So today was my planning day.  I went though the entire day thinking it was Monday. So I was planning to find tours for Tuesday and Wednesday before I was to leave on Thursday.  Right now in the computer area there’s this girl complaining on Skype about the hostel. Get over it. Another guy is talking in some other language. I like it better when it’s quiet. Anyway, like I was saying, today was my planning day. Originally I thought I’d have to take a bus to Galway to catch my prior planned trip back to London. Turns out after trying for a while to get the ticket to pop up that it comes to Dublin! So that means I don’t leave Dublin until 7pm. So that’s cool.

So after getting that over with I started attacking research on day trips, tours and sights to see. Why don’t they have a castle only tour? There are so many castles around Ireland. So the first tour is Tuesday, the Wild Wicklow tour. It’s recommended in lots of tour guide books and all that jazz. I was comparing that with some others, like “Over the Top” and whatever I found on the internet. Here’s what included in that tour:

• Coastal drive past DunLaoghaire Harbour, Dalkey and Killiney, home to the rich and famous.
• Avoca Handweavers – Morning Coffee* and craft shopping
• Glendalough – We personally guide you through this enchanting 6th Century Monastic Settlement followed by a gentle walk to the magnificent Upper Lake.
• Pub Lunch – Home cooking in a traditional Irish Pub
• Sally Gap Adventure – mountain lakes, wild heather and barren boglands (location for Braveheart)

This is my “Ireland Nature” tour. And I actually booked this one second. When I first tried to book it, it wouldn’t let me. I called them up on Skype and asked if they had any room tomorrow morning, they said no – only Tues & Weds. I wasn’t really thinking and said, “Oh, ok. Thanks then.” I thought for a moment after hanging up and thought about calling. “But, tomorrow’s Tuesday…”, I thought to myself. I figured I’d keep searching and found a different site to book. The booking went though. Hm. I went upstairs to ask if the library was open since I needed to print tickets. He said, “No, today’s Sunday, it would be closed by now.” – Me: “Today’s Monday.” – Him: “Sorry, today’s Sunday.” – Me: “But…Huh?” I gave him a seriously doubtful look [I'd been staring at my computer, clearly telling me it was Monday all day] and go to grab my Ipod from my purse on my hip to prove him wrong and it lights to life, “SUNDAY”. What tha? – My computer! Argh! This computer, I can’t trust it. I shut it down every night and who knows what day or time it will be next.

So I’ve been living a day ahead all day. So I had finished my booking for the “nature tour” second. Prior to that, I booked a tour only available on M,W,F and I booked it for Weds.  This is the “Day Tours Unplugged”: Ireland Though The Ages — My “Irish History Tour”. I mean both will have history, but this one will have more historical places. In this tour I get:

• Short city tour
• North coast tour with visit to Howth fishing village
• Entrance & guided tour Hill of Tara
• Entrance & Guided tour of Skerries Mill
• Entrance & Guided tour Trim Castle
• Fully Guided tour of castle and grounds

I think that’ll do, at least the best I can do. So that takes care of that.

It was getting sort of late, by Dublin terms. 7pm. This means all the good stores close and all the food & drink time ones stay open. Even though it’s still light out. I walk down to Tesco, check out their food supplies. I find a plastic cup of tomato sauce & cheese bits in it. 1 Euro. As well as a small 1 serving fruit drink: pineapple, mango & banana, 99P – might as well be 1 Euro. I heat up a half of the noddles for dinner and have the fruit drink for dessert. Not bad, 2 Euro dinner. And a good one at that.

After dinner I feel like taking a stroll. I strike out to the Dublin Millennium Needle down the street and then b-line to the Liffy River. These are my markers. The needle leads me home, the river leads me to Temple Bar side of town as well as back to the needle. So I didn’t know where Temple Bar was. It’s the hip side of town. I see a sign but I could’ve sworn it was a few blocks inland from the river. I keep walking in my direction and hit the city hall. Hm. I cross the street and check out a “Celtic Crafts Store”. It’s practically just like all the others, just slightly classy. I was kicked out because by this time it was 8pm and they were closing. Meh. So I decide it’s better to head back.

I back track to where those Temple Bar signs were. I head down the street, I notice a “Queen of Tarts” store that two people were finishing up closing. Hm, they must have 3 stores in town. – Nope. I look around the dead empty breeze way between the two rows of buildings and recognize the comic book store at the end. No way! When I was on my tour this place was packed! There were so many people, crowded I say! It’s amazing how un-special a place looks without life within it. Really odd.

I look back at that store. I love the design of “Queen of Tarts”, a red little shop is so quaint, yet so spicy. The title “Tart” seems so brash, so daring. The play of words is so witty it makes me love the shop even more. What a perfect name! For some reason I think Mrs. Lovett in red is going to pop out. I imagine that sort of design, Burton-esque with red, black and white theme. Maybe a little white rabbit, with a red and black ruff.

I continued to walk, thinking to myself and I make my winding way back to Liffy. I decide to walk along the Millenium walk way above the Liffy River. The river itself looks like a watery dark chocolate river. I see some eery looking container, a box – some sort of trash that is partially submerged underwater. It disapears into the murky dark water but it looks so creepy – who knows what is down there. Apparently another one of the Millenium gifts was a clock that was placed in the water and if you fed a machine on the bridge it would light up from the bottom of the river to tell you how much longer until 2000. However in true Irish fashion (the tour guide said) it wasn’t finished until 2003.  Apparently this failed because the water is too murky an polluted, and stopped working anyway. But I can only imagine how creepy that had to be. As if the clock had drowned and it’s ghostly glow reaches out from the bottom some earthly doom clock down below you.

Regardless, I made my way to the right bridge to reach the needle. I eye a few people sitting and then look at the sea gulls flying around. I hope they don’t crap on me, that would be horrible. Because after all, today I am wearing a new shirt, a “make me happy-feel special” shirt. I pulled out one of my Czech bought scarves and was quite content with my get-up today. As I waited at one of the many cross walks I thought of how much I’ve forgotten about those London journal entries. I look up to the Baliley’s Cream sign and it reminds me of an online video… O’le Greg with his Baliley’s From a Shoe.  It makes me smile. Too bad I don’t have someone to take a picture of me with my hiking boot held up to the sign. Oh well. Life goes on. I continue my walk, no surprises there. I check out a window filled with models. I don’t particularly care for any of them though one of them looks like what I’d wear. – T-shirt under a dress. Very plain, boring. Hopefully I can deviate from that.

