Free Essays on Similarties Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Noah And The Flood

of these stories, which come from opposite origins share evidence that there is truth behind them. â€Å"The uproar of mankind is intolerable†¦Ã¢â‚¬  exclaimed Gods of the Greek, â€Å"†¦how great was the wickedness on earth, and how every plan devised by his mind was nothing but evil all the time,† agreed God, of the Hebrews. Furious with the mannerism and contempt of the people, the Greek and Hebrew Gods felt a strong need to annihilate life on earth to bring back peace which had gradually became a place of vulgarity and brewed evil implications on earth. The Greek and Hebrew higher powers were angered and in an attempt to save what was good on earth, Ea, God of Wisdom (Greek), and the Hebrew God communicated to the mortals, Gilgamesh and Noah, a plan to restore their righteous ways and escape what was to be a great flood. This plan whether whispered in a Greek dream, or spoken directly to in Hebrew, provided instructions. These instructions given to Gilgamesh and Noah are identical. They were warned of the end of mankind and told, â€Å"†¦make yourself an arc†¦and you shall enter the arc, with your sons, you wife, and your... Free Essays on Similarties Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Noah And The Flood Free Essays on Similarties Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Noah And The Flood Isn’t it ironic how from two completely different origins The Story of the Flood, from the Epic of Gilgamesh, and Noah and the Flood, from Genesis (Hebrew Bible), are stories that come together resulting in the same over-all characteristics? Through obvious analyzation and comparison, it’s clear that these remarkable stories do not contrast. Rather, they are similar. These stories speak of ultimate forces destroying evil, people, to eliminate the negative world and preserving the few righteous people left on earth. Both these stories flood the earth exterminating devious beings, building massive boats to save good men, women, children, and animals, and consist of large arcs that landed on the summit of a mountain from which men and animals repopulated earth starting again new, with only good inhabitants. The words of these stories, which come from opposite origins share evidence that there is truth behind them. â€Å"The uproar of mankind is intolerable†¦Ã¢â‚¬  exclaimed Gods of the Greek, â€Å"†¦how great was the wickedness on earth, and how every plan devised by his mind was nothing but evil all the time,† agreed God, of the Hebrews. Furious with the mannerism and contempt of the people, the Greek and Hebrew Gods felt a strong need to annihilate life on earth to bring back peace which had gradually became a place of vulgarity and brewed evil implications on earth. The Greek and Hebrew higher powers were angered and in an attempt to save what was good on earth, Ea, God of Wisdom (Greek), and the Hebrew God communicated to the mortals, Gilgamesh and Noah, a plan to restore their righteous ways and escape what was to be a great flood. This plan whether whispered in a Greek dream, or spoken directly to in Hebrew, provided instructions. These instructions given to Gilgamesh and Noah are identical. They were warned of the end of mankind and told, â€Å"†¦make yourself an arc†¦and you shall enter the arc, with your sons, you wife, and your...

All About Escape Literature

All About Escape Literature As the name suggests, so-called escape literature is written for entertainment, and to let the reader become totally immersed in a fantasy or alternate reality. Much of this kind of literature falls into the guilty pleasure category (think romance novels). But there is a wide variety of different literary genres that could be labeled as escapist: science fiction, westerns, magical realism, even historical fiction. Its worth noting that just because something can be categorized as escape literature doesnt necessarily mean it doesnt have higher literary value. Why Escape Literature Is Popular Its not difficult to understand why escape literature, in all its formats, is well-liked. Being able to immerse oneself in a fictional reality, where troubles and problems are easily recognized and solved, is a comfort provided by movies, books and other forms of entertainment. Truly good works of escape literature create a believable alternate universe, whose inhabitants struggle with dilemmas that the reader might encounter. Its a crafty way to explore moral and ethical themes within an entertaining framework. Examples of Escape Literature The most compelling escapist literature includes works that describe characters in an entirely new, fictional universe. J.R.R. Tolkiens  The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an example of a canonical literature series, complete with its own history and completely made-up languages, that follows elves, dwarves and humans through a mythical quest to save their world. In the series, Tolkien  explores the themes of right versus wrong and how small acts of bravery can be significant. He also pursued his fascination with linguistics by developing new languages such as Elvish for the majestic elves in the stories. Of course, there are plenty of examples of escape literature that are little more than pop culture entertainment. And thats fine too, just as long as students of the genre can differentiate between the two. When Escapism Is Just Entertainment The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, which grew into a massive movie franchise with a cult following is a good example of lowbrow escapist literature. Its themes of love and romance between a vampire and a human (who happens to be friends with a werewolf) is a thinly-veiled religious allegory, but not exactly a canonical work. Still, the appeal of Twilight  is undeniable: the series was a top seller in both its book and movie forms.  is undeniable: the series was a top seller in both its book and movie forms. Another popular fantasy series often compared with the Twilight books, is theHarry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (although the quality of the latter is generally considered superior). While some may argue that Harry Potter is an example of interpretive literature, which compels a deeper exploration of the real world through literary themes, its themes of magical workings in a school for wizards offers an escape from reality. Difference Between Escapist and Interpretive Literature Escape literature is frequently discussed alongside interpretive literature, and at times the line between the two genres becomes a little blurry. Interpretive literature seeks to help readers understand deeper questions of life, death, hate, love, sorrow and other elements of human existence. While interpretive literature can be equally as entertaining as its cousin escape, in general, the goal is to bring readers closer to understanding reality. Escape literature wants to take us away from reality, immersing us in a whole new world (but often with the same old problems).

European School of Business London Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

European School of Business London - Essay Example In October 2007, I have worked as the Private Equity Advisor EBS, at Oestrich-Winkel and as the Estate Developer, with FH Kufstein. Besides this, I have also done my internships with Otto M. Schrder Bank AG, Lukas Bauprojekt GmbH and Aengevelt Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG. I have also worked as a Business Analyst, for Angermann M&A Int. GmbH. I am fluent with English, Spanish and Latin and love to play tennis, ski, travel, trade with stocks and derivatives in my free time. Evidently, I have made use of every opportunity that ahs come my way, to make myself eligible for getting into your esteemed school. I have chosen the European School of Business, since I understand that it is the perfect place to study business. It has great international exposure, which is essential for students and budding entrepreneurs. The award-winning integrated courses are indeed courses that help students get into the real world of business. The importance attached to language skills has again made me feel t hat this si the place where I would like to study, since I have gained fluency in a few languages, as well. Keep

