Update to Styles and first Oblivion post
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tabtitle: Ireland Log
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title: A Log of My Travels in Ireland
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topics: other
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pub: "2015-01-01"
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short_desc: "Once upon a time, I traveled to Ireland. It was quite the
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experience. Me, my 3 friends Suf, Chris and Cary, Scion, shenanigans,
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Guiness, whiskey, and Thunderstruck."
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---
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<h2 class="ireland">Day 1: 07/27/10</h2>
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<span style="font-style:italic">Melon... <span style="font-weight:bold">*scatter*</span></span>
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<p>Today is travel day! Heading out right now towards JFK, then a 5 hour
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lay-over there, then finally taking off towards the Emerald Isle! I'm both
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excited and anxious, but surprisingly calm. I think it's to the point where
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I'm ready to get things moving.</p><p>This flight will be rather uneventful:
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short 55 minute hop to JFK. I'm looking forward to the longer flight. The
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time will give me opportunity to read, relax and think... something I
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haven't done enough of in the past week.</p>
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<h2 class="ireland">Day 2: 07/28/10</h2>
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<span style="font-style:italic">Left is safe!"</span>
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<p>Today we finally arrived in Ireland, first in Dublin and then Shannon. The
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trip over was a bit of a challenge: a lack of sleep combined with an
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atmosphere trying to promote one, all wrapped in the situation of no
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comfortable way to actually get sleep helped to contribute to me not
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sleeping more than 30 minutes tops. On the plus side, I did get to watch
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Dorian Grey and Percy Jackson on the way over. Also, they served a very
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delicious beef stew for dinner; I was pleasantly surprised.</p><p>Upon
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arrival, we immediately set out to retrieve our luggage, which arrived
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mostly unmolested. Then, as we proceeded out of the terminal, we finally
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found our 4th member, Suf, waiting eagerly for our arrival; he had arrived a
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day earlier, and had many a story to share about his adventures in Limerick
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(our eventual destination for the day). We got our car, forgot our GPS,
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recovered our GPS, and began driving toward Limerick from Shannon Airport.
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We quickly discovered that, given our American driving-habits, we thought
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every car driving on the "wrong side of the road" was going to kill us. I
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think twice we all panicked for fear of our lives. But, once we adjusted (or
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at least, once Suf did... Cary is still a bit iffy) the drive was relatively
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quick and painless. We arrived not more than 30 minutes later in Limerick,
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and made for the City Center to explore on foot the many shops and eateries
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that the city had to offer, as well as pay a visit to "The Bitter End" Pub,
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where Suf had visited on the previous night. We explored for a bit, had
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lunch at The Bitter End, visited a shop so Cary could purchase a couple
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shilelagh (spelling), wander to a tourist booth for information and, with
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said acquired directions, made for our first B&B of the trip: Coonagh Lodge.
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We relaxed and napped a bit at the Lodge, enough to recouperate for a voyage
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back to Limerick, and made for some dinner and adventure. We explored
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around, eventually stopping in at a place called "Wokking" for some
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authentic Irish Chinese food, which turned out to be very tasty and filling.
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We then explored for a pub, stopping at "Charlie St. George's" pub for a
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quick pint and some people-watching. Then, we explored a bit more, and wound
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up back at The Bitter End to enjoy an evening cup of tea and some relaxing
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time. After this, we made back to the B&B, where I discovered that my power
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brick likes to make a weird noise as it charges my laptop. I account it to
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the different voltage, and pray that it doesn't explode and kill us
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all.</p><p>Of most important note, Suf decided to enlighten us with some of
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his arab cab driving slang, most notable of which is "Why for you fuck my
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road?" An important question, to be sure, and one to be answered in the days
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to come. A very steady lean into this adventure, which I prefer to the
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alternative "kick-in-the-door" style. Hopefully I can figure out some way to
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get my computer to connect to WPA2 connections so I can have internet more
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readily. At least for tonight, I probably won't get back on (unfortunate
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news for my KoL desires. Too many adventures will be wasted after I waste
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the NS... Oh well...)</p>
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<h2 class="ireland">Day 3: 07/29/10</h2>
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<span style="font-style:italic">"Ya know, you keep that shirt on much longer,
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you gonna get jungle rot" - Biff McBodyspray</span>
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<p>Today was our first big travel day. We left Limerick around 11:00 am and made
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for Galway. Along the way we stopped in at the Cliffs of Moher, and then
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continued on to our destination in Kinvara.</p><p>The Cliffs of Moher are
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quite the site to see. Set along the Atlantic Ocean is a couple-mile stretch
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of sheer cliffs, topped with walkways and occasional watch towers, or at
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least ruins of them. We walked the Cliffs for about an hour, just exploring
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the different angles and particulars of the cliffs themselves: the numerous
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outcroppings, the way the waves would collide with the rock, the caves and
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small inlets that the water had born away. All these details helped to
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complete one heck of a view! I also enjoyed the visitor center, which was
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built into the hillsides near the cliffs.</p><p>After the cliffs, we make
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our way to Kinvara. We stop briefly at the Burren, a barren area of rocks
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and not much else. Once we arrive, we check into our B&B and decide to hold
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off on Galway until tomorrow night. This leaves us with plenty of time to
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explore Kinvara proper. We relax for a bit and make to town for some dinner
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and adventures. We decided to stop in at an Italian place called 'The Full
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Tide Inn', and while waiting for our food, had quite the heated
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philosophical discussion. It really put into perspective for me just how
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unprepared I am to defend my own view/the Stoic view of topics. After
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dinner, we walked out to Dunguaire Castle, which was unfortunately closed,
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but we still were able to explore the surrounding grounds. We learned a bit
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of background from a fellow tourist, and then made our way back into town to
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buy a few snacks before heading back to our B&B. That night, despite our
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best laid plans, we weren't able to get to Scion. However, luckily for me,
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the internet access at the B&B was unprotected and therefore I could hop
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onto KoL and finish up my ascension! I bought the trophie available to me
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(the one regarding food recipies) and clammered through the astral gash to
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return once more to my life of adventuring. I ascended as a Sauceror,
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holding onto Pastamancy so I can really start to rack up the bonus
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adventures from my cooking. A few adventures gone, I manage to get to level
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2 the first day, and am very excited to really get this sauce boiling.</p>
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<h2 class="ireland">Day 4: 07/30/10</h2>
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<span style="font-style:italic">"Be-buh-buh-day, be-buh-buh-day, E-DAY-OH, E-DAY-OH, THAT'S OK!"</span>
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<p>Holy crap, today seemed like an entire month's worth of exploration and
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adventure. After a delicious traditional Irish breakfast, we made for
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Galway.</p><p>In Galway we parked and set out for our busiest and most fun
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day yet. I can tell you now that my feet are none to happy about the amount
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of walking we achieved, but if nothing else this is a good reminder to
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properly prepare next time: make sure my shoes are comfortable enough to
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walk around in almost constantly. So, we park and make towards the city
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center. Galway is situated along the coast of Galway Bay (go figure...) and
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has a river running through the center of town. We head down the busy
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pedestrian walkway and hit up a few shops. Chris, Suf and Cary all check out
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a couple tattoo parlours, and me being less interested make for some good
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people watching and relax a bit. We continue our walk through the busy
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crowds, and eventually make our way to the river. Exploring it for a bit,
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Cary and I decide to stop off at a river-side restaurant called 'Mustard',
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where I get one of the most delicious pulled-pork sandwiches I've ever
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enjoyed. Afterwards, we met back up with Chris and Suf, and walked out
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towards the bay a bit. As we voyaged further away from the city, we met with
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a couple of fellow travelers, and discovered a great bar to stop at in town,
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known as 'E Brun' or 'The Bridge.' At the bar we met Bill, a local of
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Galway, who told us of many great sites and happenings around town. An
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important detail of our stay in Galway is that the Galway Races were going
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on. Evidently, they're a big deal.</p><p>So, after our stop in the pub and a
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delicious Guiness, we make to explore and find 'The Crane,' where Shela's
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son will be playing live music later in the evening. We find it, and gather
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from another local (and rather attractive) girl the location of a couple of
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good niteclube. After finding the Crane we decide to hunt our a place to
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eat, and eventually wander back to 'Kelly's', which helps to bring back
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nostalgic memories of Geneseo and our own Kelly's. We enjoy a deliciously
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filling meal there, compliments of Chris, and find out that later in the
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evening we can enjoy Crane for some authentic (and rather good) Irish jazz
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(which sounds not much different from any other type of jazz...). Thus far,
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although I've been able to explain our day in only a few short paragraphs,
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we've experienced to us what has felt like a lifetime worth of exploration.
