds and is located right between the Botanical Gardens and the city centre. I arrived at about 2pm and the staff members made me feel right at home, showing me around and letting me settle into my room. The beds and bathrooms were clean and there were tons of areas to chill out and talk to the other guests, which was nice.

My first day out I just sort of wandered around the city. It was sunny out (a rare thing) and so I ended up walking all the way to the river, at which point I was starving. I noticed a little cafe and decided I’d pop in for a coffee and some sort of snack. The shop was called the Dock Cafe and it was adorable. All mismatching chairs and couches, with a big map on the wall where you could add a push pin to where you were from and a little serenity garden in the corner.

I walked up to the counter, where a very nice man asked if I’d been there before and when I replied no he explained to me that this cafe operated on an honesty box system. You can have tea or coffee or cakes, whatever you want, and then when you’re done you put as much money as you think your meal/drink was worth into the box. That way those who can give more do, and those who can’t can still have the same treats. He also said that they welcome people to bring in their own food, or to just come in to relax.

I loved this idea and planted myself in one of the many cushy couches with a mug of coffee (my one true love) and a little cake (the runner up for one true love). After loitering for longer than I’d care to admit, I hoisted up my purse and left the cafe.

At that point I was so close to the Titanic Museum that I decided I’d try to catch the last tour, as it was already almost 4:45pm. Luck would have it that I got there just in time for the last hour of tours (they close at 6pm) and because at that point in the evening the S. S. Nomadic is closed for viewing, which is normally included in the price of the ticket, they give a special “late saver” ticket rate that only gives you access to the museum. Thus, I purchased my discounted ticket (£7.50 as opposed to to £17.50 for the normal day tickets) and went up into the exhibits.

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It actually was quite a cool museum, it had tons of information on the building of the ship, as much of it’s construction occurred in Belfast, as well as some tidbits on the political and social climate of Northern Ireland/the world at the time. They had an area that projected a digital walk-through of the inside of the Titanic on three walls, so when you stood in the middle it felt like you were inside it, as well as reconstructions of the rooms.

The most powerful part in my opinion though was this dark room they had set up where a video of the Titanic sinking below the surface of the water kept playing. Along the walls were copies of the Morse Code signals that the ship sent out trying to save itself, with the responses of the ships around them. And all the while, they played audio recordings of first hand accounts, people who had been on the ship and escaped on the lifeboats, reliving the nightmare.

If you have too many feels after that (guilty) you can move onto the next room where they have a huge screen projecting video of the underwater excursions to the Titanic, which definitely piqued the science-major part of my brain and which I found really interesting (they had to travel 12,500 feet underwater to get to it, the Empire State Building is only 1,450 feet…. IMAGINE THAT).

Finally they started shuffling people along as the museum was closing soon and I headed towards my hostel. The night was relatively warm and I wasn’t keen on spending a ton of money on dinner, so I grabbed a salad from Lidl and ate it on a bench in front of City Hall, which was actually entertaining as there’s good people watching around the area (there was a Mormon missionary making a very strong attempt to save passersby, which didn’t seem to go over well in many cases).

I spent the rest of the night back at the Vagabonds beer garden, drinking a few bottles I’d picked up on the way home and chatting with my fellow travelers. The next day I was going on the Game of Thrones Tour, so I didn’t want to go too wild.

I woke up early on Saturday and headed over to the meeting spot for Game of Thrones, which would take me through the sets of the North (WINTER IS COMING) and the Twins and such. I’ll write a separate post about the GoT tour, because it was an experience indeed.

We returned to Belfast at around 6:30pm, at which point I’d been so thoroughly soaked from the full day of pissing rain that I immediately headed for a pub with a pal I’d made on the tour to enjoy some burgers and beer (an award winning combo if I do say so). When heading home, I received a message from some of the other girls in the Stint program (the program that helped me coordinate my visa/does gap years and internships). They had decided to come up to Belfast too, but hadn’t been able to leave until Saturday morning and were staying in a different hostel.

