Heading West--Ireland (long blog)

I wanted to get out of the city and see some of the countryside and I am so glad I did! It is gorgeous. All the pictures you see in books of lush green fields and stone walls, sheep, cows... that is exactly what it looks like. The weather has been great, sunny and warmer here on the west coast.

Cab Ride--I took a taxi to the train station and my cab driver had a very thick Irish accent. He said the F word, everyother word. We almost ran over a pedestrian so he rolls down the window and yells a long slur to the guy, all I got out of it was "F word" and "corn flakes!" Not sure what they have to do w/ each other, but I guess if you're telling someone off in Ireland, corn flakes is part of it. Then we were talking about Amsterdam. Again, F word, giggle, pumping his fist in the air, F word, giggle, waiting for me to respond, "wow! cool!" I respond, having NO idea what he's talking about and I laugh bc he's laughing. I just went along w/ it....I could not understand him at all.

Train Ride--I arrived at the Dublin Heuston Train station at 6am. I had arranged to have a 2-day tour on the west coast. They had small internet booths so I got a quick blog in. The train left at 7 and there were several people lined up for these tours. However, I was the only one I guess for the 2-day. Most people were doing 1-day tours and coming back to Dublin that night. That's where things started to get hectic. We were like cattle and the Railtours outfit must herd us quickly onto the train before it left, but they wanted the approproiate groups to sit together. Then Nazi Leprachaun was very frustrated w/ me because I wasn't the "norm" as far as what group to be with so I didn't know which train car to get onto. Plus, I have ALL of my luggage with me. I guess most people leave their big bags at the hotel where they are staying and take an overnight bag to the coast. Since I checked out of my b&b and didn't have arrangements for my last night in Dublin, I had all my luggage.

So, I got on, pulled my luggage up and Sweet Guide(who was 100 yrs old) was trying to help me figure out where to sit. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, the bottom zipper of my big bag broke and all my shit is spilling out. Sweet Guide is putting away my bags and handing me my jar of vitamins, shampoo, cream rinse....I'm like thanks, thank you, thanks....one at a time things are coming out, he's handing them to me, my arms are full, other passengers getting on, Nazi Leprachaun yelling at me to sit down. The one single open seat, her boyfriend is coming back, next one, nope, taken...no one wanted me to sit w/ them and Nazi Leprachaun and Sweet Guide were closing in on me, I was in the middle of them. Finally, I took a seat, flustered. The train doesn't wait. You get on, or you're left behind.

I ended up sitting next to a retired couple from Las Vegas! Across the table was a really nice young couple from Tampa. We all sort of hung together for the rest of the day. I really liked all of them. So we had to catch another train and then get on a "coach" (bus). Now, Nazi Leprachaun has a job to do, I understand, he has to get all these people from point A to point B and return to the train station in order for them to catch their evening train. In spite of the chaos, I LOVED THE TRAIN!! I wished it were longer.

Bus Ride--We unloaded in Limerick onto the coach. I loaded my baggage into the compartment underneath, and I needed to book another night stay in Galway, my final destination. Somehow I was confused and thought the 2-day tour had 2 night stay as well....it didn't. So he loaded everyone on the bus, except me, I had to talk on his cell phone to his home office to confirm they could charge my credit card for the second night. I was holding up the entire bus for about 15 minutes standing outside, I don't know why we couldn't talk on the phone on the bus, but appearently not. Finally, I confirmed, loaded the bus, apologized to everyone and we left.

Limerick--120,000 people. The place where "Angela's Ashes" originated, the author is from there. River Shannon runs through Limerick, longest river in the Isles.

Bunratty Castle--Home to the O'Briens in the 1400's. We got to go inside, saw the drawbridge, staircases (very steep and narrow), large meeting room and other family rooms. The castle is furnished and has also been reconstructed a bit for preservation. The manor is also part of the tour, farm houses where the milking cows and humans would live together (under the same roof). Live pigs, peacocks, chickens, hens and roosters. Very cool tour. I really liked it. Also, the MURDER HOLE. That is the hole above the drawbridge where the family could drop rocks, boiling water, tar onto the heads of the invaders below. The O'Briens lived in the North side of the castle which is much colder than the South side. They did this bc they wanted their guests to have a good impression. Very hospitable. Our guide in the castle was great, funny, witty and informative. All of the big furniture has to be carried in piece by piece and assembled inside, since the hallways and staircases are so small. The O'Briens died out bc they didn't have a male heir to take over, so a weathly family took over and cared for the land.

