Jen's Journal

"Why me?" I thought as the overly friendly Irish fellow started talking at me. If you thought Fight Club dialogs were hard to understand try listening to this guy. I never did catch his name, although he told me it about 6 times, however, he caught mine and followed me around the hostel asking if I'd go drink a beer with him or if I wanted tea, (at least that is what I think he was saying). I managed to escape his pestering and walked the great walled city, (home of Bloody Sunday). There was a night life, however, I was just getting tired and headed back to the hostel.

In the dorm room there were 3 bunk beds, all steel and nasty thin mattresses. The structure of the things was sketchy at best and for the first time I was relieved to have to be sleeping on the top bunk. I figured if it was going to collapse it best be someone else getting squished! At about 11 o'clock I started to settle in and was soon joined by the snorer. Luckily his head was directly underneath mine and he was quick to fall asleep. DAMN!

I tried my best to rock the unstable structure of a bed, (hoping he would be startled awake and stop snoring), however the snoring persisted. I switched my body direction on the top bunk and in the process realized that not only was I going to have to stuff toilet paper in my ears, but I would also have to sleep in the fetal position as the bunk was only about 5'8" long. I am taller than that.

Ahhhh, what a night! I got up early and drank a large pot of coffee and headed off to the bus station. I was/am meeting Shona and Leanne Lindsay today in Dublin and needed to make quick time across the country. I scored the front seat on the bus, as the first Dublin bus was full and they needed to run a second for the overload! Sweet, because I had shown up late and would have missed the first.

I got as far as Ardee and was told of a beautiful hostel on a working farm in Slane, (right by the castle were U2 recorded their Unforgettable Fire album). I hit that up, and managed to score a huge room to myself. There was an en suite, drying racks (I got hit by some kinda rain storm that afternoon), free tea and coffee all in room, MY ROOM. I slept soundly as I listened to the rain shower, subconsciously deciding my next trip to Ireland will be requiring no tent and camping gear.