I finally get back to the hostel. Earlier, when I went to go put my laptop up, one of the girls was on my bed. Grr. I didn’t say anything but she said sorry. I feel the need to establish my territory but these girls don’t seem to mean anything by it. As long as she didn’t touch any of my things or sleep in my bed then there’s no problem. I lay down, not taking my shoes off, just putting them on top of my rolly bag. The purpose was just to relax and think but it turned into listening to two girls speaking Spanish in the room. I try to pick up the conversation, gathering info tidbits here and there.

Next thing I know I nod off. I go in and out of napping, not really caring since I don’t have to do anything. That sounds so nice. Don’t have to. I eventually reach a level of semi-consciousness and realise that there’s no Spanish anymore. Also, behind my closed lids I feel like I’m seeing brainwaves flicker and think this is a bit odd. I open my eyes, it’s the light. I happen to be in the perfect bunk for recieving the flashes of the tweaking lightbulb. I roll to my other side and clutch my purse to my chest. My pillow is still arm’s length away, I think. Eventually the twitching light becomes too much of a pest and I surrender. Alright, alright, I’m up. Urg.

Every morning I end up rolling out of bed with the racket of the other girls getting up. So who knows how much sleep I actually get, that and trying not to freeze. For reasons beyond my power of guestimation it is cold in my room. A room with 18 beds in an attic. Whatever. I feel like swiping one of those comforters hanging out in the halls. Meh, the idea of having second hand dirty laundry on top of me as I sleep [think: strange guys in boxers slept under those] is not worth it.

So after taking a nap (who knows how long I was actually out) I grabbed my laptop and headed down the the computer room. The guy from Michigan wasn’t there. I usually see him here and there on his apple laptop. We don’t talk much, sorta Hey thing going on. Since sitting here I’ve been doing more research and attempte to watch a movie. – Oh and today I finished watching, “Sense and Sensibility”. Not bad. I’d really like to read those books at some point. That and get a good discussion going on because I know I’m missing something. Talk about the historical reasoning, character reasoning and what she was trying to say through the characters. When I was in Bath I stopped at the Jane Austen shop and there was a guy dressed in period attire who was all gentlemanly and it was really unnerving. A guy so formal, really odd. I think I’d be blushing all the time. Hahaha.

Anyway it’s midnight, and me being the old creaky foggie that I am – EuropeTime!Haley, no longer College!Haley – is tired…abit oddly hungry.  It must be the constant flow of wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. BTW, FYI, College!Haley stays up to at least 2am. Midnight was like, “Psh – the night has just started!”. I must also mention that I wasn’t a going out girl so this was stuck in her dorm room Haley. That Haley also didn’t have to wake up until at least 9am – sometimes 10am. This Haley wakes up at 7am – and the most at 9am. Never 10am. But right now, I’m really tired and the kitchen is making my stomach grumble.

Well this morning I was wrapped up in my sheet and I woke up with a headache. Not alchohol induced what so ever. Man-snoring, coldness and repeated waking up is the culprit. But I got up none the less. I had my grandola breakfast after a shower. The bathroom is 50 steps and 3 floors (?) downstairs. You walk in and there’s a room under construction with a washer and dryer, oddly sort of slick – like someone spilt washing detergent and it never was fully cleaned up. Continuing on to the next room there is a room with probably 8 stalls, toilets. But every single one of those doors do not close all the way and don’t lock. Toilet paper comes out in tissue paper size sheets, like baby whipes out the circular blue roll. I have to check to make sure they are popped out since you can’t pull them out otherwise. Nice, no? Past the stalls there are 4 sinks, none of which have soap.

Past that are the showers. Now, I’m not complaining – this hostel is actually not bad and pretty nice. Ok so I walk to the showers. There is a row of those as well, probably 8 as well. There is a curtain on each shower stall but no where to hang or place anything so you sort of just keep your clothes and toiletries on the floor. Sometimes you can grab the chair to put your stuff on. Ok, so when you get into the shower you push the button. The button turns on the water. The water has to turn warm, it gives you probably 10-20 seconds of water before turning off. Luckilly it doesn’t go back to cold. You learn to get used to it. Kinda amusing.

Ok so I got ready to go. I slept in my jeans and sweater last night since I don’t have any long PJs. So I end up switching jeans while I’m here. It gets chilly at night. I was in a room with…10 people? Guys and girls. And like I said, a snoring guy. Bleh. For the love of all things good in this world I hope I don’t marry a snorer, sorry Dad. Well, or the grace to fall asleep way before they begin to snore. Unfortuately I lost one of my earplugs, thus I could only block out one ear.

Today I stuck out at 10ish for the 11am free tour. I sort of went the wrong way but corrected myself, just fine. I got to the City Hall and waited around a bit with the group of 40 or so people. We were broken off in groups and I was with a Canadian tour guide. We went from the City Hall, to Dublin Castle. From Dublin Castle to Christ Church Cathedral, to Temple Bar street, Half Penny Bridge, Mansion House then ended St Stephen’s Green. After the tour I walked around St Stephen’s Green for a bit and then walked around what I later found to be a shopping district. I walked past a coffee shop called, “Insomniac Coffee” and I saw they had a logo cup and asked if I could purchase it. They said no. Heh. How stupid is that? If you have a cool cup, WHY NOT SELL IT?! Extra profit. Disapointment, again. I feel the strong urge to design a set of coffee/tea cups when I get home to make up for all the disapointing coffee/tea sellers not selling me their stuff.

