Dublin!

Leprachauns everywhere throwing gold when I got off the plane! No, not really. Took a bus to b&b. Missed my stop bc I couldn't understand the system or what they were saying, so I was on the bus for an extra half hour and the bus driver had to take me back.

Directions here are given by what pub things are near. So, I was dropped off at Madigan's and had to lug my bags up the street to b&b. Clean and cozy. Room is "en suite," my own private bathroom is down the stairs, I have a skeleton key to get in and out of both my room and bathroom.

Had my first real Guinness and fish n chips at Madigan's. The bartender is native Irish and gave me a history lesson and what to see/do in Dublin. Most bartenders nowadays aren't from here. Said Ireland is having a problem w/ influx of foreigners, mostly Nigerians and Polish. Overcrowding could be a problem and lack of jobs in 10-15 years. He said the Irish and the Scotts are very cordial, but the English are the ones who've had the most problems. They want to colonize everywhere and claim the land. The IRA was the underground army blowing up buildings and killing the English way back when. They were fighting for a noble cause, but maybe didn't go about it the right way, and the Irish police would arrest them. The Irish wanted their land back.

Have to seek out the "diddly-doo" music as they call it. The locals don't listen to fiddles and such....mostly just the tourists.

Similar to London, public transportation is big...buses, trains, subways etc. Not many people have cars, therefore, the markets are small, Tesco is the main one. No large grocery stores or super stores like Wal-Mart or Albertson's. Can't carry all that home on foot or bike.

Woke up w/ sore throat and achey. Had a traditional Irish breakfast, fresh grapefruit, fried egg, ham, sausage, toast, beans, black and white pudding. It's not pudding, it looks like sausage patties, but tastes sweet. I still don't know what it is actually, but I ate it.

Slow day since I don't feel well, walked down to St. Stephen's Green (huge park w/ fountains and ponds)...Saw a couple beautiful churches and am down on Grafton Street, which is an all pedistrian walkway w/ shops, restaurants etc.

Asked a woman if she could take my picture in the park, and she and her boyfriend were from Colorado of all places! Chatted for a minute, then went our own ways.

Ireland uses Euros, like most of Europe. The UK still uses Pounds. A british fellow suggested I use the ATM machines mostly since the banks will give the best exchange rate instead of exchanging on the street.

The signs here are printed in English and Gaelic. I love the language, hard to understand. Thick accents...

Sitting in an internet cafe having vanilla tea. Cold outside but will venture out again.

**Does anyone know how to upload pictures to a blog w/out having to download software or download to a PC first?