Category: Adventure 2017 UK

When you think its the end of story but it really isn’t….

I wake up the next morning and walking to airport 2 and half hours early with my airport trolley, I walked into the airport and noticed the departure area was not the same as before…the gentleman worker asked me if he could help me….I told him that I’m getting on Allegiant flight….he asked if I was going to Myrtle Beach…I said no, the one to Knoxville…he said, “we don’t have one to Knoxville..” .I showed him my ticket the same as I had the man the night before, but this man told me that this was not Newark airport…it was Newburgh….an hour away!!!! OMG. Newburgh is a new destination for the Norwegian flight company and it has just begun with this airport!!!! I asked the man how do I get to Newark…he stated ” there isn’t anyway get there in time for flight….maybe you can rent a car, but doubt you will make it.”

I run over to car rental desk, only 2 open. I first asked Enterprise because I have an account with them…”No cars available!”….this airport set in no mans land has no cars ….how many did they have? 2?

So, I run to Avis…Im booking car and I give them credit card…denied…I called credit company and because of returning to country and pending balance payments not posted (sunday) there was a hold for 24 hours….So I handed Avis my debit card….”Sorry, we don’t take debit!” I can”t believe this!

There was no bus or public transportation services at the airport….so I began calling taxi services….$200 or more to go less than an hour away….but couldn’t get me there to airport in Newark on time….so it was obvious I wasn’t going to make my Allegiant flight so I sat down to try and figure out my options. Internet on phone was as slow as snails and battery wanting to die. I called Mekia my daughter for some help. I asked her to help me find options on internet to get home from this place….She sent me a link of how to get to a train station 10 miles away, getting me to grand central in Ny, go to Penn station and get amtrak. She booked ticket for me to leave at 2:21 on Amtrak. It was now 11am. I called taxi service….$35 to get 10 mile I said come on….30 minutes minutes later A large beatup van pulls into the airport….a very large bald man with a dirty tshirt gets out and opens door for me…he puts my luggage in the van and I crawl up into the van that was covered in dust and brown dirt….OMG…I hope this is legit. He takes off and heads down tje road….(I think by the sound of the van he had a hole in muffler) 25 minutes later we reach the train station and very kindly he carried my bags to the elevator and was extremely nice. I waited for train and I boarded. I honestly believe I could walk faster than the train….As many trains as I have rode I can honestly say this was the slowest train I have ever been on!!!! 20 minutes into the ride an anouncement came on stating that there was something on tracks….train is being delayed. 20 minutes later it begins moving….however; I think I could’ve walked faster.

I arrived at Grand Central station 20 minutes later than I was expecting….I now had to get from there to Penn Station….a shuttle and 2 subways….however; the stations were so packed more than ever…there were so many people I could hardly move….but I noticed how so many peole wrre

were dressed….lots of neon colors, glitter, hats and lots of rainbow clothes….As I was being shuffled on and off of shuttles and subways by groups of the colorfully dressed people…I found out through conversation that today in New York City was the Gay Pride Parade with thousands and thousands of people…and many people were using the subways to get from point to point….So I assume I was joined in with the pride parade as I made my way to Penn Station!

I arrived at Penn Station at 2:28….7 minutes after the Amtrak had departed!. I called Mekia and she got the Amtrak switched to the following day. So here I sat in Penn Station trying to figure out what to do. I had 22 hours before my Amtrak train would leave….I have 100 lbs of luggage and Im exhausted. I sat in a corner of penn station that smelled a lot like urine while I tried to find alternatives to getting home. I looked for hotels, hostels, airbnbs, but nothing was either available or so expensive I could not allow my penny pinching self pay another $230 for 20 hours….I walked around until I found an outlet for my phone charger and a hotspot for wifi. I began another search. I knew that 20 hours later I could catch the train….ride 10 hours to lynchburg…have Mekia pick me up after work and ride 4 hours back…I knew that in 34 hours I could be home…..but….I don’t know if my body could handle anymore. Google working at warp speed I found a flight to Charlotte that landed at 2pm. I called Tammy to see if she could pick me up…with this route I could save almost 10 hours. I told Mekia to cancel Amtrak I was headed back on subways and airtrain to get to Newark Airport…(where I supposed to have been when I landed from Edinburgh) I told everyone I would just sleep in airport til I caught my flight..

There was no way I was going to risk leaving the airport for a hotel..

