It is a bit late to begin my blogging I realize since I have alreadydone so much.  I will do my best to fill you in.  Luckily I jotted down what I have been doing in my journal I carry around with me. 
          To begin, preparations for leaving were (of course) hectic- what with the last-minute running to the bank, completing errands, and saying tearful goodbyes to family.
          On the plane to Dublin I sat next to a girl named Ashling.  She had red hair complete with an Irish brogue.  She fully prepared me for my trip in Ireland where everyone spoke with that beautiful accent and gave me some pointers and ideas of what to do and where to go.
          Ya know what?  I think that instead of rewriting/rewording what I already wrote in my journal, I will simply copy down what I already wrote.
So here ya go.  You now have a chance to read my journal.... ;-)

8-16
                   I want to write about adventures from yesterday before I completely forget what I did.  I write this whilst sitting in a bus on my way to a tour to Glendalough (sp?) and Wicklow on a tour.  Wow- beautiful.  Anyhoots, yesterday was awesome.  Yes, awesome.  I know I am super American to use that word, but it perfectly describes yesterday.  Yesterday started off rather rainy as the girls and I walked under our umbrellas on our way to St. Stephen's Garden in Phoenix Park.  The sky threw sheets of rain at us as we stood shielded beneath a masterfully designed archway to the entrance of the Gardens.  Once the rain let up a bit, we walked with cameras in hand through the flower covered paths and swan and goose-filled ponds. Beautiful!!!
             After garden-walking we made our way to a small restaurant where I enjoyed a delicious and strong cup o' jo (plenty of milk and sugar was added).  We sat by a window where I had the chance to enjoy some of the best people watching ever.  The style here is difficult to describe, since everyone in Dublin seems to be from everywhere.  I believe Dublin to be a tourist central. One thing I can say about style here is that no one wears flared pants.  It's all straight or tight-legged pants with small shoes. It doesn't matter if people are heavier in Europe, they still wear tight pants  :-/
            After lunch we walked to and around St. Patrick's Cathedral, which was very medieval and very beautiful.  Goodness, we did so much yesterday that it's difficult to pinpoit what came next.....oh yes!  We toured the Jameson Distillery and learned how Jameson makes his triple distilled smooth Irish whiskey.   It was rather tasty, but I think the experience itself added to the taste.
           Next on the agenda was to walk through more gardens and more churches.  Once again I was overwhelmed with all of the beauty.
           We wore our feet out silly, but that did not stop us from getting ready for or next activity.  Back to the hostel to change!  (I did not change.  In fact, this is the fourth day in this outfit as well as the fourth day without a shower, but hey: When in...Ireland! :-) )
            Now, to make this even more difficult to follow this post, I must interrupt.  We're driving now through more of the city of Dublin, and I gotta say that the architecture is magnificent.  Every aspect of everyhere is intricately detailed with swirls in the metal fences, tiny carvings in stone, and the natural wear and tear of the cobblestone paths.  (-I'll describe the rest of the pub crawl later.  Now I have to jot down what our tour guide is saying) 
       Our tour guide says:
                -The place we stopped and took a couple pictures of is called Lower Loch Bray.
                -Guiness is healthy because of the iron in the water which comes from bogs (Jon, I can't
                  help but think of that bog song we'd sing together "And in that bog there was a tree...")
                -Braveheart was filmed here in these vast hills
                -There is 80% more cattle and sheep than there are people (all fed naturally of course)
         I notice so many yellow and purple flowers in the hills.  All that green with a splash of   color= WOW!
         I didn't think it possible to be surrounded by this much beauty.  Holy Crapola!  There are sheep, mountains, beautiful flowers, and my driver is playing Danny Boy on tape.  I'm overwhelmed.  The mountains are huge!, but since they are so vivid, they do not seem real.  No.  It can't be.  I am driving through a picture.  Ashton Kutcher is about to jump out from around the corner and tell me I've just been spunked. So cruel.

