I can see now why the German boys I had met briefly in Galway said it was their favorite European city. It is enchanting. Edinburgh Castle looms over the city from a high mountain. All the buildings are beautifully decorated, and of older architecture. They are also suprisingly big. In the cities early history, many people who would travel here would think that they were in a large East Coast city. I left Dublin this morning, and the flight was relatively quick and painless. Right of the bus I hopped onto a city tour, because it was already close to four, and I reloads it was larger than the cities I have been to so far. I thought this would show me the hotspots quick, being that the weather was a little rainy and very windy upon arrival, and maybe I'd pass by and see where my hostel was. No such luck, but it was nice having the min attractions pointed out, and the brief history lesson. I found the direction, generally, that my hostel might be in and set off. I had my pack with me the whole time and was ready to lighten the load.
While on my walk I found a Scottland highland tour office, so fortunately I made my reservation, because they only had one seat for the next two days, and they pointed out my hostel. It was in a thin little corridor so I don't know if I would have found it. Brodie's backpackers. No Internet, and pretty basic...just a bed. Right across the street from parliament and right near the castle, also close to main street, Royal mile, the bus stop and across the street from my early morning tour, so cant complain. Royal mile is a really neat street, all cobblestone, and underground entrances to the castle. Where I am at is considered old town, and the other side of Edinburgh is a bit more modern. I will have to reference my notes from my tour, where I happily sat outside in the rain for the better view, to share some fun facts later.
There is a really cool Polish girl in my hostel, and we have found Internet together, and will probably go for and drink and food. She travels a lot, but is settled down for one more yer to graduate Cambridge. She just returned from southeast Asia, where she travelled for the summer. She loves meeting new people, so she was thrilled that someone sociable checked in. She also knows someone living here, near the university, so when I am back from my tour tomorrow, we my have a night out on the town. We both leave Wednesday, but she told me I should visit in Cambridge in november, I will definitely take her up, and maybe we could take a trip down to London. She also has a lot of connections from traveling around Europe, and a number of friends on couch surfers, so she may be able to help me with some alternative accommodations to hostels. I'm thrilled to be going to the highlands tomorrow, and am doing the nine hour trip, which will take me all the way to loch ness, and a lot of other beautiful scenic spots.
Internet is inconvenient here, but if I am out on the town, and have access I will try to get in contact. Love you guys. Farewell
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Dublin
Captain's log: day...who even knows. Going into this one with my last buzz from Irelans. Had to have a few Guiness at temple bar. I don't tend to right after drinking, but then again I don't tend to drink alone, and yet again agin are you really alone in a bar with loads of people, even if they don't speak English, to engage in random and pointless conversation... I say nay.
Dublin is a very neat city, and far bigger than all the others I've been too. I missed the tour to the ancient Celtic sight Newgrange this morning. There wAs no way that, for lack of a better word, I was going to get Ny sleep with the fuckers, excuse my language mother, that were up until the crack of dawn in my room and the guy that I thought was having an asthma attack in his sleep henwas snoring so loud. Was wondering when mynfirst rediculous hostsel, or hostile hostel haha, experience was going to come about. I called it quotes when the ouley wouldn't work to charge my iPod, and had to go get a key for another room. The obnoxious American girls and two obnoxious Australian boy's Blau faintly ignorant and mindless conversation and battle over whose country was better pushed me over the edge, and some stole my towel, ew, but stiLl that shit was like 16 euro, light weight, for that price it should have been cougar fur.
I spent my morning finding the other guy who gave up on sleeping in that room before I even went in, to retrieve it. Hotel staff got it for me. I was about to make wanted posters. Spent my whole afternoon exploring Dublin and successfully thing in those five to six hours found every nook and crany.
My last few days before Dublin were good fun. I walked Ucc, the college in Cork, the first might back. It was gorgeous, I think it just got upgraded to a five star campus. It was like a mini hogwarts. The next day, after sleeping of myna
L nighter i visited blarney. The castle was neat, but exploring the grounds for the three hours after closing with no one around was the most spectacular. They kept the grounds astonishingly groomed. It was like a fairy tail. I roamed in the Forrest trails, and off the Forrest trails. There was a fern garden, where the ferns were like trees, it looked tropical, and kind of like a game board from super Mario bros. There were gardens and a river walk, rabbits bulging out every ten minutes and hills of green and cows grazing.
The minute I hit the the streets this afternoon I ran I to Simons and the other Italian boy from Galway. I heard them yell out my name right when I was getting my bearings. It was good seeing a friendly face. They are very delightful sweet boy, and for some strange reason find me quite fascinating haha. I joined them for fish n chips. It was like they read my mind because this was exactly what in was wandering to find to start my day. They had a place suggested to them. They treated me to lunch, against my will. What gentlemen, then sent me on my way. I will surely contact them while visiting Naples.
I saw the university, the cathedrals, old Viking town, st.
tricks cathedral, Dublin castle, and all the random districts. Temple bar, which is a street, and area, as well as the popular bar, is a neat area for the night time, with late night pubs and cobble stone streets.
I really can't think of much else to share so....recap on Ireland:
Moro bars are the most spectacular cheap chocolate bar ever one Ted: they're from cadbury, which I noticed is the leading cheap candy in shops and gas stations.
Pikey's, for those who are unfamiliar with this, the u.k. Gypsys, really are a nuisance.
I saw a midget dressed up like a leprecon today.
I can't even go intomthe lingo, but no I cannot understand half the time when a group Irish are speKing quickly to one another.
The Craic is the fun.
Guiness tastes no different, however, the other beers like, the original budwieser, hieneken and much more, aren't dampened and chemicaled down to hardly any percent alcohol, and don't taste like shit.
Irish men propose on a first glance
Sprise...it rains alot
Plumbing hardly works
Shocker...they stop serving beer, if you are buying it to party locally and not at the pubs, by ten.
A load of people surf
With the new generation, very few are practicing Catholics
there are vegetarian options everywhere. While right next to them helpings of meat, layered on top of meat, on a meat patty topped with meat pudding are the number one sold dishes.
The stereotype of Irish folks being amongst the friendliest and most considerate in Europe has rung true for me.
When it came to leaving my new friends in Cork I choked back tears. Leaving Ireland is not a pleasant thought.
What a remarkable place in this world. Farewell, Ireland. Hopefully come through again soon.
Off to Scotland...which I'm sure is beaming with history, not to mention the home of my historical heroes, William Wallace and Robert LeBruce. beginning my journey in Ireland, and then to Scotland, makes me not the least bit disappointed in having to skip over England.
