Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 13 - Up in the wee morning

Day 13 - Sunday 16. October

Today I woke up at approximately 05.00 in the morning, and I "leaped" out of bed (well, you cant leap out of it, because I was wrapped in a bed sheet and a duvet. I flurried out of bed, all quietly, got my clothes and my kilt that was ready. Then I padded as quietly as I could down the hallway, where I got dressed. Then I walked down the stairs that was squeaking, handed over my key, and got a map of "where to go to".

I went out, and there was no one out there. NO ONE! It might be the fact that it was 05.30 on a Sunday morning. So I padded along, with a BIG Converse shoulder bag. It was gigantic and oh so heavy. I walked and walked, then I met to officers, which was very nice. Then I found the staircase I was looking for, that I had to walk down to get to the airport bus. But this was not a nice place, you kind of got the feeling of someone was stalking you, and would attack at any given moment.  It was dark too!

At last I found the airport bus, and got myself to the airport. I was early of couse (I think it was almost that early that the staff would be jumping around in sleeping bags saying "Hello" with a rusty morning voice)

When I got in the plane, I ended up again close to 3 children's families. I was happy when the plane landed in Dublin, but at the same time, a bit sad. I do miss Scotland

I got out of the building, and then a group of men said that I looked good in kilt, and that they thought it was nice to see a woman with a kilt.
I got on the airport bus, and got into downtown Dublin.

I hailed a taxi, and went up to Short Stay Dublin - Stephen's Green (the place I left my suitcase). Everybody has complained about my suitcase, but its not THAT heavy. And since I knew the way to O´Connoll street, I decided to walk back, which I later regretted on doing. My arm was like "bleeh".

Then I found the road description to my hostel in my bag, and then I started walking in the wrong direction. Typically me! So I ended up in the same tourist office, and it was the same Irish guy that was there went I left Dublin a few day earlier. He does remind me of the guy in "Once".

Then it was time to find the hostel, because I was sick and tired of the suitcase being so unpractical and heavy. Finding the hostel did not take long, the doors were squeaking alot. Then I found out that I could  not check in before 14.00, but I could leave my suitcase and luggage, in a little room with a big lock.




I ended up leaving the place in only a kilt and a t-shirt (remember, this was in October). I regretted that a little later. It was much more chilly than I had expected.
I realized that "If I move, I stay warm", but I ended up looking at the fire brigage when they had a "rescue-someone-from-the-river" drill. with lots of Police cars, ambulances, ropes, boats (the only thing missing was a helicopter). I got a kind of "Rockface rescue" feeling. Except that they did not speak Scottish. I ended up taking a lot of photos, and hanging out for a while.

 

   

 

Then it was time for breakfast/lunch. So I went over to Porterhouse, and ordered mashed potatoes, fried potato chips and a porterhouse stout. I was full for a long time. Yummy Yummy!
Then I walked a bit round in Dublin, and ended up at the hostel. I went up, and put my stuff on my bed, and then I walked down again to fetch my suitcase. I put it under the bed and went out again.
And now my feet were hurting so bad, but I pretended everything was OK. Walked around and bought myself a pair of headsets, and then I met a bunch of musicians, called Mutefish. I even bought their album.
I have also bought  2 High King CD´s, 2 Imelda May CD´s and other stuff.

When I got back to the hostel, and sat down and checked my mail, facebook, twitter etc. When I got up there was a man in my bed, and all my things had been shuffled over to another bed. So I went down again and told the reception. So I got a new bed, after a bit of back and forwards. Went back up, and straight to bed. 

I did not fell asleep until late, because of some weird noises from outside. But finally I fell asleep.

Good Night!

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 12 - Edinburgh's the only place you see kilts, really. Teuchters wear wellies

Day 12 - Saturday 15. October

Today I slept a bit better than yesterday, since I had not drank just before bedtime. I walked down to the kitchen, and then back up, then down again, because I had forgot something in the kitchen, then up again, packed a bit, then I walked down again, and picked up the laundry from yesterday. Then back up, since I had forgot the sheet. So I walked a few times up and down. 

And the blisters were hurting even more. So I walked out, down the hill and to "The Clockwork Orange". Isn't it typical that when I have started feeling like home in a place, then its time to move on.

I got to the city, and found the tourist bus. I sat and listened to Neil Oliver (the voice) while he guided me through the drive around town. Then afterwards I popped into a tourist office and bought... yes, postcards! But do I have time to send them, that is another problem. So now I am stuck with Scotland postcards, that I guess I have to send from Ireland. Unless I find a pen and a postbox on the airport.

After being in the tourist office, it was time to find the pub, the time was now 11.45. But I got distracted by 3 guys in kilt that played bagpipe, snare drum and you know those "boom boom" drums. I ended up standing there for quite a while. 

