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Published: March 29th 2012
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Hello again!
So after my birthday weekend we already had to start getting ready for the coming weekend. The trip I have had planned since before I got to Spain: St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. Remember that list of index cards with goals on them? One of those goals is to go to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. Just so happens Carly had that same goal so we’ve been in on this since the beginning. I recruited Ryan, my friend from Clemson studying in Sweden and then Leigh surprised me when she and Ty decided to come to visit me for spring break. Leigh and I booked a room at a Hilton in Dublin using Mrs. Allison’s Hilton points (thank you! 😊) and the four of us would stay in that room while Carly and Jessie found a hostel. Only problem was that there were no more hostels, so we agreed Carly and Jessie could crash on the floor. Then Alex decided to come; the seven of us would share the room. Then Emily decided to come; eight. Too many people in one room. The four girls decided to try to find a place, so we are back
down to four. Nope, wait Alex got sick, and Emily was going to just use her ticket. Seven. However it was 100 euros just to change the name on the ticket; six. At the last minute Leigh and Ty couldn’t get on the flight to Dublin on standby; and back to four.
So, Carly and Jessie and I set off running for Dublin on Friday morning. Yep, literally running.
5:10am – Carly and I waiting in the plaza for Jessie.
“Do you think she’s still asleep?”
“I don’t know try calling her.”
“She’s not answering.”
“Well, the train leaves at 5:40 and it’s at least a 15 minute walk. We are going to have to call the house and wake up Isabel to wake up Jessie.”
5:20am – Carly and I below Jessie’s house.
“Hey Isabel, its Devin again, is Jessie awake.”
“JESSiE!!! Yes, Devin she’s coming down now.”
5:25am – Jessie walks out the door and looks like she is about to apologize.
Carly: “We’ve got to run.”
So there we were, three girls running through Cádiz at 5:25am. The running joke (haha get it
running joke) was that we got in a morning run before we needed to catch the train. The good news it we did catch our train to Dos Hermanas where we switch trains to get to Malaga.
Me: “We should go outside; our train is going to arrive in about 5 minutes.”
About 2 minutes later a train to Utera pulls up.
Carly: “Oh, this must be us!” and she walks onto the train as Jessie unquestioningly follows.
Me: “Carly! No!”
Carly: “Oh, haha! Whoops.”
Jessie: “And I didn’t even question you, I just followed. That’s terrible.”
Needless to say we were relieved when we made it to the airport on time, with all three of us and with all of our luggage. After that it was relatively smooth!
Friday night I went back to the airport to pick up Ryan. He would be my first friend from Clemson I had seen in just about 10 months so I was really excited and nervous. I started to get really nervous when it was 40 minutes after his flight got in and he had not come through the terminal doors and
the hall was pretty empty, except for three guys with Callaway golf clubs living my Dad’s dream on a golfing trip in Ireland.
“Excuse me, is there another arrivals gate?”
“Yes, in Terminal 2 on the other side of the airport.”
“Oh, gosh.”
I got in my second run for the day, but it was worth it. I think my “Oh my god.” When I saw him said it all. I really couldn’t believe he was there! And he was such a good sport about having to wait while I sat at the wrong terminal.
The rest of the weekend was
actually smooth this time. Dublin on St. Patty’s Day isn’t really what you might think. There are definitely a lot of people dressed in green with leprechaun hats and fake red beards on, but the festivities really have nothing to do with what we associate St. Patrick’s Day with. The parade was all based on “Dublin, the City of Science!” with vibrate floats and costumes to celebrate Dublin being home to the 2012 Science Expo in Europe this year.
We did get to see a LOT of Irish Jigging though, learn
Irish songs, listen to Irish musicians and watch a traditional Irish broom dance at the Guinness Factory! Yes, we went to the Guinness Storehouse and it was really, really neat and not at all what I was expecting. It’s not old and run down like you would think, they’ve completely renovated the inside of the building and turned it into a 7 story interactive museum with beer and food tastings, yes, the Irish broom dance, and a free pint of Guinness at the top (which I chugged like a champ). After which I sent my Mom a text informing her that I don’t think Guinness is really my drink, “Well, it’s sort of an acquired taste; like coffee.” I like coffee now with milk and sugar…does that mean I should put milk and sugar in my Guinness? I’m just kidding! I know I just turned 21, but I’m not that naïve. Nothing could make that stuff taste better.
Ryan drank a Guinness whenever we ate. “Do you actually like those Ryan?”
“No. I’m just trying to be cultured.”
Well, I have proof of me being “cultured” because I earned that Guinness glass, so I kept it. Now
I will forever have proof that I drank a Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day at the Guinness Factory. St. Patrick’s Day goal not only achieved but
overachieved. 😊
We spent the rest of St. Patty’s Day wandering around Dublin, and we got to go to The Temple Bar and the surrounding area. I really, really enjoyed Dublin. The Irish people, I’ve decided, are probably the nicest bunch of people in all of Europe thus far. They are just so happy! They go out of their way to help you, give you directions, taxi drivers tell you history of the city; I can’t wait to go back one day. We really didn’t get to see all of Dublin and after looking at all of the postcards I think the countryside of Ireland looks
so beautiful. It’s definitely on my list of places to come back and explore more, maybe even when my Dad gets to cross a goal off of his bucket list and go on a golfing trip there. 😊
Love and miss everyone!
Devin 😊
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