Love you all,
Sierra
Dublin is a very neat city, and far bigger than all the others I've been too. I missed the tour to the ancient Celtic sight Newgrange this morning. There wAs no way that, for lack of a better word, I was going to get Ny sleep with the fuckers, excuse my language mother, that were up until the crack of dawn in my room and the guy that I thought was having an asthma attack in his sleep henwas snoring so loud. Was wondering when mynfirst rediculous hostsel, or hostile hostel haha, experience was going to come about. I called it quotes when the ouley wouldn't work to charge my iPod, and had to go get a key for another room. The obnoxious American girls and two obnoxious Australian boy's Blau faintly ignorant and mindless conversation and battle over whose country was better pushed me over the edge, and some stole my towel, ew, but stiLl that shit was like 16 euro, light weight, for that price it should have been cougar fur.
I spent my morning finding the other guy who gave up on sleeping in that room before I even went in, to retrieve it. Hotel staff got it for me. I was about to make wanted posters. Spent my whole afternoon exploring Dublin and successfully thing in those five to six hours found every nook and crany.
My last few days before Dublin were good fun. I walked Ucc, the college in Cork, the first might back. It was gorgeous, I think it just got upgraded to a five star campus. It was like a mini hogwarts. The next day, after sleeping of myna
L nighter i visited blarney. The castle was neat, but exploring the grounds for the three hours after closing with no one around was the most spectacular. They kept the grounds astonishingly groomed. It was like a fairy tail. I roamed in the Forrest trails, and off the Forrest trails. There was a fern garden, where the ferns were like trees, it looked tropical, and kind of like a game board from super Mario bros. There were gardens and a river walk, rabbits bulging out every ten minutes and hills of green and cows grazing.
The minute I hit the the streets this afternoon I ran I to Simons and the other Italian boy from Galway. I heard them yell out my name right when I was getting my bearings. It was good seeing a friendly face. They are very delightful sweet boy, and for some strange reason find me quite fascinating haha. I joined them for fish n chips. It was like they read my mind because this was exactly what in was wandering to find to start my day. They had a place suggested to them. They treated me to lunch, against my will. What gentlemen, then sent me on my way. I will surely contact them while visiting Naples.
I saw the university, the cathedrals, old Viking town, st.
tricks cathedral, Dublin castle, and all the random districts. Temple bar, which is a street, and area, as well as the popular bar, is a neat area for the night time, with late night pubs and cobble stone streets.
I really can't think of much else to share so....recap on Ireland:
Moro bars are the most spectacular cheap chocolate bar ever one Ted: they're from cadbury, which I noticed is the leading cheap candy in shops and gas stations.
Pikey's, for those who are unfamiliar with this, the u.k. Gypsys, really are a nuisance.
I saw a midget dressed up like a leprecon today.
I can't even go intomthe lingo, but no I cannot understand half the time when a group Irish are speKing quickly to one another.
The Craic is the fun.
Guiness tastes no different, however, the other beers like, the original budwieser, hieneken and much more, aren't dampened and chemicaled down to hardly any percent alcohol, and don't taste like shit.
Irish men propose on a first glance
Sprise...it rains alot
Plumbing hardly works
Shocker...they stop serving beer, if you are buying it to party locally and not at the pubs, by ten.
A load of people surf
With the new generation, very few are practicing Catholics
there are vegetarian options everywhere. While right next to them helpings of meat, layered on top of meat, on a meat patty topped with meat pudding are the number one sold dishes.
The stereotype of Irish folks being amongst the friendliest and most considerate in Europe has rung true for me.
When it came to leaving my new friends in Cork I choked back tears. Leaving Ireland is not a pleasant thought.
What a remarkable place in this world. Farewell, Ireland. Hopefully come through again soon.
Off to Scotland...which I'm sure is beaming with history, not to mention the home of my historical heroes, William Wallace and Robert LeBruce. beginning my journey in Ireland, and then to Scotland, makes me not the least bit disappointed in having to skip over England.
Love you all,
Sierra
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Back in Cork
It feel nice being back somewhere I am familiar with. I getting very comfortable in Ireland. I recognize, and am recognized by people around town from the shops and the hostel. Makes for a smooth transition into travel mood. My food from the market is still here which is also nice! I think they knew I was coming back so they didn't ditch it. Nothing to exciting planned for the night. May go down later to hang out in the Bru. I plan on taking the bus to Blarney castle at some point tomorrow. I got distracted from a visit there the last time I was in town. There is this nice Estonian girl I may come back to the hostel to get tomorrow after I check out to come along. She was shocked that I knew about Estonia. It is a small country with a population of about one million. They have they great custom, however, I doing work travel. The young people quit often will anually go to work somewhere else until there work visa runs up, then return home and move onto somewhere else. This is how I know of the place. In both of the restaurants I worked at in Hawaii and the Kandoo boat thing there were two people from Estonia traveling together. Mostly Beautiful blondes, much like Iceland. Off now to seek out the famous Macallean (I think?) hot chocolate shop, since there is no need to buy food. Peace and love
your little homie,
Sierra Rae
your little homie,
Sierra Rae
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Aron Islands
Like stepping into another time. The Aron islands were one a part of the Burren, which is the haunting and remote western coast of Ireland. There are three islands; inis Mor, inis meain, and inis oirr. The residents that dwell here, all 800 or so, retain the only living Celtic culture. They speak primarily Irish, but most know English as well. They are famous for there had knit wool Aran sweaters. The origins of these sweaters lay within the family lineages of the islands. They initially were knit by the woman, each family having there own unique stitch. Those who still knit these sweaters, keep with the tradition and stitch of there own family, making each shop that has them unique in there own way. The largest, containing the most ancient sites is inis Mor. This is where I, thankfully stumbled out of bed despite sans alarm clock, to head off to today. Can't forget about first indulging in the stupedious complimentary breakfast of cornflakes or toast. This has got to be the universal hostel breakfast, in caparison to continental breakfast just discusting. Hey I'm not complaining. Packed my eighth peanut butter and jelly of the week and off I go.
The bustier from Galway takes about an hour and the ferry ride is about forty five minutes. ThE seas we crossed were billowing with waves. They actually seemed quite intimidating. I kept thinking as I got closer and closer to the coSt and could view the break, that this would be a very interesting, let alone extremely remote, place to go on a surf trip. Sure enough as I got off the fairy I walked past another ferry unloading kite boards for a couple of backpackers. There is actually one hotel on the island. The island is relatively small, about nine miles around to the major sites, and all very a cesible by bike. I decide to rent a bike for the day. Just as I thought, finally alone on this trip I've been trying to take alone, a sweet little lady rides next to me while I'm starting of. I couldn't refuse. She was from Venzuela. Her English is pretty good for conversation, but she said she has a hard time understanding the maps and getting directions. We set of. She turned out to be a wonderful traveling companion.
