Tumgik
#dublin itinerary
taarna-hendrix · 2 years
Text
Booklovers itinerary to Dublin
Whiskey, beer and... books? If you think you got Ireland all figured out, think again.
**For the main post on my trip to Dublin, check here.** If you think Dublin is only whiskey and beer, you are so wrong! As a massive bibliophile, I already knew about the Trinity College and its library. However, I did not know that Dublin had quite a bit more to offer the travelling booklover. So what can a booklover do in Dublin? Keep on reading (see what I did there?) Book of Kells and…
Tumblr media
View On WordPress
0 notes
keldae · 9 months
Text
I'm so upset I could cry.
3 notes · View notes
stilltravels · 30 days
Text
Ireland Trip
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Ireland in 9 Days
8 Nights in Destination
Aug 15 -23, 2024
Discover the city of Dublin and its history. Make the most of Galway with the traditional pubs and Irish folk music. Admire the beauty of Connemara and the scenery of Killarney National Park. Stop in Limerick before the stunning landscapes of beaches and small Irish towns in the Ring of Kerry. Head back to the capital to finalize your trip.
THE PRICE INCLUDES
Peace of mind with our included coverage
Departures from main US airports.
International flights: US - Dublin - US.
7 nights' accommodation in Charm and Superior category hotels.
7 breakfasts.
All Transfers
Visits and entrance fees
All air taxes and fuel surcharge.
English speaking guide.
TOURS
Walking Tour of Dublin
Panoramic Tour of Athlone
Galway City Centre Visit
Connemara National Park
Cliffs of Moher
Limerick & County Kerry
Visit to the city of Cork.
Ring of Kerry
Kilkenny Town
Total Package Price - $ $2,699.00 (per person)
Call or text 6784691977 or email [email protected]
www.stilltravelsllc.com
**Prices and availability are subject to change
#ireland#dublinireland#athlone#galwaycity#cork#kilkenny#slowtravel#slowtravelling#travelling#travellingram#travellingtheworld#travellife#luxurylife#luxurytravel#luxury#vacations#travels#travelinspiration#travelagent#travellovers#traveltheworld#stilltravels
1 note · View note
warrenwoodhouse · 1 month
Text
Dublin Holiday 23rd March 2024 Itinerary (Travel) (Itineraries)
Article and Itinerary by @warrenwoodhouse
Here’s the list in order of places visited. I would like to suggest that you pre-book transport arrangements as buses in Dublin require a Leap Card, these aren’t free and are quite expensive in Euros. The exchange rate between Pound Sterling and Euros comes with cost as well. Euro is weaker than the pound. Uber exists in Dublin, so you could always use that and the local metro rail instead.
Leave from: Newcastle International Airport
Arrived at: Dublin International Airport
Got Uber taxi from Airport to Fairview Park
Had breakfast at Bram’s Cafe on St. Aidan’s Park Road near Fairview Park
My sister Kirsty had her park run scheduled at Fairview Park
Me and my brother in law Sean walked around Fairview Park until Kirsty was finished
Got the local metro rail from Clontarf Road Station to Connolly Station
Walked on R105, then R802 then R105 on the same street as The Custom House
Continued walking down Abbey Street Lower
Continued walking down O’Connell Street Lower
Crossed O’Connell Bridge
Continued walking down R148
Visited Forbidden Planet on Crampton Quay
Continued walking down Bedford Row
Continued walking down Fleet Street
Visited Temple Bar Square
Continued walking down Fownes Street Lower
Continued walking down R148 to Bedford Row
Continued walking down Fleet Street
Had lunch at @hardrock Hard Rock Cafe Dublin
Continued walking down Fleet Street then down Essex Street East
Continued walking down Eustace Street
Continued walking down R137
Continued walking down Castle Street
Visited Palace Square at Dublin Castle
Continued walking down Castle Street
Continued walking down 53.3429905,-6.2686855
Visited Dubh Linn Garden
Visited Chester Beatty Art Museum
Continued walking down Ship Street Little
Continued walking down Ross Road
Continued walking down R137
Continued walking down High Street
Continued walking down Thomas Street
Continued walking down Crane Street
Continued walking down Rainsford Street
Continued walking down Robert Street
Continued walking down Market Street South
Visited Guinness Storehouse
Tour of the Storehouse
Continued walking down Market Street South
Continued walking down Grand Canal Place
Continued walking down Echlin Street
Continued walking down Thomas Street
Continued walking down Bow Lane West
Continued walking down Steeven’s Lane
Visited Dublin Heuston Bus Station
Leave from: Dublin International Airport
Arrived at: Newcastle International Airport
Total amount of walking distance achieved: 12.5 miles
What Links Here
Itineraries - Warren Woodhouse
1 note · View note
phonemantra-blog · 7 months
Link
From Dublin to Paris: A Journey through History, Culture, and Romance Welcome to our guide on traveling from Dublin to Paris, where we will take you on a captivating journey through history, culture, and romance. In this article, we will explore the enchanting cities of Dublin and Paris, highlighting their historical significance, notable landmarks, cultural experiences, and more. [caption id="attachment_63200" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Dublin to Paris[/caption] To ensure the article's structure and organization, we will follow the MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) Framework, allowing us to provide comprehensive information while optimizing the content for search engine rankings. Embark on this incredible journey from Dublin to Paris, and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of these two remarkable cities. Exploring Dublin Dublin, the capital of Ireland, holds a deep historical significance that dates back centuries. From its Viking roots to its role in the struggle for Irish independence, Dublin has witnessed pivotal moments in history. Historical Significance of Dublin Dublin's history is intertwined with the rise and fall of empires, rebellions, and cultural transformations. The city has seen the influence of the Vikings, the Norman invasion, and the British rule, all leaving their mark on its architecture, traditions, and people. When exploring Dublin, history enthusiasts can visit the iconic Dublin Castle, which served as the center of British rule in Ireland for over 700 years. Another significant historical site is Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison that played a crucial role in the fight for Irish independence. It now stands as a museum, offering a glimpse into Ireland's turbulent past. Notable Landmarks and Attractions in Dublin Dublin boasts a plethora of iconic landmarks that showcase its rich heritage. Trinity College, founded in 1592, is home to the famous Book of Kells, a beautifully illuminated manuscript dating back to the 9th century. The majestic St. Patrick's Cathedral, built in 1191, is the largest cathedral in Ireland and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. For a taste of Dublin's literary history, a visit to the Dublin Writers Museum is a must. It celebrates the works of renowned Irish writers, including James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and W.B. Yeats. Cultural Experiences in Dublin Immerse yourself in Dublin's vibrant culture by exploring the lively Temple Bar district. This area is famous for its traditional pubs, live music, and colorful atmosphere. Take a stroll along Grafton Street, a bustling pedestrian street lined with shops, street performers, and cafes. No visit to Dublin is complete without experiencing the Guinness Storehouse. Learn about the brewing process, enjoy a pint of the famous stout, and take in panoramic views of the city from