tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37646521911998537342024-02-18T19:35:07.033-08:00it is well with my soulLauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-48760450246015752852014-08-15T23:24:00.001-07:002014-08-17T20:02:40.049-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I just got back from one of the best trips of my life! I'm surprised my face doesn't hurt because it seems like all I've been doing for the past two weeks is laughing and smiling! Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in a whitewater kayaking adventure with an awesome organization called <a href="https://firstdescents.org/who-we-are/">First Descents</a>. The program "offers young adult cancer survivors a free outdoor adventure experience designed to empower them to climb, paddle, and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives, and connect with others doing the same."<br />
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I flew into Spokane, WA, where I met up with the group, then drove for about three hours through Idaho and into Tarkio, MT. There were twelve participants and about 13 others (FD leaders, camp moms, chefs (thats right, we had our own chefs!), a photographer, and kayaking instructors). On the drive over, we each got assigned a camp nickname. I was sharing about all of my travels this summer and somehow the name "Manx" stuck as my nickname. The lodge we stayed at was gorgeous and located on the shore of the Clark Fork of the Columbia River. My roommate "Radish" and I had the privilege of sharing the caboose: an old train car that had been converted into a camping space. It got a little toasty in there at times, but was a fun adventure nonetheless!<br />
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We started kayaking Monday morning and I felt really unstable, was horrible at steering, and flipped over twice. It was terrifying at first and doubts filled my head. <i>What if I flip over and can't get out? What if I hit my head on a rock? What if I'm not strong enough to paddle for very long?</i> But our instructors were amazing and extremely helpful. By that afternoon, all my fears were gone. The first thing they taught us was how to escape if we flipped over. They taught us how to maintain stability and to gain better control of our kayaks. After only one day of learning, we were all a hundred times better than that morning. It was gratifying to experience so much improvement so quickly. <br />
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On Tuesday, we began learning how to use our paddles to roll ourselves upright if we flipped over. It was/is extremely difficult, but invigorating when I got it right! I am incredibly grateful for the patience and willingness of our instructors to teach us how to kayak! They were absolutely amazing! We spent the rest of the week practicing our rolls, going through rapids, and simply enjoying the river and one another's company.<br />
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In the afternoons and evenings, we hung out around the gorgeous lodge, talking, eating, laughing, and playing games together. This was a group of truly amazing people! Everyone was positive, accepting, and encouraging to one another. And on top of that, we had an awful lot of fun! I'm not sure I've ever laughed so much in my life! <br />
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We had a campfire after dinner each night. We spent time sharing stories from the week and opening up to one another about our experiences with cancer. We talked about the river as a metaphor for life and shared all the lessons we could learn from it. Each campfire concluded with giving awards to one another. I was awarded the pink wig for being "genuine, caring, and cheerful" (thanks, Tiny!).<br />
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I had so much fun and enjoyed every minute of it! It seems like I could write a ton about the week but, seeing as "a picture is worth a thousand words," I figured these photos may paint a better picture of what the week was like.<br />
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While I was sick and going through chemotherapy, I got used to staying home and being by myself. I'd grown to be much more introverted than before. But I used to be outgoing; I used to be adventurous; I used to be energetic. Somehow I lost those aspects of myself. But this week truly rekindled the adventurous spirit that I had before I got sick. I re-learned the resilience and strength of my own body. Each morning I thought to myself, <i>I'm too tired for this; I don't have enough energy or strength to go kayaking for six hours! </i> But then I did it and somehow, amidst the spending of my physical energy, I was energized emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. This experience restored a part of myself that I hadn't even realized I'd lost and I am incredibly grateful! I learned so much about myself, others, and life in general and am so thankful to everyone that was a part of this experience!<br />
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xoxo<br />
Lauren<br />
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P.S. Thanks to everyone who let me use their photos!!</div>
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P.P.S. I took some video footage on my go pro and will be sure to post some of it soon!</div>
Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-38322865053740144722014-06-26T18:47:00.002-07:002014-06-26T21:34:28.566-07:00I got back from Costa Rica on sunday. We spent a week in Tamarindo working at Capilla del Calvario de Villareal (Calvary Chapel Villa Real). There were seven of us total: Amy, Christina, Haley, James, Jared, Vanessa, and me. We left early monday morning, had a five-hour layover in Houston, TX, and made it to Liberia, Costa Rica around 8:00 that night.<br />
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On tuesday, wednesday, and thursday morning, we worked at the church. We pulled weeds, helped with landscaping, and turned over the fallow ground in preparation for planting grass seed. I also did some filing and painting. The work wasn't very difficult, but it was so incredibly hot and humid that we constantly needed breaks. But we seemed to get a lot of work done. I hope it was a blessing to them.<br />
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We ate our lunches at the home of Don Victor, one of the church's elders. Lunch usually consisted of rice, beans, some type of meat, plantains, and a fresh fruit juice. It sounds plain, but everything was extremely flavorful. It was delicious, especially after a morning of working in the heat.<br />
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After lunch, we usually headed back to our hotel for a rest and maybe some swimming or a shower. We got smoothies most days for 1,200 mil colones, or about $2.40. I discovered my new favorite fruit: the guanabana! It's called soursop in other cultures and I'd heard of it before because it's thought to be able to cure cancer. This was the first time I'd tried it and I loved it! Jared and I have been trying to describe what it tastes like and have compared it to all sorts of things: coconut, pineapple, strawberry, lemon; and it's really creamy. I had it every day in smoothies, as ice cream, or as juice. I'm going to try to find it at home because I loved it so much!<br />
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On tuesday, wednesday, and thursday afternoons we went back to the church to help with their children's ministry. We played games with the kids, gave them guitar lessons and english lessons, and did a little skit with them about the battle of Jericho. It was really fun and the kids were adorable!<br />
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In the evenings, we went back to Tamarindo for dinner. We usually got ice cream and went swimming. We also had a few nights of worship and prayer.<br />
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On friday morning, Costa Rica played Italy in the World Cup. We went over to Don Victor's house to watch it along with a lot of people from the church. There were nearly 20 people gathered around the tv. Costa Rica scored one goal and when they did, everyone went crazy cheering, singing, hugging, and jumping up and down. It was as if they'd all just won the lottery! Costa Rica won the game, which means they've made it through to the second round for the first time in twenty-four years. People were cheering and celebrating all day and all night. It was definitely an experience I'll never forget!<br />