The lanscape of this island was unreal. The land and field were brides out and separated by extensive rock fences. All still maintained by the communities of farmers. The houses are very old tradition, some evn having thatched roofs. It is a bit windy, and I am assuming it rains a lot. It only sprinkled briefly a couple times while I was visiting however, I also was suprised to find out from one of the ladies at the shop, Victoria from Venezuela has a charming way abPout her of engaging with anyone she is interested in all of five foot and a really eccentric and excitable landy, that you can harvest year round. An extremely self sustainable island. Blackberry bushes grow all along the rock fences and wild flowers are strewn all throughout the green fields. It is hard to go far without stopping to take in the diverse and unique landscape. Not to mention the numerous ruins of old Celtic forts, early Christian churches beehives and small monastery ruins, from first century Christians to Ireland. The most famous being teampall bheanain, the worlds smallest church, and teampall mhic dhuach. The most famous feature of the island is the hill fort Dun Aonghas, the most spectacular semi circle Celtic stone fort. Going to this excavated site alone would have made the trip worth it. After stopping in the one other little, two shop one cafe town on Opposite side of the island from where our ferry dropped us off, we heading that way. Not without first collecting an Aran hand knit wool sweater for Zoie. And yes, I will kill you megan if you ever get rid of it.
You have to park your bike before gaining access into the site, and then walk up the stone pathway to it. More breathtaking than the fort itself I can easily say, is the famous cliffs, that had once been a part of the long stretch of sea cliffs expanding down much of the wester coast of Ireland. ( still working on those pictures, along with more than four or five hours of sleep a day.) it was ripping wind from time to time and rain showers danced across the expansive Atlantic. You could walk right up to the edges, it was a bit eery. Breathtaking. The sun broke thru and the ocean turned baby blue in the spots hitting the bottom of the, had to of been, hundred or more foot, cliffs. Victoria and I yelled and jumped with excitement. For all the people who got off the ferry we didn't cross paths with more than one or two people at any point. I also don't think many of the other passengers wanted to take on the wind and chance of rain. Victoria and I were determined. In her adorable Spanish accent she said, " I could see nothing more and go home happy". And just kept repeating I am so happy.
I have found that on my trip so far I have warmed up to the older woman I meet, much more so than any of the other travelers. Even the multitude of young travelers, all about my age, seemed shocked that I could do such a thing and not be lonely. Many of them have assumed I am much older until they finally approach ,e about my age. It is funny too, because despite that fact that none of them have been more than a year younger than I am, I see them all as very young. I have been fortunate in that all of them are very sweet. The two Italian kids, 22 year olds I should say ivied me to stay with them in Naples Italy, or at the very least allow them to show me the town for the day. The same with the Spanish and German visitors. As much as I try to go off on my own I feel like I cannot escape friendly faces. I shouldn't complain about this by any means. The two Italian boys flattered me by sharing with me, " that there is something we must tell you, in all of our travels we have never seen such a beautiful woman as brave as you.". It took a lt for them to spit it out.
I suppose my attraction to the woman that I have met, is that most of the ones I have designated time for, inspire me. Victoria and Noel among them were both strong spirited women. It is wonderful to take pieces of people I meet and who I admire. From those I have met in life, and and fortunate to still come across, it is like I aspire to be like that one day. This must be a reason for attraction to and gravitation towards these sort of woman on my travels, I can't say there have been many instances in my life where I have met a man and said, "I would really like to be like that some day." Victoria and I also have the same birthday we found out, making us both rambunctious leos.
After our over stimulating visit to the ancient Celtic site we hustled back to the main town to catch the fairy. We took the inland road, which had even more spectacular sights and ocean views that stretched our over the maze of hundreds of stone fences. Structures of long Histories and of the ancient past fill the landscape. It was a stunning adventure.
After returning Victoria and I walked around town to find a good, and affordable place to eat. We stumbled across a great Italian run pizza and pasta parlor. I had pizza with potato and onion, strange but it looked and tasted delicious. I feel like I'm carb loading, between the pbj's, starch bar breakfast and beer almost every night, but nothing has preservatives and I walk so much I think it makes no difference. Fruits and vegetables are easy to grab on the go as well, and I always have some stashed away on me. Victoria and I chatted for a long time, until I had to help her find her way back to her hostel. Due to her thrill and excitement it is hard to keep her attention. She managed to have the band that had just assemble in the street play a song for me, and almost had them pack back up, ready to go out to the pub. Free spirited nature isn't in short supply here. It is such a remarkable way to see people love there day to day life's that way, an unrestricted by the miniscule stresses of life.
When I finlly got viotoria back to her hostel, she wrote down her name, email, phone number, oh wait there's more, and address so if the other venues don't seem to be adequate enough, I can just show up in Venezuela, and the door is open. She does a lot of hiking and camping alone in the mountains and loves to travel. She has two children my age, a son and daughter. She wanted to look after me I think. She was adorable. Interesting suggestions on camping gear which tied in with my interests of Scottish history. She had come from Edinburgh, which is my stop after Dublin. She informed me that she found out, while there, that there is no privately owned property in Scott and, outside the cities. Many people live in tents in the hills and mountains, like a part of the culture. You literally can gypsy around the highlands. Without adequate gear however this would be suicide. I am sure there were far more points of interest. All packed up and finally reorganized from my scramble around this far. Check out by 10:30 , then lock my bags to take one last walk around Galway before catching the bus back to Cork at half eleven, as they say 11:30 here. Take care and goodnight.
- love, Sierra
The bustier from Galway takes about an hour and the ferry ride is about forty five minutes. ThE seas we crossed were billowing with waves. They actually seemed quite intimidating. I kept thinking as I got closer and closer to the coSt and could view the break, that this would be a very interesting, let alone extremely remote, place to go on a surf trip. Sure enough as I got off the fairy I walked past another ferry unloading kite boards for a couple of backpackers. There is actually one hotel on the island. The island is relatively small, about nine miles around to the major sites, and all very a cesible by bike. I decide to rent a bike for the day. Just as I thought, finally alone on this trip I've been trying to take alone, a sweet little lady rides next to me while I'm starting of. I couldn't refuse. She was from Venzuela. Her English is pretty good for conversation, but she said she has a hard time understanding the maps and getting directions. We set of. She turned out to be a wonderful traveling companion.
The lanscape of this island was unreal. The land and field were brides out and separated by extensive rock fences. All still maintained by the communities of farmers. The houses are very old tradition, some evn having thatched roofs. It is a bit windy, and I am assuming it rains a lot. It only sprinkled briefly a couple times while I was visiting however, I also was suprised to find out from one of the ladies at the shop, Victoria from Venezuela has a charming way abPout her of engaging with anyone she is interested in all of five foot and a really eccentric and excitable landy, that you can harvest year round. An extremely self sustainable island. Blackberry bushes grow all along the rock fences and wild flowers are strewn all throughout the green fields. It is hard to go far without stopping to take in the diverse and unique landscape. Not to mention the numerous ruins of old Celtic forts, early Christian churches beehives and small monastery ruins, from first century Christians to Ireland. The most famous being teampall bheanain, the worlds smallest church, and teampall mhic dhuach. The most famous feature of the island is the hill fort Dun Aonghas, the most spectacular semi circle Celtic stone fort. Going to this excavated site alone would have made the trip worth it. After stopping in the one other little, two shop one cafe town on Opposite side of the island from where our ferry dropped us off, we heading that way. Not without first collecting an Aran hand knit wool sweater for Zoie. And yes, I will kill you megan if you ever get rid of it.
