Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 5 - What an arse!?

Day 5 - Saturday 8. October

Today is the day, or night, since I did not get to much sleep, to leave Kilkenny. I think I got up around 06.00, just because I was sick of lying there, not been able to breath properly. I sat down on the bed, and checked facebook, and the bus tables. I packed my things, and had a Coke, and checked that I had my wallet, and my passport. I re-arranged the whole suitcase, and I kept on wondering how on earth it could be so heavy. I guess its because of the 2 litre Coke I had. I struggled down the stairs, with LOTS of noise, every tread squeeked like hell.
I turned in the key, and walked towards Ormonde Street, and sat straight down. It was like 2 hours until the bus would come. So I ended up counting every fucking car that drove pass me. I think I counted about 740 cars. Around 12.00, I walked 50 meters over to the bus-stop, and when the bus came, I saw the driver. Guess who it was. Yep, the same guy as yesterday. The arse! So the first thing he said when I got in the bus was "Get in the back, you are not allowed to sit here". I had nothing against it, because I did not want to be there. So sat in the back of the bus, and started counting cars, again. Fascinating!

After a short bus-drive, I was back in Waterford.

I went in to the tourist-office, and asked where I could get some stamps. Then I bought some sandwiches, and ended up at a cafe, where I ate mashed potatoes and cabbage (correct me if I'm wrong) and boiled belly-pork.This is defiantly one of my favorite dishes. YUMMY!
But Mark's version is better!

After this huge lunch I headed over to the bus-station, and guess what I did. Yep, I counted cars! It shows that the Ford is one popular car, especially in Ireland. Sat there for about 25 min, and then I went to find the bus to Clonmel, and it was late. VERY late, it did not arrive until it was time for departure. Nice bus-driver too! 


I sat down and listened to Irish music all the way to Clonmel, and Sue (my host) said that I should get off by the big church, so I went off at the big church. It turned out to be the wrong one. I got off at the church on the other side of town. I am awesome!

But with no further ado, we found each other. Sue is very sweet! And she has a sweet dog as well, a White German Shepherd (kinda like Rex, just in white), and her name is Luna. And Sue has a big, nice car as well. We talked all the way to the house. She lives kinda in the woods. Love it here! Very nice indeed!
She has at least 5 fish, 2 lizards and one incredibly cute cat. She has a lovely, big garden, and its very green. 

The house itself is also utterly charming, there are loads of things here, and I do believe that none of the rooms are square. For example the living room/kitchen is octagonal, but not as a octagonal cell.
Luna loves to play, and she has this toy she is totally addicted to, and she follows Sue everywhere!
From what I have heard, is there are trad-session tonight, and I wonder if I'll go.

Later on, the trad-session got forgotten, and we ended up watching x-factor, and eat dinner. And Luna wanted to be in the couch with us, and then the cat came, and curled up on my lap. 

Afterwards we sat down and looked at YouTube, and sang along. Incredibly fun! I really like this place! And the bed is WONDERFUL!

Now its time to sleep, cause tomorrow its time for Dublin!

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 4 - There is always time for a Guinness

Day 4 - Friday 7. October

Today is the day I am leaving Tramore. I don't want to leave, but I have a schedule to follow. Today is the day for Kilkenny. My original plan was to leave Tramore at 09.00, but that idea got thrown out of the window. I HAD to say goodbye to the Scottish barkeeper.
But back to the start of this day, I woke up at 07.00, with a nose as clogged/closed as the Panama canal during heavy rain. I sat and looked out the window, and went back to sleep. Woke up again at 08.00, trying to find a position that made it easier to breath. I got up at 09.30, because of my alarm.
Went out to the kitchen and sat and talked with Patti and Nayuta. We talked about sushi and Japanese signs. Then I made sveler, and served them with browncheese. *Yummy*
And then the time for "Getting-to-the-pub" got closer, and the search for the key started. I looked EVERYWHERE, and when I gave up looking I found it. Typical! I had an appointment with the Italian guy that Karen hosted.
And then after a lot of hugs, I got driven up to O'Neill's by Mark, and I dragged the suitcase into the pub. That must have been a strange sight. There were only 2 people there, plus the barkeeper. I ended up talking a bit to him, and got a Guinness. I sat down and waited, and took photos.