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On thursday and friday after lunch, we walked around a couple neighborhoods inviting people to church and asking if they need any prayer. It was difficult because of the language barrier, so I let the spanish speakers do most of the talking. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming, and most said they'd attend the church.<br />
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After that, all of our work was done. We worked hard, then we played hard. We spent about six hours in the pool on friday evening. We all got pretty silly and had a lot of fun. On saturday morning, Corey and Eddie (from the church in Villareal) took us to a beach called "Little Hawaii." We drove for about a half hour and parked in the jungle. We then went down a little pathway that eventually turned into a walkway of wooden planks surrounded by a marsh. The gray spindly branches grew up above the bridge, leaving an archway to walk through, It was unlike anything I've ever seen before. The walkway went for quite awhile, then ended in a grove of trees on the edge of the beach. We walked along the beach toward a good spot to sit where the waves were good for surfing. We had to cross the deep, rushing outlet of a river, which just added to the adventure. A few of us got smoothies from a nearby resort. We stayed at the beach for a couple hours, playing in the waves and surfing. It was gorgeous with white sand and turquoise water.<br />
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After the beach, we went back to the hotel and hung out in the pool for a couple more hours. We had a sunset dinner on the beach with all of our friends from the church. We ate banana cream pie to celebrate Amy's 30th birthday! After dinner we (of course) went back into the pool.<br />
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We left early on sunday morning, had an eight-hour layover in Houston, and finally made it home to San Diego around 9:00pm. Nothing really glamorous happened, but we worked hard, tried to serve the church, and overall had a great trip. My least favorite parts were the heat, humidity, and bugs. My favorite parts were playing the with kids, experiencing the World Cup excitement, and spending time with the rest of the team. Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers! Pura vida!Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-67108160848133026892014-06-15T21:46:00.001-07:002014-06-15T21:46:23.934-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tomorrow I embark on another journey. This one is not a vacation, but a mission trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Our team of seven will be serving alongside Calvary Chapel Villa Real. Our goal is to bless Pastor Phil McKay and his wife Rebecca, and to help serve their church in any way possible. Please keep our team in prayer as we seek to serve God and the people of Tamarindo in this way. Pray that the Lord will fill us with His Spirit. Pray that God will use us and work through us to bless the people of Costa Rica. Pray that hearts will be moved and lives will be transformed. We know God has called each of us to go on this trip and we trust that He is going to do incredible things! So pray and stay tuned!<br />
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-8773051375839747302014-06-15T19:07:00.002-07:002014-06-15T19:07:58.998-07:00Days 21 & 22We spent some time shopping in Edinburgh, taking advantage of our last opportunity to visit some British stores. We ate lunch at a Scottish comfort food diner called Mums. We then drove to Glasgow where we caught our one-hour flight back to Dublin. By the time our flight got in it was almost 8:00pm. We ate dinner at a Thai restaurant in Malahide Village, an area on the shore with a ton of restaurants. By the time we finished dinner, it was pretty late and we were all tired from the trip, so we went to our B&B and went straight to bed.<br />
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In the morning, we ate breakfast at our B&B, then went straight to the airport. We stayed closed to the airport on purpose, so the drive was only five minutes. We flew from Dublin to Philly, where we had a two-hour layover. We said goodbye to Kevin, who flew in to LAX, and my parents and I took our flight home to San Diego. It was a gorgeous trip, but a long one and by day 22, I was sick, tired, and glad to be home.<br />
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<br />Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-65272042967695335902014-06-15T14:26:00.001-07:002014-06-15T14:26:45.813-07:00Day 20We spent this day in Edinburgh. It's a gorgeous city with beautiful old buildings everywhere you look. We started off at Edinburgh Castle, which was old and beautiful, just like the castle we visited the day before. The best part of this castle was a well curated exhibit about the crown jewels of Scotland, which had been lost for hundreds of years. It ended with our own glimpse of the jewels.<div>
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We then visited the camera obscura, which was the highlight of my day. It's located at the top of an 8-story building and was built in the 1800s. It uses a small mirror to reflect an image of the city through three lenses on to a table in the center of a dark room. The mirror can be turned, offering 360-degree views of the city below. It was amazing! The rest of the museum was filled with all sorts of weird things: holograms, optical illusions, zoetropes, a mirror maze, and much more. It was a lot of fun and made us all feel like kids again.</div>
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After getting lunch, we walked to a cozy used book store. We spent a little while browsing and I bought an old copy of <i>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</i> by Jules Verne. My parents went off to do some touristy things, so Kevin and I went into a few little shops before making our way to Elephant House. It's the busy coffee shop where J. K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book. Kevin and I got coffee and a snack, then sat down to read our books. The shop was packed with Harry Potter fans and people were constantly taking pictures. My favorite part was the bathroom. Harry Potter lovers had scribbled comments all over the walls. One person wrote on the toilet seat, "JK's toilet! She once sat here!" and another fan wrote in response, "OMG!!!" Overall, I really enjoyed Edinburgh and would love the chance to spend some more time there!</div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-43648528995280654262014-06-15T14:03:00.000-07:002014-06-15T14:03:10.140-07:00Day 19We ate breakfast at our castle-manor-house-hotel, then headed into town to an old used book shop we had seen the night before. The store was amazing! It had previously been a large church, but was now completely full of books. It had a large wood-burning fireplace in the middle and a spiral staircase leading upstairs to more books and a cafe. It also had a lot of vintage prints of various things including castles, fairies, story book illustrations, and botanical prints. We spent several hours there and could have browsed even longer.<br />
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We then headed toward Edinburgh with plans to stop by Stirling Castle on the way. We got a little bit lost, but finally made it. At the castle, we saw a woman re-creating one of the beautiful tapestries that would have hung in the castle. We saw the palace and the chapel and the great banqueting hall. Its amazing to imagine what life would have been like for the kings and queens living there thousands of years ago.<br />