They joined me at Vagabonds where we pre-gamed with the rest of the travelers and some of the hostel staff. It was good craic and eventually the whole squad moved out to a bar/night club down the street called Lavery’s (the hostel even had vouchers they gave us that allowed us free entry which was prime). Lavery’s was insane, with multiple pub areas, outdoor beer gardens/balconies and a club-type room with a DJ and a dance floor. I would definitely recommend it for a night out in Belfast.

Sunday morning was spent nursing my hangover (thank baby Jesus for large water bottles and nutella-peanut butter sandwiches) and wandering around the Botanical Gardens and Ulster Museum, which is located within the gardens and has free entry. I then joined those lovely Stint ladies again for some good old fashioned shopping in Victoria Square Shopping Centre, which is a covered mall in city centre that is a great spot to avoid the ever-changing weather.

After spending too much money on things of questionable necessity, I finally returned to my hostel, picked up the rest of my belongings, and headed to the train station to return to Dublin! Note to the wise, since Belfast train station is quite small, people start lining up to board the train out in the ticketing area early, you can’t just walk onto the platform.

And there it is! My first solo-ish trip was a success (I had people to meet up with, but I stayed by myself). On to the next! 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bundoran: My Blue Crush Dream Realized

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, TravelLeave a comment

Long have I fantasized about realizing my Blue Crush/Rocket Power dreams and learning how to surf. Living on Long Island Sound in the USA meant, yes, we had the beach, but unless a particularly hefty individual cannon-balled, you were unlikely to see a wave that would crest above your knee. Thus, when the opportunity arose for me to go on a surfing trip here in Ireland, I jumped at the chance.

Bundoran is a town on the very upper tip of the west coast which borders the Atlantic Ocean and is known as a surf haven. We went through TurfnSurf, which is a company based in the town that provides hostel stays and surf lessons. A very nice woman met us in City Centre and boarded us onto a pre-booked coach bus. The bus took us from Dublin, all the way to Bundoran, which was about three and a half hours. Little did I know the quickest route is through Northern Ireland, so when I started seeing Union Jack flags scattered about the countryside, I was a bit confused. While this detail may mean little to you it does mean that if you have an Irish sim card, TURN OFF YOUR DATA while you’re passing through (learn from my mistakes, for the sake of your mobile bill).

The trip was quite easy, with the bus driver making stops for bathroom breaks and snacks (which ended up being more of a curse than a blessing as for the rest of the trip there were various scents wafting thorough the bus ranging from cheese and onion crisps to coffee). We arrived at the hostel, which was in a choice location, with the shore right across the street and the town just a short walk away, and were taken inside by an employee of the company.

In the week leading up the the trip, we’d been emailed by the organizer giving us more details about the schedule. They also said we’d be greeted on arrival with a glass of complementary wine (yas yas yas yas). However, there was no wine in sight by the time we had all moved into our rooms, and when I was voted to be the emissary of those waiting for free alcohol, the Hostel employee told me that the bus was late so they cancelled the free wine (???????). In my opinion that would be a reason for more wine not less, so after that initial disappointment we retired to our room so we could rest up for the next day.

The rooms were quite nice, we got a double and it had two beds, a TV and our own bathroom with towels. Granted, the TV only showed Irish soap operas, but that was as entertaining as anything else I’ve seen on Irish networks to be honest.

The next morning we woke up and headed downstairs for breakfast (which was included, cue my wallet breathing a sigh of relief) and consisted of cereal, toast and some tea/coffee. Afterwards we headed back to our rooms to change into bathing suits and head down to grab wet suits.

The surf instructors chatted with us and sized us up for our wet suits, laughing as we timidly took the body-conforming garments.

Cue the worst part of surfing: putting on a cold wet suit. Honestly though, the biggest downside of this trip was tugging that freezing slab of fabric over my limbs. If there were ever a time that I’ve felt like a sausage, it was that moment as I was zipped into the casing that would keep me warm for the next three hours.