the Gravity Bar. Crossing the Irish Sea Once you have explored the wonders of Dublin, it's time to embark on a journey across the Irish Sea to the romantic city of Paris. There are several transportation options available to make this journey. Available Transportation Options from Dublin to Paris Travelers can choose between flights, trains, and ferry services to reach Paris from Dublin. Flights offer the fastest travel time, while trains provide a scenic route through the picturesque landscapes of Ireland and France. However, for those seeking a unique and leisurely experience, taking a ferry from Dublin to Paris can be a delightful option. Ferry Services and Their Amenities Several ferry companies operate between Dublin and Paris, offering comfortable and well-equipped vessels for the journey. These ferries provide a range of amenities such as restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment options to ensure a pleasant crossing. Passengers can relax in comfortable cabins, enjoy delicious meals onboard, and even take advantage of duty-free shopping. The ferries also offer facilities for families, including play areas for children, making it a convenient choice for travelers with kids. Estimated Travel Time and Cost The travel time from Dublin to Paris by ferry can vary depending on the specific route and weather conditions. On average, the journey takes around 18 to 20 hours. It is recommended to check the schedules and plan accordingly to make the most of your time. As for the cost, ferry tickets from Dublin to Paris can range from €100 to €200 per person, depending on the chosen ferry company, cabin type, and additional services selected. Arriving in Paris After a memorable journey across the Irish Sea, you will arrive in the enchanting city of Paris. Known as the "City of Light," Paris is renowned for its romantic ambiance, stunning architecture, and world-class cultural offerings. Historical Background of Paris Paris has a captivating history that spans over two millennia. From its origins as a Roman settlement to its role as the capital of France, the city has witnessed significant historical events, including the French Revolution and both World Wars. Iconic Landmarks and Must-Visit Attractions in Paris Paris is home to some of the world's most iconic landmarks. The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of the city, offers breathtaking views from its observation decks. The Louvre Museum, housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, is a treasure trove of art and history. Other must-visit attractions include the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Élysées, and the charming Montmartre neighborhood with its famous Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Take a stroll along the Seine River or explore the picturesque neighborhoods of Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Experiencing Parisian Culture and Cuisine Paris is synonymous with art, fashion, and culinary excellence. Immerse yourself in the city's vibrant culture by visiting world-class museums such as the Musée d'Orsay and the Centre Pompidou. Attend a ballet performance at the Opéra Garnier or catch a show at the Moulin Rouge. Indulge in the exquisite French cuisine by savoring croissants and pastries at local bakeries, enjoying a leisurely lunch at a traditional bistro, or treating yourself to a gourmet dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Don't forget to sample the delightful macarons and sip on a glass of champagne. Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is the best time to visit Paris? A: The best time to visit Paris is during the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is pleasant, and the city is less crowded. Q: Are there any dress codes for visiting religious sites in Paris? A: Yes, some religious sites may require visitors to dress modestly, covering their shoulders and knees. Q: Is it necessary to speak French to navigate Paris? A: While knowing some basic French phrases can be helpful, many people in Paris speak English, especially in tourist areas. However, making an effort to learn a few common phrases can enhance your experience and show respect for the local culture. Q: How long does it take to travel from Dublin to Paris by ferry? A: The travel time can vary, but on average, it takes around 18 to 20 hours. Q: Are there any dining options available on the ferry? A: Yes, ferry services provide restaurants where passengers can enjoy meals and refreshments during the journey. Q: Can I bring my car on the ferry? A: Yes, most ferry companies allow passengers to bring their cars, providing a convenient way to explore Paris and its surroundings. Q: What is the best time to visit Dublin? A: The best time to visit Dublin is during the summer months (June to August) when the weather is relatively mild and many festivals take place. Q: Are there any famous literary connections in Dublin? A: Yes, Dublin has a rich literary history, being the birthplace of famous writers like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Beckett. Embarking on a journey from Dublin to Paris is an extraordinary experience that combines history, culture, and romance. Dublin's rich historical significance and cultural attractions set the stage for an unforgettable adventure. Crossing the Irish Sea by ferry provides a unique and leisurely way to reach the captivating city of Paris, where iconic landmarks, world-class museums, and culinary delights await. Whether you're exploring the historical sites of Dublin, sipping coffee at a Parisian café, or strolling along the Seine River, this journey offers a perfect blend of past and present, creating memories that will last a lifetime. So pack your bags, follow this guide, and let the allure of Dublin and Paris enchant you.
0 notes
chasingwhereabouts · 2 years
Text
25 Things to do in Dublin | Best Free Tour Guide
Wondering about Top Things to do in Dublin Ireland then in this post we will be talking about the same. #Dublin #ireland #europe #travel
Things to do in Dublin Ireland – Source: Photo by Steven Hylands Planning an Irish Holiday? This post will give you a list of 25 Top things to do in Dublin Ireland to make it worthwhile. If the luck of the Irish is in your favour and you’re in the city of Dublin There are many things to explore and experience while you’re there. It’s not just that Dublin is an integral part of its incredible…
Tumblr media
View On WordPress
0 notes
Text
In Vogue’s 1969 Christmas issue, Vladimir Nabokov offered some advice for teaching James Joyce’s “Ulysses”: “Instead of perpetuating the pretentious nonsense of Homeric, chromatic, and visceral chapter headings, instructors should prepare maps of Dublin with Bloom’s and Stephen’s intertwining itineraries clearly traced.” He drew a charming one himself. Several decades later, a Boston College English professor named Joseph Nugent and his colleagues put together an annotated Google map that shadows Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom step by step. The Virginia Woolf Society of Great Britain, as well as students at the Georgia Institute of Technology, have similarly reconstructed the paths of the London amblers in “Mrs. Dalloway.”
Such maps clarify how much these novels depend on a curious link between mind and feet. Joyce and Woolf were writers who transformed the quicksilver of consciousness into paper and ink. To accomplish this, they sent characters on walks about town. As Mrs. Dalloway walks, she does not merely perceive the city around her. Rather, she dips in and out of her past, remolding London into a highly textured mental landscape, “making it up, building it round one, tumbling it, creating it every moment afresh.”