Leadership cause and effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership cause and effect - Essay Example Most leaders desire to bring many positive and wholesome trends into the world. These could lead to improvement of our social status and even the business enterprises that they head. The most vital step that they need to take in order to achieve this is being wise and visionary leaders in all aspects of life. For their actions to be effective wherever they go, they need to invest in integrity of actions and thoughts. The leaders need to take a position of mindful awareness and should have proper knowledge on how to respond from awareness instead of pure uniformed reaction. This helps to make their sub-ordinates to feel recognized, highly valued and affirmed (Stephen 2001). Mindfulness provides clarity and calmness in all situations enabling one to avoid panic and blaming others. It allows one to tolerate the discomfort of confrontation enabling discovery of one’s creativity and resourcefulness to be able to approach situations differently from how you would have earlier done. On another aspect, leadership refers to getting someone do what they do not want to do in order to achieve what they want to achieve (Tom,L. 2008).It’s characterized by a leader and a follower whereby the leader entices the follower to do something that he would not otherwise do without leadership. The effect mostly requires the cause. This is because people do things that they would otherwise not do because it is their job, they’re paid for doing it or they are not afraid to do it. Other times they will do it because they want to annoy and disappoint their leaders, mentors or relatives, because others are doing it or if it’s their area of interest. It’s not possible to equate all these to leadership since everyone who is in control of the cause can use it at will. There are many reasons as to why people do things that they might otherwise not do therefore looking at leadership as the sole cause is irrational. In reality,

Abortion All Sides of the Issue Essay Example for Free

Abortion All Sides of the Issue Essay When you think of abortion, the first thing that comes to mind is the death of an unborn child. Trying to identify all possible sides of the issue of abortion is a difficult task. Choosing a side is even harder. Although abortion issues are not recognized and discussed any longer, it is still a serious matter and continues today. The research that has been done on the sensitive subject of abortion has been going on for quite some time now. The Definition of Life In the dictionary, abortion regularly defined as removing a fetus or an embryo from the uterus to end a pregnancy. When completing research this past week, I found out that when abortions were first starting out, they were only performed on women who were not capable of carrying a child or the fetus was incapable of surviving. Now, women are given the choice to carry, give the child up for adoption or having an abortion no matter what the situation is. The Issues of Abortion There are plenty of health risks and issues that come along with abortion. â€Å"One woman from an unnamed clinic had a partial abortion performed in which half of the baby was never removed. (Rendon, 2002). See more: Social process essay Just like any other procedure, abortions come along with not only the physical effects, but also the mental stress of it all. After having my abortion in June of 2005, I was in complete distress. Being in that types of situation made me want to curl up in a small ball and cry all day. Being that I have chosen the topic of abortion, I was gradually trying to observe and view all different sides of abortion. Of course, we have all seen in the news when abortion first became an issue, â€Å"there were many people pro-life and many others, pro-choice. (Scheidler, 2002). I still feel that even though abortion is not talked about much today, it is still a serious issue and still continues as the days pass. Which Side Do You Choose? When reading the different articles from ProQuest and seeing how the supporting and differing viewpoints made me feel, I began to take the position as a pro-life supporter. One of the issues I have is with the abortion of fetus’ after the 24 week period. I feel that if you know in the beginning that you aren’t going to want to keep the child, then why wait so long for the abortion. Some babies are able to survive after only twenty-eight weeks of being in the womb. This is another reason I am pro-life. Another issue that I can identify with related to my hypothesis is the religious viewpoint of abortion. Like most people, in whom I have researched upon, feel that abortion is a form of death. We all know that one of the Ten Commandments in The Bible states that â€Å"thou shall not kill†. If death is a sin, then why is abortion legal? The third issue that I have related to abortion is the act of â€Å"partial abortion†. After reading further on this partial procedure, which I was not to familiar with, I found out that the abortion is only halfway done and the doctor performing finishes killing the fetus. Just thinking about this situation makes me angry because abortion, in my eyes, is already wrong and performing it partially is just as bad. Being a Pro-Life Supporter My position on the issue of abortion is someone who is pro-life all the way. On June 13, 2005, I had an abortion. It was one experience I swore to never have again. I have a ten month old son now and I am so grateful for him and I am glad that God allowed me to have another child. I was in just getting out of college at the time when I had my abortion. I was young and scared and was not stable enough to bring a child in the world, or so I thought. Women need to realize that they do have a choice in situations like these. Many married couples or women longing for, who are unable to conceive, want to have children. Why not choose to give the gift of an adoption over abortion? At least knowing that a child was not killed and made someone else happy would be a better option. Adoption can be a good thing for someone not wanting to have a baby that they knew they couldn’t raise and support. You Have a Choice Another choice that women have is the option to keep the child. Starting your family is great and what better joy than to bring a baby into the world. Deciding whether to abort or keep the child is a difficult decision when it comes down to it. I know that from past experience, I was not able to really care for a baby the way I am now. I was in college, as an on-campus resident; during my first year when I found out I was pregnant. Not wanting to put my future in jeopardy, I chose the option of abortion. Personal Experience from the Heart When I first found out that I was expecting, I did not tell anyone but a close friend of mine at North Carolina Central University. She was very excited and was encouraging to me. She gave great influential advice and was there to offer me a helping hand. But, after thinking it over, I decided and knew that this was something that I just could not do. After getting out of school in May of 2005, I began to think about it even more. Going through the all-day sickness and being tired was no joke. I was really going through and I thought I just could not take it anymore. I talked things over with my cousin and she assured me that everything would be okay. After setting up my scheduled appointment, I felt a sense of relief. I was sad at the same time because I knew that I was killing a life. A few people living around me had seen my pregnancy glow and knew that I was indeed pregnant. But when they did ask, I simply told them no and walked the other way. On the day of my appointment, I was nervous and scared all at the same time. I was having these mixed feelings go through my mind one after another. I didn’t know what to do. When we arrived, I thought about telling my boyfriend and cousin, who traveled with us for support, that I would rather take the three hundred and eighty dollars I was holding in my hand and go buy a crib. I wanted my baby and I didn’t want to go through with it. After the procedure was finished, I was escorted to a room where the nurses and staff were in such a good mood and being so nice to me. All I could think was, â€Å"What did I just do? † I could not believe that I had just gone through with the procedure. I stared in aw looking at these nice nurses who were just so happy when all I could do was cry. Now, looking back on that day, I still feel the hurt and pain of going through that entire day. I know that I felt relief in mind but sorrow in my heart. I am now a proud mother of an eleven month old son and I know that God made me a mother for a reason. Being a mother is the greatest thing that has happened to me and if it wasn’t for my son, I don’t know where I would be right now. Abortion is indeed a very controversial topic with issues that people do recognize sometimes, but not most of the time. Yes, there have been plenty accounts of where abortion issues were in papers, but it’s not as recognized as â€Å"Paris Hilton goes to jail†. This is the type of situation I am discussing. Today, indicating from my research, the number of abortions has increased from the past two decades. Sometimes I feel that women choose abortion because it is the easy way out. You may fail to realize that not only girls, but also boys are very advanced these days. All kids from the age of fourteen and up are sitting at home playing video games and playing with dolls. More and more pregnancies are happening to girls who haven’t even reached the age of eighteen. â€Å"Women never really realize the great joy they have until going through the clinic walls and giving their baby up for a small price. † (Rothstein, 1995). This statement is so true because you do not know the great joys of being a parent until you have your own. People everywhere should take a stand to get abortion laws passed so that they will only be performed if necessary. Taking a stand is important because we all stand somewhere in this world. There are many ways to support abortion foundations and groups.