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-73373695394161582372014-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:002014-06-14T18:30:02.454-07:00Day 18We took our time in the morning with eating breakfast, packing up, and saying goodbye to Gilbert and George (the two donkeys). We then drove a few hours to Loch Ness, stopping again on the way to take some more photos of Eileen Donan Castle. When we got to Loch Ness, we went to the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre. The museum gave a good history of the situation and really left it up to you to decide if you believe in Nessy or not. I was amazed to learn about the many efforts to patrol and monitor the loch in search of her. I was also interested to learn that Loch Ness holds enough water to cover all the people in the world three times over. No wonder its been so difficult to search the entire thing! We spent a little while gazing out in search of her, but to no avail. Maybe next time...<br />
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We got lunch in Inverness and then spent some time shopping. It seemed like a really awesome little city and I wish we would have been able to spend some more time there. We stayed at Bunchrew House, which my Mom described as a castle-manor-house-thing. And that's exactly what it was: a large castle-shaped pink house. We decided to have a leisurely evening playing board games in the lounge. Then I headed to bed early, as I was feeling pretty sick.<br />
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-67444292782577817732014-06-14T18:08:00.003-07:002014-06-14T18:08:59.496-07:00Day 17This day, we took a 2 1/2 hour hike up to a famous rock formation called The Old Man of Storr. The entire hike was beautiful and offered views of the mountains, water, and nearby islands. Standing between the cliffside and the 535-meter tall "old man rock" left me in awe.<div>
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"The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness."</div>
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- John Piper</div>
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After our hike, we drove around the Trottenish Peninsula, enjoying the stunning views. We then got dinner and spent some time relaxing at the farm, tired after two days of hiking.</div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-77662606370161120422014-06-14T17:55:00.001-07:002014-06-14T17:55:42.732-07:00Day 16We ate a hearty breakfast in our little shepherd huts, then set off on an hour drive through hillsides, mountains, and valleys, past waterfalls, cliffs, and grazing sheep to the trailhead for the fairy pools. We met a nice gentleman in the parking lot who let us use some of his midge repellant. Everyone we talked to was really concerned about the midges, tiny flying bugs that swarm and bite. However, I only got one bite the entire time and it barely hurt. It was much less painful than a mosquito bite, so I'm not too sure what the big deal is. Nevertheless, we all put on some repellant and were ready to hit the trail. We hiked up a valley alongside a rocky riverbed filled with a crystal-clear river. Along the way are tons of waterfalls and several beautiful clear blue pools, one with an underwater archway. The entire hike was stunning. Unfortunately, I was starting to come down with a bad cold so, after about two hours of hiking, Dad and I headed back to the car while Mom and Kevin continued on.<br />
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After hiking, we drove back to the shepherd huts to take a nap before dinner. When we got out of the car, Kevin noticed a hissing noise: a hole in one of the tires. Luckily, he was able to get it plugged and we didn't have any more problems with it.<br />
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-68787372026499057192014-06-10T21:53:00.000-07:002014-06-10T21:53:40.304-07:00Day 15In the morning, we walked around the tiny town of Luss. It's a small picturesque village of quaint thatched-roofed cottages with beautiful flourishing gardens. My Mom loved it; Kevin was bored; my Dad disappeared, taking photos in an old church cemetery. The tension between my parents' desire for scenic activities and Kevin's need for adventure usually resolves in my favor with a good balance between the two. So after going in a few shops, we began our journey toward the Isle of Skye.<br />
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The drive rendered Scotland just as I'd remembered it. We travelled on a tiny road at the bottom of vast valleys dwarfed by beautiful mountainsides. I visited the area as a birthday trip in october of 2009 and thought it to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I was now filled with excitement to share the experience with my family. We made our way through "Rest and Be Well" Pass, past Eileen Donan Castle, over the bridge, on to the Isle of Skye, and to our home for the next three days: a homestead complete with cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, donkeys, and two small "shepherd huts." Each hut was just big enough to fit a bed, a sink, and a small wood-burning fireplace. My parents stayed in one and Kevin and I stayed in the other, with just enough room for him to sleep on the floor. It was a really nice change from the hotels we'd been in and an experience we'll never forget!<br />
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-17009361948111014262014-06-09T22:10:00.001-07:002014-06-09T22:10:50.009-07:00Day 14This was our last day in Ireland. Luckily, we had time for a couple of stops on our way to the airport. We got coffee in the little town of Banbridge, where my Mom's grandfather came from.<br />
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We then visited Newgrange, a strange large circular prehistoric monument. It was built around 3200BC, meaning its older than the pyramids and certainly the oldest thing I've ever seen! We took a bus to the site and listened to information from our guide before waiting our turn to go inside the monument. The inside of the tomb is perfectly aligned with the sun and remains in complete darkness all year, except for during sunrise of the winter solstice. While there is no agreement about what the site was used for, its engineering and construction proves it was of great importance. The giant 4-ton stones used in construction were transported over 20 kilometers in a time before the invention of the wheel. The site had an eerie feeling about it and remains a mystery.<br />
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Our tour of Newgrange fit perfectly into our schedule. From there, we drove straight to the airport for our flight to Glasgow, Scotland. Once in Glasgow, we got a rental car and headed toward the little town of Luss on the shore of Loch Lomond. While I enjoyed the bright green farmland of Ireland, I simply love the landscape of Scotland with its deep green trees and rugged, wild mountains and was excited to explore it.Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-66672873292829472822014-06-09T18:04:00.001-07:002014-06-09T18:04:37.243-07:00Day 13This was the best day ever! And it was a long one. We woke up at 5:30am per Kevin's insistence. We drove two hours up into Northern Ireland to Giant's Causeway. I wasn't too happy to wake up so early, but I ended up being extremely grateful because we got to Giant's Causeway before it officially opened. Not only did this mean we didn't have to pay to get in, but also that we were the only people there. We walked along the shore until we reached the area where the strange geometric rocks grew out of the ocean. Irish folklore holds that these hexagonal stones are the ruins of an ancient bridge built by a giant and destroyed by his rival. While my parents got their tripods out, focused on getting the perfect picture, I climbed up and over the rocks, simply trying to take in all of the beauty of this place. I was amazed. Even though all the world's territories have been charted, the earth remains laden with the mysteries of God.<br />
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We wandered around the rocks for awhile while other visitors began to slowly trickle in. We continued along the path past a geologic formation nicknamed "the organ" and up into another stunning bay called "the amphitheater." As we headed back to the car, past the Giant's Causeway, we noticed the increasing number of tourists. We were all quite glad to have had the chance to explore with nobody else around.<br />
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We then drove up the coast a little ways to a quaint bistro called The Red Door where we had brunch. The weather was warm, sunny, and clear, so we walked around and took a few pictures. Then we drove down the hill to a strange little harbor called Ballintoy Harbour. It's hard to explain what it looked like: a dozen rocky hills that formed little islands next to a small harbor for fishing boats and a seaside laden with caves. We climbed around and explored a bit before continuing on our way.<br />
