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      tabtitle: Ireland Log
      title: A Log of My Travels in Ireland
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 <h2 class="ireland">Day 1: 07/27/10</h2>
 <span style="font-style:italic">Melon... <span style="font-weight:bold">*scatter*</span></span>
 <p>Today is travel day! Heading out right now towards JFK, then a 5 hour lay-over there, then finally taking off towards the Emerald Isle! I'm both excited and anxious, but surprisingly calm. I think it's to the point where I'm ready to get things moving.</p><p>This flight will be rather uneventful: short 55 minute hop to JFK. I'm looking forward to the longer flight. The time will give me opportunity to read, relax and think... something I haven't done enough of in the past week.
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 <p>Today we finally arrived in Ireland, first in Dublin and then Shannon. The trip over was a bit of a challenge: a lack of sleep combined with an atmosphere trying to promote one, all wrapped in the situation of no comfortable way to actually get sleep helped to contribute to me not sleeping more than 30 minutes tops. On the plus side, I did get to watch Dorian Grey and Percy Jackson on the way over. Also, they served a very delicious beef stew for dinner; I was pleasantly surprised.</p><p>Upon arrival, we immediately set out to retrieve our luggage, which arrived mostly unmolested. Then, as we proceeded out of the terminal, we finally found our 4th member, Suf, waiting eagerly for our arrival; he had arrived a day earlier, and had many a story to share about his adventures in Limerick (our eventual destination for the day). We got our car, forgot our GPS, recovered our GPS, and began driving toward Limerick from Shannon Airport. We quickly discovered that, given our American driving-habits, we thought every car driving on the "wrong side of the road" was going to kill us. I think twice we all panicked for fear of our lives. But, once we adjusted (or at least, once Suf did... Cary is still a bit iffy) the drive was relatively quick and painless. We arrived not more than 30 minutes later in Limerick, and made for the City Center to explore on foot the many shops and eateries that the city had to offer, as well as pay a visit to "The Bitter End" Pub, where Suf had visited on the previous night. We explored for a bit, had lunch at The Bitter End, visited a shop so Cary could purchase a couple shilelagh (spelling), wander to a tourist booth for information and, with said acquired directions, made for our first B&B of the trip: Coonagh Lodge. We relaxed and napped a bit at the Lodge, enough to recouperate for a voyage back to Limerick, and made for some dinner and adventure. We explored around, eventually stopping in at a place called "Wokking" for some authentic Irish Chinese food, which turned out to be very tasty and filling. We then explored for a pub, stopping at "Charlie St. George's" pub for a quick pint and some people-watching. Then, we explored a bit more, and wound up back at The Bitter End to enjoy an evening cup of tea and some relaxing time. After this, we made back to the B&B, where I discovered that my power brick likes to make a weird noise as it charges my laptop. I account it to the different voltage, and pray that it doesn't explode and kill us all.</p><p>Of most important note, Suf decided to enlighten us with some of his arab cab driving slang, most notable of which is "Why for you fuck my road?" An important question, to be sure, and one to be answered in the days to come. A very steady lean into this adventure, which I prefer to the alternative "kick-in-the-door" style. Hopefully I can figure out some way to get my computer to connect to WPA2 connections so I can have internet more readily. At least for tonight, I probably won't get back on (unfortunate news for my KoL desires. Too many adventures will be wasted after I waste the NS... Oh well...)</p>
 
 <h2 class="ireland">Day 3: 07/29/10</h2>
-<span style="font-style:italic">"Ya know, you keep that shirt on much longer, you gonna get jungle rot" - Biff McBodyspray</span
+<span style="font-style:italic">"Ya know, you keep that shirt on much longer, you gonna get jungle rot" - Biff McBodyspray</span>
 <p>Today was our first big travel day. We left Limerick around 11:00 am and made for Galway. Along the way we stopped in at the Cliffs of Moher, and then continued on to our destination in Kinvara.</p><p>The Cliffs of Moher are quite the site to see. Set along the Atlantic Ocean is a couple-mile stretch of sheer cliffs, topped with walkways and occasional watch towers, or at least ruins of them. We walked the Cliffs for about an hour, just exploring the different angles and particulars of the cliffs themselves: the numerous outcroppings, the way the waves would collide with the rock, the caves and small inlets that the water had born away. All these details helped to complete one heck of a view! I also enjoyed the visitor center, which was built into the hillsides near the cliffs.</p><p>After the cliffs, we make our way to Kinvara. We stop briefly at the Burren, a barren area of rocks and not much else. Once we arrive, we check into our B&B and decide to hold off on Galway until tomorrow night. This leaves us with plenty of time to explore Kinvara proper. We relax for a bit and make to town for some dinner and adventures. We decided to stop in at an Italian place called 'The Full Tide Inn', and while waiting for our food, had quite the heated philosophical discussion. It really put into perspective for me just how unprepared I am to defend my own view/the Stoic view of topics. After dinner, we walked out to Dunguaire Castle, which was unfortunately closed, but we still were able to explore the surrounding grounds. We learned a bit of background from a fellow tourist, and then made our way back into town to buy a few snacks before heading back to our B&B. That night, despite our best laid plans, we weren't able to get to Scion. However, luckily for me, the internet access at the B&B was unprotected and therefore I could hop onto KoL and finish up my ascension! I bought the trophie available to me (the one regarding food recipies) and clammered through the astral gash to return once more to my life of adventuring. I ascended as a Sauceror, holding onto Pastamancy so I can really start to rack up the bonus adventures from my cooking. A few adventures gone, I manage to get to level 2 the first day, and am very excited to really get this sauce boiling.</p>
 
 <h2 class="ireland">Day 4: 07/30/10</h2>
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 <h2 class="ireland">Day 13: 08/08/10</h2>
 <span style="font-style:italic">"Do I really have to be the asshole to say that we travelled back in time in that hot tub?" - Hot Tub Time Machine</span>
 <p> And just as quickly as it began, our whirlwind tour comes to an end. We left the B&B early this morning to get to the airport, returned the car without a fuss, checked in our baggage, shuffled through customs and passport checks, and eventually found our way to the gate. The airport in Shannon has free Wi-Fi, which is epic, so I whiddle away at my turn-count in KoL, achieving little but still enjoying the game. Shoot off a text to mom letting her know things are on time, and eventually board my first of three flights for the day.</p><p>The flight is rather uneventful. We're seated next to a kid flying back from a wedding, so it was fun to chat with him for a bit. Then, onto the free movies: Iron Man 2 (pretty boss), Hot Tub Time Machine (really, quite the unknown comedy. Hilarious!) and Repo Men (meh, not really my bowl of soup...) round out the trip. We land soundly in JFK, disembark, and find our next flight delayed, so Chris, Suf and I, after bidding farewell to Cary at the Terminal, head to 'NYC Sports Grill', right outside our arrival gate from the beginning of the voyage, and enjoy some good ol' fashion American burgers before our flight to Boston.</p><p>The flight to Boston is painless, despite the Logan Airport's best attempt at being the worst air port ever (I just really don't like it). We land safe and sound back home, and I eagerly make my way to baggage claim to make sure everything is safe there. I get my bags (w00t), find everything in one piece and accounted for (w00t x2), and bid Chris and Lindsay farewell as my parents drive up in the van.</p><p>Thus, our voyage ends. A successful first trip overseas, and a more-or-less successful first attempt at travel blogging too. Methinks I'll have to try this again sometime. Farewell, and as they say on the Emerald Isle: CHEERS!</p>
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