Character of Touchstone in Shakespeares As You Like It :: Shakespeare As You Like It Essays

The Character of Touchstone in As You Like It As You Like It features, like so many of Shakespeare's plays, a professional clown, Touchstone, and it's worth paying some attention to his role for what it contributes towards establishing and maintaining the upbeat comic spirit of the play. For the jester is the constant commentator on what is going on. His humour, pointed or otherwise, thus inevitably contributes to the audience's awareness of what is happening, and the way in which other characters treat him is often a key indicator of their sensibilities. Touchstone is one of the gentlest and happiest clowns in all of Shakespeare. He comments on the action, makes jokes at other people's expense, and offers ironic insights about their situation. But throughout As You Like It, such traditional roles of the fool are offered and taken with a generosity of spirit so that his remarks never shake the firm comic energies of the play. When he ridicules Orlando's verses, Rosalind laughs along with him. When he points out to Corin (in 3.2) that the shepherd must be damned for never having lived at court, Corin takes it as good natured jesting (which it is). When Touchstone takes Audrey away from her rural swain, William, there are apparently no hard feelings (although much here depends on the staging). In this play, the professional jester participates in and contributes to a style of social interaction which is unqualified by any more sober and serious reflections. This makes Touchstone very different from the bitter fool of King Le ar or from the most complex fool of all, the sad Feste of Twelfth Night , both of whom offer comments that cast either a shrewd, melancholy, or bitter irony on the proceedings. Touchstone himself becomes the target of much humour by his immediate attraction to Audrey, the "foul" country lass. There is something richly comic here, seeing the staunch apologist for the sophisticated life of the court fall so quickly to his animal lust. But the satire here is very good humoured. Touchstone himself acknowledges the frailty of his vows and does not attempt to deceive anyone about his intentions.

Michigan

Despite the governor’s pretty language abot alternative fuels and efforts to create a partnership with Sweden for the development of alternative fuel use in Michigan, the state is still nowhere near where it should be in terms of use of alternative fuels. The reasons are simple and complex all at the same time. People don’t want to buy vehicles which use alternative fuels if they can’t buy that fuel at the local store and local stores don’t want to carry a product that no one is buying.  Ã‚   On a website for Ford Truck enthusiasts,   one consumer said he would love to have a biodiesel truck or a flex fuel Ford Ranger, but even with the incentives the state has adopted to promote the use of these fuels, they are not generally available at the corner store. In addition, Michigan’s incentives, such as a 12 cents per gallon sales tax credit on some alternative fuels, do not account for market fluctuations that are inherent in a system that relies on only ethanol and oil fuels. In the worst conditions, extreme versions of the summer of 2007, a drought in major corn-producing states could raise the price of ethanol and OPEC production games can increase the price of gasoline. Because biodiesel and other alternative fuels are not easily used in most vehicles, consumers are still caught in a Catch-22. Switching to one alternative fuel does not make it readily available. With diversification as the car manufacturers look for more efficient ways to propel their vehicles and save the environment,   consumers cannot be assured that their â€Å"alternative fuel† vehicle of today is not going to be an obsolete paperweight with no fuel available in just a few years. The sad thing is that for all the attacks on the automotive industry, Michigan and automakers are trying to come up with a solution for the environment and for business. Unfortunately, the businesses and researchers can’t agree on what the best alternative fuel source is.   Ethanol relies of the growing season, propane is still a fossil fuel and methane is difficult to transport safely. Biodiesel, a form of heavy vegetable oil, also requires good crops. With shifting weather patterns across the globe, manufacturers are loathe to rely on a system which necessitates a good growing season. Furthermore, many activists are now arguing that the farmland used to create corn and soy beans for use in alternative fuels further contributes to the global warming problem by destroying farmland. In short, Michigan is trying to address the alternative fuel needs of the state and the country, but until the technology and production capability meet, consumers are less likely to buy into the alternative fuel option than officials would like. Hybrids are popular, but largely unproven in terms of long-term mechanical durability and alternative fuel cars just aren’t attractive for mass consumption. Until Michigan can do something about the supply chain for alternative fuels and the reliability of cars built to use them, the alternative fuels effort in Michigan will be strong, but not terribly effective.

Define Love

When it comes to love in needs a few thing and some of them are passion, intimacy and commitment. However depending the type of love or relationship varies. Passion is a form of an emotion that is how you feel someone, and intimacy is a measurement of how close you are to someone or familiar with them. Finally commitment is the act of being committed or committing yourself, to someone a measurement of loyalty. Now for each of love or relationship these three things are provided in different ways. Such as in a relationship with a friend the loyalty is strong and a form of passion and intimacy happens on a low enough level that most do not become physically engaged with each other. Now a family relationship these three things happen a slightly higher level with an extremely low level of physical of engagement such a hug or a kiss on the chick. Now a mutual relationship between two people unrelated in anyway, may have been friends at one point and time; but the level have increase in a way that there may or may not been some kind of physical engagement , a form of loyalty (commitment), passion and intimacy on a high level. All three of these form of relationship meaning and purpose are very different but the thing they have in common is very much the just in different intervals. It all boiling down to who, what, where, when, and how; But to try define something based emotion and the human mind is to try and define why most water runs south or why the wind blows or how the earth is the only inhabited planet. Each one of these is related because all relationships need these three things to function. To be hones this is all I can write about this, but if I must write more, I strongly believe that love is what really makes the world go round and develop people on a mysterious ways. Explaining how you believe an individual’s attachment style can affect the types of love relationships he or she has. An individual’s attachment style can greatly affect the type of love of relationships he or she has because, the attachment is define on the type of relationship as well the relationship, define one the attachment. This can also cause trouble among a relationship because one person’s level of attachment maybe stronger than the others. Or someone who is attached to someone who is not; this is how in some cases stalking happens or heart break. An attachment affects someone relationship because there is a need for attachment, where there is a need, there is a want as well as a requirement. Basically what I mean is the attachment defines a relationship because the attachment is based on the emotionally as well as the physical that is geared towards the person the attachment is for. An attachment is a bases as well as glue for a relationship defining it in a way for it to grow and be prosperous. And as a relationship grows so does the relationship, thou I still warn of an over attachment, in some instances it can become dangerous. Different level of attachment is how you are attached or feel towards your, sister, your mother, father, mother, daughter, son, friend and neighbors. Its how you are and feel towards each person you meet on your day to day life. as well as the people who come and go in your life. Building attachment and relationship as your grow old. It is the nesseccary good and evil of a relationship because attachments don’t always stay as they sometimes go and fade away. How can you ask someone to define an attachment, because no one really know except from their own experience, to define something from their own experience show the truth of their deferment and so the true color of what is meant in their words. Can it be expanded it a certain amount of words, maybe or maybe not; because people do run out of things to say. What I want to say is this, if you are not attached to the person whom you have a relationship with; no matter what level it is, and then you do not have a relationship. What is that you do have I cannot say, but it is best not spend time on it and is will benefit both if you simply walk away from it. So you have to view attachment from a certain view point and frankly it goes to a point of how the heart feels. An attachment is based on the relationship and affects the relationship because the attachment is based on the relationship, the level of love (sounding a little repeating because of the unessacery word count needed) . the attachment brings some together and some apart. The attachment is the defining moment in some cases when it is discovered. For an example when I discovered the attachment that I had to the women who later becomes my wife, I was overjoyed and pursued the attachment so I could keep the filling of happiness. We have now been married for five years and I couldn’t be even more happier. The attachment started our relationship and has defined it for these last five year and that is my point on how attachment affects relationships. If there where was anything else I could say about this then I would but I have ran out of words.

