Bus Rides Pt. 1 - Day 022

I went on a run in the morning.  I ran into town to see about the laundromat.  It was still closed and no sign of opening.  I was pretty frustrated because I hadn't done laundry since Kelli's (eek!).  I decided instead of staying another night, I better move on.

I went back to the hostel and told the lady I was planning on going, she said there was a 10:15 bus leaving Dingle and I could get a ride if I wanted.  I was much obliged because it was 10 o'clock, so I would've missed it otherwise.  She gave me a ride and I got on the bus to Tralee.  My goal at this point was to get to Scotland.  To do that I had to get to Belfast to catch the ferry over to Scotland.  I rode 3 buses to Dublin and took a very late bus to Belfast.  I contemplated staying in Dublin but I was anxious to be on my way.  And the bus was so late I got to sleep a little in the bus station and a little on the bus.

Budget:

Bus ride 1: €10.60 ($16.49)

Bus rides 2 & 3: €23 ($35.78)

Bus ride 4: €15 ($23.34)

Food: €3.50 ($5.44)

Total: €52.10 ($81.05) (Daaaang... I'm looking forward to using that unlimited train ride pass)

Back to Dingle - Day 021

  The 3 Sisters from the other side

I woke up a little later than the day before.  I was very sore and really wanted a shower.  I walked back to Dingle and found a hostel.  It seemed like a very long walk but I got in about 10:15.  I checked into the hostel, took a shower, and took a nap.  They advertised that they had laundry services and internet.  I asked the lady about laundry and she said it was not available at the moment because her dryer was broken and she was backed up on laundry anyhow.  I put all my laundry in a hamper and took it into town to look for food and a laundromat.

After eating lunch I found a laundromat but it was closed with no hours of when it would be open posted anywhere.  I headed back to the hostel.  I asked her about internet, all I needed was the username and password because I was picking up the signal, she said I had to ask her husband about that and he would be back later.  Later that night he said it wasn't available at the moment because he was still working out some few kinks.

The good thing was the hostel had a piano and a guitar!  I was very happy about that.  I relaxed and just played piano for quite awhile.  It was next to the kitchen.  There were lots of people from Massachusetts who were studying abroad in Cork and in Dingle for the weekend at the hostel.  I told them how I visited a friend in Worcester before coming to Ireland.  They were all baking a cake and dinner as a surprise for a friend who wasn't there yet.  They were asking me many songs to play.  Some I knew, some I didn't.  After hanging out in the same room awhile with them, they invited me to join them for dinner.

Budget:

Hostel: €16 ($24.89)

Lunch: €3 ($4.67)

Groceries: €27.00 ($42.00) (I bought a €20 phone card that later turned out to be only for Ireland calls! Dang! Also, I bought laundry detergent and aloe vera gel.)

Dinner: Free! :D

Total: €46 ($71.57) (There goes all that money I saved the past couple of days)

The Peninsula's Edge - Day 020

I was awakened by the sound of rain. I was a little spooked because I wasn't sure how I would do in it. However, I stayed warm and dry in my bivy and sleeping bag. It didn't rain long. As soon as it stopped I set out for more hiking around the Dingle peninsula. Since I was so early, I got to meet some of the locals herding cattle down a path I was led to. Every few kilometers or at most forks in the road there are posts with a symbol of a little person with a backpack and an arrow pointing you to which way to go. In some instances there was no such sign to be found and I guess they thought you'd figure out the obvious route. Well, whenever an answer is obvious, I struggle finding it more so. Sometimes the arrows were vague, too. Either way, a few wrong turns didn't hurt too bad. As I was saying, the arrows led me to a path that was occupied by cattle. So I stood and chatted with a lady about Ireland and USA. She has cousins in Chicago and they visit often; however, she has never visited them. I told her how beautiful I thought Ireland was and she said she doesn't think anything of it, she was born here.

The backpacker path for a long while was merely a path anyone would take along the countryside. However, after coming around a leg of the peninsula to the south-western part, it separated from the road and the houses. It sharply led up the steep part of the mountain to join the black-faced rams. It led higher and higher from the road and the houses and the view got more spectacular all the time.

After a very steep climb, I came to a landing. There were no little person with backpack signs. None! Ahead of me a fence was partly torn down to easily climb over and to my left no fence, but a steep, rocky path.  I chose the steep rocky path.  Immediately a cloud covered the sunshine and began to hail very hard.  I thought I must have chosen the wrong path.  However, I didn't want to turn back so I kept going.  Finally, I saw a sign with a backpacker on it!  I was very relieved.  The path led all the way down to the road and from there I walked to a Café and had a huge meal.  It took me about the length of the movie Ryan's Daughter to finish it.  They were playing the movie on repeat since the movie was filmed on the Dingle peninsula.

The rest of the day was lots of walking to the edge of the peninsula's "heads" and taking a good look around.  Every extension of the peninsula had a different head name: Slea head, Dunmore head, Clogher head...  I made it all the way around to another beach and camped out there.