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We drove an hour and a half to Belfast. We checked in at our large brick bed & breakfast, then went straight to the new Titanic museum. The exhibit was really well curated and gave a much different perspective than usual. It focused less on the lives of the ship's passengers and more on those who lived in Belfast and helped build the ship. We spent several hours there and I really enjoyed it.<br />
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On our way out of the museum, we noticed a group of strangely-dressed people waiting around outside. We learned they were filming the pilot for a miniseries directed by Ridley Scott and based on the video game Halo. We talked to a few of the extras and watched for awhile before leaving.<br />
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We then jumped in a taxi for a black cab tour of the city. Our driver took us around a protestant area of the city and showed us several paramilitary murals painted in support of the Ulster Freedom Fighters and in memorial to those who had been killed in the fighting, often referred to as "the troubles." He took us to the large wall separating the protestant area from the catholic area. My parents said it reminded them of the Berlin Wall. We then went through the large gate, which is closed each night at dusk, and into the catholic area. We went to a memorial for those who had been killed. We saw several houses backing the wall. Their backyards were enclosed with large metal cages to protect them from whatever might be launched over the wall. I was amazed. I had no idea that this fighting still continues, although it is getting better and the majority of people are not affected. But my heart is broken by the situation. It's a highly political dissension under the guise of religion, but its clear that Jesus isn't in any part of it.<br />
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From there, we wandered into a small, packed restaurant called Hadskis. There were no regular tables available, so we had to sit at the counter. We were upset about it at first, but it turned out to be amazing! We were essentially sitting in the kitchen and were able to watch the kitchen staff's every move. We pointed at different items, asked what they were, asked recommendations from the chefs, and talked to them the entire time. And we soon learned that these weren't just average cooks, but serious chefs, some of whom had traveled the world in pursuit of Michelin-quality training and experience. It doesn't sound that great on paper (or on the internet), but it was an amazing end to an amazing day. By the time we went to bed, we'd been up for about eighteen hours, but it felt like we'd had an entire week's worth of experiences.Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-65980905637652435242014-06-06T17:24:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:04:29.226-07:00Day 12We ate breakfast at our B&B then drove toward Slieve League. We got a little lost on the way, but ended up above a secluded beach surrounded by grassy cliffsides topped with sheep, just grazing away unaware of the beauty around them. This entire trip has been filled to the brim with beauty and today's sunny skies didn't hurt.<br />
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We eventually found our way to the tiny harbor below Slieve League. We boarded a small boat with Captain Paddy and a total of 13 passengers, which exceeded the permitted number on the tiny ship. We embarked on an hour-and-a-half journey on the North Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Slieve League. We were told this area has the tallest sea cliffs in Europe, though I'm not certain of that statement's truth. Regardless, the coastline was extraordinary. The rocky cliffs dwarfed our tiny boat and we could just barely make out an ant-sized hiker atop one of the summits. The water was the calmest ocean I've ever seen, lending a surreal quality to the entire experience.<br />
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After our boat ride, we drove to the top of the cliffs and took some photos. The cliffs looked huge from the bottom, but gazing off from the top and seeing an itsy bitsy boat down below made me realize they were much more enormous than I previously thought.<br />
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We drove through a few towns and enjoyed the gorgeous, colorful landscape on our way back to Donegal. We ate dinner in the restaurant at my parents' castle hotel, then went back to our B&B for a good night's rest after a long, full day.Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-23399170732041834352014-06-06T16:53:00.000-07:002014-06-06T22:04:55.321-07:00Day 11By the time Sunday rolled around, we were all tired out and ready for a low-key day. So we took our time getting ready and packed. Mom planned for us to take a long scenic drive on the way to Donegal, but instead, we decided to spend a leisurely morning in Galway. My parents walked around and went in a few shops while Kevin and I went to a coffee shop for a couple hours. Then we all met up for lunch before heading to Donegal.<br />
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It was a three-hour drive, so we made a few pit stops along the way. We stopped at the ruins of an old Franciscan friary that was founded in the first half of the thirteenth century. Later, we turned off the road to get closer to a distant castle and discovered more beautiful sea cliffs on the way.<br />
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We spent the night in Donegal. My parents stayed at the regal Lough Eske Castle. We were originally all going to stay there, but when Kevin decided to come along on the trip, we had to find somewhere that could accommodate him as well. So the two of us ended up staying at a quaint B&B called Ard Na Breatha. It worked out really well; the women who worked there were extremely friendly and helped us figure out the best things to visit in the region.Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-41193806599646847822014-06-05T13:52:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:05:06.539-07:00Day 10While in Galway, we stayed at a little apartment. This enabled us to do a much-needed load of laundry and to make our own breakfast. After getting ready for the day, we took a half-hour drive to Rossaveal, then a ferry to Inishmore. It's the largest of the three Aran Islands and is only about 3 miles wide by 9 miles long. The island is completely covered in rock with no farmland at all. So the people who settled there thousands of years ago created their own soil through a three-year process of mixing sand from the shore with the seaweed they pulled up from the sea. The process worked and the island became famous for it. During the Irish potato famine, Inishmore was not affected by the potato blight, so people flocked to the island. But today, it has returned to its meager population of 900 people.<br />
