When I came back from Paris I flew straight from the Dublin aiport to Co. Kerry. This, with only a back pack for luggage, you can imagine was quite hilarious. My lay over was about five hours, which was fine because I did some reading. The flight took about 25 min - considering my bus ride back was 10 hrs, this was impressive. I talked to this sweet lady the whole time who was from Kerry and spent thanksgiving in Grand Rappids Michigan. Laurel was supposed to have caught a bus to Killarney where we were staying the night, but as it turns out her bus never came. This was great because when I got off the plane she was there to greet me!
We caught a cab to our hostel and, being the cool kids we are, went to bed at like 11 - hey it had been a long day of travel!
The next morning it was raining something awful. We had planed to bike the ring of Dingle - like the ring of Kerry but smaller. We ended up walking around Killarney which was great. We grabbed burgers in a pub - the first actual burger i'd had since landing - which was so good I almost died. It actually turns out it was the sister to a pub right on campus on clarke st. How funny!
Afterwards we got the bus to Dingle and checked in to our Bed and Breakfast. It was a really cute little place right in the middle of town. We walked around got dinner and laid in bed watching late night Irish TV because of the rain.
The next day was full of adventure. We got up early for breakfast, left to go shop. This was lame as everything was closed until noon. All was not lost thought because at 1 we were to be at Longs Riding for HORSE BACK RIDING!
IT WAS FANTASTIC! we got there and our guide was this little Scotish girl with red hair and a nose ring. She apparently had come with her sister 7 years ago for vacation and still hasn't gone home. Not going to lie, I think she may have had the right idea. She has an apartment on the farm, takes people out riding, breeds, trains, and gives lessons. All the while surrounded by rolling hills and the ocean.
Laurel was given a little yellow pony named Honey. I got the manliest Irish Cobh in the world KING! He was a big guy. He was more like a gentle giant though so he was great. She took us up in the hills for some trotting and then some cantering. It was so great. In the hills you could see the rain coming from miles away in sheets. It was really strange. We only got rained on once, but avoided like five showers because we could see where they were.
We then rode down to the beach. Let me tell you if you haven't had the chance to ride a horse on the beach, get to it now. It was amazing. We got on to the sand and they just wanted to go, so we let them. They raced for a bit which was fun and then we walked back. It was high tide so we weren't able to go that far, but it was still amazing.
Laurel hadn't seen the ocean before. I'm gonna have to say that seeing the ocean via horse back in Ireland isn't to bad.
Afterwards we saw the puppies that the dog there had just had. They were adorable. If anyone wants some sheep dogs, I know where to get some!
When we got back to Dingle we hit up a place with a sign out side reading "Weekend Motto - Forget the Recession have a Session!" So we went in, I mean how can you argue with a place that has a free traditional irish music session going on that also has Oysters on the half shell? I don't think you can. They were amazing. Really salty and made up with Tabasco and Worsticher sauce so they tasted completely different from New Orleans oysters.
After diner we went out for more music. The music scene in Dingle is supreme.
The next morning we had breakfast and headed out. My bus ride was 10 hours! SOOOO LONG. I think the highlight was when I was siting in the deserted bus station and a man came and sat in the seat right next to me. I felt like he was reading my book, but I thought I was just being paranoid. This was until he leaned over to read the next page that he couldn't see. HE DID THIS FOR 6 PAGES BEFORE I CLOSED MY BOOK! I also met up with Ann's niece Parissa who lives with us. I went through Limerick where she lives and it just so happened that we caught the same bus back. It made the ride a lot more enjoyable.
When we got back I was met by a bouncing little dog named truffles. Truffles is a cavalier King Charels. Truffles has taken to me. She runs around not stop, is adorable and wants to play till she drops. Last night she ran up pushed around the blankets in my bed and fell asleep in the crook of my arm for about an hour. Tonight we played fetch after wards she ran down stairs got her harness and forced me to put it on. So I did expecting she'd want to go out side, nope she just wanted to sleep. Currently she's passed out on my legs...and snoring. This dog may not be able to go back to its owner.
Yesterday the Dail wasn't in session. No one told the interns so we all showed up for work only to find an empty building. I had texted my TD when I woke up because I had gotten word that they might not be in. He didn't call me back so I went in. When I got there no Billy. He called a bit later saying he'd be in in about 10-15 min. An hour later he called back saying he'd missinterpreted me (what? How is that possible with "I'll be in the Dail in about 10-15 min?") So a friend and I grabbed some frozen Pizzas and watched english game shows at his flat. He told me to come in to work after school today, so I did, but he had forgotten and sent me back!
In school we had a double history lecture which meant that we had history for the first bit and then watched this amazing movie called "The Wind that Shakes The Barley." Maybe the saddest movie of all times. It's about the the Irish Civil war and the War for Independence. I HIGHLY recommend it. Seriously, leave your house now and get the movie, also tissues because you might cry - not going to lie I almost did, but I made it through.
Ok well I'm out for now. 6 days till the election! We talked them into letting us come in late on election day, so that should be fun. We just need a place to watch it now.
-Will
1 comment:
I posted on your Dingle weekend one or two or your entries back, oops...you have have to search for it. Kay
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