A weekend with 3 guys

Hey there,

like I said here is the next post coming at you. This is about the last weekend that I spend with Steve, Tom and Dorian.  But first let's talk about Friday. Since I knew I had to go down to Shannon to get another rental car I asked John if I could have at least half a day off and he very kindle gave me the whole day off.  So I had a nice lay in before just packing my stuff. Also a girl I met while studying in Regensburg arrived in Galway so we met for a tea. At five o'clock I then got the bus down to Shannon to get the car for our trip. So Steve and me first talked about the possibility of a trip while we were still back in Germany but we didn't know which trip exactly we were about to take. So in the weeks before we all talked about it and came up with the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry. So this is the route I took in the end:

made with https://www.falk.de/routenplaner

The guys on the other hand took the train from Dublin to Galway in the evening while I took the bus down to Shannon Airport and was picked up by Jordan who finalized the rental agreement with me and then I drove back to Galway. This time round I again didn't get exactly the car I rented. I rented a Ford Focus and got an Citroen Cactus which in hindsight was way better suited for this trip.

Citroen Cactus

Since my bus was half an hour late I only arrived back in Galway ten minutes before the guys arrived as well. So I just got my small suitcase and drove to the Rail Station. After getting everyone into the car with Dorian in the passenger seat, Tom behind me and Steve next to him we started our way to our first hostel which was in Lisdoonvarna, which is about 12 km away from the Cliffs of Moher. Since I already drove the way there back on Monday I had a rough idea where I had to turn and what the road was like. After going up the serpentines we made a quick stop at the same place where normally the bus tours have a photo stop.

view from our stop

After that we went to the hostel and checked in. The guy checking us in was German as well. He asked us where we were from and Steve answered Berlin. We talked a bit more before he suddenly asked me where from Bavaria I am. I just had to laugh at that. I will probably never be able to disguise my Frankonian heritage while talking German. He then showed us to our room and told us about a pub just down the road. We went there hand had a pint before going back and get some sleep in before the first and biggest sight of the trip. The next morning we all got up and ready before getting some breakfast. As it is in most hostels, a continental breakfast was included. So we all ate some bread and cereals before getting into the car and going to the Cliffs of Moher.

We first went to O'Briens tower again before then taking the path into the other direction going South. Also this time round I also went a bit more to the edge than last time. And I think Tom found the perfect term for it. It is a weird mix of fascination, death and excitement when you look right over the edge. So here are some pictures:

me sitting on the edge, photo credits to Steve

look over the edge

Cliffs of Moher

group picture

After wandering around there for quite some time we decided to leave it behind since we had a longer drive ahead of us. Next planned stop was Killarney. But we were all hungry after walking around so we had a quick stop in Lahinch and got some burgers (and pizza for Steve) from a small take away shop. We enjoyed our lunch right next to the sea side on some stones and watched  multiple surfer either learning or waiting for their wave.

view while having lunch

We got back into the car afterwards and started the long way down to Killarney which is part of the Ring of Kerry. We arrived there and checked into the hostel Tom booked for us. We freshened up a bit and then walked into the city centre. On our way we all got some ice cream from McDonalds and just explored the city. 

St. Mary's Cathedral in Killarney

We came by this church and were about to discuss were else we would go when Dorian told us that we needed to get food for him for his blood-sugar-levels. So we didn't see much more of Killarney and went back to the hostel where we played some cards before discussing our route for the next day and going to bed since it would be an early morning the next day.

We got up the next morning at seven and had another continental breakfast before starting our journey.  Our first stop of the day was Ross Castle. We didn't go in but the view over the lake was quite stunning. Especially this there was a rainbow involved

Ross Castle

lake view at Ross Castle

me at Torc Waterfall, thanks Dorian for taking it

Next stop was the Torc Waterfall about 10 minutes away from the castle. This was the first time I was happy we got the Cactus instead of the Focus because the street was more of a cart road than a normal road. Also we took a short walk from the parking lot to the waterfall Since the way there was all downhill it was no surprise to me that on our way back the guys were way faster than me and had to wait every once in a while.