I wandered around trying to find my way back and eventually ended up at Queen of Tarts. We had been to one of the city’s branches but I wanted to try their chocolate & pear tart and it was delish. I sat there musing to myself about the wonderful tart and about life. There were almond slices, the chocolate was creamy and there were bits of pears with one slice in the middle. All of this was put into a mini pie crust, which I suppose is what a tart is. And I received a small thumb dish with a bit of whipped cream. Very good. The small store had 6 or 7 small tables and had sort of a red theme. Very quaint. I was expecting cuter theme but it was pretty casual, minus the unmatching flowery tea cups. I really wish they would’ve had theme cups that I could purchase. How cool would it be to have a tea cup with “Queen of Tarts” on it? Ok, maybe I’m just on a really big tea cup logo collecting phase.  I finished and paid before leaving.

I went next door to check out the coat of arms shop. This girl and I started chatting, her name is Sara. I was looking for Morgan’s coat of arms but they only had McCormack. Bleh. We continued to chat about guys, and life when I realized she didn’t sound like she was European. Hm. She didn’t sound Canadian either. Or Northerner…or Western. Hm. So I asked her, “You aren’t from around here, are you?” – She’s from Atlanta, GA! High five, score one for the South! We chatted about family and college for another 30 minutes or so and decided to go grab some tea over at The Queen of Tarts and exchanged Facebook info. She said she’d hit me up if she was free tonight. I waved bye and eventually found my way back to the hostel.

So my adventure out into Dublin, the better side, the South Side, was how I found Dublin. The real one. I mean as real as a tourist area can be. It’s sort of like going anywhere, it’s all there just for you. You won’t find the more or less real stuff until you head out to the neighborhoods off the beaten track, and sometimes it’s just not there. It’s just a facade.

I went back to the hostel, and my stomach got upset. I don’t think granola and sugar mix well. Anyway after that I went back to the front desk and was changed to another room for the last night here. – I was moved upstairs, to the attic, the 18 person attic. FUN. My rolly bag is feeling more and more like dead weight. The girls were ok, didn’t talk much. I grabbed my laptop and got on the WiFi downstairs. Sara eventually got on and said that she was just brushed off by her man and was too crushed to go out. I said it was fine and for her to go get a hot shower and cozy up in bed after calling her bff (or talk to me) and she said she was happy she met me, that I gave her great comfort today. I felt the same, it was nice to talk to someone today. Have a moment with.

I’ve been on the computer for the evening. I feel like I’m ready for home, I’m not having any stability moving around like this. If I had something set up and somewhere to get used to then I’d love to stay. I like staying in one place and relaxing. I can’t imagine when I will only have a few days holiday…now. Soon. It will be nice to get home and to have that knowledge that I can stay. I’m also sorta starting to get irritable. PMS. I can feel it coming, this slight tick, the slight bothering things that didn’t bother me before.

Well, enough of that. I’ve got to get up in the morning and find my next place to sleep and places to go.

Today I planned to go on the walking tour at 11am, but didn’t get to it. I sort of went to burn time until it was time, it was like 8am. I went to check out the stores. I ended up buying a cute black button up cotton shirt and a blue loose shirt with quarter sleeves, both on sale. After going to lots of stores and checking out the sales I checked my watch and realized it was 11:45. Shoot. So I decided I’d do that tomorrow and work on getting a ticket to Galway. I eyed a few of the pasterie shops and passed them up since I didn’t want to gain more weight.

I went to the library and was given a library card to access the internet there. A library card. The purpose of going was to be able to print the ticket.  The first time it didn’t take and so I had to wait an hour before there was a free spot again. I went back downstairs to the mall and grabbed some food from the nuts stand. In my bag there were cranberries, bananna crisps, ginger dipped in chocolate and chocolate raisins. I liked the cranberries the best, I found I love them in my granola cereal. Mmm. Anyway I kept an eye on my clock. Printed out my things and left. After that I headed back to the hostel, this was around 3:30. I’m not sure what I did after that, sort of wandered around I guess. It amuses me that the Dublin Spire is near. It’s really nice to orientate you, sort of like the Prague Baby Tower near that home. Alright, I think that’s enough story telling for tonight. It’s 1:14am and when the veins in my hands start to pop and I start feeling zombie-ish, it’s time for bed.

Ok, so yesterday I pretty much relaxed most of the afternoon. I figured out the ticket thing to Galway and hung out with the occupants of the hostel.  That evening Jen wanted to go see the sunset in Howth. So Jen, Jared, Stephano, and one other person and I grabbed a train. While there we searched for a place to eat and had to settle for fast fish food. Some of us got fish’n'chips while others got fisherman’s pie. I grabbed a fisherman’s pie. Mine was the last to be made so I had to stand there for a bit before sitting down with the others.

We sat on a bench and enjoyed our dinners and watched the sun starting to set. After that I grabbed an icecream and we walked down the concrete pier and it reminded me of home, in a way.  The smell of the seaweed, the docked boats, the waves crashing against the shore…and best of all I could see a clear blue sky with clouds like home. We sat down on the pier and chatted and enjoyed the beautiful sunset while having a Guiness. I tried it but I didn’t like it, way too strong. Bleh. I like the cider better. Not so..beery. I continually kept telling myself, “I’m in Ireland”. It didn’t help. It doesn’t feel like I’m in Ireland. Places just seem to meld together sometimes. It doesn’t phase me anymore. People are people, just sound different, but nothing really screams “IRISH”. I think I need to get out of the city again. The country views are so much better. Especially when it’s breath-taking country side, like in Scotland.

When we decide it’s time to go back we realize the next train is 15 minutes and realize we won’t make it, so we slow down to a stroll. When we make our way to the otherside of the harbor I take another look. The sleepy village hugs the curve of the cove filled with the masts of medium sized boats. No shrimp boats here. On one side of the cove, the left extreame has a few resturants and what seems to be a lighthouse/tower building to the right there is a small hill that peaks out behind the homes. And a concrete pier, on the other side in the water is a hilled island.

We decide to check out the Pub next door to the station. Nothing really worth getting there, Jared orders a round of shots for us since he was going home the next day. Unfortunately the shots were more like oversized thimbles. All 5 of our shots might have made a single shot.  We were waiting to pay the bill and realize the time has flown and we have to go, the train is there. So we rush and pay before rushing to the train, and got on just fine.

