Ireland, the Unbeatable

First off, I’m sincerely sorry for not updating these past few days. 

Secondly, however, it’s by no fault of mine that Ireland is just that wonderful.

Proof that Ireland is better? In London I paid about ten euro to use the internet over the span of two days. Since I’ve been in Ireland, I’ve had free internet for six days and am just now getting to this. So also, on behalf of Ireland’s greatness, I apologize.

In order to hold your interest and not bore you over hundreds of details, I’ll simply recap some of my travels and then try my best to update daily from now on.

September 9, Thursday

Stefano, “[insert expletive]...”

Jaimie, groggy…“What?”

Stefano, “[another expletive], you slept in.”

Jaimie, rather alert…”Oh!”

And so started my morning and my missed flight to Dublin, despite Stefano’s speed racer efforts to get me there on time. I got the next flight out and arrived around 10 am. I loved Ireland before I even left the airport. The people are beyond friendly.

It was too early to check in to my hostel, but I left my luggage in storage, explored the city, and absolutely loved it.

A few pictures from my first day wandering Dublin...

This stone is supposed to bring you luck

When I was able to check in to the Four Courts Hostel it was late afternoon and I was the only one in the room.

Situation: In desperate need of a shower, I didn’t even bother unpacking before I headed in. No towel? Eh, no problem. 

Dilemma: Completely refreshed after shower. Stepping out, heard some boys in the room. No towel? Problem. 

I stayed in a while, hoping that perhaps they’d leave. Then it dawned at me that they could either be 

a) waiting for the bathroom themselves, b) thinking, as the shower was no longer running, that I was simply using the restroom this long. And as both of those options seemed out of my favor, I dried off with my scarf, dawned my previously worn clothes and headed out to a room now occupied by five guys.

They were from England, just visiting Dublin for a few days. Some great guys for sure, and rather entertaining. 

 Jason, Tom, Um..., Jason, and shoot, I did know all their names at one point. 

They were silly.

That night I went to a BBQ the hostel hosts weekly and met a bunch of great people—Hannah Yeats being one of them. More on her later.*

The group of us, more or less together, headed out around eleven to a club opening. Now, when I was 18 I went to this 21 and under club. It was kind of a joke, honestly. So I don’t consider myself to have been to a legit club. And now I have learned that legit clubs aren’t really my style. My throat was sore the next morning from having to shout in order to be heard, which most of you know, is a slight feat in itself for me. The club was full of kids (sixteen or so—they’re more lax here about that), complete with a bouncy castle, swimming pool downstairs, and a giant twister game. It was an experience. We headed back to the hostel around 4:30 and I stumbled* into bed around 7:00 am. Quite a night.

* "Stumbled" doesn’t denote any relation to drunkenness, simply the state one would understandably be in at such a time. 

*Okay, so right before we left for the BBQ, I introduced myself to another girl. Turns out she was traveling alone as well. We, very coincidentally, had the same travel itinerary, and at the same time, ironically didn't exactly have a set itinerary. We were in Cork together today and we're meeting up in Killarney tomorrow. She's twenty from Idaho and I absolutely adore her. 

The one and only...Hannah Yeats

Right by the bench where we met :)

I love her.

We were complete failures at trying to get a shot midair.

Telling Stu that I wanted him to get Temple Bar in the background. Instead, this face happened.

In Temple Bar

Hannah's funny face far exceeds my own. Also, there's a hole in my shirt.

September 10, Friday

(I realize this is turning out rather detailed) Here…

1.     I went shopping in an adorable area of Dublin.

Grafton Street shopping

a.     It’s funny, I’d never spend $73.36 on a hat and scarf in the states. But in Europe the reasonability factor somehow gets thrown out because…they’re on the ever deceptive euro….er, and I’m on vacation?...And this store doesn’t exist in the states? Ah, okay, so perhaps none of this stands alone in itself.

But, before I venture further, and surely before judgment is unfairly placed, allow me to bring attention to the reader the fact that I have not, save for one time on my entire trip, used my own money to go out. I did take this into account, reasoning that 57 euro would have surely been spent otherwise. And, you know, I’m just gonna pull out the I-am-traveling-all-alone-in-a-foreign-country-and-this-is my-own-money-so-I-can-spend-it-however-I-want card and it negates any cloudy judgment, if not complete irresponsibility, on my part. So there.