It was then we were loaded into the car and zoomed over to the shoreline where we unloaded the boards and plopped them down on the sand. The instructors were really funny and nice, constantly making jokes and giving helpful tips. They showed us the technique for popping up on the board on land and had us practice a few times. After a little safety brief (always protect your face when you fall, save the money maker!!) we strapped on the ankle cord and made our way into the surf.

The water wasn’t too cold and the wet suits, despite my misgivings at the beginning, kept us really warm. Soon enough I was standing and falling on a loop, I was even the first person to stand and surf a wave (cue victory dance). While I’d expected it to be really difficult, it was actually pretty easy to pick up, especially with the instructors around to give you little tips and tricks. The best part was no one was an expert, so any time anyone stood up on the board or surfed for awhile, the whole group cheered and got a little thrill out of it. The weather was mildly sunny too, which elevated the mood.

Surfing turned out to be one of those things that is fun even when you’re bad at it, which can’t be said for a lot of water activities.

After about three hours, we lugged our boards back onto the beach and set off back to the hostel. Hanna and I grabbed lunch at a little cafe down the street (which was good because after three hours of surfing I was SO HUNGRY) and then spent the rest of the day walking along the beach and exploring the town. There’s a nice little walking path that goes along the cliffs that you can access from the downtown area which is good for your free time after surfing.

We then headed back to the hostel, where they were hosting a little barbecue. Though we’d been told they were going to have the barbecue, they didn’t tell us that in order to attend it cost ten euro, which we happily paid, but the one thing that could be said about our booking was there were the little surprises (see *wine) and inconveniences that could’ve been avoided if we’d just been a little bit more informed, but that’d be my only complaint about the trip itself. The BBQ was pretty cool, with all you could eat burgers, hot dogs and salads. It was BYOB, but one of the surf instructor’s bands played, which was pretty entertaining. People started dancing towards the end (once they’d had a few drinks in them) and then the whole crew went down the street to a pub called Chasin’ Bull to continue the party.

The next morning we woke up (a little bit more sore than previously) and made our way downstairs again for breakfast. The day was so windy that we had to be shuttled to a different beach where the waves were supposedly smaller. And let me tell you, if those were the small waves, I’d hate to see the big ones. We trekked towards the rioting waves which came up all the way to the rocks and left no part of the beach untouched. I must admit, every lifeguard instinct in me was telling me not to go in the water. There was a pretty strong current going and I was (embarrassingly) clinging to the shore with my surfboard lagging behind me.

One of the instructors noticed and came over, reassuring me that, no, I was not going to die a horrible watery death like the mental images I was conjuring. With a bit more encouragement from him, I finally sloshed through the water and gave it a go, riding a admittedly small wave all the way in. With that all my fears subsided, the waves were pretty big, but the water was shallow and it was easy to jump over them if you weren’t ready.

The second day turned out to be even more fun because there was far less waiting around for the waves to come, and thus far less time to think about basking sharks (which you should definitely google because they are hideous and live in the Irish waves).

After another three hours we were driven back to the hostel where we had a few hours to pack up our stuff and grab a bite to eat. We went to a pub down the street called Maddens Bridge Bar, where we were served cold beer and the best pub fare I’ve had since being in Ireland (their chicken was delicious). When we had been thoroughly stuffed, we returned to the hostel and boarded the three hour bus back to Dublin.

So there it is, my surf weekend! I would definitely recommend TurfnSurf if you’re thinking of a weekend trip to Bundoran. Here’s some of the pictures they took to prove I actually did go in the water…

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix Park — Dublin

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Dublin, Ireland, TravelLeave a comment

Like any girl of my generation, I grew up thinking I was going to be a princess after watching Disney VHS tapes. My mind was filled with images of tame woodland creatures that would flock to me and be my friends. Unfortunately, reality set in as I aged when I realized that no, the coyotes do not want to hear me sing. No, the squirrels do not want to sit on my shoulder as I twirl in my full skirt. And no, the birds most certainly don’t want me to stroke them as I hum in perfect tune to no one in particular (except for the handsome prince conveniently lurking within hearing distance).

BUT, all of those dreams came rushing back when I visited Phoenix Park this past week. Phoenix Park is an absolutely massive and beautiful area on the north side of the Liffey. It includes huge expanses of greenery, gardens and some monuments/official buildings.