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When we got to the island, we jumped on a minibus for a tour, which is the primary way for visitors to see the island. Our driver was quite the character, singing away and telling us funny stories. He brought us to several sites including an ancient monastery that was destroyed during Cromwell's rule and Dun Aonghasa, a prehistoric fort built on the edge of a 330-foot high cliff. We ate lunch at a thatched-roofed cafe along the way. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After the minibus tour, we had coffee and dessert at a little cafe, then took the ferry back to the mainland. It was an interesting island and I enjoyed it overall, but w</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">e were all a bit grumpy and the freezing, windy, rainy weather didn't help much. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I think we'd all gotten a little tired out and were ready for a change of pace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Back in Galway, we had Chinese food for dinner, which was a nice change from all the hearty pub food we'd been eating. We stopped in an arcade on the way back from dinner and Kevin and Dad played a game of pool. We got ice cream bars, headed back to our apartment, and played our board game before getting to bed.</span></div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-81721357940508700322014-06-05T13:38:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:05:20.974-07:00Day 9We ate breakfast at our B&B again, then packed our bags and headed out. We drove north to Talbert where we took a short car ferry across the Shannon River and into County Clare. From there, we drove to a little town where we ate lunch at a busy pub. The waitress asked our plans for the day and we told her we were going to visit the Cliffs of Moher. She suggested we drive in the opposite direction to a set of cliffs that are just as beautiful, but completely unvisited. So we did just that. We drove west on tiny roads through what seemed like endless farmland until we reached the sea. We drove around a little bend and suddenly all said "wow..." in unison. The view was breathtaking. The road looked out over cliffsides in both directions, jagged rocks below, a large cliffy island ahead, and lush green fields behind. The entire scene was freckled with tiny pink wildflowers. So Kevin pulled the car over and we all got out. Kevin took off, climbing down the rocks toward the sea. I followed him about halfway and found a ledge to sit on. Like everywhere we've been in Ireland, it was extremely windy, but the sun was shining and the view was so beautiful it didn't matter. We stayed there awhile, climbing and exploring and taking photos, then resumed our journey to the Cliffs of Moher.<br />
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The famous cliffs were spectacular, rising 700 feet from the ocean. They're the same ones used as "the cliffs of insanity" in <i>The Princess Bride</i>. People come from all over the world to see them and the area was full of tourists. But the sun disappeared behind the clouds and the icy wind numbed my hands. I took a few photos, then found refuge and coffee in the visitor center before heading back on the road. I'm glad we visited them, but was also happy to have had our own stunning private cliff experience. </div>
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From there, we headed to Galway, by way of "The Burren," meaning "great rock." This region of County Clare is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe. The barren limestone landscape seemed surreal, especially after driving through endless fields of green.</div>
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We finally made it to Galway. Its one of Ireland's largest cities, with a picturesque town center full of little shops and restaurants. For dinner, we snuggled into The Pie Maker, a tiny restaurant just big enough to squeeze in three tables. It had a cozy, quirky decor with a copper ceiling, a tea kettle chandelier, a giant old world map, little nicknacks everywhere, and one wall completely covered with rulers. We each ate our own mini pie; mine was chicken curry. For dessert, Kevin and I split a mini apple pie and a mini banoffee pie, a delicious treat that I've missed since my semester in London. This was definitely my favorite meal of the trip so far.</div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-42335146005275366562014-06-05T11:52:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:05:33.735-07:00Day 8We ate breakfast this morning at our B&B. I had a delicious veggie omelette. Vivienne, the caretaker, was able to give Kevin a brochure for a place in town that rents bicycles. So after breakfast, he walked into town and rented one. We then all set out for the Dingle Peninusla, Kevin on a bike and the rest of us in the car. We took the Slea Head Drive, a 30-mile circular route around the entire Peninusla. The drive was beautiful, but very cold, rainy, and windy. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We stopped along the way to sip coffee by a fire and later for some lunch. We hiked up to one of the many beehive huts, properly called Clochans. They are round huts made of stone, dating back to the 12th century. We also stopped several times to take photos of the beautiful rugged cliffs. At one of our stops, I hiked out to a large jagged rock that juts out over the ocean, Dad yelling at me to "be careful" the entire time. We passed Kevin a few times along the way. His bike got a flat tire so someone had to bring him a new one, which delayed him nearly an hour. He seemed to enjoy the journey, but was exhausted by the time it was over. I was tired too, so we both took a long afternoon nap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Vivienne made us dinner reservations at a Michelin-rated restaurant called The Chart House. I had a salad with melon, cashews, and a duck wonton, followed by a lentil, tomato, and sweet potato strudel, then a cup of coffee to finish things off. It was delicious and the Michelin rating well deserved. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We then went to O'Sullivan's Courthouse Pub for traditional music. I got a baileys and cream, which tasted dangerously similar to ice cream. But hey, when in Rome (or Dingle), right?</span></div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-69309306140035848992014-06-04T11:55:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:05:48.819-07:00Day 7We ate breakfast at a cute little café near our hotel. I've noticed that the menus in Ireland are a lot simpler than what I'm used to back home. I ordered eggs and bacon with toast. Luckily, the majority of places in Ireland have gluten-free bread, which has been wonderful! I've also noticed that most cafés don't serve brewed coffee, but only have espresso, so I've been drinking a lot of cappuccinos and americanos.<br />
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After breakfast, we packed up and headed out for Dingle, a tiny town on the west coast in County Kerry. We read online that the drive could take up to seven hours depending on traffic, so were relieved when it only took us about four and a half hours. This was my first time seeing the Irish countryside, and the view was stunning. It was just as I'd expected: bright green hills as far as the eye could see, sheep and cows grazing on endless fields, and perfect weather of blue skies and little white fluffy clouds. The scene was so picturesque it looked fake. Regardless, it was a long drive and I was restless by the end.</div>
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When we got to Dingle, we took advantage of the perfect weather by walking along the marina and through the town, taking pictures along the way. We ate dinner at Doyle's, then headed across the street to a little pub. Dingle is known for its traditional folk music and most of the pubs around town were "chock-o-block," meaning jammed packed. We finally found a table in one and ordered drinks. It felt a little strange to sit in a pub and drink a pint with my parents, but seemed like a classic Irish experience nonetheless.</div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-79849762855156115192014-05-28T13:13:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:12:20.290-07:00Day 5We started our day at the Manx Museum in Douglas. We learned a bit about the history of the Isle of Man, then went to the museum's heritage center. The attendant was extremely helpful and pulled out a huge sheet of paper, about 2 feet wide and 3 feet long, with our family tree dating all the way back to 1487.<br />
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We then drove to the town of Rushen to explore the Rushen Castle. It was built in 871, though substantial construction continued throughout the 16th century. It served as the home of many Kings and Lords of Man, as the royal court and treasury, and for some time as a prison. A few prison records were displayed, including the record of a prisoner named William Kewley who was imprisoned on September 4th, 1835 "for deserting his masters." The charges were brought by John Green, but he dropped them a year later and William was set free.</div>
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From Rushen, we drove to Port St. Mary's where we ate lunch, then headed south. We happened to drive through Cregneash, an idyllic folk village with thatch-roofed cottages and roosters roaming the streets. Because it's so picturesque, several scenes from <i>Waking Ned Divine</i> were filmed there. We, of course, had to get out and take some photos.</div>