They were going out the bar after that, I decided to turn in for the night. I usually can’t make it past 12am before I am so tired. Really tired.

Last night before going to pack I printed out my tickets and then went to the tea shop downstairs. I bought a 50P cup of tea and relaxed while reading a magazine. I love tea. Since coming to Europe I drink it more often. Though I dislike waiting for piping hot tea to cool. I suppose it’s another part of the relaxing effect. Eat your meal, wait another eternity and then have your tea. But it has such a relaxing effect it soothes your soul with one flavor and warmth. Like chicken noodle soup. Or on another level like peanut butter and chocolate, or just chocolate. One thing I miss for some reason is toasted marshmellows. I’d love to have a S’more right about now.

Today I’m going to Dublin. I had problems sleeping again this morning. I think it was because the sun bursts through the window at 5am inthe morning. Each time I went back to sleep I drempt of that thistle tea cup. I really wish I could’ve gotten that bloody cup. I ended up getting up around 6:14am and took my shower and packed up to go.

I brought my sheets down and asked if I could keep my bags in the lobby. The girl in charge of the desk said she wasn’t liable if something was stolen. How nice. I was just too tired of hauling my stupid rolly bag up and down stairs. I went to the kitchen and produced my granola cereal and milk. Once I finished up I rolled the granola bag up and put it in my bag. Food for later.

I grabbed my untouched bags, turned in my swipe enterance card, and started to haul my life down to the middle of town. I stopped at McD’s to use the WiFi and at the bookstore to check out the books. I probably have 15 books I want to read on my list. I have decided to keep myself from buying anymore books. I think. But I’ll be requesting all of them from the Chapel Hill Library when I get back.

The buses here all have Hollywood movie ads plastered on them. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is one I can’t wait to see. It was a great book and hopefully the movie will be just as good. Well at least hold it’s own.

Also on my way to the bus station I went to Bradford’s again to get two goodies. I don’t know why I do it. I don’t want to be fatter, I just know I won’t have this at home. Maybe all my walking makes it go away? Balances it out? Let’s hope. I really need to work on my sweet tooth, and self control. I really hope I do lots of walking when I get home.

Ok the bus is here now. I found myself drifting in and out of sleep again. I remember yesterday on the tour after it rained there were water droplets on the window; in my dozy state I thought they were a flock of birds flying across a field outside. I try not to doze. It seems whenever I blink the scenery changes.

There were all sorts of cows and sheep in hilly fields we passed. Brown, black, black&white, brown&white, black&brown muddy, tan. And the sheep, the usual white or black or white with black underneith. I’ve never seen so many herds of cows and sheep. They speckled the hills. Pretty cool.

We hugged the side of the land next to the beach and unfortunately I was on the land side so I didn’t get any pics of the sea. Or maybe it was a lake. Either way it was quite beautiful. The bus pulled into the marina and we went in to check in with our tickets. I’m in the waiting room with an hour to burn. I’ve got candy, coffee/tea, and soda machines in front of me. Above me is a tv reporting, “Next Sailing to Belfast” with 1440 HSS in red and then “Sailing On Time Sea Conditions Good”. And to the far right a “Guide Dogs for the Blind” coin donation black lab statue.

And so I wait. When the ferry finally came in we all boarded the mini-ship. The intererior was very nice. There were fast food resturants and I had lunch there with some tea. I sat down after that to watch The Tale of Despereaux. Good movie. I liked the art style. Not really sure if I liked Desereaux’s voice. Meh, not important.

Once I got off I collected my bags. I surely hope everything in my bags made it without breaking. Dread. My sleeping bag’s bag got ripped though, unfortunately. I’ve only got a few more moves to make so it should be fine.

We are driving though Belfast, lots of brick. Neon is apparently in. The bright blue stockings on a girl is interesting. Smerfy. One girl had normal colors but her socks were a striking shade of neon orange. Very peculiar. I’m begining to wonder, does everyone dress like this (and better) in the US and I’m just missing it or is it just a European thing?

Apparently that bus was only a transfer bus. So now I’m on the right bus. Yay. I don’t know who told this girl that tangerine orange went with a fusha purse but I think it looks ugly. Probably would’ve gone with a black purse to match the half leggings and big black belt. Maybe that’s just me. Wht do I know about modern fashion anyway?

To my left there is a mean looking dark blue cloud. Normally they are just placid blue, bored but blue. Clouds here are like bullies, hanging over you but they are mostly all just there to make mood lighting. I’ve started to think of seeing the sky’s bald spots (the sky blue sky) as just another type of blue. In a sky filled with dull grey blue sky blue makes a lovely contrast. Like a painting, where a bright red dress blinds you with heavenly color and outshines everything else on the canvas. In some places the grass is like that, so beautifully striking. I’m looking at some grass now. It makes me want to go frolicking through it. Except some where you know there are big fat lumps of cow or sheep dung just waiting for you to step in it. Anyway, the dark blue sky and the green contrast nicely. The sun is poking out of the clouds and I’m on the sunny side of the bus. Tell me, what kind of bus has no toilet but a webcam tv screen of what’s in front of the bus for all the passengers to see?

So I got into Dublin and I found my hostel, it’s on a row of buildings that are also all hostels. I walk in and get my key and I have to go downstairs. Hm. I make a squeek as I feel as though my luggage is going to take me down the steps, as if they were to excited children tugging at my arms. I make it too the bottom and look around. Hm, a lounge area. I go though a door way and there’s a kitchen and then another lounge area but with tables and couches. This is not a normal layout of a hotel. I ask which way to the rooms, a guy with a particularly sunburnt face tells me he thinks it’s upstairs next door to his room. Ok, I question and he goes to check. Indeed, that is the way. He asks if I need help with my bags so I hand him the rolly bag, glad to release the weight. So I keep going forward, up a different flight of stairs. Turn the corner. Up another flight around another corner, though another door and there it is. I swipe my card and enter the room.  The guy hands me the luggage and says if I’d like I could hang out with his group downstairs. – The group I passed in the 2nd lounge. Sure, I say. I drop off all my things and head back down.