After arriving at airport I got dinner and walked around spying myself a comfortable spot to wait out my stay….I settled into a seat. I decided to try and compact my suitcase a little more incase tomorrows airline tried to make me pay for checked baggage. So with my luggage on the trolley I crawled onto my suitcase with my knees and began zipping the compression zipper so it wouldnt be expanded…. 2 men nearby was cracking up with laughter….one stated that the suitcase was goung to explode.

I did it!!!! However it was bowed like a like a new branch,

but it was zipped. The man beside me said that the bag would have to retire soon….he and I began chit chatting….I was telling him about the day I had…he laughed then said he had been at airport for 3 days. He said he felt like Tom Hanks from the movie “The terminal” I couldnt help but laugh….he was coming back from Germany to Texas and was waiting to get money from family wired into his account. We laughed about his knowing the airport schedules and said he was going to give tours. We talked about the number of homeless people that tried staying in airport. At one point this guy, named Richard, went to restroom. As soon as he walked off I was approached by a homeless man asking for money and he stated he was stranded at airport…..I simply said ,” join the crowd!” he said “sorry,” and walked away. Of course I couldnt sleep through the night…Richard and I talked and laughed thru parts of it…I walked around during other times….there were people sprawled out in every flat seat. At 4 am I decided I would try dozing off. I layed my body down on this curvy couch. About 18 inches wide ….however the problem was these metal curved armrest I could only get 1 leg under it…that meant my other leg would have to go on top…since I could only lay on my side…while my head rested on another metal arm rest. If this sounds uncomfortable….it was. I did doze off for about 20 minutes to be awoken ny a door alarm sounding. Forgetting where I was, I almost fell off the couch but leg was still trapped under metal arm.

I woke up from my catnap and said goodbye to Richard, his plane leaving 2 hours after mine….I told him at least now he can put airport guide on his resume…

I made my way to the gate. 2 hours later ….I boarded my flight to Atlanta and switched planes from Atlanta to Charlotte. When I arrived in Charlotte Tammy was there to pick me up. I could now see light at end of tunnel. 7pm I am home!!!!-

June 23 and June 24

I woke early enough to walk to station I will be meeting the driver I booked for a small group tour to see Rosslyn Chapel and Melrose Abby…there were 10 other people on a luxury van. Before we left I bought a croissant to eat while waiting. Since there was no room in cafe to sit I took my food outside to set on step. I sat there with the pigeons and fed them too.

The tour took about 6 hours but was very enjoyable. We seen the chapel and abby plus the artist rendition statue of william wallace. The driver gave us a lot of history of william wallace that I found very interesting. When we got to Edinburgh I rushed to a shop I needed to get to before they closed….I made it in time…I went on back to my room so I could pack for my flight the next morning.
June 24

Since my flight was not til the evening I knew I didn’t have to worry about getting up too early but I still had to check out fairly early. So I packed all my stuff…I bought an extra bag …overnight bag like…. so and I paid for a checkin…that leaves me with 1 rolling suitcase, cinch sack and an overnight bag….needless to say I was loaded. ….all were heavy, plus the recent purchase I made was not going to fit due to size in any of the cases so I had to carry them in the plastic bag.

I decided to go on to Waverly Mall with my stuff so I can look around till time to go to airport. It was bitter cold so I flagged a taxi to take me there….I got out of taxi and a woman said, I think you left a bag in there.,” my brain wasn’t thinking I said I didn’t think so …I went into the mall dragging all my suitcases and grabbed a bite to eat….all of a sudden I realized the plastic bag was gone. I hd left it in the taxi…I go to a taxi driver and asked how would I find out…he gave me number to call and they put it out over the radio…luckily they called back but phone wasn’t letting me answer…I tried a dozen different ways. I called back the taxi office and they gave me the correct way to dial it. When I talked to driver he agreed bring it back. While I was heading back to the stop to meet him, the wheel on my rolling bag fell off…so here Im dragging suitcase down the sidewalk (probably sparks coming out from the dragging) but I was able to retrieve package. I hopped bus and went to airport. I had about 2 hours or so to wait but that was ok…better late than to miss.

As I was boarding into the gate

..an attendent told another guy…here is another one and I was pulled inside an area where they were being searched….geez…here we go again….a woman and 2 men took me to a room and she padded me down while they went through my bags….as if my pink polka dotted new overnight bag would be carrying a bomb….they just don’t know how long it took me to get it packed….I helped them out, opened zippers….they asked if I wanted to pack it back….I said, “no, you can go right ahead…don’t squash the cookies, be careful with the camera…” and off I went.

