Dublin, Paddywaggon and Doughnuts

I've just finished my paddywaggon tour around the island of Ireland, and I gotta say it was a hell of a lot of fun. Started off Saturday night here in Dublin when I caught up with a couple of Dubliners whom I met in Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) for a night out in Ireland's capital, and it was a good one. The guiness was flowing, but I gotta say, the prices here in Dublin are insane!

The following night, I met up with Nicole, who I did Contiki with in '05 and her friend Mel who were joining me on the Paddywaggon tour. It's so much fun meeting up with people you havent seen in a year and a half...makes me realise how time has flown.

The tour started on the monday morning, and our crazy Irish driver/guide, Phil - from Tipperare - got us on our way out of Dublin, and south towards Dingle. Along the way we all got to know each other (about 2/3's of the bus was aussies...several from Melbourne - what a shock!) and we had a good group of people. I was worried that we would have not many being the 'off' season, but the bus was all but packed with 32 of us! Along the way to Dingle we went to Blarney Castle and kissed the blarney stone - supposed to bring 7 years good luck - or cold sores. That night we all drank Írish Car Bombs', a local shot which has a shot of whiskey and bailey's dropped into a half pint of guiness, which you have to scull before it curdles - good stuff! Our entertainment for the night was Karaoke - of all things - and there were some top performances, some shockers and lots and lots of Phil. And no, I didnt sing, despite having my name put down by someone else...

The following morning we headed to Killarney, via inch beach (the scene of Coldplay's video for "Yellow").

The next day we travelled towards Gallway, where I am hoping to live after my time in Cork, and I reckon I'm gonna like it. Apart from the town itself (argh) looking quite nice, the atmosphere there was incredible, with lots of students, plenty of happening bars and a good 'craic' had by all. And it was only a Wednesday night! One of the funnier things of the evening was getting the obligitory food from 'Supermacs'at the end of the evening - which turned out to be the most pumping venue in the city. We even whitnessed a fight there, which we have since learned is so common, the local hospital has a code for 'Supermacs related injury'. "I'm just here for some chips!"

The following day we headed up to Derry just inside Northern Ireland, on the way seeing the Cliffs of Mohr (I think?). Aside from the accents and currency being different, Derry didnt feel all that different from the republic and a good night was had - despite many people choosing to have this night off! Those of us that did head out, counted down to midnight, and toasted Australia day, in what was to be a fore runner for the following nights activities.

The next - and final - night of the tour we were in Belfast aftet a short detour to the Giants Causeway (the main bit of which we...er....all seemed to miss). Belfast felt really earie. The 'peace wall' seperating the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods was something you couldnt even comprehend coming from australia, and the feeling of this place was very different from that of the Republic. We did, however, have a good night, finding a bar that was celebrating Aussie day, we got ourselves decked out in Aussie Tatts -and my wallabies jersey - and celebrated long into the evening.

Over the next couple of days we all said our goodbyes, and went our seperate ways. It's just such a shame it was only one week as it just flew by!

Anyways, I'm heading down to Cork today to crash with a friend for a bit, and look for a job - I'm BROKE - so I will probably be living like a grandpa for a bit! I'll chuck up some photo's of Ireland soon (so all you people in Australia can see what green grass looks like again).

Cheers