Since at least the time of peripatetic Greek philosophers, many other writers have discovered a deep, intuitive connection between walking, thinking, and writing. (In fact, Adam Gopnik wrote about walking in The New Yorker just two weeks ago.) “How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live!” Henry David Thoreau penned in his journal. “Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” Thomas DeQuincey has calculated that William Wordsworth—whose poetry is filled with tramps up mountains, through forests, and along public roads—walked as many as a hundred and eighty thousand miles in his lifetime, which comes to an average of six and a half miles a day starting from age five.
What is it about walking, in particular, that makes it so amenable to thinking and writing? The answer begins with changes to our chemistry. When we go for a walk, the heart pumps faster, circulating more blood and oxygen not just to the muscles but to all the organs—including the brain. Many experiments have shown that after or during exercise, even very mild exertion, people perform better on tests of memory and attention. Walking on a regular basis also promotes new connections between brain cells, staves off the usual withering of brain tissue that comes with age, increases the volume of the hippocampus (a brain region crucial for memory), and elevates levels of molecules that both stimulate the growth of new neurons and transmit messages between them.
The way we move our bodies further changes the nature of our thoughts, and vice versa. Psychologists who specialize in exercise music have quantified what many of us already know: listening to songs with high tempos motivates us to run faster, and the swifter we move, the quicker we prefer our music. Likewise, when drivers hear loud, fast music, they unconsciously step a bit harder on the gas pedal. Walking at our own pace creates an unadulterated feedback loop between the rhythm of our bodies and our mental state that we cannot experience as easily when we’re jogging at the gym, steering a car, biking, or during any other kind of locomotion. When we stroll, the pace of our feet naturally vacillates with our moods and the cadence of our inner speech; at the same time, we can actively change the pace of our thoughts by deliberately walking more briskly or by slowing down.
VIDEO FROM THE NEW YORKER :: The Men Walking Every Block in New York City
Because we don’t have to devote much conscious effort to the act of walking, our attention is free to wander—to overlay the world before us with a parade of images from the mind’s theatre. This is precisely the kind of mental state that studies have linked to innovative ideas and strokes of insight. Earlier this year, Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz of Stanford published what is likely the first set of studies that directly measure the way walking changes creativity in the moment. They got the idea for the studies while on a walk. “My doctoral advisor had the habit of going for walks with his students to brainstorm,” Oppezzo says of Schwartz. “One day we got kind of meta.”
In a series of four experiments, Oppezzo and Schwartz asked a hundred and seventy-six college students to complete different tests of creative thinking while either sitting, walking on a treadmill, or sauntering through Stanford’s campus. In one test, for example, volunteers had to come up with atypical uses for everyday objects, such as a button or a tire. On average, the students thought of between four and six more novel uses for the objects while they were walking than when they were seated. Another experiment required volunteers to contemplate a metaphor, such as “a budding cocoon,” and generate a unique but equivalent metaphor, such as “an egg hatching.” Ninety-five per cent of students who went for a walk were able to do so, compared to only fifty per cent of those who never stood up. But walking actually worsened people’s performance on a different type of test, in which students had to find the one word that united a set of three, like “cheese” for “cottage, cream, and cake.” Oppezzo speculates that, by setting the mind adrift on a frothing sea of thought, walking is counterproductive to such laser-focussed thinking: “If you’re looking for a single correct answer to a question, you probably don’t want all of these different ideas bubbling up.”
Where we walk matters as well. In a study led by Marc Berman of the University of South Carolina, students who ambled through an arboretum improved their performance on a memory test more than students who walked along city streets. A small but growing collection of studies suggests that spending time in green spaces—gardens, parks, forests—can rejuvenate the mental resources that man-made environments deplete. Psychologists have learned that attention is a limited resource that continually drains throughout the day. A crowded intersection—rife with pedestrians, cars, and billboards—bats our attention around. In contrast, walking past a pond in a park allows our mind to drift casually from one sensory experience to another, from wrinkling water to rustling reeds.
Still, urban and pastoral walks likely offer unique advantages for the mind. A walk through a city provides more immediate stimulation—a greater variety of sensations for the mind to play with. But, if we are already at the brink of overstimulation, we can turn to nature instead. Woolf relished the creative energy of London’s streets, describing it in her diary as “being on the highest crest of the biggest wave, right in the centre & swim of things.” But she also depended on her walks through England’s South Downs to “have space to spread my mind out in.” And, in her youth, she often travelled to Cornwall for the summer, where she loved to “spend my afternoons in solitary trampling” through the countryside.
Perhaps the most profound relationship between walking, thinking, and writing reveals itself at the end of a stroll, back at the desk. There, it becomes apparent that writing and walking are extremely similar feats, equal parts physical and mental. When we choose a path through a city or forest, our brain must survey the surrounding environment, construct a mental map of the world, settle on a way forward, and translate that plan into a series of footsteps. Likewise, writing forces the brain to review its own landscape, plot a course through that mental terrain, and transcribe the resulting trail of thoughts by guiding the hands. Walking organizes the world around us; writing organizes our thoughts. Ultimately, maps like the one that Nabokov drew are recursive: they are maps of maps.
Why Walking Helps Us Think
By Ferris Jabr
48 notes · View notes
bridgertonbabe · 2 months
Text
Benophie Drabble - Bridgerton Brothers AU
Surveying the room around him, Benedict smiled to himself as he watched his nieces and nephews keeping Simon, Daphne, Anthony, and Kate on their toes; Colin cuddling into Penelope all the while she laughed and chatted with Eloise; his parents lost in their own little world as they rocked back and forth dancing to the music. It was a far less raucous after-party than the ones they used to have during their early years of touring but now they were all that much older and more settled (and honestly far more easy to wear out), celebrating another sold-out concert with just their loved ones was much more preferable.
There was just one notable absence for Benedict to feel particularly dispirited; his wife.
For the last twelve weeks Sophie had been on her own solo tour across the UK playing sold-out theatre shows, enchanting audiences with her mesmerising violin concertos and pop covers. Much to Benedict's dismay he had yet to be able to attend any of her shows as her tour coincided with the Bridgerton Brothers international one, otherwise he'd be attending every last one of her concerts as he had done with all of her previous tours. He had desperately tried to find any opportunity to be able to jet back to see her, but unfortunately both of their schedules were so jam-packed that there'd barely be enough time to even kiss her before he would have to fly back out for his next concert. Sophie had tried in vain as well to find any openings in her diary in order to see him but they both reluctantly accepted that they had no other options but to endure the separation apart.
At the very least it definitely made the heart grow fonder as with every new day he missed her more and more. Sure they still called and texted and video-chatted constantly but Benedict was keening to be able to see her in the flesh once more, to hold her in his arms and to kiss her and just be in her physical presence. For now however he'd have to endure just another twelve hours before they flew from Dublin to London to be reunited with Sophie once more.
