The first day... how will it go?

So, I am surrounded by crazy accents, people driving on the other side of the road, cars I have never heard of, people who always say "That's grand", and absolutely no time schedule. 

Yup, you guessed it, I am in Ireland.

I have noticed a progression in the difficulties in goodbyes. I left my house at 8:30, saying goodbye and trying not to be emotional. I did pretty well I thought but I still had to be very determined. Got to the airport at 9, and had to say goodbye again. This time it was a little harder to say goodbye. But I did. For the first time, I flew out of the Salt Lake International Airport. :) I flew out at 11:20 am-ish.

Jeremy and I on the first plane to Atlanta.

Not to get off beat here but, flying into Atlanta was really cool. There were just random houses in between tons of trees. It was very pretty. But that wasn't the coolest part. See having a brother that flies all the time with work- well he has advantages. We got to go into the Sky Club. You know, that elite group of people that get to go into that one special room that no one is allowed in. Ya, I got to go in. There was a freakin sofa in the bathroom stall. Not just in the bathroom- but in the stall with you. I mean honestly. Who is going to sit in there while you are going to the bathroom and why would you need two seats? Your butt is already on one seat.
Nevertheless, the SkyClub was pretty nifty.

Pretty soon after we arrived, we got to go to the BIG plane! We had the nicest seats (okay not the nicest, but my brother is so nice not to leave me alone, we had the next to nicest seats). They chairs were comfortable but no chair after 7 hours would be comfy.

With only 2 (not so great) hours of sleep on the plane, we landed in Dublin Airport. Departing at 11:15am and arriving at 7:30am the next day. we had a 12 hour flight (with layover- losing 7 hours because of the time difference).

Once we got here, we had to get a taxi and the the cab driver was very interesting. Telling us all sorts of stories of the old pubs he loves. Truth be told, I think I understood maybe half of what he said. And I am pretty sure that is only because half of the time he was cussing up a storm.

Sitting on the other side.

 In order to get to the B&B we had to go through the city center. Can I say wow!?! First off. The streets are crazy small and taxis cut each other off like crazy. The city itself was so pretty and I wish that I could have stayed up there to walk around. So many people, much color, relatively small, but with the big city feel! I loved it!

Th Cottage on Clonskeagh Road. Our little B&B. 

Yes, the front door is blue :)

Once we got to B&B, we met Mary O'Sullivan and her husband, Branny. They have been very nice people. Boy, does Mary love to chat. She will talk about anything but I think she has a hard time listening. It's really funny. Both have crazy accents and say some pretty interesting things. For example, they say daft a lot when something is weird, and dear means expensive. So much to take in, so little time in the day. So I just kept on going, not thinking about how long I had been awake.

We got settled and then went to lunch at Ashton's, a pub down the road recommended by Branny.  I can officially say that I have experienced my first REAL Irish Guinness! I don't even know how to explain it. It was so much creamier and flavorful than the Guinness in the states. I don't think you really could compare them. It was so tasty.

Me and my first real Irish Guinness. (this is after being awake for  like 30 hours)

After trying to find a place to live, looking at one place, I figured out that things are definitely more expensive here for much less of a value.

On the front side of campus :) 

So, after our little walk through campus to the other side, we got back and went to dinner at a cafe called The 105. It was very good and I was able to meet a Canadian girl who moved here a year and a half ago. She gave me a lot of good advice on where to look for housing and what not. After dinner we went across the street back to O'Sheas and had a few more Guinness. I am telling you they are so much different than in the states. So much better!

Round two. So good.

And that gets me to here. After 30 hours of being awake, I was able to talk to my father for the first time- able to see a face from home. I am telling you Skype is amazing and everyone should get it and then add me so that we can talk.

To summarize, the first day was a GRAND.