Afterwards we made a stop at Ladies View. From there one can see three of the lakes of Killarney National Park. But the way there wasn't as easy as one would imagine. It was very curvy and a lot of rocks and cliffs to go around. An additional challenge were all the cyclists. A few were going our way but there was a cycle tournament going on in the opposite direction. These cyclists come out of the curves at a speed that can only described as crazy and border lining suicidal. So I thanked whoever is up there that around Bayreuth we do have similar roads. After our stop there we went on to drive to Moll's Gap. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as good anymore and there was a lot of fog blocking our view of the gap. Also we got a peak of the road we were supposed to go down from there. There were also still cyclists coming up this road. On a positive note we stopped right where a track marshal was positioned. I asked them how many more of the cyclists where coming up because I wouldn't have wanted to go down a one car wide road into the fog with the prospect of a lot of cyclists coming my way. Fortunately the track marshal told me that there were only about 5 cyclists left so we all decided to wait for these and then go down there. It was quite an interesting experience. We had to wait for oncoming cars rather often and at one point we were trapped behind a horse carriage while going up some serpentines. So here are some pictures of ladies view and the road we were going down and up and everything in between.

view at Ladies view

waiting for the oncoming car to pass, photo credits to Steve

But it was totally worth going down and up this Street because along the way there was a stunning view over the Gap of Dunloe was awaiting us. Here are two pictures:

Augher Lake at the Gap of Dunloe, photo credits to Steve

view up to the Black Lake, taken on the Wishing Bridge

Unfortunately I wasn't able to park the car anywhere other than next to the Wishing Bridge but Steve took some pictures while I was waiting for the oncoming cars to pass us. Yet it was truly amazing to drive through this and it was worth every second. 

After going through the Gap of Dunloe we  started our way back up to Limerick where the guys would catch a train back to Dublin. But before that we all got some food at Boojum (a Burrito place) together and also walked around Limerick a bit (as much as the weather allowed us). Therefore we walked to King John's Castle before we took shelter from the rain.

King John's Castkle, Limerick

The only thing left to do was to get the guys to their train and then giving back the car. So that is what we did. I drove the guys to the Rail Station and we said our goodbyes. I then drove the car back to the Shannon Springs Hotel where Easirent has its branch for Shannon Airport. There I met Frank again and he took the car in before driving me to the airport for my bus.  If you want to read more about the trip I'd advice you to read Steve's, Tom's and Dorian's blogs.

Back in Galway I said my goodbye to Anna who left early Monday morning before getting into bed since I was knackered again.

Monday it was back to work. I served customers again and John showed me how to change a screen on any iPhone between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone SE. Also the weather was really nice. 

Tuesday, Wednesday and today were pretty much the same. John showed me hoe to change iPhone 6S and 7 screens and I cleaned out some charging ports. Also today I started testing an order of used phones that came in. Also I put together a order John placed with Baseus for different accessories. And I was told that I'm a miracle girl today. It was a very nice older lady who is here for holidays. Her Samsung phone wasn't showing her pictures anymore. She could take them but as soon as she looked at them and swiped through them they came up black. All I did was updating the gallery app of her phone but she was so happy I did it that she said I'm a miracle girl. Mainly because she and her grandson feared they would have to wipe the phone to make it work again. I have to say it was very nice to see how happy she was.

So now you are all caught up on what's going on again. I will update you again at some point after Saturday but before I go back home (obviously). I can't believe that at this time next week I will be in back in Berlin already. It's so surreal to think about going back. I feel like the time went by way too fast.

Stay tuned. Cheers!

Juliane

My week of work

Hey there,

what's the crac? This post will be a bit shorter than the last one but I just hope noone minds that.

On Monday John had the day off so I was working with Louis (the one from my first day) and Darragh (shop owner). It was kind of a different experience. It started in the morning when I arrived at the shop to find that I was the first one there and it was raining as usual in such situations. But luckily it didn't take long for Louis to arrive and shortly after Daragh came as well. Basically I was in charge of designing a spring sale mail which led to me searching pictures for the whole day whenever I had the time. Other than that I cleaned some phones and shortly before I left I took payment of a costumer for the first time ever in my life. That was kind of a scary experience. I actually managed to give the customer the merchant slip of the card payment but other than that it went mostly smoothly.

On Tuesday, the 24th of April, I told John everything from the day before and he showed me how to take a customer in. After he watched me doing it once he told me that I from that moment going forward would be the one taking customers in or taking payments. So that is my new main job. Listen to the customers explaining their problems, taking their details and taking payment when they collect their phones. Also, an order came in on Tuesday so I put it all away correctly.
On another note two of my roommates came back from Corfu. Emma and Maxine. We talked pretty much the whole evening and also went up to the guys apartment to eat there.

On Wednesday John and Louis were in and working when I came into work. So I pretty much did the same thing as on Tuesday except putting away an incoming order. But I talked to all the customers and got a bit of a hang of when to ask John about the customers problems. Also I still searched for a good picture to put into the mail. After finding one I asked them what should go in the text. They weren't quite sure so I left it there and started searching tours for the weekend while still going up to the customers whenever one came in.