You have to park your bike before gaining access into the site, and then walk up the stone pathway to it. More breathtaking than the fort itself I can easily say, is the famous cliffs, that had once been a part of the long stretch of sea cliffs expanding down much of the wester coast of Ireland. ( still working on those pictures, along with more than four or five hours of sleep a day.) it was ripping wind from time to time and rain showers danced across the expansive Atlantic. You could walk right up to the edges, it was a bit eery. Breathtaking. The sun broke thru and the ocean turned baby blue in the spots hitting the bottom of the, had to of been, hundred or more foot, cliffs. Victoria and I yelled and jumped with excitement. For all the people who got off the ferry we didn't cross paths with more than one or two people at any point. I also don't think many of the other passengers wanted to take on the wind and chance of rain. Victoria and I were determined. In her adorable Spanish accent she said, " I could see nothing more and go home happy". And just kept repeating I am so happy.
I have found that on my trip so far I have warmed up to the older woman I meet, much more so than any of the other travelers. Even the multitude of young travelers, all about my age, seemed shocked that I could do such a thing and not be lonely. Many of them have assumed I am much older until they finally approach ,e about my age. It is funny too, because despite that fact that none of them have been more than a year younger than I am, I see them all as very young. I have been fortunate in that all of them are very sweet. The two Italian kids, 22 year olds I should say ivied me to stay with them in Naples Italy, or at the very least allow them to show me the town for the day. The same with the Spanish and German visitors. As much as I try to go off on my own I feel like I cannot escape friendly faces. I shouldn't complain about this by any means. The two Italian boys flattered me by sharing with me, " that there is something we must tell you, in all of our travels we have never seen such a beautiful woman as brave as you.". It took a lt for them to spit it out.
I suppose my attraction to the woman that I have met, is that most of the ones I have designated time for, inspire me. Victoria and Noel among them were both strong spirited women. It is wonderful to take pieces of people I meet and who I admire. From those I have met in life, and and fortunate to still come across, it is like I aspire to be like that one day. This must be a reason for attraction to and gravitation towards these sort of woman on my travels, I can't say there have been many instances in my life where I have met a man and said, "I would really like to be like that some day." Victoria and I also have the same birthday we found out, making us both rambunctious leos.
After our over stimulating visit to the ancient Celtic site we hustled back to the main town to catch the fairy. We took the inland road, which had even more spectacular sights and ocean views that stretched our over the maze of hundreds of stone fences. Structures of long Histories and of the ancient past fill the landscape. It was a stunning adventure.
After returning Victoria and I walked around town to find a good, and affordable place to eat. We stumbled across a great Italian run pizza and pasta parlor. I had pizza with potato and onion, strange but it looked and tasted delicious. I feel like I'm carb loading, between the pbj's, starch bar breakfast and beer almost every night, but nothing has preservatives and I walk so much I think it makes no difference. Fruits and vegetables are easy to grab on the go as well, and I always have some stashed away on me. Victoria and I chatted for a long time, until I had to help her find her way back to her hostel. Due to her thrill and excitement it is hard to keep her attention. She managed to have the band that had just assemble in the street play a song for me, and almost had them pack back up, ready to go out to the pub. Free spirited nature isn't in short supply here. It is such a remarkable way to see people love there day to day life's that way, an unrestricted by the miniscule stresses of life.
When I finlly got viotoria back to her hostel, she wrote down her name, email, phone number, oh wait there's more, and address so if the other venues don't seem to be adequate enough, I can just show up in Venezuela, and the door is open. She does a lot of hiking and camping alone in the mountains and loves to travel. She has two children my age, a son and daughter. She wanted to look after me I think. She was adorable. Interesting suggestions on camping gear which tied in with my interests of Scottish history. She had come from Edinburgh, which is my stop after Dublin. She informed me that she found out, while there, that there is no privately owned property in Scott and, outside the cities. Many people live in tents in the hills and mountains, like a part of the culture. You literally can gypsy around the highlands. Without adequate gear however this would be suicide. I am sure there were far more points of interest. All packed up and finally reorganized from my scramble around this far. Check out by 10:30 , then lock my bags to take one last walk around Galway before catching the bus back to Cork at half eleven, as they say 11:30 here. Take care and goodnight.
- love, Sierra
Monday, September 5, 2011
Wandering in the famous rain of Galway
I set out today to learn every corner of Galway. It began to storm a couple hours in, but that is expected here. I didn't give up. It is a really neat little city with rivers and harbors around the outskirts. The streets are labeled a little bit better here thatn they had been in cork. I found a really neat bead shop and got Tori some beads as a Sligo ere, with the expectation of some neat jewelry coming out of it my way. I may have gone a bit overboard. I also found aroma sweaters, which are beautiful local made wool sweater, pretty penny for one however. I think I also may have found the cross I want to get for grandma as well. The shops closed by the time I made it back four hours later. I found the Spanish arc. I walked off the beaten path as well along the river shore past the arc where old sail boats are washed up on to the rocky beach. Makes for a very neat picture. Found all the hotspots that were suggested to me aside from belle book and candle which is somewhere along an unmarked street My only break in my wanderings was for a hot bowl of clam chowder and brown bread.
I take back that nothing here is worth the money regarding food. A lot of pubs have some great soup and it is always served with homemade brown bread, and inexpensively priced. I got clam chowder and the clams in it were huge. The vegetable shops are great too. The stuff is straight out of the ground covered in dirt. I got a potato, zucchini, onion and broccoli for two euro, with enough to eat for breakfast tomorrow, or bring on my trip to the Aron islands.
The hostel provides breakfast. I like the feel of the city here. It is described by locals
and in most things I've read as a little bohemian town. There are alot of old buildings and
stone building, and of course little cathedrals nestled in alleyways and around some corners.
The city center can only be walked thru and some streets a cobblestone. There's Live music
in all the pubs at night and neT little shops and galleries. Quit charming. Now that I've
made my dinner and hung my clothes up to dry off to listen to some live music. The sunsets pretty late here still, just past 8 and I did not realize I was walking around until so late. Farewell...love you
I take back that nothing here is worth the money regarding food. A lot of pubs have some great soup and it is always served with homemade brown bread, and inexpensively priced. I got clam chowder and the clams in it were huge. The vegetable shops are great too. The stuff is straight out of the ground covered in dirt. I got a potato, zucchini, onion and broccoli for two euro, with enough to eat for breakfast tomorrow, or bring on my trip to the Aron islands.