Except, as Benedict looked around at all the loved-up couples; his mum and dad, Simon and Daphne, Kate and Anthony, and Colin and Penelope; he realised he couldn't actually handle waiting just twelve more hours - he wanted to be back with his wife right that very second.
Now that their Dublin concert was over and done with and knowing that Sophie's concert in Reading that night would have finished, Benedict couldn't help but feel that now was as good a time as any to simply hop on the next flight home and be with Sophie at long last.
He quickly got his phone out, putting all of his energy into manifesting a miracle last-minute flight being available to London as he googled flights out of Dublin airport that night - and his eyes lit up as soon as he saw that such a flight was in fact going to depart within the next hour.
Jumping to his feet, he marched straight over to Daphne to run his plan of action past her; after all, she was in charge of the band's itinerary. As soon as he mentioned just how desperate he was to see Sophie again, Daphne assured him to leave everything with her. She'd book his flight and cancel his seat on the one the following morning so long as he left immediately. He pecked his sister on the cheek, thanking her profusely before legging it out the room.
In just under two hours he was opening the front door to the home he shared with Sophie, making sure to be as quiet as possible as he made his way up the stairs and into their bedroom. As soon as he caught sight of his wife sleeping peacefully in the bed they shared his heart swelled up and the feeling of homecoming washed over him.
Typically after any flight the first thing he'd do is have a quick shower but after twelve long weeks apart from Sophie, there was nothing he wanted to do more than slip under the covers and simply hold her. After ridding himself of every garment but his pants he got into bed as carefully as he could, doing everything he could not to disturb her sleep. Rather adorably she was cuddling a pillow - one of his pillows - as well as wearing one of his old sweatshirts and Benedict couldn't help smiling, elated in the knowledge that Sophie had been missing him as much as he had missed her. He gently wrapped his arms around her, spooning her (and the pillow), and buried his head into her curly tresses.
At long last he was back where he belonged; home.
🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Sophie was exhausted by the time she got in that evening and had only just remembered to give a wave of thanks over her shoulder to her driver before she entered her home. Normally at this time she would be buzzing with post-concert energy but as of late once she had finished a show she was desperate to climb into bed and fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
It also didn't help that she was missing her husband dreadfully and had spent the last twelve weeks yearning to be reunited with him in person once more. While his absence had only made her heart fonder of him, she was relieved that come midday the following day he would be home at last. Finally she'd be able to embrace him, to kiss him, to talk and laugh in person, to just be with him - and the quicker she got herself to bed and fell asleep, the sooner she'd be expecting him by the time she woke up.
As she had done since they had been apart, she dressed for bed in an old sweatshirt of his, one she had adopted from Benedict long ago but it still smelled like him and made her feel closer to him despite the distance they had endurd for the past twelve weeks. Then once she was under the covers she grabbed a hold of one of the pillows from Benedict's side of the bed and cuddled into it, treasuring the feel of it against her as her husband's stand-in; and as soon as she was comfortable and had closed her eyes, she fell straight to sleep.
While sleeping soundly her brain flashed up images of her husband, memories of him flopping down on the sofa she was sat on and resting his head in her lap, how he'd always ensure he pointed to her in the crowd whenever she attended his concerts, the way she'd always find his eyes at her concerts and how he beamed proudly back at her, how safe and protected she felt being held in his arms and how she could practically feel his warm breath against the back of her neck as he buried his head in amongst her curls and his hands came to rest on the pillow she was cuddling as he spooned her...
In fact, it almost felt too real to just be a dream.
Sophie's eyes gently opened as her conscious lazily stirred awake and she observed the darkness of the bedroom and the stillness of the night - and then after several seconds it finally registered that there was a warm body cuddling her, the feeling of which was so familiar she knew instantaneously it was her husband.
"Ben?" she rasped, her voice thick with sleep.
"Hey." he breathed back against her neck and squeezed her gently in greeting.
"What are you doing here?" she blearily asked, not having expected him home for roughly another twelve hours, and attempted to turn in his hold.
"Couldn't bear to be away from you a second longer." he answered but prevented her from twisting round to face him. "Sleep, my love. We'll have all the time tomorrow." he assured her gently, pressing a kiss against her back, and snuggling into her.
And though Sophie could have blissfully drifted off back to sleep in that moment, before she could succumb to slumber once more her brain kicked into gear and she excitedly remembered a very particular reason why she had been more desperate than ever before to see her husband. Without a second to lose Sophie leaned over to switch on the bedside lamp and shuffled herself to sit up.
"Soph." Benedict groaned, squeezing his already shut eyes even tighter from the sudden burst of light. "There's no need-"
"Oh Ben." she sighed affectionately as she got her first proper look at her husband in the flesh for the first time in twelve weeks, and she leaned down to kiss him tenderly on the lips.
In spite of his disgruntled exhaustion, Benedict was sufficiently woken up by his wife's lips against his as he kissed back without hesitation. He managed to crack open his eyes when she pulled away to gaze at her adoringly, a soft lazy smile curving his lips as he reached out to pull her back in.
"I've got something to tell you." she said as she intertwined her hands with the ones that were trying to drag her into a cuddle.
"Oh, can't it wait?" Benedict grumbled. "The whole point of sneaking in was so I didn't disturb you."
"And that was very thoughtful of you - but this can't wait." she told him; after all, Sophie had been impatiently waiting for the last six weeks to tell him this and there was no way in hell she was going to keep it to herself for a second longer.
"What is it?" Benedict relented with a laborious sigh and reluctantly pulled himself up to lean against the headboard.
Sophie twisted around, opening the drawer of her bedside table, and presented him with a gift box. He raised an intrigued eyebrow, having been under the impression she was about to tell him something but after receiving a nod of encouragement from her he accepted the gift and opened the lid.
As Sophie watched on eagerly, he pulled back the tissue paper to reveal a baby onesie with the words Daddy's #1 Fan emblazoned on it. Benedict stared at it for a few seconds, his brain being affected by tiredness and delaying his reaction when suddenly it clicked and he shot his head up to meet Sophie's sparkling gaze.
"You're pregnant?" he swallowed and she nodded in confirmation. "We're having a baby?"
"We're having a baby, Ben." she answered gleefully and in a flash she was swept up into his arms.
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" he chanted into the crook of her neck as he clutched her to him. "Sophie." he choked out and kissed her neck. "Oh god, Sophie I'm so happy. I'm so so happy. I love you, I love you so much." he teared up and punctuated his joy with kisses up the column of her neck until his lips were on hers.
"I love you too." she laughed shakily, blissfully overjoyed with his ecstatic reaction.
"How far along?" he asked.