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Most importantly it has free roaming herds of Dublin Deer. When hearing this you might think, well I have deer at home…why would this matter. Well good friends, it matters because these deer are not like your average deer. For one thing, they’re gorgeous, much prettier than Bambi with many of them sporting white coats and massive antlers.

For anther, they’re tame. While you may see many signs telling you not to approach them, they are very used to humans roaming about the park. When my friend and I held up some of the freshly cut grass (there are football fields in the park which are maintained and mowed), a few of the deer came right up to us. They ate the grass and padded around us for awhile, obviously used to people bringing them food (we saw other people giving them carrots).

While there are warnings that they’re wild, they do seem quite friendly with humans. If you’re anywhere near the park or visiting Dublin for the day, stop by, it really is magical. The Dublin Zoo is also within the park grounds, so if you’re out for the day with your family, its a good place to explore. Though word to the wise, don’t chase the deer or scream at them (this sounds like common sense, I know, but we saw some pretty atrocious behavior by some over-enthusiastic park goers). They’ll be much more likely to come up to you if you hold out food to them from afar!

Cell Phones in Ireland

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, VisasLeave a comment

Hello friends…

So, I’m entering week number two of my Working Holiday Authorization in Dublin and I thought I’d go ahead and talk about cellphones. Not only because I’d be lost without the guiding light of Google Maps, but also because Pokémon Go just came out and I know you’ll all want to keep up with your teams (#BlueTeam4ever).

The first step is to check on the status of your phone if you have one. If you want to use your current cell phone, you’ll have to make sure it’s “unlocked” or, in other words, that it’s not still attached to your contract. If you’ve had it for more than 2 years, you should be able to contact your network provider and have it unlocked for you, which essentially takes your phone off of their network.

If you, like me, have a more recent phone that is still on the 2 year contract, there are a few options, all of which are not too fun or convenient. The first is you can pay off the remainder of your contract and the price of your phone. That means you’ll have to pay them what you would have had you continued using their service. If you’re close to the end of your contract this isn’t that bad, but if you recently got your phone, this could be too much.

In the more unfortunate case, you’ll have to either use a different phone (I used an older generation iPhone that I had lying around the house) OR you could buy a cheap smart phone when you get to Ireland and just use that.

**Bonus third option: if you buy said cheap phone and activate it, you can make that phone a “hotspot” and sync your newer phone to that so that it can still receive messages and such. That’s just if you insist on having your phone that’s still locked into contract.

Once you have the unlocked phone, all you need to do is get a sim card from an Irish phone company and top up.

One of the many reasons to love Ireland is their lack of long-term cell phone contracts. Once you get the sim card you can “top up” — or add money to your account — and be done with it. I’ve been using a brand called Three which I like quite a lot. For 20 Euros a month I get unlimited data, unlimited texts and free calls to any network on the weekends, which has worked well enough for me since I use FaceTime to call people most of the time.

There’s other options as well, however, which you might want to check out. Companies such as Meteor, O2, Postfone, Tesco and Vodafone all offer plans that may suit your particular situation better.

As long as you remember to top up on time, you’ll be free to Tweet and Tinder to your hearts desire!

Dublin Week 1 – First Impressions

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, VisasLeave a comment

After planning and worrying endlessly about my gap year, I’ve finally arrived in Dublin and settled in. I’m living in an area called Portobello, which is a pretty hip and generally nice area of the city near the canal. So far I’ve frequented a few pubs and coffee shops and set myself up nicely (however, spoiler alert, normal filtered coffee is very rare around here, the closest you can usually get is an Americano).

The Stint housing is absolutely amazing. If you’re thinking of doing a gap year in Dublin or even an internship (as they coordinate those as well) I would highly recommend contacting them about their program. Not only is it centrally located, its decked out. When I arrived last Tuesday, completely disheveled from my long flight, I walked into the house and immediately felt at home. The kitchen and living room are nice and spacious, perfect for movie nights or casual hang outs in the evening. There’s a nice little back patio with furniture to sit about and a grill, which we used successfully for our Fourth of July party! My room has a terrace outside where I can sit out and relax, that is, when the weather isn’t being bipolar.