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But, the fun is only just about to start.</p><p>10:20pm, and we just left
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The Crane Bar to head back to the B&B for some kick-ass Scion action. Along
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the way, we overhear a few clubs, but nothing really catches our ear until
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we get to Kelly's. We can hear the beats from outside, we can feel our feet
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aching but wanting to join in, so we head upstairs and find (!!!)... a bunch
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of people standing around as a DJ mixes. What a let down! Well, Suf wouldn't
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have any of this, and neither would the rest of us, so after settling into
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our comfortable corner, Suf finally finds a song that he'll groove to. And
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groove he does. Following quickly in suite, we join him on the floor and
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find ourselves almost alone dancing. The 4 American tourists are the only
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ones dancing in the Irish Niteclub. Almost poetic, mostly pathetic. Well,
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this quickly changes, as more people flock to the dance floor after seeing
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our amazing example. And by no means am I exaggerating! We literally started
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the dance party at a niteclub. We groove it and move it for a good couple of
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hours before we take off for new adventures. After a bit of exploring, and a
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lot of drunk people, we decide to split up: Chris and Suf head back to
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Kelly's for some more dancing, Cary wanders the street talking to people,
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and I, the lamest of the group, head back to the car to call it a night.
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Before long, we all reconvene, load up the GPS and make our way back to the
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B&B. This night has been legendary, and no degree of detailed description
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can truly capture just how epic the night was.</p><p>Simply put: Galway was
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unforgetable.</p>
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<h2 class="ireland">Day 5: 07/31/10</h2>
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<span style="font-style:italic">"Where are we heading again? Ballerina?" "BALLINA!"</span>
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<p>After the unbelievable adventure of Galway, we head out for our next stop in
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Northwest Ireland: Ballina.</p><p>We set off after saying goodbye to our
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thus-far favorite B&B and host Shiela, and head north. As we're driving, we
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spot a few turn offs and decide to stop at one of them to explore a bit of
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the countryside. We find our way onto a mountain, scale the smaller hills
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leading up to it, and eventually make our way back to the car to continue
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walking. As we're driving, we happen across one of the more epic scenes of
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our voyage: the carved out "seat" of a mountain, which we refer to
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afterwards as 'The God Seat.' Surely, the scene of epic Scion games to
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come.</p><p>As we continue along our voyage, we stop off at Kylemore Abbey,
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the most stunning scene I've seen in my life thus far. Imagine a white and
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grey castle, then make it less war-oriented and more beautiful, then set it
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on a gorgeous lake, at the base of a very impressive mountain. That's
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Kylemore Abbey. We park and explore a bit, and I get several good pictures.
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Further, I manage to spot a statue of something half way up the mountain,
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made of white stone. Whoever made this statue certainly had a lot of
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determination!</p><p>We leave the Abbey and finish our journey to our B&B
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for the evening. We relax, settle in, and finally get to playing some Scion.
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Cary volunteered to run first, so we play through the first half of his one
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shot: saving a 'shie' from an Irish scion and his giant lackies. My
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character, a defensive tank named Derrick Nasher, does quite well. We finish
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up the session, spend our exp (making us even more boss), and crash for a
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relatively early night.</p><p>This B&B also has an encrypted internet, so at
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first I'm out of luck. However, on a whim I try out the Chromium build I
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brought along (thanks Hexxeh!!), and manage to easily set up a connection
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through that! I can't upload any files or pictures very well, but I can
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still play some KoL and post a few updates to my social sites. Also, Google
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Voice has proven to be a godsend! Being able to text from a website has been
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my primary means of keeping in contact with the family back at home.</p>
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<h2 class="ireland">Day 6: 08/01/10</h2>
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<span style="font-style:italic">"...just chillax..." "Woah... I never expected
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to hear 'chillax' outside of the states!" -A conversation between Kim and
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Chris</span>
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<p>Day 2 of our stay in Ballina. We eat an early breakfast and make for Killary
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Adventure for some archery!</p><p>We arrive in Killary around noon, and
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enjoy an hour of arching with our instructor Kim and another instructor
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named Dugal. I managed to shoot 2 bullseyes! It's amazing that if you
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actually hold the weapon properly and keep proper form, you can actually aim
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with it. Never would have thought otherwise... (/sarcasm). We joked, tried
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out some trick shooting, played a HORSE-style game, and all-in-all came out
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of the adventure feeling really great. Plus, we all got some wicked "battle
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wounds" from the bow on our forearms.</p><p>After the archery, we decide to
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head to Westport, on advice from Kim, for some shopping and to get lunch. We
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immediately (perhaps fatefully) stumble upon a place called 'The Asgard' and
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decide that there's no better place to eat in town than here. I enjoy some
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Bangers and Mash - Asgard Style - and feel the wonderful feeling of fulness
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once more. This trip has been a wonderful venture in delicious foods. The
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traditional Irish breakfast (Egg, real bacon, sausages, black and white
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pudding, half a tomatoe, toast, tea and juice) is so filling that most of
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the time we feel no need to eat before dinner. Today, though, was a glaring
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exception; that, and we had a different breakfast of pancakes and poached
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eggs. After the Bangers and Mash, we split up: I head off to explore the
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riverway and the port, while the others go shopping. I manage to snap quite
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a few nice pictures, and figure out some more features on the camera, before
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we meet back up and head back to Ballina, and then onwards to Enniscrone,
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the birthplace of Cary's ancestors, the Grimes.</p><p>We arrive in
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Enniscrone around 4:00 in the afternoon, to a beautiful sunny day and warm
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weather. Enniscrone in a beach town, so we split up once again, with me
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heading out towards the beach and the others once more hitting up the shops.
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I walk along the Atlantic Ocean, soaking in the waves and the rays, and
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eventually make my way back to the car to relax for a bit. We head back to
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the B&B, rest for a bit, and decide that heading back to Enniscrone for some
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delicious, authentic Irish-Chinese food would be best. And best it was: we
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discovered the awesomness and addictivness that is puffed-rice prawn crisps.
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Dinner was good, too.</p><p>We head back to the B&B and finish up Cary's
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session of Scion. Chris set his crab-tank relic for self-destruct and took
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care of all the giants for us, while I managed to manipulate our crazy Irish
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scion friend Brian that he forgot how to fight, which led to his untimely
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demise (or at least him falling unconscious...). We saved the 'shie',
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secured the relic protected inside it, and got Brian's birthrights for
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ourselves. A success, and a good start to our Scion adventures yet to come.
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Cary hands the GM torch over to Chris, and we begin his session tonight: we
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get tasked by Brigid (one of the Tuatha) to help out one of her daughters.
