Thanks Maria! Now here's your sunshine...

Ohhhhh Dublin.

I just love this city already. When I got off the plane, the first thing I felt in Ireland was sick. For some reason I got really sick on the bus to the airport, and then of course, even though I can't remember being sick on airplanes, I think it just carried over. Well, it also didn't help that when I got out of the airport, I had NO idea where to go. Welcome to the first big hitch in my giddyup, as Dad would say. Three bus drivers later, one finally told me to jump on the 41 bus, which of course was about to pull away. So I did, and of course, once I looked at the bus route map again, realized that this was not the bus that dropped me off in front of my hostel, which of course is on the only street that has a name I recognize. Here I am sitting on the bus in a foreign city, but this time I can't ride it until something looks familiar. That's because NOTHING is familiar.

Enter reason numero uno I love this city. The people are soooo nice. At first I pulled out my guidebook and and marked a giant star where I needed to go. Then I asked a nice looking girl in front of me if she knew where I am suppoed to get off. Nope. So next is the man sitting next to her, who won't answer me. Okaaaaaay... Finally I go for the elderly couple sitting behind. Nicest. People. Ever. They are so happy to help, and the lady says she's getting off at the very last stop which is O'Connell Street. It's a bit of a walk from my hostel but she'll show me where to go. Nowm this lady is exactly what you'd expect of an Irish grandma. Her name is Maria, and she lovingly touches you on the shoulder about every, oh I don't know, three seconds when you're talking to her. She lives just outside of Dublin but is on her way to the city centre to buy a baby present for her friend's first grandchild. She talks about how proud she is of me for travelling by myself while I still can because life goes by so fast. She comments on the weather and how humid it is. It's been cloudy and rainy here for quite a few days and she's ready to see the sun. This is when I told her maybe I'll bring some California sunshine for her. So we get off the bus on the busiest street, and she points me in the right direction, AND tells me how to get back to the airport, AND what sights I should check out while I'm here. I thank her profusely, and she tells me she has kids too and would want someone to look out for hers. All of this in the thickest, cutest Irish accent.

It's sunny outside. I wonder if she'll think of me today. :)

So off the bus, and I end up walking forever. But along the way, I found a couple of the sights on my checklist, including Trinity College (where the Samuel Beckett Theatre is!), St. Stephen's Green, and Grafton Street. This town has amazing shopping. Come to think of it, everywhere I've been does.

My hostel is wicked. (Just a little thing I picked up from the Aussies in Edinburgh...) It's artsy and cool, with jazz playing in the reception area. The walls are painted funky colors, and there is art everywhere. Leather couches, pool tables, a built-in cafe called the Bald Barista. This is exactly what I've been looking for. The staff is super friendly, and it's everything I hoped a hostel would be, unlike stupid St. Christopher's in Edinburgh. Gross. Here the showers work, the rooms are artsy with sinks actually in them (!) and there are so many cool people here! Oh, and the internet I'm using? FREE. They have five computers downstairs. Awesome.

Last night, I went out exploring like I usually do. I walked a little way through St. Stephen's Green, up Grafton street where I saw the coolest band busking on the street. They're called Harry and Alfie is you want to look them up. I continued back to Trinity Collegeto see Parliament Square, and if I have time and money today, I want to go to their library because that's where the Book of Kells is kept! So amazing. From there I went to Temple Bar, which i supposed to be happenin' in the evening. Yes, this is correct, even on a Tuesday. I was told by my friends Amy and Daniel who I ate haggis with in Edinburgh that Temple Bar's really touristy but I wanted to go anyway. Good thing I went. All I relly wanted to do last night was see a show (number, hmmm, 19 of the trip?). and I found a random little theatre just on the otherside of that area. The show playing was called The Colleen Bawn, and after reading the reviews in the window decided it might be worth the 12 euros to see it. It turned out to be a pretty cool show. It was a melodramatic tragic comedy (did you get all that?) with a lot of Irish culture and tradition mixed in. I really wanted a show with Irish elements since where else can I really see one, except in Ireland? (I guess I saw Lieutenant of Inishmore at Berkeley rep, but their accents were fake. This show touched on the class system in Ireland, with most actors each playing both an upper-class and extremely lower-class character. Most of the acting was great, and it was very interesting to see how they pulled off this show with a very minimal set. Totally worth it.

So the walk home last night... Whoops. Turns out I was a little farther from my hostel than expected, and the area in between gets really dodgy after 10 pm. But I ran home safely, so don't worry.

My roomates this time are Marie, Ari, and Nicola from the south of France, but we haven't really talked much because of the language barrier. They're really nice though, and Marie has amazing clothes.

Anyway, I've got to go! For one because I'm in Dublin sitting a computer instead of out seeing the city, and two because there is a sign in front of me that says, and I quote:

"FREE INTERNET IS FOR ALL GUESTS! These computers will automatically eat people who take longer than 20 minutes while others are waiting."

Alright, I got it. I love you all!

P.S. I'll be home in less than two weeks...