Hookeedookee. I found a group to hang with my hostel and I’m writing drunk. But since I am drunk and it’s 11pm I think I will be courteous to my fellow roommates and not drink anymore and go to sleep right now.

[the next day]

The group is multicultural and there to volunteer for a Irish volunteer group. They were getting ready to play a drinking game. I think it’s name is Waterfall but I have all the rules written down. I wrote these while drunk, I’m updating this post while sober. Here are the rules for the curious:

This morning I woke up a few times but I didn’t look at the clock  until 6:13am. Around 6:30 I decided I’d get up and get going. I was as  quiet as possible getting up since last night the room was completely  booked. I took my shower and grabbed my granola cereal.

When I was all ready to go I went all the way to the kitchen in the  basement. I had breakfast and there was an Asian woman who was  enjoying her morning tea and I hopped I wasn’t chewing through my  teeth. After that I washed my dishes and struck out for the 20 minute  walk down to the center of town. I at Mc’Ds stealing their wireless  right now but I’ve never been asked to leave. I’ve 30 minutes until my  tour leaves down at George Square.

The Loch Loss is a lovely lake surrounded by green hills and a little  neighborhood. There’s a park, a tea shop and a tourist shop. Right now  I’m in the tea shop to have a home made fruit scone with strawberry  jam and cream on top with tea. There was way too much cream they were  big dollops so I scooped some off. It was really good. The tea is 
delicious of course.

The scene in the shop as I drink my tea is three women servers making  cappacino for themselves. I love hot tea. It’s so soothing. At least  when it’s sweet as well. I want to buy my tea cup. It’s large but has  a Scottish thistle at the bottom of the cup. They don’t sell them but  it’s made by Myrtle Espresso. I think having cups from where I’ve  been, places I had them at, is special. I probably won’t find a cup  with a thistle on the bottom. But I know what to look for now.

As we pass the loch I see lots of hills with rock and grass and some  patches of tall trees. I wonder how much was taken down by loggers and  how much is natural.

Op, it’s starting to rain now. This one seems, by the sound of it, to be a thick rain but now it sounds like a drizzle. Our next stop is  Loch Tullah and it’s gray and messy rain. The front has a wee forest  and another one on a small peninsula. Vast green rolling hills and  bits of forest surrounding the loch.

Then we went though the Highlands hills and to Loch Ness. There we had  an hour and thirty minutes to walk around. I went to the shops but  none had anything I wanted.

 From there I’ve been falling asleep off and on. Between the warm sun  and drizzle I just nod off. We stopped at a waterfall and took some  pictures. I wish I’d been able to hike but I probably wouldn’t do so  well since my legs are stiff.

Pitlochry is next. I went to one store but what I wanted was  overpriced. And then the stores were closing. Blah. After that we head  home.

When we got back to George Square I grabbed some fish and chips for dinner. I saw two begging men on the way home but didn’t offer any change. I always feel guilty about not doing it. One said, “Sorry to ask Miss, but do you have any change? I need to feed myself tonight. Thank you Miss.” After having a bit of my fish and chips I also felt really bad about throwing it away…so I wrapped it up and walked down 20 mins in the drizzling rain to find the guys. I didn’t find them so I put it in a phone booth. Hopefully it will be of use to someone. *shrugs* As I was rounding the corner it started to actually rain. Luckilly I got back in good time. Tomorrow I leave for Dublin. I’ve got a bus ticket that goes all the way and over the water. I’m curious already. Yet I’m disapointed I didn’t find anything (except that tea cup they didn’t sell to me and the stupid expensive thistle weight) in Scottland. Ooooh well. Serves them right for producing too much stupid tourist crap and not enough good quality trinkets.

Last night I got in from Edinburgh. I had no bookings for the night  but I was supposed to stay with a host but that fell though. So it was  around 11pm and I found my usual Wireless savior, McD’s. I already had  a backup hostel but I wanted to grab a bite and get wifi since not all  hostels are Internet savvy. I ordered a chicken sandwich and a 
milkshake. But I realized I could barely understand the cashier. The  scottish accent was so thick, I’ve never heard it so thick. But I got  the gist of it. It was near midnight when I asked if the 44bus was  still running I was taken to the back of McD’s and shown the way. The  floor was surprisingly greezey.

As I stood there watching the club groups walk by I decided the next  thing to drive by was my mode of transport – cab or bus. It was cab,  3.40£ got me to the SYHA and I booked 2 nights. I think that was 33£.  I was told I was room 315D, and of course – no elevator. That’ll teach  me not to buy more things. It was late, and I was exhausted.

I hiked and hauled my burden rolly bag up 4 flights of stairs. All the  way until there were no more stairs left. But I was rewarded. For one  the hostel is amazing, like an old hotel. The stairs have wooden  banisters with carved angels and at the top a sun roof. Very nice. My  second reward at this time of night was that no one was in the 6 bed  room, minus one girl’s bags. After freshening up and getting PJs on I  went to bed. Obviously after midnight the girl comes home and with the  squeeky bunkbed wakes me up. Grumble. I didn’t try to be extra quiet  this morning.

I woke up at 8:30am and left around 10:30am. I decided I’d take a tour  today. I also decided I’d be frugal and cruel again and make myself  walk downtown. I also like this because I can check out stores and  buildings along the way. I love it how there are many thrift stores  all in one area. Fantastic. Love it. I stopped at a bookstore and  almost bought another book. But I stopped myself. It was about helping  dogs, and one was named, “Haley”.

I’m on the City Sightseeing tour, I got off at the Glasgow university  stop and I’m enjoying the cool and warm weather, blue skies and  sunshine. The buildings are fantastic. They are so lucky. Jesus. So I’m in the chapel and the choir seating has shields. I think  it’s Scottish shields. But I’m sitting back and looking at the stained  glass windows ahead. They are plum purples, emerald greens wooden  browns, and muted yellows. I really wish I could make commentary on  the architecture but I have no clue. I wonder how old this is it  doesn’t say anywhere. Pictures have no way of expressing the  overwhelming-ness this college presents itself to be.