Then it was time for the pub, and I stayed there for quite a while, mostly because I did not get anywhere, the pub was filled with Celtic fans. I felt almost like home, even though my right foot was sleeping (Sleeping foot). It was sleeping from the top of my thigh down to my toes. Kinda like me on a Monday morning. I had two Guinness and one coke, while I was there, since this was the last time I was there for several months. I am getting more and more certain that its Glasgow I want to live in, even though there are more guys in kilt in Edinburgh. 

I will probably figure it out. After the pub-stroll, it was time to find the bus station (Bunchanan) and the bus to Edinburgh again.

I got safely to Edinburgh and I went off right beside Ryan's Bar. So I went in, and had a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. Its so yummy! But then it was time to find the hostel, and I walked up and down by the castle, and I did not find the hostel, and my feet were nearly killing me. 

Then eventually I found the hostel, a very cool place indeed. So I went inside, and locked in my things, and went out to find men in kilt. I did not find anyone in kilt, except from in the kilt shop I got locked inside. I had a nice conversation with the two handsome guys there. What I did find was a Ferrari, which I completely fell in love with. Then there came another Ferrari, so I was quite happy, even though the lack of men in kilts. Then I went and had dinner, guess what I had... YES! Haggis!<3
Yummy!

Then I went back to the hostel and went to sleep, because I am getting up at like 05.00 in the morning.

Good night!

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 11 - Sexy, scottish accent!

Day 11 - Friday 14. October

Today I slept pretty badly. I woke up, and fell to sleep all the time. At last I gave up, and got out of the bed. I went to the toilet, and then in to the kitchen. No, they are not at the same floor. I did a lot of gentle walking.
Ate breakfast, checked mail, facebook, twitter and so on, and realized that no one was missing me, I can just as well stay here.

Well, I can't really do that, since I have appointments here and there. Oh well, no my problem is finding Mark again, and it turns out to be really difficult. I have seriously no idea how many different Mark there are in Glasgow. I think I should move here, and make "Fáilte" my local pub. I am hoping I'll see him again. Well, that's life!
After breakfast it was time to get on "The Clockwork Orange" . aka Subway/Metro/Underground. A very noisy carrier. But a nice way to get from A to B. I think I can walk the way to the pub, without looking. I'm not sure if that is a positive or negative thing.
Today was the day to look at Glasgow from the bus. I am not sure if it is possible to fall in love with a voice, but today I manage to do so. I did not catch much of what he was saying, the voice on the bus. My own personal tourist guide, that is probably going on repeat 20 times a day. But the important thing here was his accent. I was actually expecting a plain, boring English accent, but I ended up being surprised by this awesome accent. I want a man with that accent!

After the bus drive, I ended up at...can you guess it...yes, you are right, the pub! This was not only because it was an Irish-themed pub, but because of the blisters I had on my feet, because of the new shoes. But neither Mark or the man from New Orleans was there. Bummer! But the two awesome barkeepers were there. And apparently they know me enough, to know what I want. Yes, I got two Guinness. I don't think I can cope with more on an empty stomach. I am a tiny bit dizzy, and a lot more happy than I was earlier today.
I'll survive!
I ended up getting lost in Glasgow, and the blisters were punctured. Jeez it hurts! So I ended up going to McDonald's, and I thought "now is the time to count cars". But I was all along interrupted by people asking me for directions for the bus-station and train-station. I look like I am from Glasgow, it seems
I went back to the pub, and had not just one, but two more Guinness. And I think I have drank like 37 alcohol units in like 10 days. And I haven't been to Dublin yet. And I have one more day in Edinburgh as well. Both the handsome barkeepers were there today, and I just had to look at them, and they knew what I wanted. One of em reminds me of a mix between Michael (handsome host from last Ireland trip) and some other guy, while the other one was more like... a mix between Kenneth (captain on the boat I was on with my class in Greece) and Eric Bana (without beard and with surfer-blond hair).

Anyway, after all the Guinness' it was time to get home and rest, the time was almost 18.00, and I am tired as a pack of carrots that has been laying to long on the kitchen counter. But I have learned that I should wait until at least 23.00, or else I will be fully awake at 23.00.
Well, I guess I should drink up my coffee, and  get home, cause there is no point going back the the pub. I wonder if I'll ever meet Mark again...Who knows?

I went back to the hostel, and the nice, old lady was there, and we sat and talked about music, piano and Scotland and Norway for quite a while. Incredibly nice!
We were so similar to each other, and we talked for hours.She was a retired pianist, and she knew so much about life, and when she was young she had a boyfriend from Norway. She had a very special accent, with an almost Norwegian sound to her voice. She said that I was a artistic person, and that I needed a man that understood that passion.
Then it was off to bed...

Music comes from the heart