"Well that flying visit twelve weeks back did the trick." she answered and Benedict's face lit up in amazement.
Having children was always on the cards for them and they had planned to start trying for a baby once Benedict was home from touring, however they had certainly made the most of Sophie's one night in the US to get ahead of their baby-making plans.
"I can't believe it." Benedict beamed. "How long have you known?"
"Six weeks." Sophie exhaled and brought a hand through his hair. "I've been dying to tell you but I wanted to tell you in person instead of over the phone or through a screen. I hope that's okay-"
Benedict cut her off with a searing kiss, an automatic assurance that her decision to hold off from telling him until they were face to face was very much appreciated.
"Of course that's okay." he verbally iterated when he managed to pull himself away from kissing her. "If you had told me over the phone I'd have left the tour without a word of notice to fly home immediately just so I could hug and kiss you. Nothing else would have mattered to me than seeing you and celebrating the baby we've made."
"I guess it's a relief I waited then, for the sake of the fans."
"And for my sake as well, to avoid Daphne throttling me for abandoning the band in the middle of a sold-out tour." he (somewhat) joked.
"Oh well we couldn't have that then, could we?" Sophie giggled and kissed him.
Benedict kissed back, wrapping his arms around his wife and cherishing this very moment for all the joy it brought to his heart. "I love you, Soph." he professed once more against her lips. "I didn't think I could be any happier coming home to you and yet you never cease to amaze me."
He continued to express his overwhelming joy by peppering her with kisses until his lips were sore and he rested his head against hers, professing his unconditional love for her and their baby before they both acknowledged just how spent they were and sunk back down under the covers to rest. Sophie turned over so he could hold her back against his chest and then he rested his hands over her abdomen where he could feel the smallest hint of a bump. With the biggest smile on his face, Benedict pressed one last kiss against Sophie's shoulder, professed his love for her yet again and settled comfortably into the embrace before dreaming the sweetest dreams of the joy-filled future that lay ahead of them.
14 notes · View notes
dangerously-human · 3 months
Text
Been feeling the itch recently to fly - like it's been way too long since I've experienced the inherently liminal space that is an airport. Only intensified today driving past the airport on my way to visit a friend, but then I did the math, and five weeks! Five weeks from today is my next flight to Dublin! That's not so bad. I really need to buckle down and get cracking on that itinerary, though.
12 notes · View notes
nickandros · 3 months
Text
i think i actually have the opposite problem that people would expect from a driver in a small country, in that i presume EVERYTHING is a super long drive away in other countries. i have been looking at making an itinerary for part of our honeymoon and i was presuming we'd need to spend a whole day driving from one side of ireland to another. it's a 2 hour drive from dublin to galway.
18 notes · View notes
kingstylesdaily · 2 years
Text
'The loudest it's ever been': Behind the scenes at Harry Styles' Wembley Stadium shows
Tumblr media
by Ben Homewood | musicweek.com
After six thunderous nights, the UK & Ireland leg of Harry Styles’ Love On Tour is over. With Sweden, Norway and Denmark next on the itinerary and the US to follow in August, Styles mania is set to continue and, according to Wembley Stadium’s James Taylor, the UK will be basking in the glow for some time yet.
Styles tweeted that the first of his two London shows was one of his favourites that he and his band have ever done, adding that he felt overwhelmed. Anyone who saw either night at Wembley would attest that most of the crowd felt the same way. Taylor, the venue’s senior commercial director, is still reeling.
“The shows have received unanimous positive feedback, Harry’s fans were probably the noisiest I’ve ever heard in the stadium,” he tells Music Week in the aftermath. “It was a great occasion, a really positive couple of nights. The first of many I would think…”
Indeed, Taylor suggested it won't be long before Styles is back in UK stadiums. But while the dust has settled and the screaming has stopped, the coloured feathers – which were floating in the air and sticking triumphantly to the floor around and inside Wembley last Sunday night – remain.
“I think we’re still cleaning those up,” smiles Taylor. “It's quite difficult, they kept appearing in the bowl ahead of Ed Sheeran’s show. It was a very colourful occasion and Harry has got his own unique style, which is reflected in the way the fans came together.”
Wembley – like Ibrox in Glasgow, the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium – was simply consumed by Styles and his fans. Having waited longer than they ever anticipated to see him thanks to the pandemic, his supporters conjured bedlam in each venue hours before he walked out on stage. Originally, he was supposed to play the O2 in London, now he has filled Wembley Stadium twice over.
Every last audience member sang every word of each song back at the singer, who pirouetted, jived and shimmied around a rectangular platform that stretched into the standing section. On night one, he wore red spots, on night two, silver, sparklier ones. The singer likes to see into the whites of his fans’ eyes, stopping to read their handmade signs and strike up conversations. On night two at Wembley, he led a chorus of happy birthday to his bass player Elin Sandberg and helped an Italian fan, Mattia, come out. There was also a dedication to dads, including his own, who was in the crowd, for fathers day. In Manchester, he shouted out his first primary school teacher, Mrs Vernon. Then there was the customary encouragement for fans to bestow acts of kindness at each gig.
Such moments illustrate the levels of positivity and love, for that’s what we must call it, that Styles is capable of evoking. At Wembley, as the crowd lost its mind to Bohemian Rhapsody before he came on, you got the impression that the experience of all being in the same place together might have been enough for the audience. When he did emerge, even the slightest brush of a hand or wiggle of a hip sent a shock wave around Wembley’s vast bowl. Even the night air was trembling. The emotion is vivid, palpable, it's hard to think of anyone else who inspires this level of feeling.
Near the front, a fan in a cape fitted out with fairy lights with a wand in each hand caught the eye, casting huge shapes with every flick of the wrist. Scores of people at the back of the standing area twirled each other around, tearing across the floor like every song was the last number at a wedding. During the slow ones, such as Matilda from Harry’s House, they lay on the floor, scrunching up their rain-soaked ponchos, the kind you’d usually see at a theme park.
“I don’t get to do this without you,” Styles said at one point. “It would be me in a room on my own prancing about, a very different vibe. I am yours, thank you.”
And the magic of Harry Styles is that it really felt like he meant it. This stadium show had fireworks (during the set-stealing Sign Of The Times) but it didn’t really need them. The songs, plus their maker’s bond with his fans, provided ample explosion.
To find out what went on over two nights at Wembley and look ahead to Styles’ future playing stadiums, we asked James Taylor to take us behind the scenes…
Firstly, what was your immediate reaction to the two shows? “It was really good, a great occasion. It was a very happy, warm atmosphere with people just sharing their combined love of the artist. They are very passionate, committed fans, very like-minded. He delivered a great show.”
Why do you think Harry Styles inspires such devotion in people?