Dunmore head on the left

The 3 sisters are visible in the background

Bealbawn Strand

Budget:

Food: €13.90 ($21.63)

Total: €13.90 ($21.63)

Beautiful Dingle town - Day 019

I woke up and trekked my way to the bus station to get there right as it opened. The first bus to Dingle wasn't until about 10:15, but I didn't mind waiting. They had a power supply in the terminal so I charged my laptop and iPod. My iPod has been put to lots of use lately because I put a book on it. It's very useful to have a book on the iPod and the battery lasts a long time, but it's rare when I get a good moment to charge it.

The bus ride to Dingle was gorgeous. I couldn't refrain from taking pictures on the bus even though I knew they weren't turning out that well. Dingle is the main harbor town of the Dingle peninsula; further west are little villages with a few scattered cafes and coffee shops. It is a common trip to start in Dingle town and follow the coastline around the peninsula in a full circle. This was my goal for the next few days.

I arrived at a good time for lunch and decided to try some traditional Dingle Fish & Chips. Afterwords, I was so full I could hardly move. I purchased a map of the peninsula. It had campsite locations and hostel locations throughout the path of the backpacker or bicyclist. I set out right away. I made it down to Ventry beach. I was overwhelmed by the view in every direction. Sadly, I realized I was far past the campsite I was planning on staying for the night. Well, actually I could've possibly walked right through it and not thought enough of it to stay because I did see some camper trailers. I found a better spot just off the edge of the beach, however. It was actually early evening, but I slept straight through to about 4 am.

Budget:

Breakfast: Cereal I had purchased (I snacked on this for awhile)

Lunch: €9.50 ($14.78)

Map: €3 ($4.66)

Total: €12.50 ($19.43)

Detour to Tralee - Day 018

I bought a ticket from Dublin to Dingle. I got to the bus station and gave the clerk my printed out e-ticket. She told me I would have to change buses in Limerick and in Tralee. When I got on the bus I was very tired and I went all the way to the back of the bus. I put my bag on the seat, leaned up against my bag and stretched my legs out over the remaining 3 seats. I took a long nap. I kept waking up at the stops to ask other people on the bus if it was Limerick. Before I was prepared, the answer was yes. I hurried off the bus. Not long after I hopped off the bus, I looked at the ticket in my hand - "Dublin to Cork (or somewhere) April 25th"... I grabbed someone's old ticket off the seat and mistook it for my own. The bus I so recently hopped off of was nowhere to be seen. I asked the ticket booth clerk for help and she told me I would have to talk to the bus inspector. Many people told me the whereabouts of the bus inspector but he wasn't to be found anywhere until more and more people were looking for him. When he was found I was happy that he was very nice. His Irish accent was so thick I couldn't understand a word he said; well, except for saying if I was English he would've shot me because he shoots English. He said that about 4 times. He put me on the bus to Tralee and phoned ahead to let them know my situation. I thanked him very much and went on my way.

I got to Tralee later than anticipated and I had missed the last bus going to Dingle. They said they could put me on the first one in the morning. I found dinner at this bar that was infatuated with horse racing and betting. I was very out of place, but it was fun. Tralee is like a little town out in the woods, so it didn't feel too odd to me to camp out. I found a nice spot and slept for the night; my first night camping out in Europe. It was quite nice, actually. The weather was very peaceful. It was an adventurous day and I slept it off well!

Budget:

Breakfast: Free
Dinner: €3.50 (Don't think I was skimping out, Tralee was cheaper than Dublin)

Total: €3.50 ($5.45)

Hello! - Day 017

I am in the same room tonight that I was in last night.  Previously, I had been changing rooms everyday and it was kind of a hassle.  There are 5 guys from Canada that I am sharing the 12 bed dorm-room with and they are pretty cool.  I joined them for a tour of the Guinness Storehouse this morning.  It was something I did want to do, but since it was 14 Euro I was hesitating.  I gotta figure out which parts of this trip I spend a little more and which part I save a little more.  This next part of the trip I'm planning on saving a little more.  Also, I might not write a blog for a couple days.  Don't worry though, I'll be back.  :)  Thank you for all the comments!

Also, I think I got the Millenium bridge pictured wrong... there's still a Millenium bridge in Dublin, but it isn't that one.  I'll fix that soon.

Budget:

Guinness storehouse tour: €14

Lunch: €4.75

Hostel: €18.5

Bus pass: €23.4

Print bus pass: €.70

Dinner: (I'm eating groceries now)

Total: Wowww 37.25 + 23.40 = 50.65 + .7 = €51.35 ($80.33) ouch, the dollar is still dropping.

I spent more money after this post.  I think I spent 10 Euros.  I posted a picture with 4 of the 5 Canadian friends.

A few pictures - Day 016

Just to let you know, I am aware people are able to know I have important stuff in my bag. Right now I am around a bunch of other people on laptops also. They even said they don't like my laptop, they like Windows and Bill Gates. They're from France.

Today, I found a cheaper place for groceries and stuff.  I was happy about that. I also bought batteries for my camera.

Budget:

Groceries: €10 ($15.62)

Hostel: €18.5 (28.89)

Deposit on Hostel in Edinburgh: £3 ($6.20) + $2.00 service charge

Total: $52.51

Here are some pictures:

Custom House

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Dublin Castle

Spire of Dublin

Four Courts