The hostel provides breakfast. I like the feel of the city here. It is described by locals
and in most things I've read as a little bohemian town. There are alot of old buildings and
stone building, and of course little cathedrals nestled in alleyways and around some corners.
The city center can only be walked thru and some streets a cobblestone. There's Live music
in all the pubs at night and neT little shops and galleries. Quit charming. Now that I've
made my dinner and hung my clothes up to dry off to listen to some live music. The sunsets pretty late here still, just past 8 and I did not realize I was walking around until so late. Farewell...love you
Galway
Charming little city. It is famous for it's rain. The hostel I'm staying at is the Kinnley house. It is massive, with large lounge room almost like a cafeteria, and spacious 8 bed mixed dorms. All of my roommates are very sweet and jolly. They are from Spain and Germany again, but try their best tontalk to me. One amongst them all is the most lively. Antonio from Spain. He is a bit older and got a job teaching Spanish. He travels from place to place every year or a little bit less. He says, " I am not rich, but I am a gypsy and free spirit and my memories are worth more than anything I could buy." I have warmed up to him a lot. He is about 36 and has some great stories. We went to a pub that a friend in cork let me know about, Kelleys, this morning for breakfast. Our breakfast was a beer. We are both avoiding food out. I had bread and he had cheese he brought from home, which was excellent. The food here isn't that great here apart from some seafood, but all very expensive. This relieves me that he find things here expensive as well. He has assured me that my money will go much much further on mainland Europe, which is about a third of the price.
The city is easy to get around, and there is a nice scenic walk along the bridge. I will have to suck it up and layer up with raincoats and go soon. The rain is kind of nice to book the rest of my trip. Ive already counted out northern Ireland. Flights from Dublin to Scotland are much cheaper and quicker than a couple more days on the bus and the ferry. I've also scheduled my flight from Edinburgh to London a day before my flight from London to Germany. I'll walk the city but would rather save my funds. May take the tunnel back with the last day of my auroral to see Stonehenge and fly from London to new York for the cheapest. fare. Off to the Aran islands tomorrow for the cliffs, as well as the Neolithic and celtic sites. Take care.
The city is easy to get around, and there is a nice scenic walk along the bridge. I will have to suck it up and layer up with raincoats and go soon. The rain is kind of nice to book the rest of my trip. Ive already counted out northern Ireland. Flights from Dublin to Scotland are much cheaper and quicker than a couple more days on the bus and the ferry. I've also scheduled my flight from Edinburgh to London a day before my flight from London to Germany. I'll walk the city but would rather save my funds. May take the tunnel back with the last day of my auroral to see Stonehenge and fly from London to new York for the cheapest. fare. Off to the Aran islands tomorrow for the cliffs, as well as the Neolithic and celtic sites. Take care.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Finally escaped Cork...thought I would never be able to leave
I loved Cork! I think that I could really spend a good chunk of my life there. The people I've met and the experiences I have been wonderful. I am having a much grander time then I even optimistically had assumed I would. The hostel I am staying at is also a pub. Feeling a bit jet leg I went down for some drinks with a kid Adam I had met in the lounge. He seemed lonely, so depite him being a bit obnoxious, I invited him for a drink. He was a bit of company and we ended up getting into a really good conversation with the bartender at the brew, Jeff. We stayed up far past the bar hours exchanging music and play pool, not to mention conveniently coming across some good Irish herb.
Anyways, when we had been exchanging music I noticed Jeff's taste in music and suggested the band my good friend Eric is in. He immediately was astonished. Coincidentally he is a drummer in a band that has been talking with Eric's manager and had met with him two days before. When Eric was on tour in Europe he had met up with these same guys. When I decided to head up to the hostel room I got an invite to a big night on the town with Jeff. He had a lot of his friends coming into Cork the next night and his friends from his band were all getting together.
I woke up in a haze bright and early Wednesday to the knock of my charming American friend Adam. I remembered right then and there why I was traveling alone haha. He meant well and it was actually helpful having someone have all the sites plotted out and in a clearer state of mind than myself. I just feel as though he hadn't talked to anyone friendly in a very long time. I went to St. Annes cathedral, which had once been Saint Marys. They had a huge bell tower and the clock on the outside was actually the largest in the world until big Ben. In wandering up to the belle tower you could see the pendulum swinging. From the balcony off the top you could get a full view of the city as well. Cork is small and somewhat easy to get around, in the sense that you can recognize generally where you are. The river Lee splits and you can find your way back to the river to get your bar rings whenever too far off. It on the other hand is extremely difficult to find your way somewhere specific, because the streets are unmarked, with exception of maybe a few old buildings having the street names engraved on the corner for a few. You kind of just have to look at a map and hope you don't get turned around counting the streets. Everyone that I had encountered was more than eager to help. I havnt had a map out for more than maybe two minutes at the longest without somone approaching me, to go out of their way to direct me in the right directiom. Even the night I was walking to meet out some new friends I looked both ways down a street and a guy in the pub vame out to the balcony to ask if he could point me the right way. The stereotype of the Irish being extremely friendly and hospitable is very true from my experience. It is not even awkward, it is just the nature and mentality of the people I've come across.
After I got on my own again Wednesday afternoon I set out to find a charge adapter, because mine blew. I was informed of this by the Dutchman that kind of resembled dracula. He was extremely intelligent and friendly but my run ins with him set off a strange vibe. Fortunately for me I spend hardly four hours at the hostel in all my three nights of staying there. My two foo ages from Spain and Germany, staying there to find a flat, had a bit of a stalker issue. When I ran into the German girl, Lina, when I went back the other morning to check out and pack she told me that she got stuck in a new room with him. He gladly greeted her wearing nothing but whitey tighties. I also set out to find some groceries.
I was advised to check out the English market if I wS looking for a farmers market, by a friendly fellow. It was amazing. The whole market was set up in this indoor court yard. They had vegetable and fruit stands, fresh cheese, a butcher, fresh bread and chocolate stands. All of the food was farm raised and free range organic. I must say even for me when I first made some sandwiched and eggs I was a bit overwhelmed by the flavor. It tastes too healthy. It is insane how many chemical are put in all the food at the grocery store we shop out. The milk tastes different even. I was told by someone in the states before that free range milk has a different flavor because it doesn't have the flavor from the puss, caused by over milking the cows in factory farms. It's funny because everything really looks hand picked. The eggs in the carton are all different sizes as well because they are not genetically altered. Even in the grocery stores here you can't really find much processed food even if you want to.