“Harry’s messaging during the shows is all about loving yourself and I think for young people who struggle with mental health, you can tell that he connects well and gives a really positive message. I think that’s at the heart of the show, his songs are very positive about the self, not just other people. That’s why he connects well with fans, they’ve got a shared belief of how you should live life. It’s very positive and uplifting and people just like that sort of environment.”
What made the show work in a stadium?
“He does a lot of crowd interaction, a bit more than other artists. He chats to his fans and he is known for stopping his shows and talking to them. Bear in mind it’s his first stadium show, so some artists, if it’s your fourth or fifth time, you might need to do something a bit different or it becomes a bit samey. But with his first one, it sold out so quickly that I don’t think he really needed to go too mad on that. People were coming to see him. You might see on his third, fourth or fifth tour, he might start doing [something different], but for now, he’s got a group of fans that just wanted to see him in stadiums for the first time. I don’t think it really needed anything else, I thought his team got it just right.”
Can you tell us about the process of putting the shows together?
“His team were very positive and very happy. I went down after the shows and spoke to the promoter [Live Nation] and everyone in the changing room area was absolutely delighted. Harry had a little afterparty with his team and they were all very happy. I don't think it could have gone any better from his perspective, you can tell it meant a lot. I could hear his party but I didn’t pop in! [Laughs].”
After the postponement and venue upgrades, Love On Tour in the UK has been a very big deal for a number of reasons. What’s it been like to be a part of it?
“It was meant to be at The O2, but demand was so high that it made sense that he went straight into the stadiums. I don’t think it will be his last one, it wouldn't surprise me if he was back in stadiums pretty soon. He’s going to go into that Ed Sheeran and Coldplay level, they’re both due to do their 12th shows this year at Wembley and I can see Harry on his third or fourth tour being up on that level. There’s definitely more to come from him, his show will get better and better. If he’s that good on his first stadium show, you look forward to seeing his second and his third…”
Do you feel you’ve played your part in all the recent success, with Harry’s House and As It Was both topping the charts?
“It feels like he’s on the cusp of something huge, well, he already is [huge]. Obviously he’s had his history with the stadium before and has played with One Direction, but as a solo artist you do feel like this is the start… Ed Sheeran [first played] Wembley in 2015, and you do feel Harry is going to go on and do similar numbers. He’s developed his own brand, his own style, you don’t see a lot of artists manage to do that. A lot of them don’t seem to reach the level of connection with the fans that he has. It’s exciting to see where he’s going to go.”
116 notes · View notes
fatehbaz · 11 months
Text
Adam Sills’s well-written and beautifully produced Against the Map is in some ways a strange book to review [...] [from the disciplinary perspective of environmental studies]. Sills shows little interest in environmental history or ecocriticism, even in the “ecology without nature” mode [...]. His basic argument is that cartography, because of print capitalism, seeped into all sorts of facets of life on the British Isles during the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It became something that playwrights, novelists, and creative nonfiction types, like Samuel Johnson, developed spaces of resistance to in their publications. Sills highlights the political nature and problematic historical genealogies of maps, an argument that has broader implications for [contemporary] environmental historians who use maps to convey [relatively more “objective” and/or “scientific” information] [...].
Sills begins by accepting the idea, derived from Ben Anderson’s comparative work, that “the history of the map and the history of the modern nation state are inextricably bound up with each other” (p. 1). He then cites two of the key analysts of this in relation to Britain: Richard Helgerson on the literary nationalism of the English Renaissance and John Brewer on the fiscal-military state of the eighteenth century, with its army of surveyors and excise tax collectors. In this historiography, the “surveyor emerges as an authorial figure,” key to the making of the modern state as distinct from traditional dynastic and ecclesiastical authority (p. 3). Combined with cheap printing, the result was what Mary Pedley has called a “democratization of the map” (p. 4). [...]
---
For John Bunyan, the “neighborhood” became a site of resistance (as it is for Denis Wood in his 2010 Everything Sings: Maps for a Narrative Atlas). [...]
For Aphra Behn, [...] the theater and “built environment” of the “fragmented, chameleonlike ... scenic stage” had the ability to challenge coherent representations of the Atlantic empire produced by maps like those of world atlas publisher and road mapper John Ogilby (p. 65).
From Dublin, Jonathan Swift directly satirized the cartographic and statistical impulses of the likes of William Petty, Henry Pratt, and Herman Moll, who all helped visualize London’s colonial relationship with Ireland [...].
From London, Daniel Defoe questioned efforts to define what precisely makes a market or market town through maps and travel itineraries, pointing toward the entropic aspects of the market (“its inherent instabilities and elusive nature”) that challenged and escaped efforts to stabilize such spaces through representations in print (p. 163).
Johnson’s travels to Scotland redefined surveying, resisting the model put forward by the fiscal-military state in the aftermath of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.
---
The final chapter and conclusion, “The Neighborhood Revisited,” looks at Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (1814), a classic novel of the artificial environment of the estate garden. By the early nineteenth century, neighborhoods were more like gated communities and symptomatic of Burkean conservatism and nostalgia. But in Austen’s hands, their structures of affect also suggest the limits of the controversial map- and data-centric literary methodologies [...] and perhaps more broadly the digital humanities. “The principle of spatial difference and differentiation, the heterotopic conceit, always remains a formal possibility, not only at the margins of the empire but at its very center as well,... a possibility that the map cannot acknowledge or register in any fashion” (p. 234). For Sills, this is true of eighteenth-century mapping as well as the fashion for “graphs, maps, and trees” in the early twenty-first century.
---
Sills’s basic argument, that a certain canonical strain of English literature - from Bunyan to Austen - positioned itself “against the map,” seems quite solid. He makes this point most directly by appealing to the work of Mary Poovey on the modern “fact,” with the map as “a rhetorical mode ... that serves to legitimate private and state interests by displacing and, ultimately, effacing the political, religious, and economic impact of those interests” (p. 91).