Then Federigo (the Italian guy) came, and we ended up talking about all and everything. Then Marc (the French guy that was staying with Karen) came. And I kept on looking at the time, because I had like 5-6 minutes until I had to be at the bus-stop. I had already finished my Guinness, and I wanted more. I knew that there were no time to get another Guinness, so I ordered a cider, and I finished it in under 4 minutes. I am awesome! And I really need to pee...
I hope there is a toilet in Waterford.


I said goodbye to Federigo and Marc, and the bartender, and struggled my way up to the bus-stop. There I stood for quite a while, and then the bus came. And on the bus-stop after "mine", there were this little family, with a cute girl, a boy and the mother. Incredibly sweet!  And when we drove by the church the little boy exclaimes "I can see God's house" and pointed at the church. And when the bus turned, the kids went "Wiiiii". So cute!

(Right now, I am at the bus to Waterford, and I feel that it might not have been the best idea to drink the cider in less than 4 min. Please let there be a toilet in Waterford!)

YES!, there were a toilet in Waterford! Its not fun dragging a 15 kg suitcase. I had to drag this with me everywhere. I am happy this suitcase ain't going to Scotland with me. Then I figured out that I should buy the ticket, and the ticket-machine ate my money. Then I bought lunch and I found the bus



The bus came, and I realized I had not been lucky with the bus driver. He was an arse! I am sick, and I cant do anything about my nose or coughing, but the bus driver said that he did not allow me to make that noise, so I sat there, close to dying. And then he started to complain about my music. But I had to have the volume high, so that I could drown out the tomfoolery and nagging the to girls next to me made. 

After a long bus drive, I was finally in Kilkenny, and I ended up getting lost. I am just like men, I don't like asking for direction. So I ended up fiddling about in Kilkenny for about 20 or 30 minutes. Then I found my phone, and tried to figure out where Parliament Street were. After a lot of walking, I found the hostel. I rang the doorbell, and said "Hi". Realized then that they did not take Visa, so I had to go out, and up to the cash-point. Then I went back, and I got the key, and the door code, and I met some handsome young men. And here its like you have to show that you actually are staying here, so they managed to say "Do you want to see my stuff?", which can be interpreted in different ways. Walked up with the suitcase, and went out on an exploration, and guess where I ended up. Yep, the pub. And I had a Guinness. Then I walked back over the street and in the hostel. 

I checked facebook and twitter, and then it was time for some trad-session, so I went over to another pub (Bollards Bar & Bistro), I sat down and had a pint of Guinness, and the time flew. Then I had a Kilkenny, and the music started, and we had a blast. I ended up talking to the fiddler, and the "band" consisted of 2 banjos, 2 fiddles, 1 flute, 1 accordion and one harmonica. And since Ireland was playing against Andorra, we sang the national anthem. Later we sang more Irish, and my throat got worse and worse. And then it was time for yet another Guinness. 

We werent finish until 23.50, and I think Ireland beat Andorra 2-0. Went home, and charged my phone. 

And now I go to charge as well, for tomorrow I'm going to Clonmel

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 3 - Getting caught by the tide

Day 3 - Thursday 6. October

Today I woke up around 09.30, with a super-clogged nose, so I ended up look at the sun to get my mind on other things. It was actually sunny today. And rainy, and windy. Everything at once. I open the window to confirm my suspicion. Lovely! Walked into the living room, and there were Patti and a (couch)surfer from Japan. We sat and talked, and I made breakfast. Steak and kidney pie *yummy* and a cup of ginger and lemon tea.

Then I found the guidebook, to look where different locations were located in Ireland. I then figured out that Dungarvan was not only one place, but two. One of them were located south-west of Waterford, and one north-east for Waterford.