After that I got back on the tour bus and got off when we were near  the Willow Tea Room. I never got there because I stopped at a pastery  shop. I bought a few things. One was a shortbread sandwich with a  dried cream icing ontop and in between. That one was really good.  Another was a pie bottom with soft caramel and chocolate on top. That  one was a great comfort food apparently it’s as soothing as  peanutbutter and chocolate. I think. I forget what the last one was, 
it had a marshmellow fluff on shortbread and a small dollop of  strawberry inside and the mellow dipped in a yogurt strawberry icing.  They were all very good.

After that I realized it was getting abit late. 6pm is pretty much  closing time even though it looks like 3pm. So the tea room would be  closed. So I was hungry for dinner and real food. I went to Salsbury  and bought a sandwich, water, a bag of granola cereal and a tiny jug  of milk (about 2 cereal bowls worth).

After that I walked back across town to the hostel. When I got back I  eyed the tours around Scotland. I thought about it and then went to go  get labels for my fridge food. After putting them away I asked about  pamflets for the tours. After while I decided on the “Loch Ness,  Glencoe, & The Highlands” tour for Tuesday.  After booking that I also booked a few parts of the end of my trip before heading up for bed. I didn’t get to bed until later because I repacked my bags, which I basically have to do every day or whenever I take something out of there. I charged my Ipod as well as much as possible and started reading a new book. I really liked “Endel”, the whole story was very well done and I hope I can get my Mom to read it. For the emotional value, and maybe a bit educational on the whole service dog thing.

I can’t remember how much I wrote last draft. I arrived to Edinburgh at the bus station. It was lightly raining and followed my map to Princes Street then to North and then South bridge. I looked at my map and realized street wasn’t where it was supposed to be – or rather it wasn’t there at all. I looked around and then looked down and realized the street was in the air, the street was a bridge – but it was a street with buildings over another street. I found a street that went down and walked it. I passed under the other street almost like the gutter slum. I looked up at the name, Cowsgate. In front of me was a yellow cow leaping halfway out of a bar/resturant building and the other half was leaping into the wall around the corner. I find my next marker street and I am heading up hill again, but not all the way. I turn the corner and I find the marker telling me to go left to the SYHA (Scottish Youth Hostel Association) that way.

When I got in there was an elderly woman complaining about how hard it was to find the hostel. Which was pretty boring, so eventually I just sat down. I eyed my hand while I waited. I had scraped it one the stupid rolly bag’s screws and it nicked my thumb flesh. Stupid bag. But it’s my goodie bag and I love all the goodies inside.

When it was my turn I was assigned to 7th hall, 3rd floor, Rm 3. I hiked up and it was basically a dorm turned summer hostel. But hey I had my own room!! Yay! I settled in and made myself comfy. I think at this point it was getting late and everything was closing. So I stayed in. I think I started working on the London entries. I worked on them along with enjoying by computer until about midnight – or 1:30 before I was too tired.

The next morning I had to check out. Luckilly hostels let you keep your luggage in a storage room for a day. I struck out and went to search for a new hostel. I had researched a few hostels and went to find them to check their openings. Both were full. But at the second one as I was leaving there was a tour guide guy who said he’d walk me to the hostel I was told to try out next. Since he was going that direction for his tour.

He called ahead and they were booked and so was the next. But he pointed to another one and said if I could get one there I should go on the tour. But I decided finding a place to sleep was more important. I never did end up going on his tour – I wish I had though, he was rather cute – of what I saw. But I did eventually find a hostel. It was probably a very nice house at some point like some European hostels.

I was situated upstairs down the hall and on the bottom bunk. In Ireland because it’s so near the sea all over you’ll see and hear seagulls. Oh and pidgeions are likely to come right up by your feet. I think I went to the Homecoming that day. The Homecoming was a festival where all the clans met up. It was on the other side of town and lots of people. Especially in kilts. I listened to the Red Hot Chili Pipers, which were awesome. I had heard them on YouTube and at that moment didn’t know it was them. I checked out the food and had a cup of blueberry juice which was nice.

I went over to the games ground and watched muscular men throw weights with sticks attached – like throwing mallots. There were two North Carolinian participants but neither won. Still very impressive. I also watched the bag pipers and thought of the NCSU team. Before I left I had seen them in concert for a class. Little did I know then that I’d be going to Scotland that summer.

Once I had had my fill of the festival I decided I’d follow other people up the hill next to the grounds to see a great view of the city. After a good bit of hiking, in my Croc sandals no less, I was rewarded. While I could still hear the festival I heard “Black horse and a cherry tree” and when I went down I heard “I’d walk 5,000 miles”. I don’t know if they were the actual bands or not. I took video and pictures and sat down for a bit to enjoy the view. It was getting late by then, in store closing terms, so I headed back to the other side of town and back to my hostel. Princes street, at least part of it, was under construction. The detour sent me next to a park. I was sort of rushing for the traditional dance at the Queen’s Hall because I realized I didn’t look too snazzy. I took a back road once I was done getting ready but by the time I got there it was over. I sat in the park for a bit and watched the clouds for a bit before heading back to the hostel.

My last time out before I left I took a City Sightseeing tour and got off at teh Edinburgh Castle. I wouldn’t have probably found it otherwise. I got an audio guide and plugged in some numbers to listen to the stories of St. Catherine (Queen) and her chapel and her relationship with her husband who was killed and then she died of a broken heart? And her body was lowered from atop the castle while under siege. I bought a painted glass window replica from the chapel. I really want to have many stained glass windows so I could catch the light in my room in Chapel Hill. – Or anywhere I live. They make me happy. I also saw the crown, staff and the stone – which I took a picture of when I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to. From there, after a few hours, I got back on the bus and went back to the Gathering grounds and walked back since everything was closed already. I walked back to the hostel, packed up and I’m pretty sure it was that evening I left.