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We manage to find her just in time for the night to expire, and so we call
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it there. In KoL, I've managed to get to level 4, half-way towards 5, before
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I call it a night. I haven't yet played all my available turns, but I'm
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making decent progress. With a bit more practice I can probably get getting
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to level 6 a 2-day process, which will help to speed through the slower part
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of the game.</p>
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<h2 class="ireland">Day 7: 08/02/10</h2>
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<span style="font-style:italic">"Worst. Bank. Holiday. Ever."</span>
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<p>After a restful evening, and another delicious breakfast of pancakes and
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poached eggs, we enjoy a quick chat with John, our host, before heading off
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on our "driving day from hell." Our course will take us through the middle
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of Ireland, stopping off at Athlone to see the oldest bar in Ireland (and
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perhaps the world) and eventually into Tipperary for the evening</p><p>Our
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first stop of the day is in Athlone, a city smack-dab in the middle of
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Ireland. The drive to Athlone was a bit long, but still strikingly
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beautiful. It seems like Ireland, despite it's rather small size, is still
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host to some of the most grandiouse and beautiful scenes I've ever seen. We
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arrive in Athlone around noon, and wander around a bit. Suf, Cary and I all
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stop in at 'The Snug' for a quick pint, before we take off across the bridge
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in the middle of town to hit up some shopping. We stop off in Athlone Castle
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along the way for some great pictures, and run into Chris, who had wandered
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off to find some shops, after we cross the bridge. Chris and I decide to
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backtrack to the Castle, then wander around before we head back to Sean's.
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Sean's is the oldest bar in Ireland, dating back towards 900AD, and quite
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possible the oldest bar in the world. Obviously, I enjoy a pint of Guiness
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before we head back to the car and continue along our day's
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journey.</p><p>We decide to stop off at Clanmocnoise Abbey, a ruined abbey
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just south of Athlone, before heading out to Tipperary. The sites there are
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truely amazing, and the ruined Abbey is quite cool as well. The conservation
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attempts have, thus far, done a good job of maintaining what was
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salvageable, but the Abbey itself is beyond repair. After some cool
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pictures, we continue on our way to Tipperary.</p><p>We finally arrive at
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|
||||||
our destination for the evening. Tipperary is a small town, with a good
|
|
||||||
amount of shops and a very comfortable atmosphere. Unfortunately, and
|
|
||||||
unknown to us, due to the Bank Holiday most of the food shops are closed. We
|
|
||||||
settle for a fast-food place called "American Stars" and apologize to our
|
|
||||||
digestive tracks before heading back to our B&B for some Scion
|
|
||||||
action.</p><p>Scion has us defending Nikki from a couple of Fenrir, which we
|
|
||||||
succeed in doing, and then finding out our target was, in fact, a
|
|
||||||
doppleganger. We discover this a bit too late, though, and end our session
|
|
||||||
assaulting 'The God Seat' and a Norse Scion, who claims that "the ginger
|
|
||||||
bitch has got to go." Well, Derrick'll be damned if he let's a potential
|
|
||||||
future employer die that easily. The stage is set as both Derrick and the
|
|
||||||
Norse Scion enter their Collosus Armor, Cary's Scion enters his Warpspasm,
|
|
||||||
and Suf's Scion prepares to make pincushins out of the Frost Giants. After
|
|
||||||
Scion comes KoL, which sees my progression to level 5 and acquisition of
|
|
||||||
Advanced Sausecrafting. I adventure for a bit more, before fatigue wins and
|
|
||||||
I succumb to sleep.</p>
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<h2 class="ireland">Day 8: 08/03/10</h2>
|
|
||||||
<span style="font-style:italic">"There any bars... excuse me... pubs around
|
|
||||||
here?" "Welcome to Ireland, lad!" - A conversation between me and a
|
|
||||||
bouncer</span>
|
|
||||||
<p>Today we headed back to the Rock of Cashel to get a great tour around the
|
|
||||||
castle grounds. I took lots of pictures, bought a few things for myself and
|
|
||||||
a great sweater for my mom, fall down a few steps while wandering the castle
|
|
||||||
grounds (resulting in a beautiful leg-bruise to match my archery-provided
|
|
||||||
battle wound on my forearm), and we wrap up Tipperary and head to
|
|
||||||
Cork.</p><p>We arrive in Cork and are immediately thrust into the
|
|
||||||
realization that Cork is quite the large, industrial city. After a bit of
|
|
||||||
confusion finding our way to our B&B for the night, we decide to take some
|
|
||||||
naps to recover some energy and mana, and head out to find dinner and some
|
|
||||||
nighttime entertainment. On the generocity of our very funny and cheery
|
|
||||||
innkeep, we head to a place called Zak's, and are pleasantly surprised in
|
|
||||||
the meal; I had a delicious Irish-beef burger, some awesome garlic bread,
|
|
||||||
and a Murphy's to wash it all down (Murphy's is brewed in Cork; Guiness is
|
|
||||||
not very welcomed here). We finish dinner, and head out to find some clubs
|
|
||||||
for the night.</p><p>We start our evening off wandering the neighborhood
|
|
||||||
around Zak's. We find a place, rather populated and playing somewhat good
|
|
||||||
music, but quickly discover it's overpopulated with Binfo for the night. We
|
|
||||||
pass this pub, and ask the bouncer for any suggestions, and get pointed
|
|
||||||
towards a place called "Sober Lane." Ignoring the odd name, we head off in
|
|
||||||
the appropriate direction and run into a metal pub along the way, so I
|
|
||||||
insist we stop in and enjoy a drink. We get a pint, enjoy the music, and
|
|
||||||
move on. 'Sober Lane' turns out to be a much younger-oriented pub, which
|
|
||||||
doesn't dissappoint us, but it really pulls through when Chris discovers the
|
|
||||||
dart board in the back corner. We quickly take it over, playing darts until
|
|
||||||
the pub closes (oddly early, for our expectations), and Chris and I head out
|
|
||||||
to relax outside. Cary and Suf, being the charmers that they are, end up
|
|
||||||
chatting it with two girls local to the area, who invite all of us back to a
|
|
||||||
place called 'Cruscien Lar' (which we all continually misunderstand as
|
|
||||||
crusifixion). We follow them through the streets of Cork, and eventually
|
|
||||||
wind up at the closed pub. They hit the secret side enterence, and convince
|
|
||||||
the owner and co. to let us in.</p><p> Cruscien Lar (which I'm sure I'm
|
|
||||||
spelling wrong), ended up being the undeniable high point of Cork. Once we
|
|
||||||
got a bit more comfortable and began chatting with everyone, we really ended
|
|
||||||
up enjoying ourselves! And then, we met Alan. Alan is a veritable world
|
|
||||||
travelling musician. He has been pretty much everywhere, including state
|
|
||||||
side, with his band 'The Jordans' and he had many tales to share with us. He
|
|
||||||
mentioned that the prices for alcohol (and women (...and drugs)) were best
|
|
||||||
in Slovakia, that you'll never see anything more beautiful than the
|
|
||||||
Southeastern Asian countries, and that Russia really isn't that bad a place.