Herrick The marshal of Salem Essays

Herrick The marshal of Salem Essays Herrick The marshal of Salem Paper Herrick The marshal of Salem Paper Mr Hale is nearly 40, tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual. A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Mr Hale is called in to Salem to examine Parriss daughter Betty. His intimate liking toward Proctor actually stuns we, as readers, that a third party could be so understanding and is able to try and console those in need. In this case, Hale actually proves to be a upright citizen who tries to save Proctor from the noose by advising him to succumb to a false crime. His intentions were good like a committed Christian and hater of witchcraft. It is his assurance that we cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of those accused. Elizabeth Proctor Elizabeth does not appear until the beginning of Act Two. She is referred to beforehand, notably in a scathing comment by Abigail. When we first hear her, though, she is singing lullabies to her children, giving us the impression of a homely woman. The atmosphere in the Proctor household tells us that she has had difficulty in coming to terms with her husbands brief adultery. She is accused by both Proctor and Abigail of being cold and she confirms this opinion of herself in the last act. But she is no fool and understands well Abigails intentions, well before Proctor himself does. Her love and understanding of John is crystal clear in the last act when she leaves him to make his own decision over whether to confess. She undoubtedly recognizes that he will not be able to live with a decision to confess, but she allows him to come to his own realisation of this. Danforth Deputy Governor Danforth represents both the authority of the Law and the Church within this community. He takes his position seriously and seizes every opportunity to impress the importance of his work upon others. This is reflected in some of the long, serious speeches he gives in Act Three. His determination to enforce the Law is unrelenting. He is not interested in the individual and will not allow the work of the court to be questioned. His manner is inflexible and unemotional. It is impossible to tell why he does not accept the horror of the situation. Does he actually believe all that the girls allege? Or does he think that events have gone too far, but to stop the process would undermine his authority? Proctor has no doubt that Danforth is allowing himself to be fooled, and that he will be damned because of it Giles Corley An elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits. Giless wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and he himself is eventually held in con-tempt of court and pressed to death with large stones. As the start of the play, Corey is something of a comic character and Proctor deals with his argumentative tendency is a good-natured way. He unwittingly implicates his wife in witchcraft, and whilst protesting to the court refuses to name an informant, and so is arrested himself. The grim manner of his death being pressed by great weights to try to force an answer is poignantly revealed to Proctor in jail. The Putnams A bitter couple, who between them represent the worst aspects of Salem society such as jealously, small-mindedness and greed, it was Ann Putnam that sent her daughter to conjure spirits in the first place and Thomas Putnam sought to gain from the tragedy of others. Thomas Putnam A wealthy, influential citizen of Salem, Putnam holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnams brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land. Ann Putnam Thomas Putnams wife. Ann Putnam has given birth to eight children, but only Ruth Putnam survived. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is con-vinced that they were murdered by supernatural means. Ruth Putnam The Putnams lone surviving child out of eight. Like Betty Parris, Ruth falls into a strange stupor after Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods at night. Rebecca Nurse Francis nurses wife, the elderly and respected Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community, and one of the voices of good sense in the play. Hale has already heard of her good reputation before meeting her. However, she falls victim to the hysteria when the Putnams accuse her of witchcraft and she refuses to confess. The conviction of Rebecca reveals how low the community at Salem has fallen. She goes to her death with dignity and acceptance Francis Nurse A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife. Mary Warren Mary is the Proctors servant. She is weak and easily influenced, so it is ominous that Proctors evidence rests on Marys confession. She can barely speak in the courtroom and its relatively simple for Abigail to turn her. This is devastating for Proctor as Mary then testifies against him. Tituba Reverend Parriss black slave from Barbados. Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigails request Betty Parris Reverend Parriss ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the forest with Tituba. Her illness and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft. Martha Corey Giles Coreys third wife. Marthas reading habits lead to her arrest and conviction for witchcraft. Ezekiel Cheever A man from Salem who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is upright and determined to do his duty for justice. Judge Hathorne A judge who presides, along with Danforth, over the witch trials. Herrick The marshal of Salem. Mercy Lewis Servant to the Putnam household. She is a merciless girl who seems to delight in the girls activities. The threats Abigail uses on the other girls are unnecessary for Mercy. When Abigail eventually leaves town, Mercy goes with her.