Once the Shakespeare Express left the station I check the time. I decided I wanted to leave with my group earlier and I go to the box office. I show them my ticket, they tell me it’s for tomorrow. Uh-oh. So I have to change it anyway for today, and I choose the nearest time. More money speeping out of my pocket. These Brits sure know how to suck me dry. Ok so the train gets there and we settle in. It’s around 3hrs? I think. We sit and read for a bit, pointing out magazine articles. The youngest girl (18, I think) points to the horoscopes. I don’t really remember what it said, something with discovery, applying to me but I can’t really remember. We played a card game after while. It was interesting, like you bet how many rounds you can win and then you play until everyone’s out of cards (they go up one each round) anyway sometimes I won but I think I lost the game because I mis-bet too many times. When we got in the station we asked where the local internet cafe was. When we got there I grabbed some wifi time and called Val using Skype. I was early, I caught the earlier train. She said that was fine but I was staying at a hostel for two nights since there wasn’t any room in the flat they were in. Val said she’d meet me at Euston Station. I had wanted to stay with my group and be able to hang out with them but that wasn’t going to happen. I got the eldest’s phone number hoping I’d call them later. Val told me to take a bus but I didn’t feel like it, I wanted to walk. I enjoy getting to know a place more by walking. I ended up walking something like 13 blocks, or 7 bus stops. But at the same time I was checking out the scenery. The buildings were mixed, some historical looking while others more modern. None of the cities I’ve been to have been extremely intimidating. London sort of looks like a city neighborhood with a bad case of urban sprall, like a virus it’s taken over surrounding towns. When I do finally get to Euston Station I look around, trying to find Val. I don’t see her so I just hang back so I’m not in everyone’s way. I find that the British are very used to pushing instead of saying, “Excuse me.” I’ve never bumped anyone’s shoulders nor had mine bumped until I got to the UK. I find it very off-putting, how rude. Once, later in my stay it even hurt my feelings. Was it so hard to say? They don’t even turn around to say sorry. None so far. It’s always me. However I did get a sorry when I was shuffleing about and a cigarette got too close to me as I was nearly bumped into.

After a few minutes Val and I spot each other. I was so relieved, a familiar face! Val and I walked down the street to my hostel, The Generator, on Tavistick? Place street – which is in Bloomsbury for those of you following at home. The hostel had obviously spent way too much on they design. Neon blue lights prevaded much of the building. We went inside and I checked in, 2nd floor room number 205. Fun. There was even a small tourist center, a lounge, bar, pool table, computers, and a dining hall. After I drop off my things Val and I walk down 10 blocks to the River Thames, walk across Waterloo Bridge and walk along the river for a bit. Near the London Eye there was an event for Columbians going on and there were lots of people. The churros looked good. I actually wrote a paper for spanish class on churros. We went past the London Eye, whch Val hates since it’s so ugly. Crossing over the Westmister Bridge gives me a great view of the Houses of Parliament with the clock tower. It’s so beautiful. According to Val it’s wanna-be gothic architecture. Duke actually has lots of wanna-be gothic architecture, Val said. So much that they actually went to great lengths to make it look like it was there for ages with warn down steps that are also fake. Still, I admire the building – it’s so beautiful and looming larger than life. It’s got so much detail that boggles the mind. Suddenly Peter Pan and The Great Mouse Detective pops in my mind (just now, not then, I was intently listening to Val). We walk past Westminster Abbey on our way to Trafalgar Square. There is the National Gallery, and in front of it a huge fountain with what appears to be mer-people and a fish spewing water. By the way, there’s a statue of George Washington in front of the National Gallery, given to the Brits by the US. Personally I think the French are better gift givers, Statue of Liberty, anyone? From the Trafalgar Square we head to Covent Garden – or rather breeze by. Pausing for a moment, I watch a performer in a crowd bend this asian tourist girl in compromising poses while she’s in a dress. Val is on the phone as I watch then once she gets off we decide it’s dinner time. I THINK we went past this cross roads intersection, which seemed more like Times Square, it was filled with tourists. Eww. We found an asian restaurant where we had dinner and it was really good. Val asked me about my courses and my travels, we talked about the films I watched in my film class in Prague and we talked about those as well. After dinner Val walked me back to the hostel and said to contact her in the morning. I went in my room, settled down, and after bit bought some interenet time downstairs. I let everyone know I was alive then after a bit more time I went to bed.

Stratford

It’s been a week an a half? Something like that. Time to play the “remember what you did” catch-up game. It’s almost becoming fun to do it that way. Ok so I caught the bus from um…Wells. Yeah, Wells. And it dropped me off in a rainy Stratford-Upon-Avon. I circle the train station for a bit, avoiding the rain/medium drizzle. It rarely pours down rain here, so you can last a good while before you would ever become drenched. So I go inside, it’s a rec-center. With parents and kids going about after some practice or another. As I look at the map and some brosures there are three girls giggling at the door to the parking lot. One dares the others to run out in the rain to the trash can and back again. The other two scurry off into the rain and come back damp and with grins. They do this a few more times, each time going a bit further out. At one point one of the girls ran out with another’s soda drink and left it on top of a trash bin. The other girl stands at the door, holding out her hand and telling the other girl not to take it out in the rain but she goes to fetch it anyway. I sort of wistfully remember doing things like that, activities in the rain. Like on Sullivan’s Island riding bikes back from the park with one of my friends. Or standing out in the rain, or that one time I walked back from classes all the way up to Wolf Village with a big grin on my face as I walked in the suite soaked to the bone. There is a point when you get just so wet you don’t care anymore – but it can be so delightful. Anyway as I was saying, I was checking out the map. I saw that the information booth was a bit of a walk (in the rain) but there were markers to guide me. Yet again I hadn’t booked my hostel ahead, so I had looked at my guide book for hostel guidance. I looked at the bus directions and struck out of the building, following the information booth’s medal markers along the road. After crossing a small bridge I got to the information desk to see it was closed and continued on my way.

