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Last weekend, I went to Ireland with Jenni and Ben. Rather than write out magnificant prose for you to skim through, I've decided to switch up the format to perhaps make things more interesting.
Let's do question and answer:
Q: Are you Irish?
A: No, but my step-dad and step-sisters are, so that makes me Irish by marriage.
Q: Did you really drink that Guinness?
A: YES. And to be honest... it tastes much better when you are at the factory. Something about the flavor changes when they ship it.
Q: How was it being in an English speaking country for the first time since you left home?
A: Well, I couldn't really understand their accent half the time anyways, so I guess not much different.
Q: What was Trinity college like?
A: Green, intelligent and old. It reminded me of Columbia University in New York. You entered through a big arch way and they entire campus was walled in. All of the buildings looked alike and were likely 2380394 years old. I felt smarter just standing inside the walls. AND we got to see the library that was the Jedi Library in Star Wars.
Q: What did you like better, Dublin or Galway?
A: Galway. The city is quaint and very storybook. It's what you expect when you think of an Irish city. The cobblestone roads, a river running through it, pubs every other building. The day we got there, there was a market going on that we were able to walk through. It reminded me more of a city like Madison, artsy and liberal with lots of culture.
Q: Why would you go to the edge of the Cliffs of Moher?! Wasn't it scary???
A: It was one of the most peaceful and serene places I have ever been. I felt so blessed to be in that place at that moment. It was odd to think that we were looking out into the Atlantic with American on the horizon. YOU MUST GO. (I say that about all of the places I've been, but really, this place is wonderful)
Q: Do they drive on the other side of the road?
A: Yes. Jenni and Ben were tripped out by it, but it made me feel like I was back in England with my Uncle Todd in the driver's seat.
Q: Where did you stay??
A: In Dublin, we were in a hostel that Ben's friend Ryan, who is studying in Copenhagen, was staying at as well. It was nice, but we were in a dorm and our roommates were not the nicest. In Galway, we stayed with Jenni's friend Aileen, who is studying there this semester. Her apartment was outside of the city center, but it was so nice and BIG compared to ours in Madrid.
Q: How were the pubs?
A: Very Irish. It was nice, because they didn't feel touristy at all. There was live music at most of the places we went which was really nice.
Q: What did you eat, if you're doing the vegan thing?
A: No Bangers and Mash, No Fish and Chips. I had a falafel our first night in Galway. Had a number of orders of a side of veggies and chips (fries). We had Subway our first night because it was all that was open. But, it wasn't too hard. I did try Irish soda bread, which we discovered later has buttermilk in it... oops. But my referee's okayed it, so it wasn't really my fault. :)
Q: Where are you off to next?
A: Well, the plan was to be in Morocco with Jenni and Ben this weekend. BUT, I missed the flight. It's a long story, but basically I was supposed to meet Jenni and Ben by the metro near their pisos, but couldn't find them, waited too long and found out they were on their way to the airport because they thought I went on my own. After sprinting through the transfer station and through the airport, the man at the check-in desk (who told Jenni and Ben, I would be fine) told me that the flight just closed and he couldn't re-open it to check me in.
It was awful, I cried my way home on the metro. Called my friend Stephen because I couldn't bear to be alone and met him at Retiro park, where I fell in love with Madrid all over again. I don't want to leave this place.
A blessing in disguise? Es posible. :)
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