Driving Ireland’s Ring of Kerry Maps and Complete Guide

Driving Ireland’s Ring of Kerry Maps and Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The picturesque Ring of Kerry is a looping road on the west coast of Ireland. It meanders along the coast of County Kerry, a pristine area famous for its awe-inspiring natural beauty. Locals and travelers alike flock to the Ring of Kerry for sweeping views of mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and the North Atlantic. Along the way, you’ll see castles, abbey ruins, and stones circles dating as far back as 2,200 BC! That’s a whole lot of human history. I can confidently say that the Ring of Kerry was the most breathtaking road I’ve ever driven on in my life. To help you have the same memorable experience, I’ve compiled all the stops of interest along the Ring, along with maps to help you navigate. Read on for your complete guide to Ireland’s unforgettable Ring of Kerry! Map of the Ring of Kerry As you can see on this Ring of Kerry map, you could drive the entire loop straight through in only three and a half hours. The Ring of Kerry is a 1 mile (179 km) coastal road around Ireland’s Iveragh Peninsula. Technically, the Ring of Kerry is the horseshoe-shaped N70, but you can take a linking road, the N72, to make a full loop beginning and ending in the town of Killarney. This closed loop covers 133 miles (214 km) in total. Because of its location on the landlocked end of the peninsula, Killarney is a popular base for travelers driving the Ring of Kerry. If you were to drive directly around the Ring, you could complete the drive in just three and a half hours. Realistically, though, you should set aside at least six to seven hours to make stops along the way, if not longer. If you want to take side trips or explore all the sights along the route, then you could turn the Ring into a two or three-day road trip, staying overnight in one of the villages, like Waterville or Kenmare. In addition to pulling over to see castles, Celtic ruins, lookout points, and friendly cows and sheep, you could also go hiking, biking, or horseback riding. A popular day trip also takes you out to the Skellig Islands. The larger of the islands, Skellig Michaels, is famous for its 6th century ruins, which were featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Before getting into all the sights along the Ring of Kerry, let’s go over how to travel along the road. Should you hop on a tour bus or rent a car and drive yourself? Traveling on the Ring of Kerry: Tour Bus vs. Car There are two options for driving the Ring of Kerry: tour bus or car. Several bus companies are available for day trips, or you can easily navigate the route yourself (it is a loop, after all). Here’s what you need to know about both options. Option 1: Take a Bus Around the Ring of Kerry Most Ring of Kerry tour buses start in Killarney. If you’re starting your Ireland trip in Dublin, you can also buy packages that include a train ticket from Dublin to Killarney and next-day tour bus. The two most highly-rated companies are Deros Coach Tours and O’Connell Day Tours. A day tour costs about $25. The buses will make a few stops along the way for you to explore sights and take photographs, plus a lunch stop. All in all, a Ring of Kerry tour on a bus lasts about 6.5 hours. One important thing to note- the buses always drive counter-clockwise along the Ring. They start in Killarney and then head northwest to Killorglin. Now let’s look at the other option (and the one that I chose), driving the Ring of Kerry. Tour buses drive counter-clockwise on the Ring of Kerry. Option 2: Drive Around the Ring of Kerry Your other option is to drive. I much preferred driving, as it let my friend and I go at our own pace and pull over whenever we spotted an amazing view, which was extremely often. We had no trouble renting a car in Ireland. We rented the car online from Dooley Car Rentals and picked it up at the Dublin airport. There are also rental car companies based out of Killarney. The only unusual part of the rental agreement is that US travelers have to buy additional car insurance. If you’re renting a car in most other countries, your usual car insurance will extend to the rental. While driving lets you take your time and make stops on a whim, it does come with a significant extra challenge for US drivers: you have to adjust to driving on the left side of the road! At first, this arrangement made my brain feel like it was doing backflips, plus I kept driving too far to the left. Admittedly, my friend was the better left-side driver of the two of us, but I gradually got used to it, too. As long as you stay focused, you shouldn’t have too much trouble making the switch. As I mentioned above, buses go counter-clockwise along the Ring of Kerry. If you’re driving, should you go in the same direction as the buses or the opposite way? Remember to drive on the left side of the road! Fred Zhang/All rights reserved Which Direction Should You Drive on the Ring of Kerry? Should you drive with the buses or against them? That all depends on how confident you feel driving. If you drive in the opposite direction of the Ring of Kerry tour buses, then you may have to deal with passing them. As the road can get narrow and have steep drop-offs along the side, this might be an unwelcome extra challenge. If you don’t want to deal with passing tour buses on a narrow road, then you should go counter-clockwise. On the other hand, driving with the buses means that you might get stuck behind one of them. Staring at the back of a bus for most of your drive could mar the view a bit. If you’d rather not get stuck behind a tour bus, then you should probably choose the clockwise route! For the purposes of this guide, I’ll present the stops in the counter-clockwise direction, the same way that the buses go. If you decide to go the other way, then just scroll down and read this guide backward. Now that we’ve covered transportation, let’s go over all of the intriguing places and things you’ll pass on the drive, starting with a Ring of Kerry map. Ring of Kerry Map: All the Stops Along the Way Here’s the full Ring of Kerry map with pins for each stop. Click on each one for its full address, and scroll down to learn more about each stop! Since there are lots of points of interest, I’ll provide some suggestions for the best ones at the end of this guide. You can also plan your trip around your personal interests, whether you want to spend all your time photographing castles, hiking up mountains, or shopping in all the villages along the way. Whatever you choose, you really can’t go wrong. The drive itself is one of the best highlights of all! Since most of the Ring is remote, I’d suggest using a GPS, pre-loading your directions into Google Maps, and/or downloading a navigational app that works offline, like Here WeGo. You’ll have to download Ring of Kerry maps before you depart, but then you should be able to plug in directions offline. Any place you stay will probably also give you directions the old-fashioned way- with a paper map of the Ring of Kerry and circles around the places of interest. If all else fails, just keep driving. The Ring of Kerry is a ring, after all. Driving the Ring of Kerry: Full Guide Most people start and end their Ring of Kerry journey in the town of Killarney, so let’s start there. There are lots of Kerry hotels in Killarney, plus other hotels in Kerry villages along the way. Below is the full list of stops along the Ring of Kerry. Click on a stop to go to it directly, or just read on to learn all about the spectacular stops you'll encounter driving counter-clockwise on the Ring. Killarney Gap of Dunloe Kate Kearney's Cottage Beaufort Kerry Woolen Mills Killorglin Kerry Bog Village Museum Glenbeigh Cahirciveen Ballycarbery Castle Portmagee Skellig Islands: Skellig Michaels and Little Skellig Valentia Island St. Finian's Bay Balinskelligs Waterville Eightercua Stones Loher Stone Fort Derrynane Caherdaniel Castlecove Beach Staigue Fort Sneem Dunkerron Castle Kenmare Moll's Gap Killarney National Park Ladies View Torc Waterfall Muckross House Muckross Abbey Blue Pool Nature Reserve Ross Castle Innisfallen Island Now let's take a closer look at all the stops along the Ring of Kerry, starting with the most popular starting point, the town of Killarney. #1: Killarney Killarney is a colorful small town that looks like it was plucked out of the 19th century. As a popular destination, it actively maintains its historic charm. In fact, the Killarney town council banned plastic store signs in the 1980s so that the town would retain its pretty, old-fashioned look. While there are several great Ring of Kerry sights within a ten to thirty minute drive of Killarney- like Ross Castle, Muckross House, and Muckross Abbey- the town itself shouldn’t be overlooked. Killarney might not blow your mind like the Ring of Kerry landscape, but it has lots of enjoyable restaurants, pubs, shops, and galleries. Restaurants in Killarney You’ll find a variety of restaurants, from traditional Irish pubs to Thai and Mexican food. Some of the top restaurants in town are Rozzer’s, Bricin, Mareena’s Simply Food, Quinlans Seafood, Hannigan’s, and the Yew Tree. Before I visited Ireland, I’d heard mostly negative reviews of its cuisine. I found the exact opposite to be true, with lots of modern restaurants and delicious food from all over the world. Pubs in Killarney While I heard negative things about Ireland’s cuisine, I heard stellar reviews of its beer. That reputation was totally accurate; both the beer and cider are high-quality and easy to find. Some great pubs in Killarney are O’Connor’s Traditional Irish Pub, Jarvey’s Rest, The Danny Mann, Tatler Jack, and Dan Linehan’s Bar. Take a seat, order a Guinness, and, ideally, stumble upon an Irish â€Å"session† of local musicians playing the fiddle and accordion. Ireland is famous for its high-quality wool sweaters and blankets. Killarney Shopping Killarney’s shops are centralized in its downtown area. You’ll find the famously high quality wool sweaters from Ireland’s Aran Islands, jewelry, glass crafts, candles, souvenirs, art galleries, and old-fashioned candy shops. You can also shop at some name brand stores at the Killarney Outlet Centre. Historic Churches in Killarney Killarney has a couple 19th-century churches that are worth a visit if you like historic architecture. St. Mary’s Cathedral is a 19th-century Gothic Revival Church, and the 1879 Franciscan Friary is a simple stone structure. Killarney is a charming town that’s fun to explore or at least enjoy dinner the night before you depart on the Ring of Kerry. If you’re pressed for time, though, you might skip the town and concentrate on the drive instead, as the Ring of Kerry is the most memorable part of the trip! #2: Gap of Dunloe Daniel Dudek-Corrigan/Flickr You don’t have to wait long before the Ring of Kerry plunges you into Ireland’s unparalleled natural beauty. Just ten minutes or so from Killarney you’ll enter the part of N70 called Gap Road, or the Gap of Dunloe. The Gap of Dunloe is a 7 mile ( km) mountain pass between Purple Mountain and a range called MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. It passes five lakes: Coosaun