I start to look around and a girl asks me if I’m ok, I tell her not really and she asks if she could help me. Truthfully I’ve never met anyone unfriendly or unwilling to help me my whole trip (which is what one would hope for). I ask if she knows where I could find [so and so]# bus, and she points me to the bus stop on the other side of the bridge, I thank her and I’m on my way. So I scoot my way down the bridge and take a gander at the bus times. I wasn’t too far along before a group of youngsters (just graduated high school) are behind me and they ask me if I’m going to the youth hostel. I was thinking it a bit peculiar, after all what’s the likelihood? I say yes and the said they think we missed the last bus, and if I’d want to share a cab with them. Sure, why not? Two girls and two guys in their group look very delightful and charming people – they say great and that they just have to go find some food and I’d be welcome to join them. I say sure and we tug our bags along in a group down the main drag of Stratford. A few steps and we stop at the 99P Store, closed. Awww, we bemoan. Shuffle to the next store and it’s open! So we go inside with our backpacks and me with my dead weight luggage (and backpack). I go down the isle and sort of realize it’s not very convenient to walk around like that and walk up to the entrance and stand out of the way. One of the guys and one of the girls are done while the other half are seriously considering their food selection. The younger of the guys stands next to me as the others drop their bags down at my feet, since I’m not going anywhere. Which I don’t mind. The guy that stands next to me sort of seems gay, like a happy go lucky camp councilor, but nice. One of the girls is very beautiful with brown hair, cheerful and the youngest, the other is blonde and seems a bit authoritative/tom boyish but nice, and the last guy seems to be a leader-type I think the eldest of them 20? and they are all German. German, completely normal, and like me. I didn’t know what to expect, this is fun. Nice people. Ok so they grab food and we find a cab. Cab driver says 20Pounds and we grab our stuff and all get in. I sit in a seat facing backwards and look at them as they make faces. I ask what’s up and they point at the money meter. We aren’t sure how far but the meter is running, jumping from number to number. We get there and it’s 21 Pounds, we pay (I pay, they pay me back since I had no smaller bills at the time) and check out our surroundings.

The hostel is a good hike from town. 10-15 mins by car. As we go up the short walk way we see this white box house with big windows maybe Georgian? sort of looks a bit southern as well. You know, those white houses in Charleston that are sort of boxed up with big windows and the sort of crowning on the edges? I think there’s one on the Battery. Anyway a smaller version of that. We walk in and there is a nice tile floor, apparently this place had a reading room, game room, kids room, and of course a kitchen and a dinning hall. We checked into our rooms, they had a reservation and I booked for a night, thinking I’d be able to contact Val the next day and leave by that next evening. I was booked into the room with the other two girls and was invited to share dinner with them. I pitched in 2 pounds for the dinner. I go downstairs after grabbing my laptop since I thought I’d be able to get service in the kitchen, silly me. We chatted and laughed as dinner was prepared. We had chicken tacos for dinner. After dinner we had some alcoholic cider (I think) and chatted some more. I made a point to wash the dishes since they made dinner and I still enjoy washing dishes, though I wish I had my music on. One of the topics was stereotypes. I was asked if there was any truth to “Family Guy”, I said I really couldn’t tell them. There are many Americans and I couldn’t speak for all of them, I told them that we had normal get up, go to work/school, go home, cook dinner, watch tv sort of lives when we had suburban lives. They asked me of stereotypes I had of Germans. I couldn’t say really, people are people that seem to be like others. I asked them however how they felt towards their history, they said it was history and that they personally did nothing wrong. I thought to myself how I could relate to that. I guess Americans droping the atomic bomb or killing off Indians is history – I didn’t do it. But it felt nice to get that off my chest, to get a question answered. History is history, they say that even today Jews in Germany make them feel guilty and they wish it would stop. The conversation eventually went to Obama and how I felt about him. I stick by my opinion that I’m not totally trusting in Obama. I mean he’s not some savior, it’s impossible. But anyway that died out and eventually two shy Estonian guys asked if they could join us. We said sure, and they sat down with their 70 Proof alchohol. Good grief. They diluted it with fruit juice. One of them started off with guessing ages, yet again I was between the 18-20 group. Oh well. We stayed up until 12, laughing and giggling over silly things. One of them was glitterfied toilet paper. I wasn’t drunk, but it’s fun to laugh and have a good time with people.

After everyone was ready to go to bed, I went to go find the wireless. I’d paid for 24hrs worth of net time. I was hanging out at the door of the dinning hall where the only wireless I could get was. The guy at the desk however let me in and I worked on a few things before heading to bed around 1am or so. When I got in everyone was sleeping so I decided to sleep in my clothes, and quietly made my bed as minimally as possible. I got up at around 7am, which is pretty usual for me. I packed up what little there was to pack and then went downstairs for breakfast. For breakfast there was a great selection, the best so far. We had sausage, a heavenly bisuit and I don’t remember what else but it was surely good as well. After breakfast I waited a bit and then hauled my stuff downstairs, I grabbed my laptop and tried to get in contact with Val. I didn’t go out all day since I was trying to get in contact as well as getting things organized again. I ended watching “The Young Victoria” while waiting, which was a great movie. When I did get in contact with Val she asked me to stay a second night so I slept in my clothes again since I figured I’d be useless to unpack anything anyway. The next morning I meet up with the group and turns out they are going to the train station as well. So I go off on my own since I technically have a few hours before I have to go to the station. Yet I don’t go too far and eventually head over to the station and see my group. They don’t know where they want to go. After looking at maps and brocure, they ask me where I’m going. I’m off to London. So they are going as well. After a while a steam engine rolls into the station. Huh. Never seen a steam engine before. Curiosity takes over and I go to check out the steaming shiny red machine, the front reads “Shakespeare Express”. Interesting. I take pictures and admire it and then go to sit down again as a crowd starts to gather around it taking pictures. The German group goes exicitedly to take pictures and I watch the bags. They come back as I hear some one say, “That’s the train they used for the Harry Potter movies!” – I cock a brow, “What did he just say?”, I ask one of them. “That’s the Harry Potter train! It only runs on Sundays, I hear.” I ask one of the girls to take a picture of me with it but it’s leaving the station, we scrample to get a picture and she takes it. Unbelievable. Perfect. I look at the picture and it has the Hogwarts Express symbol on it, I didn’t even see that! And even more unbelieveable, I look fantastic in it! What luck! We high-five and grin. Great!