After a long and rather tiring journey I have arrived at my first destination of Carbery Cottage near Durrus in Southern Cork county. I left Traverse City Cherry Capital airport on Monday afternoon and flew to Chicago. From there I took the plane to Dublin. It was a long overnight flight in which I I couldn't manage to sleep a wink. I was seated next to a very kind gentleman in his early forties. He was from Scotland but lives in Chicago. We had a lovely conversation of travel and the like and he ended up giving me his business card. When I finally arrived in Dublin I was surprised by the style and decor of the airport. Have you ever been to Central Grade school? That's what the airport was like. No joke, it reminded me of the inside of an old school or government building. I waited forever to go through security as the gentleman in front of me seemed to be having considerable problems with his passport. When I finally got the the baggage terminal I was in for a surprise: my bag had failed to make the connection to Dublin from Chicago. Consequently I am a little short on clean clothes at the moment... After filing for my bag to be delivered to where I am staying I made mt way outside. It was a beautiful, sunny morning; right around 9am local time (4am back home). I managed to find a bus that would take me into the city center and from there attempt to locate the bus station. Once the bus started moving I realized that there was a complete and utter lack of signs. I mean none at all. No notice on the bus where it was stopping and no street signs on the stop itself. Luckily I am not shy and asked a guy sitting behind me. He said that he would let me know when I had to get off. Apparently you just have to know the route to be able to navigate. He also gave me excellent directions to the main bus station from my stop. I managed to find it right around 10am and secure my bus ticket for the next leg of my journey.
I had about two hours before my bus left from Dublin to Cork and so decided to wander around a bit. I walked back towards the town center and found an internet cafe from which I was able to send my parents an e-mail. I then asked the woman at the counter for directions to a phone store. I found it without minimal difficulties; I only went the wrong way about three times :) and purchased a SIM card and minutes for my Irish cell phone. I then made my way back to the bus station, got some crap food and got on the bus. It was about a four hour bus ride and I managed to get a bit of sleep. In Cork I also had a two hour layover. I wandered around for a bit and found some more food. From Cork I went to Bantry where I arrived at 8:15pm. There Julia (one of the owners of Carbery Cottage) picked me up and took me to where I am now. At the cottage I met Mike (the other owner) and Heidi (an american woman they met ten years ago hitchhiking through Ireland). I also met the four dogs, Bungi, Shoefly, Darcy, and (I'm blanking on the last one...). We chatted for a bit before I wearily got in the shower and fell promptly asleep. I woke up this morning well rested to rain. Luckily it cleared up rather quickly but seems to be returning at the moment. Heidi and I took the dogs out to run around and I also met the goat and two ponies. There are also some ducks and about twenty chickens. I have a few pictures right now (though they turned out slightly blue) and will post some more later (hopefully not blueish).
Tomorrow I start work around the cottage and am looking forward to it. Everyone here is very sweet and nice. Heidi told me I found the right, and best, place to be :) Currently there are no guests besides an Australian musician who leaves in a week. I can't wait to explore some more!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment