15 Days Without Updates

Oh yes, finally an update! Here we are at a library in Macroom. Kevin is in an unfortunate mood and there are screaming children running around. Georgia and Russia are still in a weird situation, the sky is grey (naturally) and we are going to be in Ireland for another 6 days.

Because it would be nearly impossible and rather annoying for a play by play update up until now, here is what we have accomplished, failed, and embarrassingly did while here so far in Ireland:

-Arrived in Dublin after 5.5 hours of uncomfort (being 6'3 rules in coach)
-Left my 4qt canteen on the plane
-Took the Dublin bus to city centre and asked numerous people for walking directions to hotel
-Stayed 3 nights in renowned 5-star Shelbourne hotel
-Hung out with Frank and Ellen McCourt for 3 days and nights
-Laughed at frustrated Kevin after getting lost and soaking wet on first day in Dublin
-Went to Temple Bar x2
-Experienced what we were told to be "one of the worst summers in the history of Ireland"
-Kevin bought a 59 euro guitar
-Laid out in lovely Dublin parks with Kevin, his guitar, and children eventually calling him a fag
-Looked left, right, then left again after getting confused with driving conditions
-Ate expensive meals for free (thank you for the generosity!)
-Looked at and heard of lots of castles
-Ate 5 euro Irish breakfast with eccentric Irishmen
-Avoided Dublin tourists
-Heard many tales about Irish history, how the Irish built America, and about the famine
-Hitchhiked from Macroom to Cork and back
-Rode bikes around the incredibly beautiful Kilarney mountains/lake and lived in pain and hatred after the 45km bike ride back - legs = jelly
-Played with 2 irish wolfhounds, 10 pugs, one coughing old terrier, lovely killer poodle, mellowed out irish setter and horses
-Laid a concrete floor, put up drywall, and painted kitchen doors and baseboards
-Found and stayed in hostels
-Met many "single serving friends"
-Talked to Irish guys/girls, German guys/girls, French guys/girls, American transfer students and travelers, Austrailian guys, a magazine editor, a professional folk singer, friends of family, rugby player, italian dude, spanish guys, and many others who were lost with our short term memory
-Swam in a 5-star gym/spa
-Received dog poo presents in bedroom twice
-Listened to the frequent yell of "EDWARDDDDDDD"
-Chased red herrings (Kevin)
-Hung out at Irish flat with 2 xboxs
-Ate cod, salmon, sea bass, lots of potatoes, chicken fast food sandwich, ham, bacon, lamb, pork, black pudding, guiness braised beef, chips aka fries, lots of toast and tea, salami and brie, oysters, mussels, calamarie, many cheeses, asparagus pesto, patte, pizzas, and ate blackberries on dozens of strees.
-Got stung by thistle
-Had many language barrier conversations
-Met girls from Paris who "liked money"
-Watched olympics and listened to Irish people constantly bringing up Michael Phelps
-Went to Guinness brewery
-Drank Guinness, Murphy's, Heineken, Beamish, Bulmers, Bavaria, Carlsberg, red and white wine, whiskey and other unknown foreign beers
-Admired the beautiful countryside
-Tried to surf web on .01kbps 3G connection
-Rode mountain bikes through mud and water and over rocks
-Got lost on confusing streets that change names after every block and often dont have street signs
-Battled a cold (thanks Jenn!)
-Played poker
-Saw a russian guy looking at porn in an internet cafe
-Went to thrift stores
-Learned how the Irish view the sky/weather: "I think I see fucking blue!"

And plenty of other things that have momentarily skipped our minds. It has been great so far. Will try to keep a more steady update schedule now. Oh and the library computers don't allow Kevin to plug in his camera, so we are still without any pictures... SORRY!!!! They will come soon.

So we plan hitch to Cork again on Saturday, stay for 2 nights, and maybe even try to hitch all the way to Dublin (although bus is only 14 euro). If there is anything else we should do while here please let us know!