Thursday, May 14, 2009

Journey to Kilkenny!

For some reason, it is so much easier to wake up early when you are sleeping outdoors. Just as well, since I had to catch a mystery bus up to Kilkenny. I was to arrive between 6:30 and 8:00pm, but I had no idea when the bus left Enniskerry, or left Dublin, or how long it took to get to Kilkenny...

I desperately wanted a shower before arriving at my new host's house, but the hostel said no, and by the time we finished the grueling walk to Enniskerry I was one with the dirt again anyway. I had to figure out the bus times before I could look for a pubic shower.

The bus was leaving in 20 minutes to Dublin, which was great! We ate some more food in the town, and before I knew it I was back in Dublin. I walked to Busarus the bus station, and found out the next one left at 3:30 pm, then 5:30 I think... It took two plus hours, so the best choice would be the 3:30 and be there early, than getting to the bus stop ten minutes before I'm supposed to be at the house....

I went to get food quickly, and find an internet cafe since I did not know the address by heart and definitely wanted to know where I was going once I arrived. I also wanted to make sure nothing had changed... nothing had, so I got Ross' number, the address, looked at the map etc and then it was off to the bus station.

The ride down was really pretty! Lots of countryside again, then when I got into the city it was nice and small looking, with lots of skinny streets with little shops. It's a medieval town and it really did feel like I was stepping back in time. I found a place that offered free internet with a purchase so I went in and had bruscetta and coffee... I got caught up in computer stuff and the next thing I knew it was almost seven! Ross called to tell me his game was called early and had to go, but the key was in a flower pot..

I tried to find my way to the house, but you know my sense of direction... I had no map, and I had no idea where the tourist centre was. I was going by memory of the googlemap I'd looked at in the internet cafe... it looked sooo straightforward (and it was, I just forgot one street name and failed to turn at it haha). I got to a point but then I walked too far. When I came to a divide in the road I knew I was in the wrong place... Two guys had told me to continue though, so I had.

Now I thought they were wrong.

I went into a grocery store but they had no maps. I got different directions from someone else and those sounded right.

I found it after that, asking only one person for reassurance! I had been walking with that backpack for a long time if you included the hours getting out of the campsite, so it felt amazing to be free of my bag, and then free of dirt after immediately going into the shower! That was the best shower I'd had so far haha.

Ross came home, and made sandwiches. I met Eilie, one of his roommates who was also on CS :) Ross was going out for drinks at a pub later, so I came along. Eilie let me borrow her bike, which was really nice! There was Irish music (finally! Irish music!) being played in a crammed part of a nifty pub. He introduced me to a bunch of people from all over the world. There was someone there that had lived in Vancouver! There was drinking and talking... more drinking... then we were off to another bar thing that stayed open later... a bunch of people ended up hanging out in the outdoor area in the back... there were buddha's on the walls which really did not seem to fit the partially-mirrored decor of inside... it was nicer outside so I was happy!

Another highlight was getting to cycle home under the influence. I hadn't done that for a little while, and it's a lot of fun. Especially when you are not used to the cars driving on the left haha. I made it home fine though; I just followed Ross' lead. They have the most adorable puppy/young dog at the house - black and white sheep dog type (remember those used to be my favourite as a kid? so cute) so after giving it attention and eating chocolate cereal I went to bed. This place was already kicking ass.

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