Stint arranged a cab to pick me up at the airport and bring me to the house, which was a relief, and the driver gave me a very handy update on the Brexit (which is all anyone is talking about around here). Then I was met by Melanie, the head of the Stint program, who gave me the tour and a little swag bag that had a water bottle, some much needed instant coffee, a map of the city and other little odds and ends. She was very kind to me despite my deliriously tired state, which I was thankful for because I looked like a garbage person I was so bedraggled .

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I’ve found the best place to shop for groceries around here seems to be Lidl, which is just down the street a ways from the flat in another younger/hipper area called Rathmines. There’s also Tesco Express, which is good but a tad bit more expensive.

One of the things that struck me, especially in the few days of adjusting, was how hard it is to find certain things in the shops around here. It took me about four days to find a place that had notebooks, pens and tape. There’s also a very limited selection of shampoo/bathroom essentials at the grocery store so it’s best to try to find yourself a pharmacy. No Walmarts to be found in Dublin!

Here’s a little guide that I made to where to buy different items around Portobello…

Groceries: Lidl, Tesco/ Tesco Express, Aldi

**Helpful tip – you have to bring your own shopping bag or they charge you for one

Shampoo/Conditioner, Bathroom Essentials: Boots, pharmacies (there are a bunch of privately owned pharmacies around that usually carry all your basic items)

Office Supplies: Eason

**Eason also has books

Clothes: Penney’s (very cheap, kind of like Forever 21, they also have homeware), TopShop, H&M

Makeup: Boots, Penney’s (cheap but a pretty large selection, with some toiletries as well), Lush (more expensive)

That’s my mini guide to shopping, but if there’s anything I forgot shoot me a comment. I’ll be posting about my experiences registering with the Garda Naturalization and Immigration Bureau (or GNIB) and getting my GNIB card, which will be a doozy of a post because it was a hellish experience. More to come!

 

 

A HP Fanatic’s Guide to England

On By EmilyinEarnestIn College, Harry Potter, London, Travel, University5 Comments

I love Harry Potter.

It’s a fact about myself that I don’t hide or try to shy away from. Yes, I’ve read all the books about a million times. Yes, I’m 22 years old and still mourning my lost Hogwarts letter (you notice I say “lost” because I’m still convinced it was a postal error). Yes, I own all of the book on tape versions of the stories (shout out to Jim Dale, bless your heart).

This love affair with the classic English series was one of the many reasons why in the Fall of 2013 I decided to study abroad in London, UK. And, as you might have guessed, I used this opportunity to visit all of the available sets and Harry Potter related locations I could.

Now, here is a compilation of some of the best places in England to get your Potter fix…

1. Oxford, UK

While most of the other locations are in London, and thus easily accessible to anyone living in the city, this one’s a bit out of the way.

That being said, this site is also amazing. Stepping into Oxford, and onto the grounds of the University of Oxford, is like stepping back in time. The school looks like a castle, with vast green lawns and cobblestone walkways.

Most importantly, however, many scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed here. The stairway inside the building was used in both the Sorcerer’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. The Great Hall was modeled after their own dining hall (which incidentally you can eat in if you’re so inclined). AND you can walk in the very courtyard that Moody turned Malfoy into a twitchy little ferret!

2. King’s Cross Station, London

You’re lying if you say you’ve never fantasized about slipping through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 in King’s Cross Station. I know I certainly have. In the spirit of kindness towards people who actually have to catch trains at these two stations, however, they have set up a place for Potter fans to congregate, without clogging up the platforms.

The station itself has set up a Harry Potter area, with a Platform 9 3/4 sign and cart complete with owl cage and trunk sticking halfway out of the wall. With these props in place, it has become the perfect place to snag your super fan “Off to Hogwarts” profile picture. The site even has a Harry Potter gift shop right next door, and a team of workers who will snap your photo (but you have to pay for their photo of you, your friend with an iPhone is free!).

