Dublin: A day at the museum and a night at
Riverdance!
27-29 June, 2016
Landed in Dublin and took Bus 16 to get to
my mom’s apartment! It was a bit scary because it took some time before I found
the bus stand where I am supposed to catch Bus 16! And I was told to get Euros
in coins for the bus because bus drivers don’t give change. Interestingly,
there is free wifi on the bus, which is great because I am extremely fearful of
not knowing where to get off/getting off on the wrong place and getting lost! I
could even make contact with my mom via the Line app, so no excess roaming
telephone bills!
The ground temperature was only 14oC on
landing, which was quite a contrast to my last stop, Dubai, which was 41oC on
landing! So, the weather is rather cool despite this being summer. And the sky
was still bright at 10pm, which felt rather strange! I felt very at home when I
saw my mom, even though it’s only my second visit to Dublin and this city itself
is not my home! As soon as I arrived home she’s got my favourite foods
prepared! Steaks and stews are famous in Ireland and I had a large juicy steak
for dinner!
After a quiet morning, I ventured out with
my mom to a Japanese restaurant for late lunch. It is quite a cozy nicely
decorated place and the food tasted nice, but very pricey compared to
Australia, with ramens are nearly double the price of Sydney! Next we visited
the Natural History Museum, which had a lot of animal specimens, some of which looked
really funny, like the crazy monkeys! Then we visited the National Gallery of
Ireland, which contains some pretty nice art work. Had some Irish Coffee (which
contains whiskey) and went for a walk in the St Stephen Greens before watching
the famous Riverdance!
The Rome Empire: When in Rome, do as the Romans do
29 June to 3 July, 2016
I remembered on my plane trip to Europe, I watched Star
Wars, which reminded me of all these “Empire” things! Well, coincidentally it
turns out all of the countries my mom booked for us to travel to are Catholic
nations: Ireland, Italy, Vatican, Spain and Portugal!! The Papal empire!!
On landing in Rome, I noticed the Italians have some common trends
in styles: loud speaking, tattooed, and smoking. In fact, some really got a
“Mafia” look to their style! We were lucky to catch a shuttle to the Hotel
Impero, which costed nearly as little as the train. We arrived quite late so
when we asked the hotel receptionist to recommend a restaurant, he gave us a
recommendation and told us “show them this card and they will give you an
honest price”. We didn’t think too much about the term “honest price” until two
days later, when we realized that many restaurants aren’t “honest”!
The following day, we decided to book a tour from the hotel
to visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The Colosseum, the
biggest amphitheatre ever built, was where the Emperor used to entertain
himself with Gladiators slaughtering each other, wild animals and Christians!
On arrival we realized how hot it can be in Southern Europe during summertime!
There were many Indian-looking people walking around trying to sell water, hats
and umbrellas. The hotel did not give clear instructions about the meeting
point so we were panicking when we saw no one 15 minutes after the meet up
time. It turns out the meeting is somewhere further along the road. On talking
with the other tourists, booking through the hotel is cheaper than booking
online. The tours are cheaper if we choose to go to the meeting point. It’s
easy to get to the meeting points by the local metro and the three-day metro
pass is 18 Euros, which is not too expensive.
On the third day, we booked a tour to the Vatican City. I
was quite surprised to hear that this is actually a separate nation from Italy
and it’s ruled by the Pope! It even has diplomatic ties with Taiwan! I did a marching
prayer for Vatican at right before the tour began. When we entered into the
Vatican Museum and got past security, we got deserted by the tour guide when we
went to the toilet, who was getting the ticket from the ticket booth and we
told another member in the group to tell the tour guide! We weren’t even in the
toilet for long, and the tour guide just went through the museum gates without
waiting, which is the most unusual thing to do, and the security wouldn’t let
us in! So my mom had to make a long distance phone call to the tour group to
reschedule the tour to the following day!
So bought a few cheap pretty dresses (15 Euros each) in the
area and took the train to Barberini station and went to the Trevi Fountain
instead. The fountain was beautiful and refreshing. Then when we ate lunch, we
went into a dishonest restaurant near the fountain that gave us several extra
dishes we did not order and charge us for those dishes and claims the sea bass fish
they gave us was 1.2 kg and that's why it costed 72 Euros! What the heck,
there's no way the fish can be 1.2 kg! And the total bill came up to 164.40
Euros!! My mom argued with the owner and finally he said “service fee waived”,
and asked for 149.50 Euros! What a black shop!!
Then we continued walking and visited the Pantheon (built
during the reign of Augustus 27 BC – 14 AD), Piazza Navona, the Parliament, the
Church of St. Louis of the French, and the Santa Maria Maddalena. Strangely, there
was a red cross painted on the glass at the back of the Santa Maria Maddalena, but
whenever I tried to photograph the back of the church, that red cross will
disappear from the photo and an upside down red cross reflection will appear in
my camera!
Finally, we ventured back to the hotel. When I got off the
station Termini to walk back to the hotel I felt a tug on my backpack! I
immediately turned around as saw a teenage girl trying to steal things from my
bag! Luckily I’ve been well equipped with a belly bag hidden in my clothes and
mobile phone tied around my neck and held tightly in my hands, and the girl
couldn’t steal anything! I have a feeling that we will need a lot of
intercessional prayers!
Vatican
City: The Pope’s Empire
2 July,
2016
First I
must give thanks to God, because the day had been great and without any
incidents! We got a very nice tour guide today. It’s a real mystery as to what
really happened yesterday. The tour guide is supposed to give every individual
a ticket. Apparently all the tickets got given out while we were in the toilet.
If that’s the real version of events, then the tickets must have gone to some
impostors who weren’t part of the group, or someone in the group actually took
extra tickets. The other possibility is that the tour guide was attempting to
cover up her mistake. Nevertheless, we had a great day today!
We visited
the Vatican Museum, Raphael’s Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peters Basilica.
The artworks we saw were amazing! There are painting where Jesus’ eyes will
follow you as you walk, and the table’s direction seem to change as you walk. The
artwork in the Sistine Chapel is especially stunning but this is the only place
where no photos are allowed, so I couldn’t take any pictures. St. Peter’s
Basilica was the first church in Roman history because the Romans were pagans
prior to Constantine’s conversion. It is also very beautiful. In some artworks,
we see that Peter is the one with the keys, while Paul with the sword! The
Jubilee door on the right-hand side is open because we are in the year of
Jubilee, which is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon in Judaism
and Christianity.
The Vatican
City itself is 44 hectares, with a population of approximately 900, with only 6
women, making it the smallest nation in the world by both area and population! It
is also where the Pope lives, and is a place of great power because 1/6 of the
world population is Catholic!
Barcelona
3-7 July 2016
This is a nice change from Rome. The weather is cooler and
it’s by the sea. My skin condition really deteriorated badly in Rome but
recovered in Barcelona. We arrived in the afternoon and decided to go for
dinner in one of the restaurants listed on the tourism brochure. The place is
beautifully decorated but very expensive, so for our subsequent meals we did
not go to the restaurants in the brochure.
On the second day we went for the Jamón experience (a ham
museum). We were introduced to a special magnificent breed of pig called the
Liberian pig. Apparently they are more energy efficient in their biology and
produces healthier leaner meat. They are fattened up to 150kg so that their
hind leg weigh 14kg, which is what is required to make a ham. 14kg means 14
days in salt, then hanging and drying. It is usually 5 years between when a pig
is born and when the ham is ready for consumption. During tasting, we were given
6 types of Jamón with wine and cava. The Reserve (white pig) is the lowest
quality and already quite tasty. The Iberian (medium quality black pig) tasted
quite good. The Guijueli from pigs of the north has a soft flavour, and is the
most popular one, and my favourite. Extremadura has an explosive taste. Valle
de los Pedroches has 2 days less in salt and less oil. Huelva from the pigs of
the south, has the strongest taste.
In the afternoon, we went to Montserrat, a mountain top
monastery in Catalonia, Spain. Situated atop an unusual rock mountain, it is
very popular among Catalans, and Catholic pilgrims come from far and wide to
see the Black Madonna. The history of Montserrat started in 880 when a small
group of shepherd children saw a bright light descending from the sky in the
Montserrat mountains. In the same moment the children heard angels singing and
the music filled their hearts with a radiant joy. For the whole month following
the first visitation the parents were also witness to the same heavenly
experiences and were left with only one conclusion. The visions were a sign
from God.
The third day was fully packed. We went to the Picasso Museum,
which arranged Picasso's paintings in chronological order from his early days
to his final works. It’s amazing how his early works at the age of 14 displayed
remarkable realism/naturalism, while his later works became progressively more
abstract. He has even said that it took him a lifetime to learn how to paint
like a child!
Afterwards we saw a Caganer shop. It is a figurine depicted
in the act of defecation appearing in nativity scenes in Catalonia and
neighbouring areas with Catalan culture such as Andorra, Valencia, and Northern
Catalonia (in southern France). The name "El Caganer” literally means
"the crapper" or "the shitter". This depicted my mood of
the day quite well because I just received news of a few shitty things that happened
in Australia while I was away. Then we went to the Gothic Quarter. The works in
the Gothic Quarter started in the 1400s’ and finished 6 centuries later. We
also saw the remains of the Roman Wall nearby.
In the afternoon we went on the Gaudí – The Sagrada Família
Tour. Antoni Gaudí was a Spanish Catalan architect from Reus and the best known
practitioner of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect an individualised and
distinctive style. Most are located in Barcelona, including the Sagrada Família
(the Holy Family). Most of Gaudí's constructions have an organic look to them.
This basic concept of using nature as the primary influences for his creativity
is reflected in the use of the natural curved construction stones, twisted iron
sculptures, and organic-like shapes - all of which are characteristic traits of
Gaudí's architecture. Gaudí's work enjoys global popularity and continuing
admiration and study by architects. His masterpiece, the still-incomplete
Sagrada Família, is the most-visited monument in Spain. Between 1984 and 2005,
seven of his works were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Gaudí's Roman
Catholic faith intensified during his life and religious images appear in many
of his works. This earned him the nickname "God's Architect". Gaudí
wished the Sagrada Família, which is still being built, to be financed by the
people, not by taxes or funding, and that’s just what our entrance fees do:
finance the completion of the building started in 1882. I felt a very strong
presence of God whilst visiting this place and this calmed my mood down a lot.
This documentary was played inside the Sagrada Família which
mov
ed me to tears:
In the evening, we went to see the Flamenco dance in the Palau
de la Música Catalana. This venue was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997
and is known as the masterpiece of Modernism. It is one of the most emblematic
buildings of Barcelona. The music of the dance was loud and sounded Middle
Eastern. Afterwards, I realised that Flamenco is a traditional musical
performance which was born in Andalusia. It is developed through the mix of
several different cultures: Arabian, Jewish, Christian, along with the
essential contribution by Gipsies. Catalonia has deep flamenco roots because it
is traditionally home to migrants from Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia. The Andalusians
comprised of people of the Islamic faith, who in order to avoid forced exile
and religious persecution, joined with the Roma newcomers. The Flamenco lady
wore a really long dress and it takes great skill to dance so fast and be able
to manipulate the tail of the dress so that she doesn’t step on it and can
create beautiful movements with it.
On the fourth day we went to Montjuic: mountain for the
Jewish people! Barcelona has a large Jewish population, and most doctors here
are Jewish! In fact, the Jews had been the ones funding the city! We went to a
park with spectacular views over the city, and drove past the 1992 Olympic Ring
of sports stadiums. We also visited the Poble Espanyol, an old Spanish village
which contains quite a few interesting things to look at such as an art museum,
a sculpture garden, and a monastery. Then we walked to the end of La Ramblas to
the Columbus Monument and walked around the old port. We took the metro to
Espanya to try and view a famous water fountain but ended up looking at the
wrong fountain before going back to the hotel!
Lisbon: the football champ
7-10 July 2016
Historically, Portugal has been a large melting pot. The
territory of modern Portugal has been continuously settled, invaded and fought
over since prehistoric times. The Pre-Celts, Celts, Phoenicians, Carthaginians
and the Romans were followed by the invasions of the Visigothic and the Suebi
Germanic peoples, who were themselves later invaded by the Moors. These Muslim
peoples were eventually expelled during the Christian Reconquista. According to
the tour guide, the Jews, Arabs and Christians have lived in Lisbon between the
12-16th century at peace with each other. The Age of Discovery is an
informal and loosely defined European historical period from the 15th century
to the 18th century, marking the time in which extensive overseas exploration
emerged as a powerful factor in European culture and globalisation. The
Portuguese began systematically exploring the Atlantic coast of Africa from
1418, under the sponsorship of Prince Henry and played a vital role in the Age
of Discovery.
When we first arrived, the taxi driver ripped us off asking
for 35 Euros for what should be a <15 Euro trip. Guess getting ripped off
seems almost unavoidable when touring in unfamiliar places, but luckily there
are no further incidences in this trip. Since there was not much left of the
first day, we walked along Liberty Avenue to the Praça do Comércio (the
commerce square) and had dinner in that region. It was amazing how enthusiastic
the Portuguese are about football: they had this huge TV showing the football
game in the middle of the square, with lots of people drinking and shouting!
Portugal has made it into the finals and we will soon to see whether they will
win!
The next day, we went on a day tour. We visited the town of
Sintra, known for its many 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments, which
has resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pena
Palace is the most notable example of Portuguese Romantic architecture.
We also visited Cabo da Roca, the extremely windy
westernmost point of mainland Europe. The day ended along the coast, stopping
off at the towns of Cascais and Estoril. In WWII, Portugal has been a neutral
region. Many WWII spies like to gather in Estoril, and the author of 007 became
inspired whilst staying in this region!
On the third day, during breakfast, a large group of 30 Orthodox
Jews suddenly came into our hotel! We went on a half day tour, firstly to the
region of Belém, where we visited the Belém Tower, the Monument to the
Discoveries, Jerominos’ Church, and Coach Museum. The Belem Tower, built in
1515 as a fortress to guard the entrance to Lisbon's harbor, was the starting
point for many of the voyages of discovery, and for the sailors it was the last
sight of their homeland. It is built in such a way as to mislead the enemies
into thinking that it was a mobile war ship protecting the region.