For normal people thats all there would need to be…correct….nope…Landing in newark new jersey…grabbed an airport trolley to wheel my pegleg suitcase thru customs…sure enough Im almost home free I get pulled to a backroom!!!!!does my pink polka dot scream terrorist…or how about my pink shirt and university jogging pants….
He takes me to the side asks what food I have in bags…shortbread cookies is all…he asked a bunch of questions then asked how am I getting to TN from here…I said I was just going wait it out here in airport since its late and departure is early…”Oh no, this airport closes you cant stay here…..” are you serious?…he starts givimg me names of hotels and said there was one across street..WHATEVER!

I go out to the front of the airport and the last taxi leaves before I could get one. I asked the police officer standing in front how I could get taxi…he said, “they would be back in a half an hour.” I told him I was walking to that hotel and I was taking the airport cart with me!! He looked at me with this blank look and said….”ok….” I think he was scared to say no.

So here I go walking at night in Newburgh Ny with an airport trolley…looking like a bag lady. The hotel was a lot farther off than it looked…a lot farther…So here I wheel my trolley into the hotel…the look on the face of the desk clerk said it all…the hotel costed more for 1 night than 5 days in any of the countries I just came from….it was nice though…

June 22

I decided to hop train and head to stirling castle. I wanted to make it to some of the outskirt castles but I don’t know how much time will allow. After about 30 min the train arrived in Stirling….wasn’t too hard to locate castle….on top of hill of course! The castle was very nice but for what they charge you it should be gold plated everything. …but then again how often do I get to see castles?after touring the castle I walked around the town, then headed back to train.

When I got back to Edinburgh I have to use my train ticket to checkout…but where was my ticket?…I checked my pockets bag couldn’t find it nowhere. I tried to explain to the attendendent at the barriers of the train station …he said no ticket…cant come in Edinburgh…(so I guess Im stuck on tracks?). I went back to train and see if it was in my seat…but there goes train…..I look down and I see a ticket that must be mine laying on the tracks….hmmm its a pretty deep stepoff, what if I cant get back up in time…I decided to ask another attendent what I could do…he said I cpuld go to the ricket office on other side explain situation and see if thwy could help me…..as I walked off I decided to try getting that ticket off the track…but before I did that I reached my hand into the camera bag and there was my ticket….whew…

I decided I was very hungry. I grabbed some KFC…I know…pathetic tourist eating American….but this place likes breads too much…I need meat. I looked at menu and ordered 2 piece meal with mashed potatoes and gravy with corn. The cashier said they don’t serve mashed potatoes…I looked at menu seen the fravy but there was no mashed potatoes on it….I looked at picture and seen 2 pc chicken, corn, fries and side of gravy. I started laughing and asked what do you put gravy on? ..Ill pass on the gravy for my corn thank you.

After eating I hiked to Carlton Hill. It overlooks the town with beautiful monuments. It was very nice but pretty cold. I headed back to room and went to bed.

June 20th

I wandered the streets of Edinburgh and enjoyed the scenery ..it is cold in Scotland and I really don’t like that but I will make most of it. Id been reading up on places and one was North Berwick, so I hopped on a train….well truth is I go from person to person to find where that train was….but I still got on it. It was about a 30 minute ride…it was a seaside town. Very cute and beachy. I cant imagine how much fun this beach would be as cold as it was. One of the shops I found a neat little bag to help me put my stuff in…costed 4.50. Woohoo…I found a deal!

After exploring North Berwick I headed back to Edinburgh…I explored more Edinburgh and went to bed early….sorry no misadventures today.
June 21

Woke up not feeling well. My I was completely zapped. I looked around my room and decided before I do anything today I would have to do laundry….I was literally down to a bathing suit and pajama shorts….that was not going to cut the weather here. I gathered up my laundry and headed for the laundry facility.

After I got me some clean clothes washed and dried I bundled up and headed out to see Edinburgh Castle. It was on the other part of the city. It seem I usually have to take at least 2 buses, but couldn’t find one going that way….so I walked…and walked. Where I was not feeling great it was making the walk a lot longer! I explored the castle but just couldn’t do parts of it…I was feeling so rough that I caught a taxi and went back to room and went to sleep!

June 18..

Im ttrying to put album on here but takes forever to download 1 picture….I am sorry for those just following blog…with so few pictures….