That night I met up at the Bru with Jeff and his friends. They were all terrific. All of which by this point I can suprisingly remember by name. Many of them share a house and work at the hostel apart from their other side gigs. I met up with the two girls from Spain and Germany, and dragged them next door after a long chat. There was a huge group of them all jamming together, and the girl had an amazing voice. It was an astounding performance. After that I set off on what would be one of the funnest nights out I have had in a very long time. The crew of maybe, twenty people, wandered together from bar to bar. We all ended up at this bar that was like a little colosseum. It was grand with beer gardens, and lots of dancing. I became fast friends with Jeff's close girlfriend Louis right away. From that night on we've stayed up until 5 or 6 each night listening to music and goofing around after the last bar closes. His friend Adam, the singer of his band as well, is also quite entertaining and perhaps the most hyper animated person I've ever met. After causing a ruckus in the back room of the hostel, I got in trouble with the boss man as well, and decided to ditch for the night until i wouldnt be recognized the next day. When we finally all parted ways Thursday late afternoon I got a ride back to the hostel. From there I familiarized myself more with the city. After some fish and chips, that I couldn't hold out on anymore, despite my efforts to not eat out at all, I had just enough time to clean up before meeting out again. It is kind of cool being buddies with the people at the hostel. I just go sit at the bar, which is slammed with people from Thursday to the end of the weekend, for the live music. The bartenders Aron and their one friends girl friend, Sabrina keep me company. Then someone who is out will call the hostel lanolin and they'll call me back to chat with whoever I'm meeting up with and show me the way there.
Friday night, which I originally hadn't planned on still being in Cork by, I met up on the other side of town to see a really good band, Toy Soldier. They have just released a little music video too. The people I am with are all in the local music scene and they are all good friends. It makes for large groups everywhere we go. In waiting for them to be done cleaning up the small group of us went to this really cool pub. It's got a courtyard in the middle with an awning for the rain. I wish I could remember the name because it w a very neat beer garden and quit enough that if you stayed closer to that side of town you could go to comfortable alone. The last stop had to of been the busiest place in all of Cork besides nights when there are shows at the Fricken Crane, as there had been the first night. It was called the Brog. I believe that is how it is spelt. A lot of the places are in Irish and even in some cities, especially West Ireland everything is written in bothe English and then Irish. And yes, lesson for you all Irish is a language and every student learn it, as well as English, all twelve years of school. Most places it is not applied so besides the fundamentals is not commonly used. Some remote places in the West however, they know both, but speak primarily Irish. Yet again another all nighter.
Upon mentioning my plan of going to Killarney to see the country, iwas offered a ride with Jeff and his brother on their way to visit their mom's cottage on the other side close to the ocean. By this point we had become friends enough, and as they like to say, " they love showing the Irish love" that I was invited to stay with them and their mother. How incredible. I didn't even imagine it to be like it was. I scrabbled to the hostel to pack ten minutes before checkout and ran back to my ride. Jeff and his brother Anthony are both extremely nice. They brought me along more for their mother's company I think. They described her as a bit of a hippy and said we would get along grand. She was also inviting over a prospect. The drive there was really neat. All thru the country side down rocky roads and past little bay with moored boats. The major town outside where there mom lived is tiny. There are no ATMs and only one bar. It's adorable and quant. I am proud to say I had a bowl of chicken soup, although lacking any chicken pieces. It wa delicious and more like a stew served with fresh brown bread.
The rest of the drive to the cottage was spectacular. We drove over small mountains with vast files of bright yellow and purple wild flowers absolutely e erywhwre. Heather and something else that I can't remember. I dried some though so maybe I can identify later. There was also this gorgeous lake that laid nestled on the side of the hill, like a bowl of water. It was crazy. I think it was made by a glacier or something like that. Their mother cottage looked out to the mountains and the ocean laid just on the other side. There were spectacular trails and walks everywhere. The live stock there was hardly contained, which explained the different painted backs of the sheep. The farmers paint their sheep different colors to tell them apart. Every road you would walk up there border another farmers land and you stumble across huge work horses to pet even. It was a sunny day the whole first day. Extremely rare. We spent the whole rest of the afternoon sitting out back of the cottage looking off at the views with her new puppy, and surprise, drinking beer. They roll tabacco cigarettes in chains. The house is surrounded by wild Fushas, which is the local flower. There mother was an incredible woman, warm and welcoming. She took me in and said on occasion, when I mentioned some daring things to try, deAr no, I'm your mother while your in Ireland, do as I tell you. Indeed she was an old hippy if I've ever seen one. Music was always on. I've never seen people so consumed by it. The cottage was time but not short of instruments and she lives in a flat in a city part time to teach lessons. Incredible woman. I admired her a great deal by the end of my visit. when her friend Steve arrived, who was also an old hippy, from Liverpool, it'll only livened up more.
I've never been so entertained by an older woman. She told us about the story when she went next door to her new neighbors party. They were from Poland , and had a seventy person party way out in the middle of no where. She said in every room there was a different drug. She had drank a little before, not expecting that and no one here goes short on drink, and upon arrival the woman hosting offered her a syrup. She took it. We all immediately stared laughing. She didn't live that down the rest of the night. Even living just down the road, that would make a walk seem like you had just gone to another di ensign and back. She was in tears about her own recklessness. Her friend Steve grew up traveling in his van and camping at festivals. Also traveling southeast Asia. He had only gone to school until fifteen, but was brilliantly cultured. They both had amazing perspectives on life. He had only just settle down four years ago at fifty when his uncle left him a plot of land in West ireland, and he came into having a dog, sky was her name, cute shaggy thing. I haunt cried laughing so hard in a long time. After a reluctant dinner made by his mother, her famous chicken curry, sans chicken for my bit, because the sun was still out until eight we continued to carry on. We lit a wish lateen and sent it off into the, incredible starry night. It was so clear you could see the the milky way brightly. Six bottles of wine and two case of beer later we called it a night at about four. All strewn throughout the tiny cottage.
It was sad saying goodbye. I left with some great words of advice from Noel Hayes, the wonderful woman that took me in. First in regards to her trying to meet a new chap, and she looked me square in the eyes and said, "when you get older falling in love over night doesn't occur so often, so indulge in it while you can." and " in all life situations take the good memories and let go of the bad, so you can always walk away with nothing but the grand". She sent me off with a hug and a keen look in her eye, that " maybe we will cross paths again someday. ". I was a charming American girl shed say.
That brings me to today. I woke up and went for a little stroll. It is neat here how everyone sits and spends time visiting and talking. There was no Internet or television, and even placed there has been, we all just talk for hours instead. My kind of living. Breakfast was great and I even drank some tea. It's funny because I never quite know when everyone is going to be done visiting. I got a ride back into Cork with them after they helped me figure out my best route to Galway, which definitely was not catching connections way out in the country. I got dropped off just as the last bus was pulling around the corner. I already have my first return ticket. I promised to be back Thursday for their first big show. Also the
last night in cork I met up with one their friends James, who was a great kid. He has lived in Maui the last two summers and picked up surfing. The surfing in cork can be quite good, so. Friday we planned a surf day. Even Jeff and Louis are going to come out and give it a try. They have a friend with loads of boards and loads of wetsuits as they'd say. I really got the " crack" in cork. Which is the local expression for having a good time with Irish people, when I asked what they meant by the term.