Lough, Black Lake, Cushnavally Lake, Auger Lake, and Black Lough. Between Coosaun and Black Lake is a wishing bridge. You can stop here, make a wish on the bridge, and, according to local legend, your wish is destined to come true. Since the Gap of Dunloe is such a scenic route, it’s a popular spot for biking, hiking, horse-drawn carriages, and horseback riding. If you’re driving, go slow and expect that other people and vehicles will be sharing the road. #3: Kate Kearney’s Cottage Larry Koester/Flickr Kate Kearney’s Cottage is a 150-year-old restaurant and pub along the Gap of Dunloe. You’ll pass fields filled with flowers and horses before pulling into the parking lot of this charming, ivy-covered cottage. In the front of Kate Kearney’s sits a shop that sells local crafts and produce. In cooler months, you can sit by the open fire and enjoy pub food and dark beers. Every so often, the cottage holds a traditional Irish dinner with live music and costumed dancers. I stopped at Kate Kearney’s for lunch and especially enjoyed the fried brie with jam and homemade banoffee pie (toffee pudding pie with banana slices and fresh whipped cream). If you’re hungry, then stop here to get fortified for the trip ahead. If not, don’t worry- there are plenty of villages with pubs and restaurants along the way. #4: Beaufort Beaufort is a small village at the base of Carrantuohill, Ireland’s tallest mountain. By small village, I mean small; Beaufort has a population of only 160. The town center has a few pubs and guesthouses, so you could stay here as an alternative to Killarney. If you’re looking to stay somewhere remote, then Beaufort’s a good option. Otherwise, you probably would put this town lower on your list of Ring of Kerry priorities. One intriguing site near Beaufort involves an early written language. Outside of the town sit the Ogham Stones. These stones feature Ogham, the earliest system of writing to appear in Ireland. In Ogham, letters are represented by short horizontal lines etched across a long vertical line. You might see souvenirs of common names written in Ogham or jewelry featuring the ancient writing. #5: Kerry Woollen Mills These 17th century mills have been creating fabrics and yarn from wool for over 300 years! When they began, they used water from the adjacent River Gweestin to power machinery and wash and dye wool. Today, you can check out the mills and shop for high-quality wool sweaters, capes, scarves, blankets, and rugs. These mills are worth a stop if you’d like to buy wool clothing or a blanket. If you’re not looking to shop or don’t care for wool products, then you might skip these mills and save your shopping for other places further down the Ring! Sheep are a-plenty in Ireland, and so are wool sweaters! #6: Killorglin Killorglin’s another village along the Ring of Kerry. It’s a bit bigger than Beaufort with a population of 2,100. This town along the River Laune has a number of hostels, inns, pubs, restaurants, outdoor activities, and yearly festivals. Killorglin is definitely worth a stop if you want to go on an outdoor excursion. Because it’s on a river and close to the Atlantic, it has a lot of opportunities to kayak, canoe, and sail. You can also go climbing, hiking, orienteering, or camp overnight. Killorglin is also a good stop if you’re feeling hungry. The town has a variety of pubs and restaurants, and it makes its own beer, the Crafty Divils King Puck. You’ll see a bunch of references to King Puck beyond this pale ale, like the King Puck statue, a large, crown-wearing bronze goat perched atop a rock. According to legend, a goat helped save the people of Killorglin long ago when raiders were pillaging the countryside. The â€Å"puck† broke away from its herd and appeared in the village, alerting the people to the danger. This story is such a big part of Killorglin that the town has been hosting a 3-day Puck Fair every August for the past 400 years! If you’re driving the Ring in August, check to see if the Puck Fair is going on. You might also be interested in the K-Fest Musics and the Arts cultural festival in June or the Flavour of Killorglin food festival in September. Once you’ve had your fill of food and festivals in Killorglin, keep on driving southwest toward the Kerry Bog Museum. Order King Puck, a pale beer made in Killorglin! #7: Kerry Bog Village Museum With its glacier-carved mountains and cliffs and ancient stone ruins, the Ring of Kerry takes you back in time. The Kerry Bog Village Museum transports you to the 19th century, showing you the tough existence that people carved out for themselves in a peat bog. The Kerry Bog Village Museum features six dwellings with thatched roofs that have been restored to their original 1800s conditions. You can see how the blacksmith, thatcher, and laborers lived, as well as meet the native Kerry bog ponies and huge Irish wolfhounds native to the area. Irish wolfhounds may be all different colors, but all of them share one trait in common: they're huge. #8: Glenbeigh This area is called the Jewel in the Ring of Kerry. Here, you’ll see all the natural beauty that makes the Ring of Kerry great in one place: hills, mountains, rivers, beaches, and the wild Atlantic. It’s a popular place for hiking, nature tours, and horseback riding. I went horseback riding in Glenbeigh with Burke’s Beach Riding. We looped around Curra Mountain, descended into Horseshoe Valley, and rode along the sandy Rossbeigh Beach. The views over the sheep-filled fields and outstretched Dingle peninsula were spectacular, and horseback riding along the trails and beach was an unforgettable way to take everything in. Trail rides are available for both beginners and more experienced riders. I highly recommend doing one. #9: Cahirciveen Cahirciveen is a colorful small town with a population of around 1,300. Its main attractions are the Cahergal and Leacanabuaile forts, the remains of stone forts built around 600 AD that suggest the existence of an early Christian farming community. You could also visit the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church, one of the only churches in Ireland named after a layperson, and old army barracks that have been turned into a heritage center. Cahirciveen is proud of its history as the spot where the first shots of the 1867 Fenian Rising were fired, a rebellion against British rule. Cahirciveen is worth a stop for the old stone forts, but if you're pressed for time or staying on the eastern part of the ring, then you could opt to see Staigue Fort instead. #10: Ballycarbery Castle Cord Cardinal/Flickr After Caherciveen, the next place you could stop is Ballycarbery Castle. This once proud 16th century castle on a hill now stands in ivy and moss-covered ruins. As a huge fan of evocative ivy-covered ruins, I’d put this castle high on the list of must-sees. It’s a quick stop, but it’s a quintessential Ring of Kerry sight. Check it out! Note about the next few stops on the list: The next four stops are actually located on Skelligs Ring, an offshoot of N70, which is the technical Ring of Kerry. You can visit the villages of Portmagee and Valentia Island, take a boat to the Skellig’s Islands, or drive along St. Finian’s Bay. If you don’t have time or interest to venture off the Ring, then feel free to skip down to #15 on this list, Waterville! #: Portmagee This village, located 10 minutes off of N70, has some restaurants and accommodations, so you can stop here for lunch or to stay overnight. It’s most notable as the gateway to the Skelligs Islands, though, as well as the town you pass through to take the bridge to Valentia Islands. #12: Skellig Islands: Skellig Michael and Little Skellig Arian Zwegers/Flickr These islands lie just off the coast of Portmagee. Both are protected as bird sanctuaries, and they contain bustling populations of puffins, gannets, Arctic terns, guillemots, herring gulls, razorbill, fulmars, manx shearwaters, and cormorants. You can take a boat around Little Skellig, and you can actually land on and explore Skellig Michael. When you get to Skellig Michael, you’ll see the other-worldly remains of a 6th century Christian monastery. Monks lived a remote existence in beehive-shaped stone formations. Everyday, they descended 670 steps to catch fish for their meals. The ruins are now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and they’ll look mighty familiar if you’ve seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens. At the risk of spoiling the ending for anyone, I’ll just give you a two-word reminder of the scene: Luke Skywalker. To tour the Skellig Islands, you can sign up for a boat tour from Portmagee, Valentia Island, or Waterville. As protected areas, the number of visitors each day is limited, so sign up early! #13: Valentia Island You can reach Valentia Island, one of the most western points of Ireland, by bridge from Portmagee. Valentia played an important role in history- it was one of the stops of the first ever successful transatlantic cable. You should come to Valentia if you want to go hiking or see the majestic sea cliffs. You can hike the Geukaun Mountain and walk along the 600-foot cliffs. You can also walk out to tetrapod tracks, prints preserved from an animal for the past 385 million years. If I didn’t emphasize it enough already, the Ring of Kerry will blow your mind with the extent of its far-reaching natural and human history. #14: St. Finian’s Bay St. Finian’s Bay, known locally as the Glen, kicks up the natural beauty into hyperdrive with rolling mountains on one side and views across the Altantic, Skellig Islands, and Puffin Island on the other. Because of its big waves, St. Finian’s Bay is especially popular with divers and surfers. Another draw is Skellig’s Chocolate, a small, family-run chocolate factory and cafe with beautiful views over the bay. #15: Balinskelligs Balinskelligs is a coastal village of about 350, and one of the few remaining places in Ireland where people still speak Irish! You can find some pubs, cafes, and restaurants here, as well as accommodations to stay overnight. The best stops are Balinskelligs Beach, locally known as Ladies Beach, and the nearby ruins of McCarthy Mà ³r Castle. If you do stay overnight, you can take a â€Å"dark sky tour.† Since the area’s so free of pollution and light, you can see the stars and planets in the night sky as our ancient ancestors did. Go star-gazing in Balinskelligs with one of their "dark sky" tours! #16: Waterville This tiny village has a population of only 540, but it has plenty of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and hotels if you’re looking for a meal or to stay overnight. Like Beaufort, it’s one of the stops where the first transatlantic cable was laid in 1865. In 1866, a ship left from Waterville and laid cable from Ireland to Newfoundland, thereby linking Europe to North America. Waterville has a bunch of outdoor activities, including cycling, fishing, surfing, horseback riding, golf, beaches, and nature tours. Every August it holds a Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival. Why? Waterville was a favorite vacation spot for Charlie Chaplin back in the day. #17: Eightercua Stones Robert Linsdell/Flickr Ready for some more old stone structures? The Eightercua Stones is an important stop on most Ring of Kerry maps because the standing stones date all the way back to 1700 BC! This east-west row of stones is thought to be a Megalithic tomb and possibly the burial place of Scà ©ine, the wife of a Milesian leader. The Milesians were a group of people that conquered Ireland. The tallest stone is nine feet, and the entire tomb stretches 25 feet. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re a person who gets excited by ancient stone formations. And, honestly, who doesn’t get excited by ancient stone formations? #18: Loher Stone Fort Fast forward from the builders of Eightercua 2,500 years and you’ve got early Christians building a farm house inside a defensive wall. This 9th century stone fort overlooks Balinskelligs Bay. Again, it’s an intriguing and relatively quick stop if you’re interested in ancient ruins. #19: Derrynane This small village on the sea has beautiful sandy beaches and historical sites. The Derrynane Beach is a long, sandy beach sheltered by mountains. Nearby, you can tour the mysterious Derrynane Abbey, a 6th century abbey surrounded by graveyard that now sits in ruins overrun with plants. You can also check out Derrynane House, which was home to Daniel O’Connell, also known as the Liberator. O’Connell campaigned for independence from Britain in the 19th century. You can take a 30-minute guided tour of the house, learn about O’Connell and his family, and tour the surrounding 320-acre national park. Make time to see at least one beach along the Ring of Kerry, on foot or on horseback! #20: Caherdaniel This small village is most notable for the Caherdaniel Fort, a stone fort dating back to 600 AD. You can also find restaurants and hotels here, as well as beautiful views over Derrynane Bay. #21: Castlecove Beach This sandy beach is popular with locals and families. It has a good restaurant next to it, the Beach Side Restaurant and Bar. If you haven’t checked out a beach already, stop here at Castlecove. If you’re all beached out, then you can leave this one off your trip. #22: Staigue Fort Stefan Jurgenson/Flickr Staigue Fort is one of the most popular stops on the Ring of Kerry map when it comes to stone ruins. It’s a circular stone fort built as a stronghold for a lord or king sometime between 300 and 400 AD. This fort is especially impressive to historians because of its sophisticated engineering and stone masonry for the time. It’s a quick stop, but worth it to see what a 4th century fort looks like. #23: Sneem This charming small village on the River Sneem (population 600) is home to several artists and craftspeople, making it a good stop for shopping at galleries and craft stores. You might also enjoy Riney’s Bar and its traditional Irish pub food and atmosphere. Since it’s on the coast, you can find a few nearby beaches: White Strand Beach, Castle Cove, and O’Carroll’s Cove. #24: Dunkerron Castle This castle was built in the late 00s and converted into the Tudor-style around 1596. There’s only one standing wall left today. The rest is in ruins. Dunkerron can be tough to find, and you’ll have to off-road it a bit to get there. I wouldn’t highly recommend it unless you’re a diehard fan of ivy-covered castle ruins. Mary Sullivan/All rights reserved #25: Kenmare Of all the towns along the Ring of Kerry, Kenmare (population 2200) probably has the most to see and do. It has a range of hotels, BBs, hostels, guesthouses, and campsites, as well as a bunch of restaurants and pubs. Some of the best restaurants in Kenmare are The Mews Kenmare, Mulcahy’s Wild Garlic Restaurant, Packy’s, Number 35, PF McCarthy’s, and The Coachman’s. One fun Kenmare attraction is its annual October festival for needlepoint lace. During the Great Famine in the 1800s, sisters of the Poor Clare convent taught women and girls this skill to help them support themselves. Outside of the festival, you can buy lace, go to workshops, and watch demonstrations year-round. Two important historical sites in Kenmare are the Old Kenmare Cemetery and the Kenmare Stone Circle. The cemetery dates back to the 7th century, and it became a place of mass burials during the Great Famine. The Stone Circle was built between 2200 and 500 BC, likely for ceremonial purposes. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, then you might also remember the town’s name from the Quidditch World Cup. Kenmare was said to be home to the professional Quidditch team, the Kenmare Kestrels. #26: Moll’s Gap Tom Fahy/Flickr You’ll drive through Moll’s Gap on your way back toward Killarney, and you can pull over for a panoramic view of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range. Moll’s Gap is a popular stop for tour buses, and there’s an epic lookout point, as well as a souvenir shop and coffee shop. #27: Killarney National Park Once you’ve made it this far, you’re starting to get close to Killarney again. South of the town is the 25,000 acre Killarney National Park, the first national park in Ireland. About a quarter of it is made up by Lower Lake, Middle Lake, and Upper Lake. It’s the most extensive native forest in the country and has the only remaining herd of wild deer. The park is open year-round for hikers and bird-watchers. The next two stops, Ladies View and Torc Waterfall, are located in Killarney National Park. #28: Ladies View Ladies View is another popular stopping point for travelers on the Ring of Kerry. This viewpoint gives you sweeping views of the three lakes and mountains of Killarney National Park. Even though it can get crowded, it’s worth the stop for the National Geographic-worthy photographs. #29: Torc Waterfall Simon Caulton/Flickr This 70-foot high waterfall is just a five-minute walk off the road through pretty woodlands. It can get crowded, as the waterfall is a popular stop on the bus routes. For more gorgeous views over the lakes of Killarney National Park, you can climb 100 steps or so on the left side of the waterfall. #30: Muckross House This well-preserved Victorian mansion gives you guided tours of its furnished period rooms. Even if you don’t take a tour inside the house, you'll enjoy walking around the expansive grounds. Beyond the green lawns lie stone gardens, greenhouses, and working farms with sheep-shearing demonstrations. #31: Muckross Abbey Fred Zhang/All rights reserved This 15th-century abbey is surprisingly well-preserved, apart from the fact that it doesn’t have a roof. It was founded by Franciscan monks in 1448. The prettiest part of the abbey is the courtyard with a large yew tree in the center and a vaulted cloister. #32: Blue Pool Nature Reserve The nature reserve is a nice spot for walking through the woods, perhaps getting some glimpses of birds, deer, and other wildlife. The Cloghereen Blue Pool Walk takes you to the Blue Pool. Because of the limestone in the bottom, the pool can look bright turquoise. #33: Ross Castle Fred Zhang/All rights reserved Unlike some of the crumbling ruins along the Ring of Kerry, the Ross Castle is fully intact. You can tour the inside or just admire its stone exterior and the adjacent lake. Legend has it that its original owner, O’Donoghue, leaped into the lake with his horse, table, and library. He now lives in a palace at the bottom of a lake, watching over his castle and everything that goes on around it. You can rent boats and go out on the lake, as long as you’re careful not to disturb any 15th-century underwater ghosts. #34: Innisfallen Island Sandy Raidy/Flickr Across the lake sits Innisfallen Island and the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey. Monks lived here for 950 years until Queen Elizabeth I took it from them in 1594. Not cool, Elizabeth. On the island, monks wrote about the history of Ireland in the Annals of Innisfallen. Because of these records and the education offered here to monks and Irish kings, the lake got its name of Lough Leane, or the â€Å"lake of learning.† Once you’ve made your way through Killarney National Park and the stops along the way, you’ll end up right back where you started your journey, in Killarney! Whether you spent a few hours or a few days, you’ll see the stunning mountains, lakes, rivers, fields, and sea that make the Ring of Kerry one of the most beautiful drives in the world. With 34 stops (and then some, if you include all the spots of interest within each town), how can you choose which ones to include on your trip? While everyone's interests vary, here are my top picks for the best stops along the Ring of Kerry. Fred Zhang/All rights reserved Stops on the Ring of Kerry: Top Picks There are tons of places you could stop on the Ring of Kerry, but most of us don’t have days and days to explore. Unless you’re turning the Ring into a full-fledged, multi-day road trip, you probably want to know which stops are the best ones along the Ring. Here are my picks for the top Ring of Kerry attractions. Best Stone Forts: Staigue, Cahergal, and Leacanabuaile forts Best Beaches: Glenbeigh Beach and Derrynane Beach Best Castles: Ballycarbery Castle (for ivy-covered ruins) and Ross Castle (for a preserved castle that you can go inside) Best Historical House: Muckross House Best Lookout Point: Ladies View in Killarney National Park Best Town: Kenmare Best Day Trips: Skellig Islands and Horseback Riding If you don’t have time to drive the full ring, you might also choose just the west or east side and check out the top spots along the way. One common day trip from Killarney takes you to Muckross House, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall, and Ladies View. Then you can drive back through Killarney and get dinner at Kate Kearney’s Cottage. Exploring the Ring of Kerry: Final Tips The Ring of Kerry is a special place, with breathtaking vistas, roaming animals, and ancient stone formations that give you glimpses into thousands of years of human civilization. Because there are picturesque villages filled with pubs and inns along the way, you can take as much time driving the Ring as you like. The best way to decide where you want to go and how long long you want to spend is to familiarize yourself with the stops along the way and decide which ones interest you most. If you’re excited to horseback ride and take a boat to the Skellig Islands, then you might plan a three-day Ring of Kerry trip. If you’d like to make just five to six stops, perhaps a castle, some stone ruins, a lookout point, Torc waterfall, and Muckross House or Abbey, then you could fit everything into one full day. Based on how beautiful the Ring of Kerry is, I’d advise overestimating the amount of time you’ll need to take your trip. That way, you can make unexpected stops and take your time on one of the planet’s prettiest drives. When you're driving the Ring, you might find that the fickle weather changes quickly and often from sun to rain and back again. While this unpredictable weather could mean you’ll get wet along your hikes or horseback rides, it has a silver lining- it creates prime conditions for rainbows. I saw some of the longest and brightest rainbows I’ve ever seen on my trip to Ireland. Standing beside the ivy-strewn ruins of a thousand-year-old castle beneath a rainbow, you’ll truly be in awe of the magic that dances across the rivers and mountains of County Kerry.