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We then drove back down to the Calf of Man. My parents used this as an opportunity to exercise their photography passion, while Kevin and I hiked around a bit. I hiked down to a tiny rocky cove with crystal clear water and a stunning view of the cliffs across the shore. It started raining, so we headed back to Douglas. Once in town, we ate dinner, took a walk in the pouring rain, played a board game, then went to bed.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">Day 6</span></div>
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We got up early, ate breakfast at our hotel, then drove straight to the airport. Unfortunately, our time on the Isle of Man was already over. It was a beautiful island, and I was sad to leave it. We took the half-hour flight back to Dublin. We ate lunch at a tiny cafe, then Kevin and I left our parents, who wanted to take a tour of an old jail. We, on the other hand, were ready for some down time. We wanted to explore Dublin and get an experience we would have if we lived there: hanging out in a coffee shop. So we headed to 3FE, a coffee shop Kevin's friend recommended to us. We camped out there for a couple hours, which enabled me to journal and him to read. It was nice to relax a little and do something normal instead of touring around. Afterwards, we walked around Dublin and went into a few shops. We ate a delicious (and huge) dinner at Elephant and Castle, then headed back to our hotel for a good night's sleep.</div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-60058373100824485502014-05-25T13:51:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:08:50.897-07:00Day 4We slept in on Sunday morning; the extra sleep was much needed. We ate breakfast in Douglas and walked around the town a little bit. The city is a lot more urban than expected, despite its meager population of 28,000. Walking around, we noticed everything was closed and only a few people were out, perhaps because it was Sunday morning.<br />
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Again, we drove north to the town of Laxey, but this time we stopped at the Laxey Wheel, the largest working waterwheel in the world. It was built in 1854 and designed to pump water out of the area's many mineshafts. It's truly an engineering feat and if I could explain its workings to you, I would. We climbed the narrow spiral staircase to the top and could see all the surrounding towns and out to the sea. We also went into one of the mineshafts. At its peak, the mine employed over 600 miners, primarily producing lead, copper, silver, and zinc. I can't begin to imagine what life would have been like for a miner working here over 150 years ago.</div>
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Next, we drove a few miles north and parked the car on the street near the trailhead for Dhoon Glen. It is the steepest glen in the Isle of Man and runs over half a mile through a wooded valley that follows a stream, along with several waterfalls, all the way to the shore. What I read about it online said the main path "meanders through a dense canopy of trees," but it turned out to be a legitimate hike with 190 stairs to the bottom (and consequently, 190 stairs back up to the top). It was a little more intense than expected, but definitely worth it! There were small waterfalls the entire way and one large one falling 130 feet, called Ineen Vooar, Manx for "Big Girl." And we chose the perfect time to visit because there was a rainbow of wildflowers blossoming all around. It was definitely one of the most beautiful hikes I've ever been on.</div>
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From there we headed to the town of Ramsey for lunch, then in to Lezayre, the parish where our ancestors are from. We have an old drawing of Kirk Christ Trinity Church where our ancestors attended church, and just happened to recognize it from the road. We got out of the car to take pictures just as the neighbors, a farmer and his wife whose fields surround the church, set out to take their dogs on a walk. We asked them about the church and they told us it closed last year because not enough people attended to keep it running. The bishop wants to have it torn down, but the farmers, named Julian and Virginia Edwards, are trying to save it and offered to care for it. They were married in the church and all of their children were baptized there. They asked if we had gone inside and when we said "no," Julian went home to get the keys for us. He let us in and showed us around. It's a simple church with skinny stained-glass windows and wooden pews. It was surreal to know that we stood in the same building where our ancestors got baptized and married, prayed, and dedicated themselves to God hundreds of years before us. Time just keeps rolling on. </div>
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Afterward, we thanked Julian and Virginia, then looked around the church's cemetery. We found several Kewleys, but we're not sure which ones are our direct relatives. The majority of them were named William or John, so it's hard to tell who's who. There was a monument to all of the men of the parish who died in World War I, including Alfred Kewley. His tombstone revealed that he was killed at Galipoli. It's weird to think that someday I might return to that cemetery to teach my own children about their heritage.</div>
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From there, we drove to the northernmost point of the island, called the Point of Ayre. It was a large shore covered in small stones. We could see across the sea to Scotland on the other side. There were two red and white lighthouses to keep safe any ships that might pass by. </div>
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The Isle of Man's claim to fame, besides Manx cats and being the filming location of the movie <i>Waking Ned Divine</i>, is the TT, the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. We drove back to Douglas, but down the island's west coast, through several little towns, and on much of the TT course, which was most enjoyed by Kevin, who's done all of the driving on the trip. The island's climate is extremely varied with everything from mountains and forests to lush rolling hills to rugged cliffs and stony shores. I've truly never seen anything like it before and think I'm in love.</div>
Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-49245318305793315522014-05-25T11:43:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:09:07.809-07:00Day 3We woke up at 5:00 am to get ready and head to the airport for our flight to the Isle of Man. It's a small island (221 square miles) in the Irish Sea, halfway between Ireland and Scotland. It's also where my ancestors and the name 'Kewley' come from. The flight from Dublin was only a half hour. It was a rare sunny, blue-skied day, enabling us to see an amazing view of the island from the air. After we landed, we picked up our rental car and headed to "Ellan Vannin Hotel," which is Manx for "Isle of Man Hotel." It's located on the promenade in the capital city of Douglas. The street runs along Douglas Bay and is lined by Victorian row houses. The streets are illuminated by seemingly endless strands of round bulb lights. In the middle of the bay is a tiny island with a perfect little castle on it, called the Tower of Refuge. It was built to aid shipwreck survivors until aid arrived. It's a beautifully picturesque city.<br />
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After checking in to our hotel, we headed north toward Laxey, but stopped along the way at a "boot sale" on the side of the road. It was sort of like a swap meet where everyone parked in rows and opened up their trunks (or "boots") and sold goods out of the back. Kevin bought a few old Manx postcards for 50p each. I didn't buy anything, but had fun looking around and seeing what locals do on their weekends.</div>