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3. Leadenhall Market, London

Situated unassumingly off a London side street is Leadenhall Market, a covered shopping area that most people would assume is utterly unremarkable.

But they would be wrong! This market was the filming location for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The Leaky Cauldron was set up right where an optician’s office now lies. While it is a muggle shopping center, it is also extremely beautiful in and of itself and well worth the visit.

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4. Millennium Bridge, London

Situated on the Thames, very close the the Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, is the Millennium Bridge. Remarkable in and it’s own right, with modern architecture and a gorgeous view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, it is part of a key scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

In the scene we see the Death Eaters (who can now apparently fly in dark blurs ??) making a show of strength in London and destroying the bridge. Obviously they’ve rebuilt since the aftermath.

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5. Warner Brother’s Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, Leavesden

About an hour outside of London lies the Warner Brother’s Studios, which holds the holy grail of Harry Potter paraphernalia. Here, for thirty-five pounds, you can experience pure wizarding bliss as you explore the many sets and props from all eight of the movies.

This includes the Great Hall, the Ministry of Magic, the Gryffindor Common Room, the Weasley’s Kitchen and many many more. Not only that, but outside you have the opportunity to walk up and knock on the front door of number 4 Privet Drive (but be warned, the Dursleys do not like unwelcome guests).

The studio tour is without a doubt the best of the various locations and experiences in London for a Harry Potter fan. If you ever have the opportunity to go TAKE IT. You won’t regret it.

Just remember though, whether you’re reading the books, watching the movies or visiting these HP locations, your love of all things Harry Potter will stay with you…. always.

London Clubs: Top Four

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Clubbing, College, London, Travel, University2 Comments

Hello all!

So, I’ve sent out my Working Holiday Visa application to the Irish Consulate in New York about two weeks ago and am still waiting to hear back. In the meantime I decided I’d write a bit about my other international experience: studying abroad in London.

My sophomore year (Fall 2013) I journeyed to the land of tea, double decker busses and endless pubs, the one and only London, England. One thing that struck me the most was the significant difference between the nightlife of Storrs, Connecticut, and that of London, England.

I had become accustomed to paying to go to a shitty bar with lackluster beer, or, even more often, would end up in the basement of some disgusting frat house, trying to avoid getting groped by the many-handed masses (side note, never touch the walls of a frat house, they sweat).

But in London, there were clubs. Places with dancing and good drinks and atmosphere.

So here it is, my top four list for clubs in London..

  1. KOKO

What is it? If you’re looking for good atmosphere with a mix of live music and DJs, this is the place to go. KOKO is a refurbished opera house which boasts a large dance floor and stage, where you can see both local and famous bands and musical acts playing almost every night of the week. The different floors all look down onto the dance floor and boast multiple bars and a considerable ratio of comfy couches for when you’ve been dancing too long in heels. Not to mention the rooftop bar which provides some amazing nighttime views.

Where is it? Camden, off of Camden High Street, if you take the tube to Mornington Crescent (Northern Line) it’ll be right outside.

How expensive is it? It’s pretty variable, I’ve seen it as low as 5 pounds and as high as 30, but it depends on what bands/acts are on that night. Definitely check out their website to look up ticket prices.

2.  Proud

What is it? This is an unconventional club, if I do say so myself. A 19th century hospital for horses (no I’m not joking), now each refurbished “stable” is available for private rent. There’s a dance floor, multiple live band shows, and themed nights where many of the different stables have a different activity inside them (when we were there there was karaoke in one stable). Top it all off with the rooftop bar, reasonably priced drinks (cider or beer bottles for four pounds), and a hot tub (at least there was when I was there) and this place makes for one fun night out.

Where is it? Once again, Camden, right across from the famed shopping area the Camden Market. The closest tube stop would be Camden Town, then it’s a eight minute walk straight down the street.

How expensive is it? The drinks are relatively inexpensive, which is rare in London. Depending on what bands are playing, cover is variable, if you time it right it can be as low as three pounds though!