Got up early and walked fo train and headed to Dalkey…a little town outside Dublin…

Bono from U2, Enya and a few others supposedly live there…well I didn’t see anybody famous but I ate the best cheeseburger I’ve ever ate in my life….

I went to Dulkey castle and took a little tour with living history players…I walked the town during a book festival. I went to tje other side of the island and seen beautiful views and gorgeous scenery. After a nice time I rode back to my room and decided I need get everything ready for my flight to Edinburgh the next morning….

June 19th

Ok….I had everything ready last night…taxi reserved.3:30..airport shuttle reserved…4:00….flight at 6:25…set alarm 3:00…woke up 2:50…..had a text from taxi services phone”thank you $5.00″…couldn’t figure out what was going on….looked at message time differences….googled time in Dublin 4:52….yet phone still says 2:52….wow! Order another taxi…5 minutes away….throwing clothes on, no teeth brush, face washed, flew out door….told taxi go straight to airport…lost $7 for bus, but taxi faster…..he flew through everything …getting caught in some traffic….made it to airport at 5:55. Ran thru airport to ryanair section…customer service said too late supposed to checkin 2 hours before (wouldnt let me online) ….said would cost $50 airport check-in late….ok whatever!!!! She had to call see if they would accept my checkin bag $25… Told me to run…I ran through airport.(no one stands in front of big woman running) made it to security…asked to get me closer missing flight….he let me jump ahead a little….next got to another section..huge line….that security told me just stay in line….got to where I could see conveyor belts…I ran ahead of line told female sec. situation ..said grab bin..(liquids, laptop) she helped me get to metal detector..of course metal detector going off like I have a bomb…pat down ..started take off shoes but told nevermind, so I have heel out of one shoe…back thru detector…brings out wand….bra and metal plate in leg….ran again with foot 1/2 out of shoe! made it to gate as last one….whew!!!!!!!so Im sitting on plane with my shoe half off…but im here

My $17 flight to Edinburgh costed an extra $100…but still cheaper than most.

I arrived in Edinburgh and all my devices were dead. I went into a restaurant and plugged them up…I had 2 converters a multiplug and 3 chargers….probably a fire hazard!. I ate some chicken bites while they charged.I got my GPS going and I sat out on my way to my room…I had to walk up a set of sets with my luggage, a great feat mind you, considering it was so full I had to get the B&B owners son to sit on it the night before just so I could zip it….(and I discovered I had left my pants hanging in closet!

After I got to my room which actually a dorm room at Edinburgh University that they turn into a B&B.during summer…its very nice…better than any dorm I’ve seen. Private room and bath…everything included and near town.

June 17th.

Cab waiting at 5:30 to take me to tour bus to go to the causeway. I get into taxi and gave address. Taxi driver asking general questions such as plans while in Ireland, where was rest of company…general tourist questions…I told him taking tour to Causeway and Belfast…a few minutes before we got to my stop he said that he would just take off work and take me to Belfast and be my company. I wouldn’t have to pay anything…(yeah I bet)..I politely no thank you I’ve done paid for tour and they are waiting for me…(yeah Im sure he believes that one) Before I got out of cab he told me that if I want any ride anywhere, he wont charge for me….(Im afraid what I would have to pay). Thank you…BYE

When I got out for the tour….I was on time.

Everytime I go on one of these tours I feel like I should be wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a fanny pack.

But on this tour I met a friend named Chiara a young lady from Sicely. We hung out together and had a good time. We first stopped off at the Dark Hedges featured in Game of Thrones….

Next we made it to Carrick-a’rede bridge…a 400 yr old swinging bridge over cliffs and water…the walk to the bridge was over a half of mile plus 100 of steps…easy going down. When I got to bridge I kept my camera in my hand and used 1 finger to snap pictures while holding on all the way across bridge. At times because of wind it felt like someone was stomping behind me. After I made it across the other side had amazing views to take pictures. Going back across the bridge the wind had gotten stronger….but I made it.

Now came the hard part,trekking back up all those steep steps and hillside. I used excuse to anyone behind me that I needed a picture of that, while panting like a racehorse.l

After I made it back to bus, we continued on to lunch then The Giant Causeway. It was absolutely stunning…Chiara and I took numerous pictures and had a good time.

After there we made it to Belfast. We only had a little over an hour and half to explore. I explored a little till I found a cool souvenir shop.