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We ate lunch in the town of Laxey and planned on taking the train from there to Snaefell, the tallest mountain on the island. Unfortunately, the train lines were down, so we drove toward the mountain and parked halfway up. We then hiked from there to the summit. It was much steeper than I expected and was extremely windy. But it was worth it. The views from the top were extraordinary. Actually, the views the entire way up we're amazing. It's said that you can see seven kingdoms from the top: Mann, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, the seas, and the heavens. I had a latte and a slice of gluten-free clementine cake at the summit restaurant before hiking back down.</div>
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From there, we drove west toward Peel. The drive was gorgeous. I heard about this little island of my ancestors my entire life and it was strange to actually be there. Regardless of hearing about it, I hadn't formed any expectations about what it would look like, so I was amazed by its beauty. It rains an average of 140 days a year, so everything is green and lush. The area we drove through is mostly farmland, covered in rolling hills of bright green grass freckled with cows, sheep, and horses. The fields are all separated by hedges, most of them bushes covered in bright yellow flowers.</div>
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When we arrived in Peel, we headed to Peel Castle, which was originally constructed by Vikings in the 11th century. It stands on St. Patrick's Isle and is fortified by a large wall all the way around. The isle is attached to the town by a small causeway with a little beach on one side and the harbor on the other. We walked all the way around on a small path that runs between the wall and the grassy cliffs that head into the sea. Green moss covered the rocks and tiny pink and white windflowers sprung up through the grass. After walking around the castle, we went into town for some necessary ice cream. </div>
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We then drove south to the Calf Sound, a small straight and the bottom of the island. On the other side is a tiny island, not even one square mile, called the Calf of Man. It's covered in fields of wild bluebells. The Calf is a bird sanctuary and we read that puffins live there, although I didn't see any. If I ever make it back here, I'd love to take a boat over to the Calf and explore.</div>
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-3760264466734438182014-05-21T08:10:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:09:30.557-07:00Days 1 & 2My parents and I left our house at 9:00 am on Thursday morning and flew from San Diego to Philadelphia, where we had a two-hour layover and an additional hour-and-a-half flight delay. From there, we flew to Dublin, Ireland. By the time we landed, it was 10:00 am on Friday morning. Once we arrived, we hit the ground running. My brother Kevin flew in one day earlier, so we met up with him and headed to the Temple Bar area to find some lunch. We took the Luas, which is Dublin's light-rail system.<br />
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After lunch, we headed to Trinity College to see The Book of Kells, an Irish medieval manuscript containing the four gospels in Latin along with beautiful, intricate illustrations. It is believed to have been produced by monks sometime around 800AD on the island of Iona. It was amazing to see something so old and so beautiful, but what I enjoyed even more was the old library above. The collection was founded in 1592 and the old library, which was celebrating its 300th birthday, holds over 200,000 of the collection's oldest books. It houses two stories of symmetrical floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a beautiful vaulted ceiling. I would love to spend some time browsing the books in the old library, but unfortunately, they're off limits to tourists.<br />
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Next, we walked to St. Patrick's Cathedral. A church has stood on the site since the fourth century, and the one there now was built in the thirteenth century. It was absolutely gorgeous and reminded me a bit of Westminster Abbey, with its luminous stained glass windows and tributes to the great saints who lived before us. We then walked through the city and past Christchurch Cathedral on our way back to the hotel.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijteth9kXW2xgmOK7m3fwpOYKs3T7NuRz5dkQIORs3m9cmCJ4lDDQUBZJtaMkV-NAtjgsf3VOkGGGCRzwWdcjbCcen8zvM0xKK8OODcm0dh8bH9SxOAr_pU0wknQ0SAfWo4x5n3EmXQBI/s640/blogger-image-8551617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></a>
We called a taxi to bring us out for dinner. All of our taxi drivers have been remarkably talkative and friendly, but the one on this occasion is by far my favorite driver. Ireland has their elections coming up soon and a few key figures have recently resigned, so we discussed this with him. He told us, "politicians are a bit like putting on a fresh pair of trousers; after you've got them for six months, you realize they're full of shit." There's never a dull moment when talking to an Irish taxi driver!</span></span></div>
<br />
We ate dinner at a traditional Irish pub in Temple Bar. After dinner and dessert, we took the Luas back to the hotel and went to bed. By that time, I had been awake for over 32 hours, so bedtime was definitely welcomed! </div>
Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-69141056542311419072014-05-14T21:13:00.000-07:002014-05-14T21:13:21.834-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
I originally started this blog in 2009 to keep people
updated on my travels during my semester abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I will be travelling for about six
weeks this summer, I figure it’s about time to revive my blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s been over a year since my last post and, understandably,
a lot has changed in my life since then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So here’s a really quick timeline of what’s been going on…<o:p></o:p></div>
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2013 was a beautiful year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to San Francisco as a leader for the high school group at my
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I visited my brother in
Carpinteria in March and again in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
worked at Starbucks from November 2012 until August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started graduate school and am pursing a dual
Master’s of Social Work and Master’s of Public Health at San Diego State
University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I visited New Jersey in
September for my aunt’s surprise 60<sup>th</sup> birthday party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned 25 in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And over Christmas break, I went on the most
beautiful road trip with my Nessy (Katy) from Portland all the way down the
coast to San Diego.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2014 has been just as wonderful so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a family trip to Catalina for Kevin’s
birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went skydiving and to Santa
Barbara over spring break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few weeks
ago, I went to Atlanta to celebrate the wedding of my dear friends, Katherine
and Adam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And today, finished up my
first year of grad school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tomorrow morning, my family and I are leaving for a three-week
trip to Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My ancestors come from all three of these places, and I am eager to see
them all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not have much internet
access, but I’ll try to update as often as possible, so stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></div>
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XOXO<o:p></o:p></div>
Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-56581483721433565312013-03-18T20:50:00.000-07:002013-03-18T20:50:33.978-07:00the year so far (according to my iphone)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764652191199853734.post-29789343180429008152012-12-05T16:07:00.001-08:002013-02-19T11:58:44.972-08:00<br />