|
|
||||||
Really a lot of what we talked about fell into those topics, and it was a
|
|
||||||
conversation which I enjoyed thoroughly. Alan taught me that being a world
|
|
||||||
traveller doesn't take gobs of money and resources. All it takes is a desire
|
|
||||||
to explore, and a willingness to step outside your comfortable little
|
|
||||||
box.</p><p>Throughout the night we talked with Alan, and his friends Marie
|
|
||||||
and Ger (the girls which Cary and Suf connected with), about not only their
|
|
||||||
travels, but also their taste in music (which was gloriously
|
|
||||||
metal-oriented), their careers, their adventures and their aspirations. As
|
|
||||||
the night wound down, we all said our farewells, and left through the side
|
|
||||||
door. Our night was almost at an end! As we wandered back to the B&B, we
|
|
||||||
stumbled across a rather rowdy bunch, and Suf, being the social butterfly
|
|
||||||
that he is, decided to hop on board. We eventually were introduced to
|
|
||||||
Nollagh and her friends, who were travelling in our direction to a supposed
|
|
||||||
party. Considering we're still young, as was the night, we tagged along and
|
|
||||||
were eager to arrive at another Irish party. Sadly, the party was a bit of a
|
|
||||||
bust, and seeing as we were so close to home, we decided to just call it a
|
|
||||||
night. An awesome night, almost so much to as to rival our crazy adventures
|
|
||||||
in Galway.</p>
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<h2 class="ireland">Day 9: 08/04/10</h2>
|
|
||||||
<span style="font-style:italic">"My father's name is Merry Merry Mack!"</span>
|
|
||||||
<p> After a rather enjoyable rest, we departed from Cork on our way to our final
|
|
||||||
"big city" stop: Killarney. Killarney has a very homey feel about it. There
|
|
||||||
are plenty of tourist shops, plenty of sites and sounds to experience, and
|
|
||||||
the night life is absolutely amazing, but more on that in a bit.</p><p>We
|
|
||||||
arrived at our B&B to find that the owner had stepped out for a bit, so we
|
|
||||||
decided to just park and wander into town. We quickly found some great
|
|
||||||
shops, restaurants, pubs, and other such attractions. Chris and I wandered
|
|
||||||
around a few places, and I ended up finding a few good gifts for the family:
|
|
||||||
a corkscrew and wine stopper for dad, both made of pewter; and a hat for
|
|
||||||
Eric, which I think will suit him quite nicely. After a bit more wandering,
|
|
||||||
we headed back to the B&B to relax and recover before we hit the
|
|
||||||
town.</p><p>I think the most memorable part of Killarney for me was all the
|
|
||||||
festivities going on at night in the city. Almost every pub had live music,
|
|
||||||
there were people out walking and having a great time. There were lights,
|
|
||||||
and food, and music, and drinks... it just felt like a fun place to be! We
|
|
||||||
started our night wandering around a bit, and found ourselves at an outside
|
|
||||||
banquet of sorts, with life music. Suf and I, exemplifying our boistrious
|
|
||||||
nature, led the singing of the chorus (see the quote), and made our mark
|
|
||||||
early in the Killarney perspective. After our job was done there, we found
|
|
||||||
our way to a pub called 'Scruffy's', near an amazing hotel. The band playing
|
|
||||||
there had some great traditional music as well, which we joined in on. Had a
|
|
||||||
pint, made some friends, moved on down the road to our final destination for
|
|
||||||
the evening: McSorley's. McSorley's is appropriately named because my feet
|
|
||||||
at the end of the night were very McSore. To say the least, McSorely's is
|
|
||||||
about 50% enough to keep me in Ireland. The drinks were great, the
|
|
||||||
atmosphere was amazing, and, the best part of all, the music was fantastic.
|
|
||||||
This particular evening we were treated to a performance by a ground called
|
|
||||||
"Zoot Allures", a cover band. They played an AMAZING set, with so many great
|
|
||||||
songs, and such great energy, that it made me really wish American clubs
|
|
||||||
would pull their heads out of their asses and actually play good music.
|
|
||||||
Anyways, amazing music was played, several videos were filmed,
|
|
||||||
more-than-several beverages were consumed, and at the end of the night, the
|
|
||||||
lead singer from the group gave me a great, big bear hug. Naturally, I
|
|
||||||
returned the favor.</p><p>Well, Zoot Allures wasn't the end of the night for
|
|
||||||
us, as McSorely's has a secret back room dance club, so we obviously had to
|
|
||||||
make use of that. We danced for a good while, then Chris, Cary and I decided
|
|
||||||
to take off and get back to the B&B to sleep. We left a window open for Suf.
|
|
||||||
Once again, to say the least, Killarney is absolutely amazing!</p>
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<h2 class="ireland">Day 10: 08/05/10</h2>
|
|
||||||
<span style="font-style:italic">The room fell silent, as the man lowered his
|
|
||||||
microphone to the crowd. A single bewildered bystander asked, "Yeah?" The
|
|
||||||
man only nodded, a knowning nod. The bystander tipped his head back, and
|
|
||||||
breathed deep the pub air, and finally, as the tension grew to an unberable
|
|
||||||
level, cried out: "THUNDERSTRUCK!!!"</span>
|
|
||||||
<p>I thought the first night was amazing. Holy crap this town just keeps getting
|
|
||||||
better and better!</p><p>So, day 2. After some great, great sleep (which, of
|
|
||||||
the 4 of us, I'm the only one to wake up in time for breakfast), I clean
|
|
||||||
myself up and head to town. Yesterday I had seen an "internet cafe," and
|
|
||||||
figured it would be similar to what we call internet cafes in America (I was
|
|
||||||
wrong), so I made my way there to get my KoL fix, and check up on the tubes.
|
|
||||||
Well, the internet cafe was a pay-per-use computer room, so I threw my cash
|
|
||||||
at the front desk and got a couple hours of hardcore internet access. KoL
|
|
||||||
Update: beat the boss bat, the Goblin King, and the first part of my Nemesis
|
|
||||||
quest. Not bad, I guess, but I think it's safe to say that juggling an
|
|
||||||
acension with travelling abroad is a bit difficult, unless you know what
|
|
||||||
you're doing. I don't, for the most part.</p><p>After lunch at a (surprise!)
|
|
||||||
Chinese food place, we decided to take the afternoon off and head back to
|
|
||||||
the B&B to play some more Scion, before McSorley's opened up again. We did
|
|
||||||
some great stuff, saved the freckled Scion, then I made the decision to let
|
|
||||||
her die (which ended up coinciding with some major character development, so
|
|
||||||
that's nice), and then Cary's character died defending her. So, all in all,
|
|
||||||
we failed our mission, but succeeded at Scion. Huh.</p><p>Anyways,
|
|
||||||
McSorley's opened up shortly after the game, so we hit up dinner (more
|
|
||||||
Chinese), and I spent some time wandering around getting pictures of the
|
|
||||||
pubs we had visited. It's funny: my dad complimented me on all the pictures
|
|
||||||
of the beautiful scenary and what not, but he asked a very important
|
|
||||||
questions: where are all the pubs?? So I tried to rectify that our last
|
|
||||||
night in Killarney, snapping a picture of a few placed before winding my way
|
|
||||||
back to McSorley's for the evening. Round 2... FIGHT!</p><p>The cover band
|
|
||||||
at McSorley's tonight was not as good as the other band, which is the
|
|
||||||
equivalent as saying that the 200000 Candle-Power flashlight isn't as bright
|
|
||||||
as the 300000 Candle-power one: they're both way brighter (or, awesomer in
|
|
||||||
this case) than the required flashlight (or, typical American cover band, in
|
|
||||||
this case). Tonight's show was by Revenge, who paid tribute to some of the
|
|
||||||
older songs, including quite a bit of ACDC. We rocked out hard core, really
|
|
||||||
supporting the band out front by dancing and singing along. Then the moment
|
|
||||||
happened, the moment that Chris has claimed is the most epic moment of the
|
|
||||||
trip. The quote says it all, but in short: the band was playing
|
|
||||||
Thunderstruck by ACDC, and the lead singer lowered the mic to me to scream
|
|
||||||
"THUNDERSTRUCK!!" into, and it was amazing timing. I do have to say,
|
|
||||||
sometimes my timing is spectacular. Anyways, that memory will stick with me
|
|
||||||
forever, and I think with Chris, Suf and Cary as well, so I consider this
|
|
||||||
night an unbelievable success.</p><p>Once more, we invaded the back room,
|
|
||||||
only this time we stayed until close. We danced our way into another dance
|
|
||||||
party, because evidently we're all Lords of the Dance, and met some new
|
|
||||||
friends: May, a French girl there with friends. We danced with them, we
|
|
||||||
danced with total strangers, and we danced until we couldn't dance any more!
|
|
||||||
I literally understood what it meant to be out of mana that night. I had
|
|
||||||
barely the energy to return home, before I just passed out on my
|
|
||||||
bed.</p><p>Killarney is the city I would most enjoy in Ireland. Of all the
|
|
||||||
places we've gone, it's the city which feels the most alive. It has the
|
|
||||||
loudest pulse, the brightest flash, the sweetest music; it's the type of
|
|
||||||
environment I want to live in. While I don't think Ireland is quite the
|
|
||||||
island for me, if I did decide to live here, Killarney would be my final
|
|
||||||
destination.</p>
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<h2 class="ireland">Day 11: 08/06/10</h2>
|
|
||||||
<span style="font-style:italic">"Wow, this place is nice. I don't think we belong here."</span>
|
|
||||||
<p>Today we all are taking a bit of a down day. After the past 2 nights, I'm
|
|
||||||
exhausted, and ready to just sit around a do nothing for a bit. Well,
|
|
||||||
conveniently Cary is getting his tattoo today, so I got my wish. We check
|
|
||||||
out of our B&B, pack up the car, park in town and go exploring a bit more.