3. ROXY

What is it? This was one of my favorite clubs while I was in London. Nestled underground down a side road off Tottenham Court, the ROXY boasts a more hip and chill vibe then most clubs. Smaller, with a dance floor and bar area, the ROXY has a distinctly young fan base (mostly college kids), with drink deals and relatively low entrance costs (especially if you join their email list). Here you’ll find a DJ six nights of the week, with each night having a different musical theme.

Where is it? Right off of Tottenham Court Road Station (Central and Northern lines), down Rathbone Place and on the right.

How expensive is it? Very reasonable, especially for students. Showing your student card or adding yourself to the email list can get you in for 3-7 pounds. Then there’s drink deals for happy hour which means half price cocktails, reduced price pitchers and two for one beers. Bottoms up!

4. Cargo

What is it? Hidden beneath a railway, surrounded by some impressive graffiti lies Cargo, a bar and club in the heart of Shoreditch. With its large dance floor and multi-room layout, Cargo is the perfect place to hit up on a pub crawl or with a big group of friends. If it gets to crowded on the dance floor, Cargo has the added bonus of an outside beer garden, filled with tons of seating areas and heat lamps (which are prime during the winter months).

Where is it? This club is right in the heart of Shoreditch, however, the easiest way to get there is by bus, as there isn’t a tube stop in the immediate vicinity. Lines 55, 35, 47 and 243 will all get you quite close.

How expensive is it? Fridays and Saturdays can have covers around 10-15 pounds, but student nights on Tuesdays offer free admission and some pretty sweet drink deals. So, if you’re willing to suffer a Wednesday hangover, this may be the place for you.

 

Those were my favorites, but the city is chock full of cool and quirky places to grab a drink and dance. If you’ve ever been to these or have a few favorites of your own, comment!

P.S. In the spirit of clubbing here is an embarrassing photo of me enjoying a pitcher of Pimms by myself (shameful I know)!

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Finding an Au Pair Position

On By EmilyinEarnestIn au pair, Ireland, Travel, VisasLeave a comment

Hello all! So I’ve been getting all of my materials together to send in my visa application (hopefully it’ll be ready to send out this week), but in the meantime I thought I’d talk a bit about how I got my Au Pair position.

I used a website called aupairworld.com, which I would recommend to anyone who serious about pursuing this option or who just wants to see what’s out there. I first came across the website after googling “au pair,” with no prior knowledge on the subject or how I would go about finding a position.

Firstly, I would say to make a profile, even if you don’t want to fill out the various “about me” sections or any of your information yet, a basic profile will allow you to narrow down your search and see real and available families. They have you enter your age, gender and a few countries you would want to work in, and with this information you can see the many different options.

When you become serious, make sure you take the time to personalize your profile! Don’t just write one word answers to the questions. Talk about your interests and your passions and make sure you actually have a reason for why you want to be an au pair. Also, be honest, don’t say you’re a champion horseback rider if you’re not! It’ll be much easier to find a family that matches up with your passions and plans if you are straightforward.

Another big thing is put up a picture! It’s hard to trust some anonymous person on the internet to be who they say they are. If you want to attract real families and be an appealing hire, make sure you use a picture of yourself. Bonus points if you’re doing something you mentioned you’re interested in in your bio. Plus, it’ll assure them that you are, in fact, a normal human being.

Once you’ve made your profile suitable, reach out to people! Don’t be afraid to contact the families, even if you just send the pre-written “I’m interested” message they provide for you. The more people you talk to, the more opportunities you’ll have at your doorstep. I sent out multiple messages, just to feel things out. If you receive messages yourself, make sure to answer. The website shows the percentage of applications you respond to and a low percentage may make you look unavailable.