Irish Coffee--was invented bc a boat from the River Shannon was sailing and the passengers were almost hypothermic since the heat died out. They came ashore and the bartender served it up....legend says. In the traveling book Natalie gave me, it says Irish Coffee was invented in the States and when coming to Ireland order a Hot Toddy, but when I DID order a Hot Toddy, the bartender didn't know what it was. So, I got a Hot Whiskey. As I learned last night, Hot Toddy is more of a Scottish drink, however very similar.

FAIRIES!!--We were told that Leprachauns are not real, but FAIRIES are very real. Fairies build fairy forts in Hawthorne Trees. When the road that we were traveling was being constructed, the workers refused to build through Hawthorne Trees. Hence the direction of the road was altered to avoid the Hawthorne Trees. We saw a wooden fence guarding this small area to preserve it. I liked it. :)

Economy of Ireland--According to Nazi Leprachaun, the biggest export Ireland is their people. Not rich in natural resources. They have educated the youth and are now highly sought for pharmaceuticals and information technology. However, they are paying themselves a bit too much and may be pricing themselves out of the market.

Cliffs of Moher--One of the most beautiful works of Mother Nature I have ever seen. Check it out online, hard to describe how wonderful it was.

Galway--Arrived in Galway, said goodbye to my new friends from the bus tour and checked into my hotel. Galway is actually a college town. Two large schools here. 60,000-70,000 people. Young, happening, has a lake and a cute park.

The Water--So I check into my hotel, request a room w/ a bathtub. I wanted a bath so badly! The water in Galway has been infected w/ animal feces so you can't drink it or brush your teeth. You CAN shower or bathe, but only drink bottled water. So I'm thinking do I wanna take a bath in that? I did anyway, still alive. Think I'm ok.

Last night was the first night I got to hear local, Irish music. It was great! Had a steamy bowl of soup and warm, brown bread. The bread here is FANTASTIC!!

Language--First, let me explain how I understand the different languages. The Irish, tend to round off their words and mumble through their sentences. The Scotts seemed to pronounce and finish their words. Kind of like Irish have lazy speech and Scotts are similar to the English w/ more proper pronounciation. The Scotts also roll their R's and accent the vowels. I noticed this bc I had a Scottsman on my left and an Irishman on my right. But, I do have an untrained ear as well. I feel very at home with these people. The Irish are EXTREMELY hospitable and hard working. They don't like those who don't work hard. They are also protective. The Irishmen...bartenders, cab drivers etc....have ALL told me where to go to be safe, where NOT to go, how to guard myself etc. I really appreciate that. I also listen to their advice.

Crime--This is interesting, upon arrival in Dublin, one of the first things I was told was about a woman being stabbed by a Polish immigrant. This was very big news bc I heard it from a couple of people. I thought to myself, that kind of thing happens all the time in the States. Unfortunate. Then, coming to the west coast, I was told about 2 rapes that occurred over a year ago. One of the perpetrators was Polish... Again, a very big deal here. And again I thought, this kind of thing happens alot in the States. What I have learned however, is that the police officers here, meaning Ireland, Scottland and England, don't carry guns. NONE of them unless they guard the Queen or work at the airports. I asked the Scottsman if he thought that deterred crime and he said yes. I told him all of our police carry guns and I think we have much more crime in the states. The crimes here are BIG BIG news.....

Scottland--The Scottsman probably wanted a muzzle for me, but I just kept asking questions. Scottland got it's first House of Parliament last month. What this means is they want to break away from England, it wouldn't be the United Kingdom, it would be England and Scottland. Scottland is much less populated than England, so when the English want to implement a new law or tax, they experiment on the Scotts. Example, 15 years ago, the English implemented a "Community Tax" for lack of better terms, for police, ambulances, roads etc. The tax was very, very high. The Scotts complained but paid it. Then, when it was enforced in England, HUGE riots broke out in Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square (I know where this is now bc I have been there)...so the English abolished the tax and gave the English citizens a rebate. However, they did not pay a rebate to the Scotts.

So, I drew a parallel that Quebec in Canada would like to be independent as well, but still have the same currency and benefits of all of Canada. According to my boyfriend, Ric, he has told me the westerners in Canada are quite resentful. Quebec wants to break away to become independent, buutttt not really. The Scotts would continue to use Pounds and then transition into the Euros. Scottsman also said historically, the Scotts were much more inclined to become allies w/ the French than the English. The Irish and Scotts alike DO NOT care for the English. At the pub I've overheard and I quote, "Ahhh, everyone hates the English. They think they're better than everybody."

What NOT To Say--I asked the Irish bartender if he says "Shiver-me-Timbers." He whipped around and looked me dead in the eye and said, "Holly---- I'm an Irishman, not a pirate. Arrhhh!!" I laughed and laughed. :)

I cancelled the second day of my tour and spent most of my day in bed. I still feel sick and stuffy. But walked into town for dinner and blog.