Dragging a big bag back to bus we headed back to Dublin. The bus driver dropped us off at a different location by 1 street. Well this screwed me up severely. I walked and walked and went through college party central, where at this creek area were masses of student having a guinness party…per papers next day it was wild!.

I walked along bridge trying find the bus stop that has my bus I take…seen 2 women fighting…then 2 men jumped into it trying to break them up(bad choice) then 2 men got into it but they stopped and then girls went back at it….Saturday night! 4.25 miles of walking Im right back where I started. Found bus stop and rode to my place.

After bus lets me out I have to walk around block in dark…I seen a dog, no wait…cat walking across rode. I could see it clearly now…it was a good size fox. Needless to say I made it to my place in record time!

June 16th..

Going to Giants Causeway today…well that was what was planned..Due to unpredictable buses in the area I decided to leave at 5am….surely that will give me time to get 10miles by 6:30….I began my wait at bus stop after 15 minutes I decided to start walking in the direction of town….2 miles later and my attempt to flag down 4 different taxies, I finally got one to stop…not to pick me up but to tell me he is busy and pointed me into direction of next bus stop. I went to the stop and about 10 minutes later here comes the bus I need….and there it goes….Another bus different number came a dew minutes later that would at least get me into town.

6:15: sitting on bus I asked lady beside me if she knew where the street I need to get to would be close to where the bus will drop me off..”get off when I do and I will show you (love the irish!). When the bus stopped..we get off and we start going at a face Pace…she said we will get you there (if I don’t collapse 1st)

We darted across streets and she pointed at the building….it was 6:40 but I seen the tour bus…I thought. I thanked her and she told me to hurry…and have a good day.

When I got to tour bus, driver said causeway bus has left…this is Cliffs of Moher…he said since I purchased both tours they would switch days…so today I will go on this one.

If anyone knows me knows I don”t like tiurist tours not my favorite thing…I tend to wander off, get lost etc….history shows that. Also I don’t like following a bunch of people around …the thing I love is meeting people all around the world, on a tour its usually a bunch of american tourist obviously being catered to for money…usually rushed also…I like to wonder aimlessly and take 1000 pictures! No,I don’t like tourist tours but when you dont have car, and only certain amount of time, its pretty much no choice.

This bus driver was very funny though and he gave a lot of history I enjoyed.

When we go to the Cliffs I found them amazing…true it was dreary, cold, and windy but it was still beautiful. I walked along the burren which is a path outside the tourist path…no forbidden, but extremely cautioned against. It was so extremely beautiful.

After cliffs of Moher we had lunch at a pub in dooly and then went to an area that the bus driver called middle earth. It was extremely unique…it was solid stone, and it was so massive. It had craters and formations that was so weird. It looked like what the surface of the moon would look like. Pictures will not convey that. After we left there we went to Galway.

Galway was a very nice cute town that had it all. Claddaugh he made the Claddaugh symbol made it for the king to represent love, friendship and loyalty. I bought me a ring there…I always wanted one…these are stamped with the authentic stamp.

On the way back to Dublin I tried to nap, but it just didn’t happen. Made it to room and I prepared a taxi to pick me up the next morning..

June 15th.

After speaking with the lady in Wicklow. About seeing Sammy the seal, I decided my mission was to find seals….with google in hand I started looking for the best places to see them…a article stated Howth was the best place. So after another high carb breakfast, and a pleasant morning with her and her 9 year old son I decided to head to Howth. Before I left Irene’s son seen a picture of the spinner fidget I bought myself…he thought it was really nice, so as an act of gratefulness to Irene for being such a great host I went to my room and retrieved the second one and handed it to him….he was so excited he ran and got his collection and offered me one of his. I told him to keep his collection and just add new one to it. He was so excited.

After I departed the b&b I headed to the train station and caught my train to Howth. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see the train ran along the docks, this would be perfect place to spot a seal….however; the town looked adorable also.

I walked by the docks armed with phone camera in one hand and regular camera in the other . …all of a sudden I seen a seal pop his head up, but of course it ducked under before either camera could snap….

