Wednesday, June 18
Sitting down to eat lunch. Yesterday I went for a walk that lasted about 3 hours. I did not see anything really, until I got close to campus, but I saw a lot of the real Dublin, not the commercial stuff. it was interesting. The doors being colored seems to be a big thing. And I saw a palm tree so I took a picture of it for Michelle. I should mark it on the map in case people do not believe there was a palm tree in Dublin. Planning on another walk today. There is a memorial for World War I soldiers I want to see. I wanted to see it yesterday, but ran out of time to get back for the Trinity tour that they were charging 9 Euros for. Screw that, I see it everyday. So we went drinking. We ended up going to a casino and a real Irish bar where they had river dancing. I liked that and will probable frequent there.
Thursday, June 19
Took an even longer walk yesterday. They have a monument just like Bunker Hill and Washington. That kind must be easy to make. It looks its going to rain today, so It may be a day to relax, figure out this weekend and get some reading done. The war memorial was awesome and the castle with the moat was neat. It is the only castle with a working moat in Ireland. That is what the old man walking around it said anyway. Suppose to take an open top bus tour, but I do not see that happening with the rain. Well, I am off to class.
Got laundry done for the first time. Six Euros, which I think is pretty good. They do colors and whites together which makes me wonder if I have not been wasting my time doing it as separate loads all the time.
Now Jen wants to fly to the mainland. I do not care either way; I wish she would just make up her mind. She says she thinks it is cheaper, which means it is really anybody's guess. The ferry would take 18 hours, which is a lot of wasted time. But I do not care either way. Jenn said before we started that she did not really want to lead, but she is not much for following. Oh well, I go along and try not to complain too much. And for Jenn saying this and that and trying to warn me about germs and talking to strangers and keeping my money close, guess who lost their key to their room. Ding, ding, ding. It really is not funny, but I have to relish in it because would not remember and when we have to be around each other more, she will pick on what she thinks are my flaws once again.
That is one thing that is nice about being here. I am by myself a lot, and not really by myself, but without Jenn. Do not get me wrong, it is nice to have her around, but too much is too much, and without the breaks between, I imagine we would have been burnt out eventually. I imagine she feels the same way. If she does not, it just shows what a great guy I am, but I imagine she appreciates the time apart as much as me.
Off to Killarney and the Dingle peninsula tomorrow. Suppose to be the prettiest place in the world. Jenn brought up the idea of flying to Barcelona. I kinda shut the door on that. I mean it would be neat and all, but it totally changes out directions and there is no place close to it. So I think Brussels is it.
Friday, June 20
On the train to Killarney. Last night was a long night. The few things I remember of importance are that some girl told me that I could do better than another girl. Not that I asked or was looking, the guys were just looking at a couple of girls, as guys will do, and I was told that I could do better. Just figured out that I have taken around 130 pictures. It sounds like a lot, but it really is. I estimate I will have 500-550 pictures when it is all said and done. For perspective, I figure that is the amount of pictures my mom would take in 2 years.
I am going to be really upset when I have to start drinking American light beer again. I cannot imagine it is going to taste any better than monkey piss. I am really enjoying the fact that the beer here tastes so good. It flows like water and drinks the same.
Just saw a pasture shared by one horse, cows and sheep. They were just all standing together. Guess I always just assumed that they are always kept separate.
Two realizations on this train ride. I cannot sleep on trains. maybe if I have not slept for like 3 days and I just pass out, maybe. Other than that, it is not even worth trying. Second, railroad crossings do not exist. I thought it was just that I had not been paying attention, but now I am looking for them and cannot find them. Just saw one. But there are very few roads, which makes it very beautiful countryside. Just saw a farmer racking hay and it makes me wonder if Dad has made his Second cut. They may be baling that into bails and bucking and it makes me glad I am over here.
I never even thought about it before, but this is the first time I have seen any type of mountains. I should have when going to Washington D.C., but I must have slept through them. Out one window, it is flat and off in the distance, out the other window, there are these mountains that just tower above the land. I may be afraid of heights, but I have a feeling I would love to climb the mountain I see there. Probable because they are not to sheer. Speaking of my fear, I think it is starting to dwindle away. It is not gone, by any means, but I am doing things that I do not think I would have before.
Saturday, June 21
Are most adventurous plan is being planned for tonight and tomorrow. We are going to rent bikes and bike about 30 miles, stay outside over night and bike through the Gap of Dunloe. It is pretty high-risk of something going wrong, but then, what is not over here. We just got on the bus to Dingle. I am looking forward to seeing the ocean for real this time. I really did not see it when in Boston and I saw it when we flew over it, but I should not count that. It sprinkled while we were getting on, but mow the sun is shining. The driver forgot to put the brake on before we started and put a dent in the bus behind us. Not very reassuring when you figure we are going to be driving along cliffs and whatnot.
Oh my. the view is incredible. We stopped at Inch Beach. Saw the ocean for the first time. And still looking at it. Picked up three shells. Blue broken, black long, and a white round one. There is a dolphin in Dingle. Do not know what the chances of us seeing a dolphin on our trip were or the chances of the dolphin leaping out of the water when we were driving by, but he did and we saw him.
Ryan's Daughter was filmed here so I should watch it. In the words of Eric Klinner "WOW". Jenn said she has never seen water so blue. I would not know, so I will take her work for it. Most people that know me would not believe how close I am getting to the sides of cliffs.
We just ran into a funeral wake. Gets me a chance to write. Everything is so green. It almost hurts your eyes. It is as green as a wheat field is golden. I guess the whole town showed up for this person. What a mess. Every road is one-way in actuality, but meant for two and it is not like there is a shoulder. The shoulder on the right is a mountain and the shoulder on the left is a cliff into the ocean.
Much like when seeing Garden of the Gods, only this is more. It makes you feel insignificant to be in such a beautiful place. Makes you wonder why it is so beautiful, why where we live in not and what both places must have looked like before they were found. The mountains, the ocean, the small towns, it does not feel like we are tourist, more like visitors to a new world. I wonder how long it would take, if I moved here, to forget about it beauty and start complaining about the lack of material things. I would like to say that I would not do anything like that, but being a realist, I know I would, and I hate to say, it probable would not be too long and that makes me quite sad.
We were at Dine for one hour with nothing really to see, but nothing could tarnish the day, and it is only getting started. We have seen so much today that I am not sure I appreciate it all. Jenn said yesterday that she did not take pictures of the Alps because they were too beautiful to contain is a picture. Ireland is not too beautiful; there is just so much beauty. I think I could have used all the film I have and not done near the justice it deserves. We may think they are backwards or primitive, but they have every right to brag about their beautiful green country.
There is a huge concert going on in Killarney tonight, so I imagine it is going to be a madhouse.
Well we got out bikes, started riding and here we are. In the middle of the Gap of Dunloe. No tent, no sleeping bags, nothing but nature. It will be a miserable night, but I do not know if you can count the number of people who have done this on two hands, and it is gorgeous and will be a beautiful morning when it comes.