At Alfama, the tour guide showed us a Jewish ghetto, took us
for port wine tasting, and briefly listened to a Fado singer sing. Since this
region happens to be quite close to Castelo São Jorge, the dusk-orange walls of
the ancient castle date back to the ninth-century and lord over the city, we
decided to climb up the steep hill to have a look.
I was disappointed the morning tour did not include entrance
into Jerominos’ Monastery and decided to return again later in the afternoon. The
Jeronimos’ Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal's power and
wealth during the Age of Discovery. King Manuel I built it in 1502. This
monastery is one of the most prominent examples of the Portuguese Late Gothic
Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. It is classified as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, along with the nearby Tower of Belém. It has a peaceful
atmosphere to so I prayed and took a short nap there.
In the evening, my mom’s colleague took us for dinner and it
was nice to visit the good old “Taipei Economic and Cultural Office” in Lisbon!
On the last day, our plane was delayed by 7 hours!! We got
20 Euro food vouchers as compensation. The plane shook left and right in the
runway and when taking off, which really scared me! Finally, we landed safely
in Dublin. And guess which country won the UEFA EURO 2016? Haha! I knew it!
Brought my good luck to Portugal!
Belfast: the Titanic city
11 July 2016
First of all, I’d like to thank my mom because she planned
the whole itinerary (other than the Middle East part, which was just a short stopover
before Europe), so I didn’t even have to strain my brains thinking about where
I wanted to go etc. This day trip to Belfast marks the 7th country I
am entering into during this journey to Europe: the UK! Belfast is in Northern
Ireland, and Northern Ireland is actually part of the UK!
On the way to Belfast, we first stopped by Monasterboice, an
interesting monastic site near Drogheda in County Louth. It has a 1000 years
old Celtic cross in the graveyard. The story of the Celtic cross is
interesting: it contains a Christian element (the cross) and a Celtic religion
element (the round part). St Patrick was the founder of Christianity in
Ireland, making a start at converting a society practising a form of Celtic
polytheism. Interestingly, when he was about 16, he was captured by Irish
pirates from his home in Great Britain, and taken as a slave to Ireland, where
he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After
becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland! St Patrick converted
the Irish people with peace, no violence, using the Celtic cross symbolism, to
convince the lords of Ireland that the Christian God is God over all the Celtic
gods they were worshiping, and it worked! All got persuaded and converted in
peace
However, the story within the Christian church itself is not
so peaceful. There have been longstanding conflicts between the Protestants and
Catholics. William of Orange (William III) was sovereign Prince of Orange from
birth. A Protestant, William participated in several wars against the powerful
Catholic king of France, Louis XIV, in coalition with Protestant and Catholic
powers in Europe. Many Protestants heralded him as a champion of their faith.
Coincidentally today is the day before the “Twelfth” (Orangeman’s Day,
Orangefest), a celebration held on 12 July celebrates the Glorious Revolution
(1688) and victory of Protestant king William of Orange over Catholic king
James II at the Battle of the Boyne (1690), which began the Protestant
Ascendancy in Ireland, and is a public holiday. On the 11th we can
already see bonfires built by the Protestants in preparation for burning in
celebration. In Northern Ireland, where almost half the population is from an
Irish Catholic background, the Twelfth is a tense time. Orange marches
(Loyalists, often displaying Union Jacks etc) through Irish Catholic and Irish
nationalist neighbourhoods are usually met with opposition from residents, and
this sometimes leads to violence.
In Belfast we joined the local black taxi tour where the
guide took us to the Peace Wall, which contains murals from many nations and graffiti
from the general public. We saw murals from several nations, and the one from
Israel got burnt by somebody. We were given pens to write on the walls
ourselves. The tour guide gave us some history about the conflict between the
IRA (the Catholics Republicans/ “terrorist” group) and the Loyalists
(Protestants, loyal to the UK). 1972 was the worst year of conflict. The hunger
strike of 1981 was one of the most influential periods in the IRA’s long
campaign to remove Britain from Irish politics. It not only thwarted Britain’s
plans to criminalise the IRA prisoners, but concentrated worldwide media
attention on the war in Ireland. Ten Irish Republican volunteers paid the
ultimate sacrifice: they survived without food for 46 to 73 days, taking only
water and salt, before succumbing. The IRA decommissioned their weapons in 2005.
The highlight of the day was the trip to the Titanic Museum,
where we learned about how the unthinkable happened to the unsinkable! The
Titanic was built in Belfast, so the museum is on the spot where it was built
and is a fascinating place to visit.
For more details on this piece of history:
Finally, we were given one hour to roaming around Belfast
city centre before heading back to Dublin.