Or, as they say with MasterCard…

Adorable organic cotton scarf, 20 euro

Even more adorable red knit hat, 27 euro

Shopping in adorable Grafton Street in Ireland immersed in Dublin city centre life? Priceless.

So there x2.

Except my slogan would end with….

“There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else there’s [living by one’s wits, or a more shallow version, one’s looks. And shall the two former fail…go hungry]” (obviously not preferable). 

And the defendant pleads: not guilty.

 

2.     Visited St. Stephen’s Green, a breathtaking park

3.     Watched a Scottish man do a street show

4.   Went to Trinity College, saw Book of Kells and the Longroom (which I am still devising a way to steal) 

The Longroom: I sat here so long, one of the guides asked me if I was okay.
Also, I did not take this picture because you're not allowed to :(

Inside the courts of Trinity College

5.     Went out to Temple Bar with Hannah and Stu. Had dinner at a Mexican place. 

6.     Met some hostel workers at Gypsy Rose

7.     Headed to the Stag’s Head for some live Irish music. Such fun. 

The beautiful Hannah, from Idaho

Stu, from England

These guys were excellent.

 This clip shows some locals getting their Irish groove on.

September 11, Saturday

1.     Went Running.

a.     I met THE cutest twelve-year-old boys on my run--Dylan, Robert, and Killian. They were fishing for crabs and I had the privilege of talking to them for a bit before the rain poured down on me. We are now facebook friends, if you hadn’t noticed (I just finished a lovely FB chat with one, ha)

b.     When I left that morning, it was clear and sunny. White t-shirt? Perfectly reasonable. As I said, not too long later it started raining (typical Ireland weather). White t-shirt? Perfectly reasonable…for a different district. Bah. It caused me to run like I was, no disrespect, retarded, in attempts to be modest. It’s only the second time I’ve been caught in the rain, and both times with the same white, sheer shirt. I am choosing to retire it for the time being as I feel it may bring on the water in these skies.

2.     Went to an Indian restaurant with Stu.

3.     Watched some sports in a more modern, definitely not very authentically Irish, pub.

4.     Went back to the Stag’s Head for more live music.

September 12, Sunday

1.     Went for another run.

2.     Left for Cork

3.     Arrived around 6:30 pm

4.     Met up with Hannah

5.     Listened to live music while chatting outside with German girl, Angi, and meeting plenty of interesting travelers as well as locals.

Some excerpts taken from journal writing the past few days...

"I'd like to think I had my own P.S. I Love You moment without the pub or the musician or Gerard Butler...and probably more like a P.S. I Kinda Like You moment, but nonetheless I adore Irish men. Someday I will marry one I swear (until I visit the next country I love and then those men are on the market. It's gonna be hard to beat I think)"

"Mom, you're so lucky you got me a house in Monmouth. Otherwise, honest to goodness, I would stay here for school. Perhaps settling me down via a house was the plan, eh? Smart move."

"I went running this morning. I was thinking to myself as I was tying my laces, "My goodness, I  really need to work out. It's been a while." 

False.
I start running and think, "Shoot, I've been walking heaps every day. Why the heck am I running??" 

"You realize you are on a tight budget while traveling abroad when you...

• Get upset when you lose a protein bar. Honestly, I have NO idea where that thing went today!
• Are in line for a free BBQ, get your bun ready with mustard and ketchup (when you don't even really like mustard and ketchup), find out the meat is pork, and still eat the bun plain...
• Walk evverywhere possible instead of taking transportation, even if it's only 2 pounds, or 1.60 euro..."

I realize I only caught up to yesterday, but this post has expended the extent of my energy and I'm due at a friend's flat about fifteen minutes ago.

Perhaps, but not likely, I will update later on today's happenings so that I can be all caught up. 

I am headed west tomorrow to beautiful Killarney :)

Staying safe, having fun, hugs and kisses to all,

Jaimie Nicole