Nevertheless, returning to a[n] [exclusively] canonical, Bunyan-centered, “small is beautiful” neighborhood approach [potentially ignoring planetary environmental systems, the global context, in cartography] seems limited and problematic from the perspective of Anthropocene [...]. The global maps and mathematics used by the likes of Edmund Halley and Isaac Newton, which were directly satirized by Swift in the Laputa section of Gulliver’s Travels (1726), did something different than Petty’s mapping of Ireland. High-flying as they may have been, such maps and diagrams were key to the development of [...] environmental thinking by Charles Darwin, Charles Lyell, Alexander von Humboldt, and others in the nineteenth century. More recently, global mapping [...], like the internet closely tied initially to the modern American fiscal-military state, have [also later then] been essential to identifying processes of climate change, ocean acidification, deforestation, dead zones, sea level rise, desertification, and a host of other processes that would otherwise be challenging to perceive. This is no mere “Vanity Fair.” Sills’s book would have benefited from engaging with Jason Pearl’s Utopian Geographies and the Early English Novel, published in 2014 [...]. Pearl also does close readings of Behn, Defoe, and Swift, choosing Margaret Cavendish instead of Bunyan and stopping in 1730, just before things became picturesque but just after they were financialized by the South Sea Bubble, Newton’s mint, and Robert Walpole. Pearl reproduces maps by Defoe of Robinson Crusoe’s global travels and of Crusoe’s island, Swift of Houyhnhnmland, Ambrosius Holbein of Thomas More’s Utopia [...].
What if rather than “against the map,” we are seeing struggles between radical and conservative cartography [...] engaged in a fight over the future (utopia)?
What if what [...] [some have] called “capitalist realism” [...], what might in the eighteenth century be called “nationalist realism,” is not the only thing happening with maps and the imagination?
---
Text above by: Robert Batchelor. “Review of Sills, Adam, Against the Map: The Politics of Geography in Eighteenth-Century Britain.” H-Environment, H-Net Reviews. May 2023. Published online at: h-net,org/reviews/showrev,php?id:58887. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. In this post, all italicized text within brackets added by me.]
18 notes · View notes
hauntedfalcon · 1 year
Note
Ooh are you heading to Ireland soon?
yes we aaaaaaare! I can’t believe it’s finally happening. our itinerary is pretty well set but if there’s anything you recommend in the neighborhood of Dublin, Galway, and Killarney, let me know!
11 notes · View notes
Text
Ireland & Sweden!
This past weekend was my last weekend trip of the semester! It is crazy that the semester is coming to an end. Monday, May 1st was Labor Day in Europe, so we had a four-day weekend. Emma and I went to Dublin, Ireland, and did a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher on Saturday. On Sunday, we flew to Stockholm, Sweden, and spent one day there. We got back to Florence on Monday evening. This post is long, but it is mostly photos!
This weekend was definitely a whirlwind of travel. On Thursday night, we took a train to Bergamo and then an Uber to the airport, where we slept until we could get our boarding passes from the Ryanair desk. Since we were leaving the EU, we couldn't get mobile boarding passes and therefore couldn't go past security until 4:30 am. Our flight left at 6:30 am, and we arrived in Dublin at 8:30 am.
We planned out an itinerary for the day since we had pre-booked tickets. We started with a quick donut breakfast!
Tumblr media
Strawberry cheesecake, cookies and cream, and red velvet from The Rolling Donut!
Next, we dropped our backpacks off at a convenience store that had luggage storage.
Our first stop was Dublin Castle.
Tumblr media
The drawing room!
We walked through the small garden and stumbled upon a museum of glass that was free admission!
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Lifelike sculpture!
After the museum, we walked to Trinity College Library to see the Book of Kells. he book depicts the four gospels and illustrations with beautiful details that are visible even after so many centuries. No photography is allowed of the Book of Kells.
Tumblr media
This is called the Long Room! It reminds me of Hogwarts.
For lunch, Emma and I went to Nando's.
Tumblr media
Chicken sandwich with chips, as they say in the UK.
Our next destination was Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
Tumblr media
It is the largest cathedral in Ireland.
Tumblr media
The church had beautiful stained glass, and I learned a lot about the history of Ireland.
After visiting the cathedral, we walked to the Guinness Storefront.
Tumblr media
The storefront is massive, with multiple floors, and each level explains a different stage of Guinness beer production.
Tumblr media
We got to do a tasting of the beer, which was my first time trying it!
Tumblr media
A free drink was included in the tour, so Emma and I got ciders!
It was around 3 pm when we finished at the storefront, and I started to feel exhaustion kick in. But we powered through and walked to Kilmainham Gaol for the last tour of the day.
Tumblr media
The jail opened in 1796 and closed in 1924.
This was probably my favorite tour of the day, and we learned a lot about Irish history because the jail was home to many Irish revolutionaries.
For dinner, we went to Celtic Nights. It was a dinner and show restaurant where we heard Irish folk music and saw Irish dance! It was so lively, and I was very entertained!
Tumblr media
I had a traditional meal of braised Irish beef and potato soup.
To end the evening, Emma and I got pints of cider in the Temple Bar area. There were so many pubs and people everywhere, a very lively area.
Tumblr media
This is the most famous pub in Dublin!
We went to the Airbnb for an early night because we had another early morning the next day.
On Saturday, we had a tour of the Cliffs of Moher and Galway with the company Wild Rover.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
The Cliffs of Moher!
In Galway, we got lunch and ice cream first.
Tumblr media
Grilled cheese with cheese, goat cheese, shredded chicken, and red pepper relish! With a side of pesto mayo, so delicious!
We also went to O'Connell's bar, where Ed Sheeran filmed the music video for his song Galway Girl and had a pint.
Tumblr media
Tumblr media
The main street in Galway!
Moving on to our day in Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday. We got there in the morning and went to get breakfast!
Tumblr media
Walnut pastry from Fabrique Stenugnsbageri! So yummy!!
Then we went to the Vasa Museum to see a viking ship!
Tumblr media
It was so cool to see! Unfortunately, the ship sank after 20 minutes of its maiden voyage.
We also visited the Abba Museum!
Tumblr media
We saw the clothes they performed in and learned about how the band got together and became so successful!
Tumblr media
Towards the end of the day we went to old town and got dinner there.
Tumblr media
Stockholm is so pretty in the spring!
The long weekend was very fun and packed with lots of activities. We really ended the semester with a bang! I have to say that I am glad I don't have to get on a train, bus, or plane next weekend. Instead I will be soaking up the last of Florence and studying for my final exams.
8 notes · View notes
galacticlamps · 1 year
Note
green emoji asks 🦖🌴🥝? c:
🦖 - what’s your favorite dinosaur?
as a kid I loved any of the ones with really long necks because I loved going to the natural history museum and being in one of the biggest rooms I'd ever seen and there being a GUY whose NECK took up practically the whole length of it all on its own
as an adult, I have a little dino carved from some kind of rock that I keep on my bookcase which I choose to believe is like a low-res stegosaurus even tho the ridges on its back are not individually marked & that specific (vaguely defined) dude is my favorite dinosaur
🌴 - what’s your dream vacation?
Hmm, I don't really feel like I have one? There are plenty of places I know I'd like to go if I ever get the chance but in my mind calling something a dream vacation implies a bit more of a plan than that. (I think that's bc I'm not very good at the whole relax & do nothing kind of vacation - if I'm going somewhere I really feel like I've gotta research all the details before to make sure I'm doing & seeing enough that it's not a waste of time or money. But that includes taking into account seasonal/temporary events/shows/exhibits, and I don't bother looking into those things unless I know I have an opportunity to follow through on them coming up soon, which hasn't been the case for a while now)
But if I stop being fussy about the fact that I'm not actually dreaming about a specific itinerary for five seconds, then the answer's definitely Scotland. Of all the places I want to see, it's got the worst ratio of minutes I've spent in the country (being zero) to number of things I want to see there, from whole cities and areas down to individual museums, historical sites, places relatives came from, national parks, and even distilleries. But it's also way too much to fit into one trip, so I think of wanting to go there as less of a specific vacation than other things I want to do less badly but can at least conceive of more clearly - like saying that in the fall, I hope to visit a relative's house in the mountains and spend a few days in a little town with a nice cider mill.
🥝 - what’s your music taste like?
A mess! Really, I'm so bad at putting music in categories. My main playlist is literally called What's a Genre - and it's 90% Irish & Scottish bands (though even saying that feels misleadingly homogeneous, since I can count everyone from the Dubliners to Hozier & the Tannahill Weavers to the Proclaimers that way) but there's also other things that kinda maybe fit there, like The Amazing Devil (and Robert Hallow & the Holy Men? does anyone know if they still exist?) and The Decemberists, and then ones that even I know don't belong there, like ELO and MCR. And that's just the one playlist. If I'm working from home, my go-to is Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald & co for some reason. When it comes to decades, I tend to favor 60s pop (or is it rock? I'm not sure I know the difference), and I'd take the Kinks over the Beatles - but I also keep them on a playlist with ABBA, David Bowie, Queen, and They Might Be Giants (which is mainly for both cleaning & hanging out with friends). I also still own & regularly listen to a lot of music from different genres whose only unifying factor is 'was actively on the radio when i was in middle school.' And I'd be lying to make myself sound cooler if I didn't also admit that I have a pretty sizable library of cast albums & show tunes, which I'll also shuffle through like any other playlist. The last album I bought was Skerryvore's Tempus that came out last week, the only concert I've been to as neither a friend nor a worker was Billy Joel. I think the Waterboys might be my most 'any context, any mood' safe to put on in the background to vibe with w/o getting distracted, especially Fisherman's Blues. When I'm not looking to listen to something very specific, the only deterrent from putting my entire library on shuffle is the fact that random Big Finish audio tracks will play if I do that.
So I think the friends who've called it 'eclectic' were being generous, but I also don't have any better descriptors to offer up.
2 notes · View notes
synonymroll648 · 2 years
Note
Okay so other than the xavier riddle idea that is currently on the back burner (i can talk about it more if you want idk if i've told you i know i rambled to tobi though) and the scioly fedex au that i'm currently almost done with chapter 2 of (!!!), I had yet another idea while in the shower.
So circa halloween 2020, my mom had an idea to take my grandparents and my aunt/uncle/cousin on her side on a virtual cruise because we'd done an actual cruise the two years before but then covid and yeah. We called it squishmallow cruises and well it's expanded to squishmallow tours (road trips) and squishmallow resorts (cottage) but that's not super important.
Anyway we've had 3 cruises and 1 tour since with another tour scheduled for this winter break and a vague idea of one for spring break.
Then my brain pretty much goes "hey what if you used that as a fanfic?" so it'd have a chapter for each day the kotlc crew are on the cruise/tour and like Dex (because i project on to dex) and Sophie? (Because human) or Fitz? (Because he's a nerd like that. I think he would know geography) and everybody else would be unwilling participants.
Not sure which one of our cruises i'd go with but i'd go with one i already have in my google drive instead of making another one just for this. Cause i've got
Caribbean 1 - board in Ft. lauderdale, florida-> st. Penelope (squishmallow cruises' fictional private island in the bahamas) -> us virgin islands -> st. Kitts and nevis -> turks and caicos -> at sea (tea party) -> ft. Lauderdale. Overall quality was real bad because first attempt.
Caribbean 2 - board in Ft. Lauderdale -> usvi -> st. Lucia -> curaçao -> aruba -> at sea -> ft. Lauderdale. I don't have an immediate counterpoint to this one
Alaska - board in seattle -> at sea -> juneau -> skagway -> glacier bay national park (scenic cruising) -> ketchikan -> victoria (british colombia, canada). This is where we started adding youtube videos to our slide presentations for each of our excursion and it's the one i'm probably most familiar with
Ireland (tour) - this one's gonna be too difficult to list but basically fly into shannon, stay in ennis, stay in galway, then up to giants causeway, stay just south of dublin, then down and over to killarney and stay there before going back to shannon to fly home. This one was shortened to 3 days because we didn't want to do a whole week but it certainly deserved it
(Winter break) Italy (tour) - pisa, siena (tea party), rome, panicale (squishmallow cooking channel-hey i could do something with fitz's baking), florence, and back to pisa to fly home. The only problem is that this isn't finished and i haven't lived through it that much and i don't have any slides
(Spring break...maybe) Scandinavia & baltic - copenhagen, aarhus, berlin, at sea, tallinn, helsinki, stockholm, copenhagen and go home. Unless i want until next summer for this i won't be doing this one for similar reasons as above
why i knew so much about alaska/british colombia with keefe's house location on the canon map, should make sense now. The itineraries were probably unnecessary but *shrug*
Idk if it'll happen considering the rate of the scioly au that'll only slow down more once the scioly season starts and i've got cyberpatriot starting monday so idk we'll see. It's not like someone else can take this one off my hands though. All the slides for the excursions live comfortably in my google drive and i'd rather not let my mom know that i write fanfic by sharing it with someone and the email notif pops up on her phone. I already almost broke the system by sending a word tracker google sheet to swan i'm not making that mistake again
Idk if this idea makes any sense and i haven't really given it much thought but hey we're suffering together :)
we sure are suffering together in the too-many-fic-ideas department, my dude. we are tired office workers banging our heads against our desks at how much paperwork (ideas) are piling up. but reading through this file was interesting! even if my geography-dunce brain didn't understand some of the specifics super well. (also, you're right, your extensive knowledge on british columbia and alaska makes more sense now.) also, that part about accidentally notifying your mom that you're a fic writer - mood. biiiiig mood.
my only question with this fun idea is whether or not the kotlc kids are going to all these places irl or doing virtual tours like you did. because that definitely changes up how the story plays out. i would say i'd give you ideas if you need them, but you're far more familiar with geography and virtual tours than i am. but i'm here anyway! to listen if you need me to!
7 notes · View notes