Mmm, Salty...

It is Saturday evening of my fifth day in Ireland.  To give the bad news first, my checked bag with all of my stuff still has not arrived.  I have called the airline everyday only to be put on hold for a minimum of 10 minutes every time.  Today it was a whopping 22 minute call and I believe I actually talked to someone for maybe a minute and a half.  So I have resorted to sending them a rather frustrated and probably slightly nasty e-mail (oops).  To add a sense or urgency I told them that I have medications in my bag that I need (floridex and vitamin D tablets, but they don't need to know that).  I am managing to keep a cheerful face though.  Heidi has been a dear in lending me some clothes to wear.  Also I did find out that they will refund me up to 60 euro a day for three days.  I took advantage of that Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Of course with it being me, along with some essentials like contact solution, I had to buy an adorable pair of black lace heels (they were on sale).  Luckily the receipt that I am to send in only says that I purchased shoes and who's to say that they weren't necessary?  I could have had a dinner party I had to attend :)

Everyone here is so very nice!  Mike and Julia are wonderful; they feed me great food and are a pleasure to chat with.  Heidi is very sweet.  John arrived back last night; he had been staying with Julia's daughter Emma who has an alpaca farm nearby.  He is from France and has been here for a month.  He leaves next Saturday.  On Thursday I did some ironing and arranging as well as a bit of weeding outdoors.  Yesterday I made some quiches and a Mississippi Cake.  Today John and I did some more weeding and I gave the hedge a haircut.  Mike joked that the hedge looked like his haircut, which is rather long and ragged.  Julia said it was a great improvement so no matter what I am happy.  I then came in for a bit and made some cardamom ice cream.  This afternoon John and I walked down to the water which was is quite a state today!  The waves were absolutely huge!!  The wind was also very strong and I was afraid I would be blown away.  Being young and brave (!) John and I decided to go over the stone wall and walk along the wet rocks at the coast.  a couple times I had to cling to the grasses on the sides of the cliffs so as not to fall!  There are some lovely pictures I took today that I put up of the wild water.  I felt like a true adventurer.  I was a little hesitant at first about getting so close to the water as I didn't want to get the few clothes I have soaked, but as we were standing by the wall a huge wave came up and soaked up both.  I gasped and licked the water from my lips.  Mmm, salty.  I decided that this is what I am here for: adventure.  With a smile I threw caution to the wind and hopped over the wall.  There was only one really frightening moment when John decided that we should jump a gap to continue on.  The drop was only about 8 feet or so but I fear I chickened out.  I found a spot that I could jump down and then John helped me up the over side.  It was a little further away from the very angry sea and felt marginally safer. We ended up standing on a 20 foot plateau that would get swept with water every few minutes causing me to jump back in surprise.  It was beautiful!

I am loving it over here, though it is a bit cold and my wool undergarments (in my missing bag) would be very much appreciated.  But oh well, I am in the land of the wet, green, and friendly.  I have been going to bed rather early as I still haven't quite gotten used to the time difference (I wake up at 3am our time).  Today I feel much more awake; I think that the cold ocean water has shocked me into feeling chipper.  I am ready for many more daring excursions.  Love to all at home, Hannah

Exhaustion and Sweet Green Fields

  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!!!

Two Weeks Notice

Exactly two weeks from today I will be on a plane from Chicago to Dublin.  I will then spend three months working as a WWOOFer (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).  http://www.wwoof.ie/  The first place I will be working is located on the Sheep's Head Peninsula in county Cork.  I will be living with and working for Carbery Cottage Guest Lodge.  http://www.carbery-cottage-guest-lodge.net/   Check out both these websites for more information.  I will be gone for a total of three months, returning on April 28.

When people ask me why I'm going on this trip my first response is, why not?  For as long as I can remember I have wanted to travel to Ireland.  Now I can finally do it.  I have the funds, the time, and the opportunity.  The next two weeks will be spent planning out everything, from an exact packing list, to a rough schedule of what i will be doing.  There are so many places to see I want to make sure I don't miss anything.  I also have to spend lots of quality time with all of the wonderful people I will be missing for those three months.  So, here's to a couple of fun filled weeks, then the beginning of a new journey.