|
|
||||||
After I stop at the Tourist Information, I learn of a free Wi-Fi pub nearby,
|
|
||||||
and relax there for a couple of hours, enjoying some tea and playing some
|
|
||||||
KoL. I don't really achieve anything of any worth in game, and Suf, Cary and
|
|
||||||
Chris show up just in time for us to work on our Scion characters a bit and
|
|
||||||
head to dinner. We go to the Chinese food place we hit up last night for
|
|
||||||
lunch, and then Cary must depart for his tattoo. Chris, Suf and I all decide
|
|
||||||
to wander back into the pub for a bit, where I finish up my KoL for the day,
|
|
||||||
enjoy some more Scion, check the email, and generally just chillax.</p><p>We
|
|
||||||
leave Killarney around 5:30 and arrive at our second-to-last destination,
|
|
||||||
Ballyseede Castle Hotel. Since we have nothing to do until later, we settle
|
|
||||||
in, relax for a bit and get to playing some more Scion. That's right: WE
|
|
||||||
ROLEPLAYED IN A CASTLE.</p><p>After the session, we split up: Cary, Suf and
|
|
||||||
Chris all head back to Killarney (a whopping 15 minute drive) to hit up
|
|
||||||
McSorley's again, and I lame out and take the night off. Whilst waiting for
|
|
||||||
sleep to drift in, I enjoy some good ol' American past-time and watch a bit
|
|
||||||
o' telly: 'Analyze That' was on. I watched 'Analyze That' in a castle. Today
|
|
||||||
is just full of achievements!</p>
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<h2 class="ireland">Day 12: 08/07/10</h2>
|
|
||||||
<span style="font-style:italic">"Ma'am? A quick question. We named the dogs:
|
|
||||||
this one is named Roger the Mighty, and this one is named George the Stout.
|
|
||||||
How close were we?"</span>
|
|
||||||
<p>After a wonderful night's rest in the castle, we pack up our things, enjoy a
|
|
||||||
delicious breakfast, explore the castle grounds a bit more, and head off to
|
|
||||||
our final B&B, just outside of Shannon.</p><p>As we approached our
|
|
||||||
destination, we decided to stop by Limerick for lunch/dinner and just
|
|
||||||
explore our initial landing grounds one last time. We wander to 'The Bitter
|
|
||||||
End', take some pictures, and find our way to a Chinese food place (big
|
|
||||||
surprise) and an outdoor pub. Since we couldn't decide on which one to go
|
|
||||||
to, I suggested we go to both. This decision was met with much happiness.
|
|
||||||
After we finished our Chinese food (quite delicious), we headed next door,
|
|
||||||
and was met with delicious desserts and beautiful women. Our waitress let
|
|
||||||
slip it was her birthday, so in true, boistrious American style, we sang her
|
|
||||||
'Happy Birthday!' (Hope it was a good one, Sam!). Apparently she got in
|
|
||||||
trouble for that... Oops...</p><p>Anyways, we hit up our B&B to drop stuff
|
|
||||||
off, and repack our bags for tomorrow's trip, and finish up our Scion
|
|
||||||
campaign. We hopped out to 'Durty Nelly's' for a quick dinner (and sadly,
|
|
||||||
our waitress Una already had her birthday a month ago) of traditional Fish
|
|
||||||
and Chips, then back to the B&B to finish up our night rolling the dice.
|
|
||||||
With the campaign finished, we hit the hay in preparation for tomorrow's
|
|
||||||
voyage. Hopefully none of my loot get's wrecked!</p>
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<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>
|
|
||||||
608
_posts/2015-01-01-Ireland-Log.md
Normal file
608
_posts/2015-01-01-Ireland-Log.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,608 @@
|
||||||
|
---
|
||||||
|
tabtitle: Ireland Log
|
||||||
|
title: A Log of My Travels in Ireland
|
||||||
|
topics: other
|
||||||
|
pub: "2015-01-01"
|
||||||
|
short_desc: "Once upon a time, I traveled to Ireland. It was quite the
|
||||||
|
experience. Me, my 3 friends Suf, Chris and Cary, Scion, shenanigans,
|
||||||
|
Guiness, whiskey, and Thunderstruck."
|
||||||
|
---
|
||||||
|
# Day 1: 07/27/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
Melon... *scatter*
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 2: 07/28/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
Left is safe!
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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...)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 3: 07/29/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
"Ya know, you keep that shirt on much longer, you gonna get jungle rot" - Biff McBodyspray
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 4: 07/30/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
Be-buh-buh-day, be-buh-buh-day, E-DAY-OH, E-DAY-OH, THAT'S OK!
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Holy crap, today seemed like an entire month's worth of exploration and
|
||||||
|
adventure. After a delicious traditional Irish breakfast, we made for Galway.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
In Galway we parked and set out for our busiest and most fun day yet. I can tell
|
||||||
|
you now that my feet are none to happy about the amount of walking we achieved,
|
||||||
|
but if nothing else this is a good reminder to properly prepare next time: make
|
||||||
|
sure my shoes are comfortable enough to walk around in almost constantly. So, we
|
||||||
|
park and make towards the city center. Galway is situated along the coast of
|
||||||
|
Galway Bay (go figure...) and has a river running through the center of town. We
|
||||||
|
head down the busy pedestrian walkway and hit up a few shops. Chris, Suf and
|
||||||
|
Cary all check out a couple tattoo parlours, and me being less interested make
|
||||||
|
for some good people watching and relax a bit. We continue our walk through the
|
||||||
|
busy crowds, and eventually make our way to the river. Exploring it for a bit,
|
||||||
|
Cary and I decide to stop off at a river-side restaurant called 'Mustard', where
|
||||||
|
I get one of the most delicious pulled-pork sandwiches I've ever enjoyed.
|
||||||
|
Afterwards, we met back up with Chris and Suf, and walked out towards the bay a
|
||||||
|
bit. As we voyaged further away from the city, we met with a couple of fellow
|
||||||
|
travelers, and discovered a great bar to stop at in town, known as 'E Brun' or
|
||||||
|
'The Bridge.' At the bar we met Bill, a local of Galway, who told us of many
|
||||||
|
great sites and happenings around town. An important detail of our stay in
|
||||||
|
Galway is that the Galway Races were going on. Evidently, they're a big deal.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
So, after our stop in the pub and a delicious Guiness, we make to explore and
|
||||||
|
find 'The Crane,' where Shela's son will be playing live music later in the
|
||||||
|
evening. We find it, and gather from another local (and rather attractive) girl
|
||||||
|
the location of a couple of good niteclube. After finding the Crane we decide to
|
||||||
|
hunt our a place to eat, and eventually wander back to 'Kelly's', which helps to
|
||||||
|
bring back nostalgic memories of Geneseo and our own Kelly's. We enjoy a
|
||||||
|
deliciously filling meal there, compliments of Chris, and find out that later in
|
||||||
|
the evening we can enjoy Crane for some authentic (and rather good) Irish jazz
|
||||||
|
(which sounds not much different from any other type of jazz...). Thus far,
|
||||||
|
although I've been able to explain our day in only a few short paragraphs, we've
|
||||||
|
experienced to us what has felt like a lifetime worth of exploration. But, the
|
||||||
|
fun is only just about to start.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
10:20pm, and we just left The Crane Bar to head back to the B&B for some
|
||||||
|
kick-ass Scion action. Along the way, we overhear a few clubs, but nothing
|
||||||
|
really catches our ear until we get to Kelly's. We can hear the beats from
|
||||||
|
outside, we can feel our feet aching but wanting to join in, so we head upstairs
|
||||||
|
and find (!!!)... a bunch of people standing around as a DJ mixes. What a let
|
||||||
|
down! Well, Suf wouldn't have any of this, and neither would the rest of us, so
|
||||||
|
after settling into our comfortable corner, Suf finally finds a song that he'll
|
||||||
|
groove to. And groove he does. Following quickly in suite, we join him on the
|
||||||
|
floor and find ourselves almost alone dancing. The 4 American tourists are the
|
||||||
|
only ones dancing in the Irish Niteclub. Almost poetic, mostly pathetic. Well,
|
||||||
|
this quickly changes, as more people flock to the dance floor after seeing our
|
||||||
|
amazing example. And by no means am I exaggerating! We literally started the
|
||||||
|
dance party at a niteclub. We groove it and move it for a good couple of hours
|
||||||
|
before we take off for new adventures. After a bit of exploring, and a lot of
|
||||||
|
drunk people, we decide to split up: Chris and Suf head back to Kelly's for some
|
||||||
|
more dancing, Cary wanders the street talking to people, and I, the lamest of
|
||||||
|
the group, head back to the car to call it a night. Before long, we all
|
||||||
|
reconvene, load up the GPS and make our way back to the B&B. This night has been
|
||||||
|
legendary, and no degree of detailed description can truly capture just how epic
|
||||||
|
the night was.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Simply put: Galway was unforgetable.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 5: 07/31/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
"Where are we heading again? Ballerina?" "BALLINA!"
