Ireland -- part 1

Notes for Today:
**Maurizio (long-lost housemate who had frightening surgery in Italy at Christmas) is home!!!!
**Had coffee with Katharine and talked about school, while not actually accomplishing anything concrete. Although some brilliant thoughts were conceived.
**Found darling black shoes on FABulous sale on way home from coffee shop.
**Well, well, well. Talked to Jeffy-Craig (aka, Dobie) Gillis, who attempted to inspire jealousy with descriptions of just how freaking gorgeous Destin is right now. And the fact that he was eating gumbo. Am now slightly jealous. Must go to some warm beach sometime soon. Although would probably be thought vampire as am so terribly pale :)
**Met new Cardiff Rotary Scholar, with Steve Jenkins, for evening toddy.

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So, okay. First installment of the first two weeks of April in Ireland, oh Ireland, I'm coming home... (Clare did keep singing this song :) I think am Welsh myself, just to be clear.)

April Fools' Day -- flew to Dublin. took bus to city centre. attempted to locate hostel without map. consulted map in newsagent (could not purchase as had not had forethought to get Euros out of ATM yet). located hostel successfully on own directional skill. drank first pint of guinness. met Siobhan's friend, Pauline and her friend, Ken, who had been roped into 'entertaining the American girl' for the evening. amused in general and acted like fool (simply in honor of the day, you know).

2 April - excursion via mad taxi drivers from one end of Dublin (the wrong end, thanks to foolish bossy driver #1) to the other end where Pauline and friends were meeting at a lovely pub called The Morgue. Oh my Lord, there are actually horses drawing carriages with fruits and vegetables and things!

3 April - took train to Belfast. walked simply miles to locate place to lay weary head. (reason for not having place to stay in advance was feeble attempt by self to train self that it is okay to be spontaneous. Have decided am not terribly spontaneous person. You may all be shocked. It was just a little exercise.) Fortunately, things did work out fine and although my arm was pulled out of socket from lugging roll-y bag, stayed in lovely place on Botanic Avenue -- cunningly called The Botanic Lodge. Did not spend fortune or catch foot fungus. hoorah! They need to dust their floorboards, however.

4 April - strolled through Queen's University. visited British Council --Belfast. visited Stranmillis University College. both for Centenary. train back to Dublin. located by Pauline at Neary's Pub (this is the place where actors and famous people congregate. I saw no one infamous except for self in mirror.) -- she was slightly delayed by traffic, so in true Amrie-fashion, random people had managed to attach themselves to me and talk my head off. (note: they had been there since 1.00 and it was then 7.00, so i suppose i appeared more interesting than i was. especially with all the luggage. and they thought i had just flown in from America. dear, dear.) escaped from friendly people with Pauline. met her friend, Dez, over dinner and then proceeded to have another brilliant evening, in which many personalities were met, makeovers were given in ladies' rooms by a girl named Ita who thought I needed assistance, and slightly alarming people attempted to chat me up. (note: Amrie's luggage transferred comically from place to place to place during the evening.)

5 April - made train to Limerick, where was met by lovely Sister Antoninus (to R in pic)!!!! Have not seen her since she left Shreveport last summer to return to Ireland to live for the first time since she was 16! Stayed overnight at convent in Newmarket-on-Fergus and it was the most peaceful place I have been in ever so long. She and Sister Kim (to L in pic) and Sister Killian (in middle) were the most marvelous of hostesses; lovely dinner and cozy en-suite room with big puffy bed. Gorgeous grounds! Sister Kim makes a secret salad dressing that makes one's mouth water when one thinks about it :)

6 April - met Clare at airport, where cried because am a huge sap. drove us back to convent (as Clare nearly was killed twice within 45 seconds of exiting airport as she attempted to locate rental car disregarding reverse situation of driving). did brilliant job and didn't even get us lost! After breakfast (Clare does NOT approve of black pudding, white pudding, Irish sausages... such a sad loss. but more for me!), we drove to the Cliffs of Moher. Absol. fantastic... with some slight winds (this is a gross understatement. It was a gale.).

Stopped at cool ruined church and graveyard (to R) along coast on way back. So unbelievably cool.

Stayed overnight in Bunratty Castle Hotel (along the River Ratty --hee hee hee) that night. Durty Nellie's Pub (claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland, opened in 1620) was not so impressive. Was highly disappointed in it's lack of a decent-looking menu. Ate Irish stew in hotel pub... and Clare ate 14 profiteroles :)

7 April - walked through Bunratty Castle (along the River Ratty -- i just enjoy saying that) and part of the Folk Park until Clare was blessed with a little pressie from one of the 9,745 ravens building nests in the trees over our vulnerable heads. So then we left. And went shopping...

(you may read the history of Bunratty by following link, as would have disrupted flow of funny story to include above)

Before driving to Limerick and exploring a bit (buying some yarn, of course) on our way to Adare for the night. Where we stayed at the Dunraven Arms Hotel, which is known far and wide for it's magnificent fox-hunting tradition. Unfortunately, we were not involved in any fox hunting. Adare is an absolutely precious town and is apparently the wedding capital of Ireland. Again, unfortunately, neither of us were not involved in any weddings. Trip began going stagnant at this point (just kidding).

I want a thatched roof cottage (to R), please. Please, please, please? Thatched roofs are amazing insulation for cool in the summer and warmth in the winter; they are about a foot thick, used to be a sign of poverty and now are a sign of wealth. I just want one because it fits my personality, not to be pompous.

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wrist is now numb, so i must brush my teeth and go to sleep.