This is my catch-all blog post. A lot has been happening and I haven't written about much, so today's post is going to be about a myriad of things. In my last post, I mentioned that I applied to Starbucks, and am now announcing that I've been hired! I had training all last week and officially started working on monday! It's pretty fast paced and will take a little getting used to, but so far I love it and have been having a lot of fun (and a lot of coffee (: yum)!<br />
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I visited Atlanta a few weeks ago and had a wonderful time! I stayed with friends Maureen and Katherine and spent a day with each of them. I also spent a day with my dear friends from Blueprint Church and a day at the Georgia Justice Project, where I used to work. My roommates were pregnant when I moved home from Atlanta, and during this trip I got to meet their sweet baby girl! The time was short, but sweet, and I was able to spend time with everyone I wanted. And I welcomed the crisp fall air and gorgeous autumn leaves that are so rare here in southern California.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Chattahoochee River</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">My beautiful friend Katherine</td></tr>
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We celebrated Thanksgiving with family at our house. I spent all morning cooking mushroom thyme gravy, pumpkin alfredo pasta, and basil pesto rolls. Then the majority of our family members came over for dinner -- fifteen people in all! After dinner, we have a tradition of going to the movies. This year, we saw Lincoln, which was very good, but also very long. If you The following morning was spent at breakfast with friends followed by a hike along the beach in Torrey Pines with my family.<br />
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There is so much I am thankful for this year! I am thankful to be cancer free and healthy! I am thankful to have had the love and support of friends and family! I am thankful to have had an amazing doctor and to have had an extremely treatable type of cancer. I am thankful to have health care. I am thankful for a new job! And more than anything, I am thankful to have a God who is faithful, even through the darkest of times.<br />
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If you remember back to my birthday, I made <a href="http://lkewley.blogspot.com/2012/10/yesterday-was-my-birthday-big-two-four.html">some resolutions for this year</a>. I've posted about a few things, but I've been busy with more than those! So here are some of the things I've been doing...<br />
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Craft Project #1: baby burp cloths<br />
As I mentioned earlier, I met baby Mia for the first time during my trip to Atlanta. I wanted to give her parents a gift, so I made them some burp cloths. They're simple to make, but adorable! All I did was cut out rectangles of cute cotton cloth and of terry cloth, sew them together, and add some topstitching. Easy as pie! And a nice, simple project to start out with.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The finished product</td></tr>
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Documentary #1: <i>No Impact Man</i><br />
This is the story of a New York family who decides to live as eco-friendly as possible for an entire year. They abandoned cars, made zero trash, and even turned off the electricity. It's about minimizing our negative impact and maximizing our positive impact of the earth. I really enjoyed this documentary and would recommend it to anyone interested in environmentalism.<br />
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Documentary #2: <i>One Nation Under God</i><br />
This film follows four Christian college students as they road trip around the US, meeting new people and asking them their views about God. While it was interesting to hear what people had to say, there was no real point to the film. I've heard their second documentary, <i>Beware of Christians</i>, is much better and am going to watch it next.<br />
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Book #2: <i>The Gospel of Luke</i> by William Barclay<br />
I recently started reading this Bible commentary along with my regular Bible reading and really enjoyed the added insight it provided. However, Barclay's writing is outdated and he seems too confident that his view and interpretation of scripture is the right one. I doubt I will read another one of his commentaries, but will definitely continue reading commentaries on a regular basis.<br />
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Book #3: <i>An Altar in the World</i> by Barbara Brown Taylor<br />
I really enjoyed this book; this was the second time I read it. It discusses ways to make every day tasks into spiritual practices, observing the work and glory of God in what may seem at first to be mundane. If you are looking to lead a more reverent life, I would definitely recommend it.<br />
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Book #4: <i>The Princess Bride</i> by William Goldman<br />
The book is exactly like the movie, but it gives a little more background and depth to the characters. What can I say? It's a classic!<br />
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Something New #3: Brussel Sprouts<br />
We never had to eat brussel sprouts as kids. I heard rumors that they were the worst food known to mankind. They have a reputation worse than broccoli. So that's probably how I made it all the way to age 24 without having ever tried them. Well, we went out to dinner for my mother's birthday to a charming restaurant in Ocean Beach called Bo-Beau. I was feeling adventurous, so I ordered the crispy brussel sprouts, and oh-my-goodness they were absolutely delicious! They were drizzled with apple cider and topped with cranberries, hazelnuts, and goat cheese. Brussel sprouts have overcome their infamy and now are one of my favorite vegetables. Yum!<br />
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Something New #4: Green Tea Latte<br />
Now that I work at Starbucks, I have the opportunity to try a lot of new things! This week, I tried a green tea latte. My coworker told me it's an acquired taste and she was right. I didn't like it too much, but people order them often, so I am determined to give it another try. I'll let you know how it goes the second time around.<br />
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Health Change #3: Use All-Natural Toothpaste<br />
As I've mentioned before, I want to eventually switch <i>all</i> of my products to all-natural ones in attempt to be in contact with unnatural chemicals and artificial substances as little as possible. So I was excited when our grocery store started carrying Tom's natural toothpaste. Unfortunately, after using it a few times, I realized it doesn't leave my mouth feeling clean and minty afterwards. So I was even more excited when I realized that our grocery store also carries Burt's Bees natural toothpaste. It seems thick and goopy compared to other toothpastes, but it makes my teeth feel clean and leaves my breath sufficiently minty.<br />
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Health Change #4: Use All-Natural Shampoo and Conditioner<br />
I've started using a new type of shampoo and conditioner. It's called Gud by Burt's Bees. The scent I've tried is called orange petalpalooza and it smells delicious! It's all-natural and makes my hair feel really soft. I've tried other brands of natural shampoo, but several of them didn't leave my hair feeling clean (like Nature's Gate). I'll have to see if I still like this shampoo after my hair gets longer, but so far, Burt's Bees has left my hair feeling nice and clean.<br />
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I've recently started what I would consider to be my most ambitious resolution: reading the New Testament in 24 days. I'm about eight days into the task and let me tell you, it is a lot of reading! It's taken me about three hours each day. But it's worth it! Not only am I reading stories I've never read before, but I'm understanding familiar stories in their greater context. I also am beginning to see the big picture of the Bible as a whole. I have a lot of questions about things I am reading, but this has made me excited to read my Bible! I'll give you another update on this soon!<br />
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I hope all is well with you!<br />
xoxo<br />
Lauren Kewleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06851727717959149675noreply@blogger.com0