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
After the unbelievable adventure of Galway, we head out for our next stop in
|
||||||
|
Northwest Ireland: Ballina.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We set off after saying goodbye to our thus-far favorite B&B and host Shiela,
|
||||||
|
and head north. As we're driving, we spot a few turn offs and decide to stop at
|
||||||
|
one of them to explore a bit of the countryside. We find our way onto a
|
||||||
|
mountain, scale the smaller hills leading up to it, and eventually make our way
|
||||||
|
back to the car to continue walking. As we're driving, we happen across one of
|
||||||
|
the more epic scenes of our voyage: the carved out "seat" of a mountain, which
|
||||||
|
we refer to afterwards as 'The God Seat.' Surely, the scene of epic Scion games
|
||||||
|
to come.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
As we continue along our voyage, we stop off at Kylemore Abbey, the most
|
||||||
|
stunning scene I've seen in my life thus far. Imagine a white and grey castle,
|
||||||
|
then make it less war-oriented and more beautiful, then set it on a gorgeous
|
||||||
|
lake, at the base of a very impressive mountain. That's Kylemore Abbey. We park
|
||||||
|
and explore a bit, and I get several good pictures. Further, I manage to spot a
|
||||||
|
statue of something half way up the mountain, made of white stone. Whoever made
|
||||||
|
this statue certainly had a lot of determination!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We leave the Abbey and finish our journey to our B&B for the evening. We relax,
|
||||||
|
settle in, and finally get to playing some Scion. Cary volunteered to run
|
||||||
|
first, so we play through the first half of his one shot: saving a 'shie' from
|
||||||
|
an Irish scion and his giant lackies. My character, a defensive tank named
|
||||||
|
Derrick Nasher, does quite well. We finish up the session, spend our exp (making
|
||||||
|
us even more boss), and crash for a relatively early night.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
This B&B also has an encrypted internet, so at first I'm out of luck. However,
|
||||||
|
on a whim I try out the Chromium build I brought along (thanks Hexxeh!!), and
|
||||||
|
manage to easily set up a connection through that! I can't upload any files or
|
||||||
|
pictures very well, but I can still play some KoL and post a few updates to my
|
||||||
|
social sites. Also, Google Voice has proven to be a godsend! Being able to text
|
||||||
|
from a website has been my primary means of keeping in contact with the family
|
||||||
|
back at home.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 6: 08/01/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
"...just chillax..."
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
"Woah... I never expected to hear 'chillax' outside of the states!"
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
- A conversation between Kim and Chris
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Day 2 of our stay in Ballina. We eat an early breakfast and make for Killary
|
||||||
|
Adventure for some archery!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We arrive in Killary around noon, and enjoy an hour of arching with our
|
||||||
|
instructor Kim and another instructor named Dugal. I managed to shoot 2
|
||||||
|
bullseyes! It's amazing that if you actually hold the weapon properly and keep
|
||||||
|
proper form, you can actually aim with it. Never would have thought otherwise...
|
||||||
|
(/sarcasm). We joked, tried out some trick shooting, played a HORSE-style game,
|
||||||
|
and all-in-all came out of the adventure feeling really great. Plus, we all got
|
||||||
|
some wicked "battle wounds" from the bow on our forearms.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
After the archery, we decide to head to Westport, on advice from Kim, for some
|
||||||
|
shopping and to get lunch. We immediately (perhaps fatefully) stumble upon a
|
||||||
|
place called 'The Asgard' and decide that there's no better place to eat in town
|
||||||
|
than here. I enjoy some Bangers and Mash - Asgard Style - and feel the wonderful
|
||||||
|
feeling of fulness once more. This trip has been a wonderful venture in
|
||||||
|
delicious foods. The traditional Irish breakfast (Egg, real bacon, sausages,
|
||||||
|
black and white pudding, half a tomatoe, toast, tea and juice) is so filling
|
||||||
|
that most of the time we feel no need to eat before dinner. Today, though, was a
|
||||||
|
glaring exception; that, and we had a different breakfast of pancakes and
|
||||||
|
poached eggs. After the Bangers and Mash, we split up: I head off to explore the
|
||||||
|
riverway and the port, while the others go shopping. I manage to snap quite a
|
||||||
|
few nice pictures, and figure out some more features on the camera, before we
|
||||||
|
meet back up and head back to Ballina, and then onwards to Enniscrone, the
|
||||||
|
birthplace of Cary's ancestors, the Grimes.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We arrive in Enniscrone around 4:00 in the afternoon, to a beautiful sunny day
|
||||||
|
and warm weather. Enniscrone in a beach town, so we split up once again, with me
|
||||||
|
heading out towards the beach and the others once more hitting up the shops. I
|
||||||
|
walk along the Atlantic Ocean, soaking in the waves and the rays, and eventually
|
||||||
|
make my way back to the car to relax for a bit. We head back to the B&B, rest
|
||||||
|
for a bit, and decide that heading back to Enniscrone for some delicious,
|
||||||
|
authentic Irish-Chinese food would be best. And best it was: we discovered the
|
||||||
|
awesomness and addictivness that is puffed-rice prawn crisps. Dinner was good,
|
||||||
|
too.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We head back to the B&B and finish up Cary's session of Scion. Chris set his
|
||||||
|
crab-tank relic for self-destruct and took care of all the giants for us, while
|
||||||
|
I managed to manipulate our crazy Irish scion friend Brian that he forgot how to
|
||||||
|
fight, which led to his untimely demise (or at least him falling
|
||||||
|
unconscious...). We saved the 'shie', secured the relic protected inside it, and
|
||||||
|
got Brian's birthrights for ourselves. A success, and a good start to our Scion
|
||||||
|
adventures yet to come. Cary hands the GM torch over to Chris, and we begin his
|
||||||
|
session tonight: we get tasked by Brigid (one of the Tuatha) to help out one of
|
||||||
|
her daughters. We manage to find her just in time for the night to expire, and
|
||||||
|
so we call it there. In KoL, I've managed to get to level 4, half-way towards 5,
|
||||||
|
before I call it a night. I haven't yet played all my available turns, but I'm
|
||||||
|
making decent progress. With a bit more practice I can probably get getting to
|
||||||
|
level 6 a 2-day process, which will help to speed through the slower part of the
|
||||||
|
game.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 7: 08/02/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
Worst. Bank. Holiday. Ever.