I have also decided that I want to know what the vehicle registration codes in Ireland are:
Like D for Dublin. (Lets see if we can find a list)
C is for Cork (Corcaigh)
CE is for Clare (An Clár)
CN is for Cavan (An Cabhán)
CW is for Carlow (Ceatharlach)
D is for Dublin (Baile Átha Cliath)
DL is for Donegal (Dún na nGall)
G is for Galway (Gaillimh)
KE is for Kildare (Cill Dara)
KK is for Kilkenny (Cill Chainnigh)
KY is for Kerry (Ciarraí)
L is for Limerick City (Cathair Luimnigh)
LD is for Longford (An Longfort)
LH is for Louth (An Lú)
LK is for County Limerick (Luimneach)
LM is for Leitrim (Liatroim)
LS is for Laois (Laois)
MH is for Meath (An Mhí)
MN is for Monaghan (Muineachán)
MO is for Mayo (Maigh Eo)
OY is for Offaly (Uíbh Fhailí)
RN is for Roscommon (Ros Comáin)
SO is for Sligo (Sligeach)
TN is for Tipperary North (Tiobraid Árann Thuaidh)
TS is for Tipperary South (Tiobraid Árann Theas)
W is for Waterford City (Cathair Phort Láirge)
WD is for County Waterford (Phort Láirge)
WH is for Westmeath (An Iarmhí)
WX is for Wexford (Loch Garman)

WW is for Wicklow (Cill Mhantáin) 

Now you know that!

The fog has begun to form, so I guess its time to get out and take some pictures before the fog gets here. 

 I went down to the beach, and there came Nayuta (the Japanese couch-surfer), and we went for a long stroll on the beach. And it was blowing like hell! And we had to take off our shoes, and walk in the freezing cold water, because the tide caught us. 

So we walked barefooted for quite a while (this has to help for my dry feet). I found a nice stone, and Mr. Browncheese was my photo-model. We went back, and we looked at the surfers, and I thought of Keith Harkin.

We went back to the house, and I ate some cheese cake. We sat and talked for ages, and had lunch. 

I think I will take a trip to O'Neill's, for a mid-day-pint. I am going on a trad-session today. Don't know what I am getting myself in to. I want some fish and chips, so I guess I'll be going down to the beach again. I have seen so many fish and chips shops, so one of em got to have proper fish and chips. I have used the whole day taking photos, while I ought to have read for the exam. Whoopsy daisy!

I have also been trying to figure out the bus-tables to Kilkenny. Easier said than done. I think I'll take the bus in the morning. 

First I went to the shop, and then I ended up at the pub, again, and found out that the barkeeper was from Scotland, more precisely Aberdeen. Awesome!  And I sat there trying to figure out why they think horses are so interesting. I had a Guinness and a Bulmers, while I tried to figure it out. I did not figure it out! So I ended up talking to the barkeeper instead. He has a really nice accent. Swayed my way home, and ate a panini with mozzarella and pesto. So good! I think I'll take the walk up to the cliffs soon. 
I walked around, singing Irish songs to myself. 

I figured out that I did not want to go on a trad-session. 


I went up the cliffs, and got some really nice photos. Its so lovely there. 

And the weather has stayed nice all day. Unbelievable! Tramore is one of the places I like visiting and getting lost in. And I think I am always welcome here. After the walk I ended up in the pub (again), had a few Guinness and figured out that I would postpone my departure from Tramore, so that I would have the time to have a "goodbye-Guinness", and say goodbye to the cool barkeeper, I think his name is Johnny. Then I started to think "Why do I always leave a place when I have gotten to know the place, it's people and the streets?".

After drinking, I went home, and it was time for dinner.What a delightful dinner! I really must say! All credit to Mark! It was turpnip, sweedes and cabbage (correct me if I'm wrong) and boiled bellypork. YUMMY! Was so tender and the meat nearly melted in my mouth! 
After dinner it was time for tea and apple tart with cream. And we sat and talked and talked, and learned about Japanese traditions and got some clearing up around St. Lucia and lights in the hair. Fascinating! I tried to find the bus-tables and Sunday routes. I think I am ready for tomorrow. 


After a while Nayuta went to bed, and I sat and talked with Patti and Mark for hours. I'm gonna miss em! Then I went to bed, for tomorrow I'm going to the pub, again. Good night!

No matter how little time you have, there is always time for a Guinness!