Writing process before this class vs this class now Essay

Writing process before this class vs this class now - Essay Example Army, it was time for me to make life out of myself. In particular, this is the time when I had the opportunity to strive for higher education which I did not acquire while I was young. However, the experience in the first assignment on my memoir meant that I needed to acquire more knowledge in English if at all I was to become an orator and a respectable person in society. In this assignment, I only managed to get a C. This was because by writing neither reflected nor followed any of the process/rules of writing. In fact, my writing was not organized, had grammar, spelling and typo errors. Despite the challenges I went through in the first assignment on English 080 class, I encouraged myself and joined the English 090 class with the hope of turning the tables round. In this class we had to take the second assignment on writing a personal interview with my grandfather Thomas Clement II on CSM F despite not having done such. Although in this interview I had made a little improvement in my English, I only managed to get a C. Such poor performance resulted from the fact that despite having improved in my English, I had not achieved much on formatting the final written product. As such, I made proofreading errors which left my final paper with obvious clumsy and inappropriate wording and writing. As the saying goes, through determination and focus one can achieve much. I realized a big improvement in my English after taking my third assignment on â€Å"the importance of securing the boarder on US Safety and Security†. This was evidenced by a rise from a grade C to B+. To me, this was a great metamorphosis which could not be attributed to the fact that the assignment was on my experience as a U.S. Army officer, but on the fact that I had learnt a few tricks about the process and the rules of English writing in the course of my learning and my determination to correct the mistakes made on the previous in my next assignment. It is evident that effective