The bus ride to Galway was beautiful as well. The city is tiny, and a bit chillier. After circumnavigating the entire perimeter, thinking that the map made it look much larger than it was, I stumbled across a hostel. There are only a couple and it's right near the main center, which I don't know how anything could be. Im staying in an eight person mixed room, and everyone is very sweet. They are Spanish and German as well but try there best to include me in the conversation. I decided to stay in tonight. I was given a list off all the places to go by Louis, who had lived here prior to Cork, which is all of five things so I'll save them for tomorrow night. I am waking up to go to the Arron islands tomorrow. They where a piece of the inis mohr at one point. They are islands of sea cliffs and you can get a bike and ride to all the ruins and to the old Celtic sites. I've gotten a lot better with the settings on my camera, and have been trying to work my hand at some good photography. After tomorrow night I will see if I want to stay longer and go back to cork Wednesday or I will leave for Dublin for the day and night, and take the bus back to cork thrusday morning so I can stay in cork longer and fly straight up to Belfast. I've given up on seeing much of England at all, and it is very expensive I've heard. The from Belfast to the coastal road to Derry, and then off to Scotland. I love it here. It is late, so please excuse any misspellings. Tell grandma I love her and she's in my prayers. Hi Hannah and zoie. Terri and Megan. Mom and Tony and pops. Love you all. Dear friends as well. Off to bed...goodnight
After losing my tag along the first day
Anyways, when we had been exchanging music I noticed Jeff's taste in music and suggested the band my good friend Eric is in. He immediately was astonished. Coincidentally he is a drummer in a band that has been talking with Eric's manager and had met with him two days before. When Eric was on tour in Europe he had met up with these same guys. When I decided to head up to the hostel room I got an invite to a big night on the town with Jeff. He had a lot of his friends coming into Cork the next night and his friends from his band were all getting together.
I woke up in a haze bright and early Wednesday to the knock of my charming American friend Adam. I remembered right then and there why I was traveling alone haha. He meant well and it was actually helpful having someone have all the sites plotted out and in a clearer state of mind than myself. I just feel as though he hadn't talked to anyone friendly in a very long time. I went to St. Annes cathedral, which had once been Saint Marys. They had a huge bell tower and the clock on the outside was actually the largest in the world until big Ben. In wandering up to the belle tower you could see the pendulum swinging. From the balcony off the top you could get a full view of the city as well. Cork is small and somewhat easy to get around, in the sense that you can recognize generally where you are. The river Lee splits and you can find your way back to the river to get your bar rings whenever too far off. It on the other hand is extremely difficult to find your way somewhere specific, because the streets are unmarked, with exception of maybe a few old buildings having the street names engraved on the corner for a few. You kind of just have to look at a map and hope you don't get turned around counting the streets. Everyone that I had encountered was more than eager to help. I havnt had a map out for more than maybe two minutes at the longest without somone approaching me, to go out of their way to direct me in the right directiom. Even the night I was walking to meet out some new friends I looked both ways down a street and a guy in the pub vame out to the balcony to ask if he could point me the right way. The stereotype of the Irish being extremely friendly and hospitable is very true from my experience. It is not even awkward, it is just the nature and mentality of the people I've come across.
After I got on my own again Wednesday afternoon I set out to find a charge adapter, because mine blew. I was informed of this by the Dutchman that kind of resembled dracula. He was extremely intelligent and friendly but my run ins with him set off a strange vibe. Fortunately for me I spend hardly four hours at the hostel in all my three nights of staying there. My two foo ages from Spain and Germany, staying there to find a flat, had a bit of a stalker issue. When I ran into the German girl, Lina, when I went back the other morning to check out and pack she told me that she got stuck in a new room with him. He gladly greeted her wearing nothing but whitey tighties. I also set out to find some groceries.
I was advised to check out the English market if I wS looking for a farmers market, by a friendly fellow. It was amazing. The whole market was set up in this indoor court yard. They had vegetable and fruit stands, fresh cheese, a butcher, fresh bread and chocolate stands. All of the food was farm raised and free range organic. I must say even for me when I first made some sandwiched and eggs I was a bit overwhelmed by the flavor. It tastes too healthy. It is insane how many chemical are put in all the food at the grocery store we shop out. The milk tastes different even. I was told by someone in the states before that free range milk has a different flavor because it doesn't have the flavor from the puss, caused by over milking the cows in factory farms. It's funny because everything really looks hand picked. The eggs in the carton are all different sizes as well because they are not genetically altered. Even in the grocery stores here you can't really find much processed food even if you want to.
That night I met up at the Bru with Jeff and his friends. They were all terrific. All of which by this point I can suprisingly remember by name. Many of them share a house and work at the hostel apart from their other side gigs. I met up with the two girls from Spain and Germany, and dragged them next door after a long chat. There was a huge group of them all jamming together, and the girl had an amazing voice. It was an astounding performance. After that I set off on what would be one of the funnest nights out I have had in a very long time. The crew of maybe, twenty people, wandered together from bar to bar. We all ended up at this bar that was like a little colosseum. It was grand with beer gardens, and lots of dancing. I became fast friends with Jeff's close girlfriend Louis right away. From that night on we've stayed up until 5 or 6 each night listening to music and goofing around after the last bar closes. His friend Adam, the singer of his band as well, is also quite entertaining and perhaps the most hyper animated person I've ever met. After causing a ruckus in the back room of the hostel, I got in trouble with the boss man as well, and decided to ditch for the night until i wouldnt be recognized the next day. When we finally all parted ways Thursday late afternoon I got a ride back to the hostel. From there I familiarized myself more with the city. After some fish and chips, that I couldn't hold out on anymore, despite my efforts to not eat out at all, I had just enough time to clean up before meeting out again. It is kind of cool being buddies with the people at the hostel. I just go sit at the bar, which is slammed with people from Thursday to the end of the weekend, for the live music. The bartenders Aron and their one friends girl friend, Sabrina keep me company. Then someone who is out will call the hostel lanolin and they'll call me back to chat with whoever I'm meeting up with and show me the way there.