 On Thursday it was just John and me again. It was quite relaxed. I mainly did the same as on Tuesday and Wednesday. But I also decided that I would go and try every Subway that is available here in Ireland but not in Germany. Other than that I texted a lot regarding a trip I will go on in May. I had to laugh about a few messages so I was giggling quite a bit. John asked about it and when I told him he laughed about it as well. In the evening I met up with John, Shane, Louis and Louis' may-as-well-be-girlfriend Paige. We first went to one of Darragh's other businesses. A pub called Carroll's on Dominick Street. It has a double decker bus standing in its beer garden where you can get pizza. I still am getting used to the pizza habits here. First the toppings on most pizzas are very different. Like chicken or beef mince. And when eating the pizza they dipped their pizza in garlic sauce. I had never really seen that in Germany. Probably once or twice at Pizza Hut but definitely not so casually. The pizza though was really good. And it was not too crazy. We also got a few pints with it. I was one pint ahead of everyone because in true Irish fashion everyone else was a bit late and I didn't want to just stand there. John had to leave early because of his two daughters so the other three and I went on to another pub after enjoying the live music some more and Paige also sang a song with the musicians. We had a lot of fun and after going to two other pubs Shane went home as well. Louis, Paige and I went to a bowling alley afterwards. Louis knows some guy, who works there, so we got in and played a game. I left after that because I had to get up in the morning to go to work. I had a lot of fun on Thursday evening and I also got a picture of the three guys I work with. I asked them if they were alright with me putting up this exact picture and they gave their consent, so here it is:

John is in the back, Louis in the front. Shane is on the right side.

Yesterday I got up at what felt like way too early. But whoever can go out, can get up and work. So I got myself ready and while making breakfast Anna came up to me to say hi after she arrived in the middle of the night back from their trip to Korfu, Rome and Milan. She went back to bed and I went back to work. it was a slow day with not a lot of customers coming in. But we had one whose phone wouldn't back up. He left his phone and laptop with us and right in the middle of updating his phone via the laptop there was a blue screen. It appeared to be a driver problem so I searched for it on the internet but before I could find out more about it the customer came back and collected his laptop and his phone. I told him about it and also told him to keep an eye on it.
On another note we also had a customer who had his Samsung S8+ in for a new screen a few weeks back. John did it but the screen was faulty. It work but it flashed and it was black around one of the edges. So he was told he will get another one that has to be ordered in. Unfortunately, it took a while for the screen to arrive so he wasn't happy with us. He brought his phone in to be done yesterday and John changed the screen. The customer still wasn't super happy but he was alright. He left with his repaired phone. About two hours later a man comes in and shows us a really damaged screen of an Samsung S8+. When we wanted to get his details he told us that it wasn't his phone but his collegues' who is the exact same guy who got his phone fixed just earlier this day. He told us that both of them are bus drivers and that his collegue started work and dropped his phone onto the steps of the bus. So that will be another 300 €. John and me both felt bad for him. After that John told me I could go so I went off into my weekend.
When I came back home Maxine was gone to spend the weekend with her boyfriend. Mackenzie was asleep since she only arrived in Galway at 9 in the mornign after having to stay at the airport in Dublin the night before. Anna and Emma came home just about the same time as me and asked me if I wanted to join them for dinner as they would make shrimps alfredo. We were joined by Mackenzie, Ryan and Tyler. Since it was Tylers last evening with some of them we decided to go out afterwards. True to that plan after the meal we got all ready and went back to the boys apartment. There we met a whole lot of familiy and friends of Liam who are here to visit him. This happening led to only Tyler, Mackenzie and me going out for his last day in Galway. It was his last day because he will go on a three week long trip through all of Europe (whoever knows the film Eurotrip: something like that) after that he comes back for a few days but most of the girls will be gone by then. At least according to everything I've heard about it. But let's wait and see. Also, we didn't stay out too late since he had to get up and leave at five, mackenzie wanted to study for her final and I had plans for today as well.

That is pretty much all about my last week of work. Turned out it got a bit longer than expected. Also, this post was supposed to go up yesterday evening but clearly that didn't work out. So I will tell you all about my weekend in the next blog that will also contain a bit more pictures again.

Until then: Stay tuned. Cheers!

Juliane

P.S.: Also I cheered when it was announced on the radio that the Duchess of Cambridge had her baby boy and I cheered again on Friday when the name was announced to be Louis Arthur Charles but mostly I cheered on Friday because ABBA announced two new songs. And I'm really happy about that.