~Later in the day~
          Now I am riding in a bus on the way back from the tour.  We hiked down in a valley through trees and mountains near a lake.  We hiked the streets where the movie P.S. I Love You was filmed.  We walked among sheep.  We climbed trees. We watched children skip rocks.  We stared across a lake at a mountain. 
          On our way back we drove through hoity-toity land of Ireland where I saw Bono's home and Enya's castle.  This place is called Killiney.
Our tourguide also says:
           -The irish say whiskey is Ishka Baha (sp?), which means "water of life."  When they drink whiskey, they toast, "Slanta!" (slawn-cha), which means "to our health."
            We stopped at another town called Dun Lougehery (sp?) which is a town on the ocean.  It is the largest manmade marina and "where the money is," according to the guide.  There are yachts, yacht clubs, HUGE yachts...oh! And did I mention there are yachts?
            Another note: mist covers everything and blinds our sight.  As we look out over the ocean we can hardly see anything!  Apparently even though the water is just 10 degrees C, kids swim in it all year round.  Our tourguide says the water is "good for ya." ~ I'm loving this tourguide.
            AND another note: People are genuinely kind here. I forgot who told me, but someone said that in Ireland it is considered rude (extremely rude) to ignore someone who says hello to you.  (I would have thought it rude no matter where you go)
So. Drinking in Ireland.  Everyone drinks.  Everyone gets drunk, however noone drinks and drives.  Noone.  It is SUPER look down upon and very shameful.
           AND Brewley's has REALLY good coffee and REALLY good chocolate. MMMmmmm.
           AND "Luck" is a word often thrown around and sued by the Irish.  Go figure, huh?
           AND I saw a rainbow today, but I did not find the pot of gold.


8-17
          I am now seated on a plane on my way to London-Heathrow.  In London I will be staying at a hostel called Clink78.  Anyhoots, now that I have man moments I can tell you a bit more about my stay in Ireland (As if I havent told you enough already...).  As I was saying in my last entry, we went on a pub crawl.  We stopped first at an Irish pub of which I forget the name. There, I had my first glass of Guiness.  I held it in my hands, took a few sips, did not like it, and was done. BLEH!   Next we went to a bar where there was a phenomenal Irish band playing.  One guy was going nuts on a fiddle, another on some sort of wind instrument (a piccolo maybe?), and the other on a guitar.  It was Irish music at its best: high energy, karaoke sing-a-long songs, and some songs to which a few men got up and did a little Irish jig.
         At the next bar was a one-man band playing guitar and singing songs of the Dubliners, Flogging Molly, and Mumford & Sons. The third place we went to was also great.  It was apparently where a scene from P.S. I Love You (the movie) was filmed.  At this bar, a guy bought me a drink and a shot and then proceeded to tell me his life story.  He was a very nice guy, but when we went to the next place.....oh boy, the next place.  It was a club.  This club was like entering an entirely different world.  Every girl (yes EVERY) wore tight mini skirts, thin or sheer tanks tucked in to the skirt, big and long hair, and caked-on makeup.  The music playing was techno.  Guys and these impressively dressed gals grinded to the music.  Boy, was it ever so entertaining!  All of us girls (me and the rest of my group) stuck together wearing our t-shirts and jeans.  Needless to say, we stood out.
         Anyhoots, the guy who bought me a couple drinks wanted to dance but not the kind of dance I am into, so I kindly (I hope it was kind) denied him and told him I wasn't into that and that I was "just here to have a good time with these girls."  Even though I denied him he still wanted to dance so I had to get away.  I hurried to the bathroo, which was FILLED with these scantilly dressed gals who were CRYING!  What a sight!  I got out of the bathroom to sit down, which I thought would be a safe bet.  I even sat with Ana for Pete's sake!  I think having a pretty girl with me only drew in more attention, so a guy from Germany came up and introduced himself....well hold on a moment: Where we sat was next to a crying girl (with the afore mentioned description) on whom a man applied makeup to console her (Interesting....wierd) .....Later on a very buff, tan, and tall man came up and introduced himself to us.  I forget his name, but I believe it was Guido ;-)  Crazy night!

          Later on that day:  My feelings now:  I'm a little homesick and missing the comforts of home, but I know it's silly.  Off to London now!