A young man approached me asking if I wanted to buy a ticket to ride out to the Eye of Ireland…I said no that I didn’t know if I had time for that….(in back of mind I was thinking….take pictures of seals,explore a while, go to another town call Dalkey…) but as I continued walking I thought “wouldn’t it be more chance of seeing seals on an island without people rather than ones with people?” So I turned and asked the captain of the boat if I would see seals if I took excursion to island…he said that when he was there earlier the seals were laying on the rocks….enough said, I handed him 10euro and crawled into the little fishing boat..and off we go. Before we pulled into a stop near rocks on the little island, sure enough there were a couple seals playing in water and 1 laying on the rocks. He pulled the boat past the seals and a woman got out of the boat…so like a good little soldier I started following. The Captain stated he didn’t know I wanted to get out, that getting out and transportation going back at a later time was a different price….I told I was just following her, I didn’t have a clue what I paid him for…he said that I paid like the remaining riders just to circle around island. He said it will cost another 5 euro….I said ok Ill stay, then I said no Ill go then 1 more time I say ok Ill stay on island for a while….he had backed out before I told him this, but when I handed him the 5 euro he pulled back to the rocks.

As the boat pulled away I looked behind me of the slick rocks I had to climb from the sea to get to the level area. Then I looked down and realized I had a slick pair of tennis shoes and a pair of silky, flowing pants with a thin windbreaker…not exactly hiking gear!

What have I gotten myself into?…. So I start climbing the rocks until I reached the plateau. The other lady went one way, I went the other. I walked and hiked from the top peak on the island which was a pretty massive climb with slick tennis shoes on…the top of the peak was higher than the Seagulls nest. Along the cliff as you walked seagulls were sitting on nest…there was nest with eggs near my feet. At one point along the edge numerous of seagulls began having a squawking fit because I was near nest …when they started flying around me I had visions of Alfred Hitchcock’sh movie “Birds”.

I walked from the peak to the lower beaches…although there was a beaten path I still waded through thorns, sticky weed , thistle and chiggers. Silky pants doing nothing to protect my legs…at one point either something stuck or stung the back of my leg….to the point I could feel heat rising off it…

I found the ruins of what looked like a chapel…beautiful. All aound me was nothing but fields of of weeds and flowers….I would say I felt like Julie Andres in the “Soind of Music”but if I ever pictured myself as Julie Andrews in anything I would have to kill myself!

Somehow I had gotten off the beaten down path ..and had to wade through waist high weeds….at one point I was getting worried if I could get back to where I was….I took video and if I knew how to put up coordinates I would’ve sent to my family. After about 2 hours I made it back to where the other lady did where the boat had dropped us off. Her name was Claudia and we were talking about how rough terrain and weed/brush was. She had scratches too. It looked like it was getting ready to come a downpour because the wind was getting strong. When the little fishing boat arrived they were carrying 4 other ladies…and they were getting out. Claudia and I looked at each other in horror when the elder lady got out of the boat with dressy sandals on….we tried warning them how rough it would be on her feet ….but she went on and Claudia and I traveled back to Howth. The little fishing boat was hitting some waves due to the wind and we were getting rocked….rain came as we headed on but quickly stopped. We laughed about stupid movies it was reminding us of….sharknado, deep blue….etc..

When we got to the docks we decided we would grab lunch. We stopped at outdoor restaurant and had nice lunch. We chit chatted and had a nice conversation. She was from Belgium and said that when she travels she travels alone. Very nice lady. We began talking about the different types of weeds were on the island she stated one looked like this extremely poisonous one she was googling it and showed me the picture of results and the blisters that came from it…we figured it we woke up next morning with our legs black we will know it was that weed!. I was ready to get back to room because my legs were itching and I felt like I had weed residue on me….

I hopped off the train where I was suppose to catch bus back to room.

When I got to bus stop…it seemed to take forever….after about 20 minutes…I was about ready to give up…I took out GPS to see how far to my place…the route showed a couple of turns however my phone went dead..as I continued to wait I asked the gentleman beside me also waiting for bus if he knew where my street was…he ised his google and was tying it in…about that time here comes the bus….and there goes the bus….it completely ignored us and went on…left us standing there our mouths open with the wind blowing and sprinkling of rain. Dave, the gentleman finished googling my street for location…I could’ve actually already go to my place rather than waiting for bus. Dave stated he was heading that way also and I could walk with him. One thing I absolutely love about the Irish people I have met….they don’t give you directions, they take you there! This kindness amazes me..

..I rarely have experienced this in the US.