Finally, be conscious of where you’re looking to go/which positions you’re accepting. Look up visas and things of that nature (here’s my guide to Visas for Americans, and specific info on Ireland Working Holiday Visas). Many times I found that au pair positions that were open in Italy or Spain are mostly for the summer (3 months or less), which you wouldn’t need a visa for. However, if you’re looking to go for longer, you’ll need a visa for that specific country.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment! Happy searching, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

 

International Flights

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Flights, Ireland, TravelLeave a comment

After scanning flights and prices for the past few weeks, I have finally booked my trip to Dublin! While I thought booking my flight would easy, I was sadly mistaken. I searched multiple comparison sites, weighed fees and ticket options and by the end of it seriously considered just swimming to Ireland. Here are a few tips and tricks on navigating the dangerous waters of international flights…

  1. If your destination is Europe, BOOK EARLY.

I cannot stress enough how important this one is. The longer you leave it, the higher the prices will go, and trust me, they’ll only get higher. If you’re planning a trip to Europe I would recommend booking a flight around 6-8 months in advance. I’m internally kicking myself for waiting until three months beforehand.

**Side note, if you’re looking on the same price comparison website for the same flight multiple times do so on a private browser. Many websites use cookies to track which flights you’re looking at. The more you look at a certain one, the more they think you’ll buy it and then they don’t show you if the price goes down.

2. Fly into (or out of) a cheap city.

If you’re going to Europe, consider flying into one of the more affordable airports instead of directly into your destination. Some of the cheapest include Paris, Copenhagen and Dublin.

For example, if you were to fly from JFK in New York to Heathrow in London, it would be $443 dollars one way. Flying from JFK to Copenhagen on that same day would be $263. From there the flight to London would be $55, for a total price of $318.

Thats over one hundred dollars you could save and spend in pubs!

3. Fly midweek or during the off season.

Traditionally, it will be cheaper if you fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday as opposed to any weekend day. This may be inconvenient, but if possible could save you money and time waiting in lines.

Try to plan your trips during the off season as well. Flying to Europe at basically any time that isn’t the summer is always a solid plan. That is, except for Christmas time, in which case all bets are off. If you have the opportunity, travel towards the end of the summer or spring, when the weather will still be relatively nice, but the crowds will have died down.

 

That’s all for now, if you’re looking into flights I recommend skyscanner.com, it’s my favorite search engine!

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Working Holiday Visa – Ireland

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, Visas3 Comments

IMG_1078My last post was about ways to live internationally in general. This one however, will have a focus on the visa that I will (hopefully) be getting and using in order to be an au pair in Ireland.

The Working Holiday Visa is an option that seems tailor made for college students or recent graduates. Essentially, due to the US and Ireland having good international relations, it is possible to travel there and work for up to 12 months if you are currently enrolled in college or have graduated in the last 12 months. You don’t need to have a job beforehand or a sponsor.

First of all, you need to figure out which of Ireland’s consulates in the United States is yours. There are six of them throughout the US including in Washington DC, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco. Each of these has certain surrounding states that they also service, so make sure you’re sending your application to the right one. I personally will be sending my info to New York.

There is an application form that everyone who intends to do the working holiday must fill out. It’s not extremely complicated, just basic info. Besides that the rest of the requirements are as follows…

  • Valid US passport (make sure it will be valid throughout the entirety of your planned stay.)
  • 2 identical passport photos with your name written on the back (these can be taken at any CVS)
  • A resumé with references (not sure how many references would be standard, but I’m going to include at least two)
  • A bank statement saying you have $2,000 and proof of a return ticket OR just $4000***
  • Originals of school qualifications or a letter from your university (I’m probably just going to put a copy of my official transcript)
  • $337 visa fee along with $13 fee if you would like the consulate to mail your documents back to you (which is far more convenient)

*** So, here’s my side note. It says that you must prove that you have either $2000 and a return airline ticket or $4000. However, it is much better to just produce your return ticket when you’re applying because later on it says they cannot officially issue your visa until you prove you have the airline ticket.

Additionally, I have contacted the consulate in order to ask whether the “return ticket” must be from Ireland back to the US, or if it would be possible to simply buy a plane ticket out of the country (to some other European nation). I was planning on doing some traveling once my 6 month position had ended and it would be far more complicated if I were required to book my flight back to the US directly from Ireland and this far in advance.

More to come on the application process and the answer to this question! In the meantime, here’s the link to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, where all the info I just stated is laid out.