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
After a restful evening, and another delicious breakfast of pancakes and poached
|
||||||
|
eggs, we enjoy a quick chat with John, our host, before heading off on our
|
||||||
|
"driving day from hell." Our course will take us through the middle of Ireland,
|
||||||
|
stopping off at Athlone to see the oldest bar in Ireland (and perhaps the world)
|
||||||
|
and eventually into Tipperary for the evening
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Our first stop of the day is in Athlone, a city smack-dab in the middle of
|
||||||
|
Ireland. The drive to Athlone was a bit long, but still strikingly beautiful. It
|
||||||
|
seems like Ireland, despite it's rather small size, is still host to some of the
|
||||||
|
most grandiouse and beautiful scenes I've ever seen. We arrive in Athlone around
|
||||||
|
noon, and wander around a bit. Suf, Cary and I all stop in at 'The Snug' for a
|
||||||
|
quick pint, before we take off across the bridge in the middle of town to hit up
|
||||||
|
some shopping. We stop off in Athlone Castle along the way for some great
|
||||||
|
pictures, and run into Chris, who had wandered off to find some shops, after we
|
||||||
|
cross the bridge. Chris and I decide to backtrack to the Castle, then wander
|
||||||
|
around before we head back to Sean's. Sean's is the oldest bar in Ireland,
|
||||||
|
dating back towards 900AD, and quite possible the oldest bar in the world.
|
||||||
|
Obviously, I enjoy a pint of Guiness before we head back to the car and continue
|
||||||
|
along our day's journey.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We decide to stop off at Clanmocnoise Abbey, a ruined abbey just south of
|
||||||
|
Athlone, before heading out to Tipperary. The sites there are truely amazing,
|
||||||
|
and the ruined Abbey is quite cool as well. The conservation attempts have, thus
|
||||||
|
far, done a good job of maintaining what was salvageable, but the Abbey itself
|
||||||
|
is beyond repair. After some cool pictures, we continue on our way to Tipperary.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We finally arrive at our destination for the evening. Tipperary is a small town,
|
||||||
|
with a good amount of shops and a very comfortable atmosphere. Unfortunately,
|
||||||
|
and unknown to us, due to the Bank Holiday most of the food shops are closed. We
|
||||||
|
settle for a fast-food place called "American Stars" and apologize to our
|
||||||
|
digestive tracks before heading back to our B&B for some Scion action.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Scion has us defending Nikki from a couple of Fenrir, which we succeed in doing,
|
||||||
|
and then finding out our target was, in fact, a doppleganger. We discover this a
|
||||||
|
bit too late, though, and end our session assaulting 'The God Seat' and a Norse
|
||||||
|
Scion, who claims that "the ginger bitch has got to go." Well, Derrick'll be
|
||||||
|
damned if he let's a potential future employer die that easily. The stage is set
|
||||||
|
as both Derrick and the Norse Scion enter their Collosus Armor, Cary's Scion
|
||||||
|
enters his Warpspasm, and Suf's Scion prepares to make pincushins out of the
|
||||||
|
Frost Giants. After Scion comes KoL, which sees my progression to level 5 and
|
||||||
|
acquisition of Advanced Sausecrafting. I adventure for a bit more, before
|
||||||
|
fatigue wins and I succumb to sleep.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 8: 08/03/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
"There any bars... excuse me... pubs around here?"
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
"Welcome to Ireland, lad!"
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
- A conversation between me and a bouncer
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Today we headed back to the Rock of Cashel to get a great tour around the castle
|
||||||
|
grounds. I took lots of pictures, bought a few things for myself and a great
|
||||||
|
sweater for my mom, fall down a few steps while wandering the castle grounds
|
||||||
|
(resulting in a beautiful leg-bruise to match my archery-provided battle wound
|
||||||
|
on my forearm), and we wrap up Tipperary and head to Cork.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We arrive in Cork and are immediately thrust into the realization that Cork is
|
||||||
|
quite the large, industrial city. After a bit of confusion finding our way to
|
||||||
|
our B&B for the night, we decide to take some naps to recover some energy and
|
||||||
|
mana, and head out to find dinner and some nighttime entertainment. On the
|
||||||
|
generocity of our very funny and cheery innkeep, we head to a place called
|
||||||
|
Zak's, and are pleasantly surprised in the meal; I had a delicious Irish-beef
|
||||||
|
burger, some awesome garlic bread, and a Murphy's to wash it all down (Murphy's
|
||||||
|
is brewed in Cork; Guiness is not very welcomed here). We finish dinner, and
|
||||||
|
head out to find some clubs for the night.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We start our evening off wandering the neighborhood around Zak's. We find a
|
||||||
|
place, rather populated and playing somewhat good music, but quickly discover
|
||||||
|
it's overpopulated with Binfo for the night. We pass this pub, and ask the
|
||||||
|
bouncer for any suggestions, and get pointed towards a place called "Sober
|
||||||
|
Lane." Ignoring the odd name, we head off in the appropriate direction and run
|
||||||
|
into a metal pub along the way, so I insist we stop in and enjoy a drink. We get
|
||||||
|
a pint, enjoy the music, and move on. 'Sober Lane' turns out to be a much
|
||||||
|
younger-oriented pub, which doesn't dissappoint us, but it really pulls through
|
||||||
|
when Chris discovers the dart board in the back corner. We quickly take it over,
|
||||||
|
playing darts until the pub closes (oddly early, for our expectations), and
|
||||||
|
Chris and I head out to relax outside. Cary and Suf, being the charmers that
|
||||||
|
they are, end up chatting it with two girls local to the area, who invite all of
|
||||||
|
us back to a place called 'Cruscien Lar' (which we all continually misunderstand
|
||||||
|
as crusifixion). We follow them through the streets of Cork, and eventually wind
|
||||||
|
up at the closed pub. They hit the secret side enterence, and convince the owner
|
||||||
|
and co. to let us in.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Cruscien Lar (which I'm sure I'm spelling wrong), ended up being the undeniable
|
||||||
|
high point of Cork. Once we got a bit more comfortable and began chatting with
|
||||||
|
everyone, we really ended up enjoying ourselves! And then, we met Alan. Alan is
|
||||||
|
a veritable world travelling musician. He has been pretty much everywhere,
|
||||||
|
including state side, with his band 'The Jordans' and he had many tales to share
|
||||||
|
with us. He mentioned that the prices for alcohol (and women (...and drugs))
|
||||||
|
were best in Slovakia, that you'll never see anything more beautiful than the
|
||||||
|
Southeastern Asian countries, and that Russia really isn't that bad a place.
|
||||||
|
Really a lot of what we talked about fell into those topics, and it was a
|
||||||
|
conversation which I enjoyed thoroughly. Alan taught me that being a world
|
||||||
|
traveller doesn't take gobs of money and resources. All it takes is a desire to
|
||||||
|
explore, and a willingness to step outside your comfortable little box.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Throughout the night we talked with Alan, and his friends Marie and Ger (the
|
||||||
|
girls which Cary and Suf connected with), about not only their travels, but also
|
||||||
|
their taste in music (which was gloriously metal-oriented), their careers, their
|
||||||
|
adventures and their aspirations. As the night wound down, we all said our
|
||||||
|
farewells, and left through the side door. Our night was almost at an end! As we
|
||||||
|
wandered back to the B&B, we stumbled across a rather rowdy bunch, and Suf,
|
||||||
|
being the social butterfly that he is, decided to hop on board. We eventually
|
||||||
|
were introduced to Nollagh and her friends, who were travelling in our direction
|
||||||
|
to a supposed party. Considering we're still young, as was the night, we tagged
|
||||||
|
along and were eager to arrive at another Irish party. Sadly, the party was a
|
||||||
|
bit of a bust, and seeing as we were so close to home, we decided to just call
|
||||||
|
it a night. An awesome night, almost so much to as to rival our crazy adventures
|
||||||
|
in Galway.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 9: 08/04/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
My father's name is Merry Merry Mack!