Friday night, which I originally hadn't planned on still being in Cork by, I met up on the other side of town to see a really good band, Toy Soldier. They have just released a little music video too. The people I am with are all in the local music scene and they are all good friends. It makes for large groups everywhere we go. In waiting for them to be done cleaning up the small group of us went to this really cool pub. It's got a courtyard in the middle with an awning for the rain. I wish I could remember the name because it w a very neat beer garden and quit enough that if you stayed closer to that side of town you could go to comfortable alone. The last stop had to of been the busiest place in all of Cork besides nights when there are shows at the Fricken Crane, as there had been the first night. It was called the Brog. I believe that is how it is spelt. A lot of the places are in Irish and even in some cities, especially West Ireland everything is written in bothe English and then Irish. And yes, lesson for you all Irish is a language and every student learn it, as well as English, all twelve years of school. Most places it is not applied so besides the fundamentals is not commonly used. Some remote places in the West however, they know both, but speak primarily Irish. Yet again another all nighter.
Upon mentioning my plan of going to Killarney to see the country, iwas offered a ride with Jeff and his brother on their way to visit their mom's cottage on the other side close to the ocean. By this point we had become friends enough, and as they like to say, " they love showing the Irish love" that I was invited to stay with them and their mother. How incredible. I didn't even imagine it to be like it was. I scrabbled to the hostel to pack ten minutes before checkout and ran back to my ride. Jeff and his brother Anthony are both extremely nice. They brought me along more for their mother's company I think. They described her as a bit of a hippy and said we would get along grand. She was also inviting over a prospect. The drive there was really neat. All thru the country side down rocky roads and past little bay with moored boats. The major town outside where there mom lived is tiny. There are no ATMs and only one bar. It's adorable and quant. I am proud to say I had a bowl of chicken soup, although lacking any chicken pieces. It wa delicious and more like a stew served with fresh brown bread.
The rest of the drive to the cottage was spectacular. We drove over small mountains with vast files of bright yellow and purple wild flowers absolutely e erywhwre. Heather and something else that I can't remember. I dried some though so maybe I can identify later. There was also this gorgeous lake that laid nestled on the side of the hill, like a bowl of water. It was crazy. I think it was made by a glacier or something like that. Their mother cottage looked out to the mountains and the ocean laid just on the other side. There were spectacular trails and walks everywhere. The live stock there was hardly contained, which explained the different painted backs of the sheep. The farmers paint their sheep different colors to tell them apart. Every road you would walk up there border another farmers land and you stumble across huge work horses to pet even. It was a sunny day the whole first day. Extremely rare. We spent the whole rest of the afternoon sitting out back of the cottage looking off at the views with her new puppy, and surprise, drinking beer. They roll tabacco cigarettes in chains. The house is surrounded by wild Fushas, which is the local flower. There mother was an incredible woman, warm and welcoming. She took me in and said on occasion, when I mentioned some daring things to try, deAr no, I'm your mother while your in Ireland, do as I tell you. Indeed she was an old hippy if I've ever seen one. Music was always on. I've never seen people so consumed by it. The cottage was time but not short of instruments and she lives in a flat in a city part time to teach lessons. Incredible woman. I admired her a great deal by the end of my visit. when her friend Steve arrived, who was also an old hippy, from Liverpool, it'll only livened up more.
I've never been so entertained by an older woman. She told us about the story when she went next door to her new neighbors party. They were from Poland , and had a seventy person party way out in the middle of no where. She said in every room there was a different drug. She had drank a little before, not expecting that and no one here goes short on drink, and upon arrival the woman hosting offered her a syrup. She took it. We all immediately stared laughing. She didn't live that down the rest of the night. Even living just down the road, that would make a walk seem like you had just gone to another di ensign and back. She was in tears about her own recklessness. Her friend Steve grew up traveling in his van and camping at festivals. Also traveling southeast Asia. He had only gone to school until fifteen, but was brilliantly cultured. They both had amazing perspectives on life. He had only just settle down four years ago at fifty when his uncle left him a plot of land in West ireland, and he came into having a dog, sky was her name, cute shaggy thing. I haunt cried laughing so hard in a long time. After a reluctant dinner made by his mother, her famous chicken curry, sans chicken for my bit, because the sun was still out until eight we continued to carry on. We lit a wish lateen and sent it off into the, incredible starry night. It was so clear you could see the the milky way brightly. Six bottles of wine and two case of beer later we called it a night at about four. All strewn throughout the tiny cottage.
It was sad saying goodbye. I left with some great words of advice from Noel Hayes, the wonderful woman that took me in. First in regards to her trying to meet a new chap, and she looked me square in the eyes and said, "when you get older falling in love over night doesn't occur so often, so indulge in it while you can." and " in all life situations take the good memories and let go of the bad, so you can always walk away with nothing but the grand". She sent me off with a hug and a keen look in her eye, that " maybe we will cross paths again someday. ". I was a charming American girl shed say.
That brings me to today. I woke up and went for a little stroll. It is neat here how everyone sits and spends time visiting and talking. There was no Internet or television, and even placed there has been, we all just talk for hours instead. My kind of living. Breakfast was great and I even drank some tea. It's funny because I never quite know when everyone is going to be done visiting. I got a ride back into Cork with them after they helped me figure out my best route to Galway, which definitely was not catching connections way out in the country. I got dropped off just as the last bus was pulling around the corner. I already have my first return ticket. I promised to be back Thursday for their first big show. Also the
last night in cork I met up with one their friends James, who was a great kid. He has lived in Maui the last two summers and picked up surfing. The surfing in cork can be quite good, so. Friday we planned a surf day. Even Jeff and Louis are going to come out and give it a try. They have a friend with loads of boards and loads of wetsuits as they'd say. I really got the " crack" in cork. Which is the local expression for having a good time with Irish people, when I asked what they meant by the term.
The bus ride to Galway was beautiful as well. The city is tiny, and a bit chillier. After circumnavigating the entire perimeter, thinking that the map made it look much larger than it was, I stumbled across a hostel. There are only a couple and it's right near the main center, which I don't know how anything could be. Im staying in an eight person mixed room, and everyone is very sweet. They are Spanish and German as well but try there best to include me in the conversation. I decided to stay in tonight. I was given a list off all the places to go by Louis, who had lived here prior to Cork, which is all of five things so I'll save them for tomorrow night. I am waking up to go to the Arron islands tomorrow. They where a piece of the inis mohr at one point. They are islands of sea cliffs and you can get a bike and ride to all the ruins and to the old Celtic sites. I've gotten a lot better with the settings on my camera, and have been trying to work my hand at some good photography. After tomorrow night I will see if I want to stay longer and go back to cork Wednesday or I will leave for Dublin for the day and night, and take the bus back to cork thrusday morning so I can stay in cork longer and fly straight up to Belfast. I've given up on seeing much of England at all, and it is very expensive I've heard. The from Belfast to the coastal road to Derry, and then off to Scotland. I love it here. It is late, so please excuse any misspellings. Tell grandma I love her and she's in my prayers. Hi Hannah and zoie. Terri and Megan. Mom and Tony and pops. Love you all. Dear friends as well. Off to bed...goodnight
After losing my tag along the first day
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