So long Ireland

I am just getting ready to leave Ireland and take the ferry back to England for Liverpool. That should be amazing. But my time in Ireland has been great.

After Killarney I went to Belfast which was... well interesting. It is a very industrial city and doesn't have the traditional tourist sights as the rest of Europe. I was there just under 24 hours and that was enough for the city. I did go on a Black Taxi Tour which was interesting as we went into the Protestant and Catholic areas which are still rather tense areas. I saw the murals on the buildings and they were incredible. Propaganda, but meaningful. I also saw the wall that still divides the areas and wrote a message on the wall. Yes, I am now a graffiti artist!

So, I came back to Dublin and craziness has ensued. I went out the evening I got back and that was insane. Rosaleen, Lauren and I went back to "our pub" (from the first night) but had to bail when drunk barrister arrived. Then it was on to another pub where the music was great, company was excellent and we stayed until closing. But the evening wasn't over yet so we went on to another bar and I danced until the wee hours of the morning. I realized that I do attract the creepers though. Man, you dance harmlessly with one old guy (Uncle Jimmy aka Jumpin' Jimmy - met his nephew and partied on with them) and every other creeper thinks I am into that. Weird but whatever! That turned out to be a very long day. But I had an amazing idea when we finally stumbled into the hostel - I wanted to shower and I also had to do laundry as I got beer poured down my back. So, I thought it would be very smart to shower in my clothes and just strip down layer by layer. And it did work - I was clean. The only downside is that two days later, my skirt is still not dry! Too much water but I was impressed that it mostly worked!

Yesterday was great. I started my day by visiting the Guiness Storehouse and pouring my own pint - perfectly I may add! The whole facility is great. I followed my nose to find it as you can smell the roasting barley as you approach which has such a sweet and beautiful smell. The floors presented the process really well but the highlight was learning how to pour a pint. So cool! But after, I needed a real meal so I was on the search for a burger! Then I visited the Castle and St Patrick's Cathedral before heading back to the hostel. Last night was the Premier League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona and I really wanted to go watch in a bar. I have watched a few games as football is pretty big in Europe. A group of us went and it was great - except that Man U lost! But you cannot fault Barcelona as they played really well and their goals were impressive. Of course, now it will be interesting to go to Old Trafford (Man U pitch) on Friday - I have a tour booked. It would have been incredible if they had just won! After the game, we bounced around a bit, listened to Irish music and then found a pub to perform a graduation ceremony for Graham, a fellow Canadian I met in the hostel who was over here and missed his graduation. Good times!

So now, as I said, getting ready to take the ferry across. But first I have to buy more shampoo. I have made it this long without having anything go missing until yesterday - my shampoo is mysteriously gone! Who steals shampoo? I am so upset because I have just a few weeks left and now I have to buy new stuff. Ahhhhhhh! Oh well, I guess I am still pretty fortunate.

Well, gotta go but can't wait to see everyone again (well, the people back home).

Love, Lisa