While walking along Dave saved me a couple of times from being plowed down by bicycles, because I kept wandering into the bike lane…

We chit chatted and talked about various topics such as climate change, politics, and different places I could visit…one which was Dalkey…I had actually planned to go there before I was attacked by the weeds of the Eye of Ireland. …
When we reached near the entrance of my street I thanked him for helping me get back to my place, lord knows where I would’ve ended up if not!

Off to my room, a extreme shower, and a little doctoring up of my wounds…..Yesterday may not had many adventures but today I surely did!

June 14th

Decided it was time to visit Dublin city centre…caught the bus after another high carb breakfast thanks to Irene.

On the bus I met a lady and she mentioned something about politics….well if you know me that was a conversation starter….we laughed and talked til she got off bus. The gentleman in front heard me saying something about which stop I was stopping he started recommending places. A young woman named Mallory beside me asked where I was from….she said my accent made her homesick, she was from West VA. We started chit chatting and she said she was going to the old cemetery, I thought that sounded cool so I decided to go to when she invited me to trail along….the 2 ladies in front or us heard us talking and recommended we go to the cemetery through way of Botanical gardens…wow, was she spot on…the garden were amazing and breathtaking and they lead straight to the cemetery. The cemetery was interesting . Mallory decided she was going to do the tour, but I just figured I would wander mindlessly. After seeing enough dead people I hopped back on bus and headed to city centre. I had booked a pub crawl and thought I needed to find where I will need to be. I looked around in shops and browsed the streets. Again there was entertainment on every corner. I went to the pub early where I was to meet the tour. I had a delicious dinner and waited for the tour to start. 2 musicians escorted the large group to 3 different pubs where they performed a session with a lot about irish music history. It was extremely entertaining. I met people from canada and california where we laughed for a few hours….i discovered a new drink since Im not a Guinness fan. It was a pretty entertaining evening and no major disasters.

Arrived at my airB&B late that evening and I simply crashed…I slept from 7:30 to 7:30am…I woke up and my host had made toast and little cakes, hot tea etc…I ate and it was delicious…but that only made me go back to the room and crash til 10am….

I got up and got ready to go exploring….the night before when I arrived it was freezing….So when I got ready this morning I was ready! Shirt, light long sleeve shirt, light hoodie, and a light rain coat…I stuffed in my cinch sack a light throw that fits in a travel pillow….I was ready….15 minutes walking to bust stop I was stripping…..

I decided to catch trains to a little town I had read about…”Wicklow” . train first stopped in Bray and I decided to explorers it 1st…beautiful little seaside village…walking alo g the pebble beach was stunning.

I met a sweet little dog named fifi who reminded me of my Eva. I returned to the train and headed to Wicklow . There was a grocery store near the station so thinking I would be health since Im walking so much I chose to get some blackberries, cheese, and melon slices…yummmm. 100 ft up the street I stopped in cafe to get a drink and there calling my name was the most scrumptious looking cake I have ever seen….maybe 1 slice…Lemon drizzle absolutely to die for….Diabetes in a slice….yes I ate berries too.

I walked through the town of wicklow and along the harbor. Beautiful and exactly how you picture Ireland. A shop owner told me I may see seals sunbathing along the shore…Disappointed I didn’t.at the end of the harbor I walked to the cliff of where the remains of Black Castle stood during the viking raids. Outside the archway were 4 old gentlemen that was just enjoying the weather with their dog. The dog walked up to me and was so sweet.I asked if I could pet it and I began talking to the dog while scratching his ear..”you like that?” one of the old men said yes and the owner does too I looked up and they had their ears stuck out for me to scratch…we all started laughing and I jokingly said I would find someone for him….they were hilarious.

I explored the ruins and took many pictures. I hiked and climbed to top so I could see the waters of the sea break along the rocks. The tiny beach on one side was supposedly the place where St. Patrick landed….I continued taking pictures of it all…just taking in the beauty. I took pictures of 3 young boys rolling in the tall grasses that was blowing from the salty wind. It was so surreal. As I left Black Castle out the entry I told the old gentlemen that I hoped they found someone to scratch their ears …we all laughed again.

I walked back through town to the train station…stopping along the way take pictures of churches and buildings…when I got to train I was told my train didn’t leave for w hours…so I took a nature walk along the railway that was actually labeled “nature walk”. Enjoyed the scenery and took pics. When my train finally left and I caught bus stop to room…my feet became red and rashy. Whatever that tall grass waving in the wind decided to eat my feet up…I Skyped with my doggie Eva and talked with Mekia and Dan…went to bed and slept great….all is well in Ireland!