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
After a rather enjoyable rest, we departed from Cork on our way to our final
|
||||||
|
"big city" stop: Killarney. Killarney has a very homey feel about it. There are
|
||||||
|
plenty of tourist shops, plenty of sites and sounds to experience, and the night
|
||||||
|
life is absolutely amazing, but more on that in a bit.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We arrived at our B&B to find that the owner had stepped out for a bit, so we
|
||||||
|
decided to just park and wander into town. We quickly found some great shops,
|
||||||
|
restaurants, pubs, and other such attractions. Chris and I wandered around a few
|
||||||
|
places, and I ended up finding a few good gifts for the family: a corkscrew and
|
||||||
|
wine stopper for dad, both made of pewter; and a hat for Eric, which I think
|
||||||
|
will suit him quite nicely. After a bit more wandering, we headed back to the
|
||||||
|
B&B to relax and recover before we hit the town.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
I think the most memorable part of Killarney for me was all the festivities
|
||||||
|
going on at night in the city. Almost every pub had live music, there were
|
||||||
|
people out walking and having a great time. There were lights, and food, and
|
||||||
|
music, and drinks... it just felt like a fun place to be! We started our night
|
||||||
|
wandering around a bit, and found ourselves at an outside banquet of sorts, with
|
||||||
|
life music. Suf and I, exemplifying our boistrious nature, led the singing of
|
||||||
|
the chorus (see the quote), and made our mark early in the Killarney
|
||||||
|
perspective. After our job was done there, we found our way to a pub called
|
||||||
|
'Scruffy's', near an amazing hotel. The band playing there had some great
|
||||||
|
traditional music as well, which we joined in on. Had a pint, made some friends,
|
||||||
|
moved on down the road to our final destination for the evening: McSorley's.
|
||||||
|
McSorley's is appropriately named because my feet at the end of the night were
|
||||||
|
very McSore. To say the least, McSorely's is about 50% enough to keep me in
|
||||||
|
Ireland. The drinks were great, the atmosphere was amazing, and, the best part
|
||||||
|
of all, the music was fantastic. This particular evening we were treated to a
|
||||||
|
performance by a ground called "Zoot Allures", a cover band. They played an
|
||||||
|
AMAZING set, with so many great songs, and such great energy, that it made me
|
||||||
|
really wish American clubs would pull their heads out of their asses and
|
||||||
|
actually play good music. Anyways, amazing music was played, several videos
|
||||||
|
were filmed, more-than-several beverages were consumed, and at the end of the
|
||||||
|
night, the lead singer from the group gave me a great, big bear hug. Naturally,
|
||||||
|
I returned the favor.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Well, Zoot Allures wasn't the end of the night for us, as McSorely's has a
|
||||||
|
secret back room dance club, so we obviously had to make use of that. We danced
|
||||||
|
for a good while, then Chris, Cary and I decided to take off and get back to the
|
||||||
|
B&B to sleep. We left a window open for Suf. Once again, to say the least,
|
||||||
|
Killarney is absolutely amazing!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 10: 08/05/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
The room fell silent, as the man lowered his microphone to the crowd. A single
|
||||||
|
bewildered bystander asked, "Yeah?" The man only nodded, a knowning nod. The
|
||||||
|
bystander tipped his head back, and breathed deep the pub air, and finally, as
|
||||||
|
the tension grew to an unberable level, cried out: "THUNDERSTRUCK!!!"
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
I thought the first night was amazing. Holy crap this town just keeps getting
|
||||||
|
better and better!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
So, day 2. After some great, great sleep (which, of the 4 of us, I'm the only
|
||||||
|
one to wake up in time for breakfast), I clean myself up and head to town.
|
||||||
|
Yesterday I had seen an "internet cafe," and figured it would be similar to what
|
||||||
|
we call internet cafes in America (I was wrong), so I made my way there to get
|
||||||
|
my KoL fix, and check up on the tubes. Well, the internet cafe was a
|
||||||
|
pay-per-use computer room, so I threw my cash at the front desk and got a couple
|
||||||
|
hours of hardcore internet access. KoL Update: beat the boss bat, the Goblin
|
||||||
|
King, and the first part of my Nemesis quest. Not bad, I guess, but I think it's
|
||||||
|
safe to say that juggling an acension with travelling abroad is a bit difficult,
|
||||||
|
unless you know what you're doing. I don't, for the most part.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
After lunch at a (surprise!) Chinese food place, we decided to take the
|
||||||
|
afternoon off and head back to the B&B to play some more Scion, before
|
||||||
|
McSorley's opened up again. We did some great stuff, saved the freckled Scion,
|
||||||
|
then I made the decision to let her die (which ended up coinciding with some
|
||||||
|
major character development, so that's nice), and then Cary's character died
|
||||||
|
defending her. So, all in all, we failed our mission, but succeeded at Scion.
|
||||||
|
Huh.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Anyways, McSorley's opened up shortly after the game, so we hit up dinner (more
|
||||||
|
Chinese), and I spent some time wandering around getting pictures of the pubs we
|
||||||
|
had visited. It's funny: my dad complimented me on all the pictures of the
|
||||||
|
beautiful scenary and what not, but he asked a very important questions: where
|
||||||
|
are all the pubs?? So I tried to rectify that our last night in Killarney,
|
||||||
|
snapping a picture of a few placed before winding my way back to McSorley's for
|
||||||
|
the evening. Round 2... FIGHT!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
The cover band at McSorley's tonight was not as good as the other band, which is
|
||||||
|
the equivalent as saying that the 200000 Candle-Power flashlight isn't as bright
|
||||||
|
as the 300000 Candle-power one: they're both way brighter (or, awesomer in this
|
||||||
|
case) than the required flashlight (or, typical American cover band, in this
|
||||||
|
case). Tonight's show was by Revenge, who paid tribute to some of the older
|
||||||
|
songs, including quite a bit of ACDC. We rocked out hard core, really supporting
|
||||||
|
the band out front by dancing and singing along. Then the moment happened, the
|
||||||
|
moment that Chris has claimed is the most epic moment of the trip. The quote
|
||||||
|
says it all, but in short: the band was playing Thunderstruck by ACDC, and the
|
||||||
|
lead singer lowered the mic to me to scream "THUNDERSTRUCK!!" into, and it was
|
||||||
|
amazing timing. I do have to say, sometimes my timing is spectacular. Anyways,
|
||||||
|
that memory will stick with me forever, and I think with Chris, Suf and Cary as
|
||||||
|
well, so I consider this night an unbelievable success.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Once more, we invaded the back room, only this time we stayed until close. We
|
||||||
|
danced our way into another dance party, because evidently we're all Lords of
|
||||||
|
the Dance, and met some new friends: May, a French girl there with friends. We
|
||||||
|
danced with them, we danced with total strangers, and we danced until we
|
||||||
|
couldn't dance any more! I literally understood what it meant to be out of mana
|
||||||
|
that night. I had barely the energy to return home, before I just passed out on
|
||||||
|
my bed.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Killarney is the city I would most enjoy in Ireland. Of all the places we've
|
||||||
|
gone, it's the city which feels the most alive. It has the loudest pulse, the
|
||||||
|
brightest flash, the sweetest music; it's the type of environment I want to live
|
||||||
|
in. While I don't think Ireland is quite the island for me, if I did decide to
|
||||||
|
live here, Killarney would be my final destination.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 11: 08/06/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
Wow, this place is nice. I don't think we belong here.
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Today we all are taking a bit of a down day. After the past 2 nights, I'm
|
||||||
|
exhausted, and ready to just sit around a do nothing for a bit. Well,
|
||||||
|
conveniently Cary is getting his tattoo today, so I got my wish. We check out of
|
||||||
|
our B&B, pack up the car, park in town and go exploring a bit more. After I
|
||||||
|
stop at the Tourist Information, I learn of a free Wi-Fi pub nearby, and relax
|
||||||
|
there for a couple of hours, enjoying some tea and playing some KoL. I don't
|
||||||
|
really achieve anything of any worth in game, and Suf, Cary and Chris show up
|
||||||
|
just in time for us to work on our Scion characters a bit and head to dinner. We
|
||||||
|
go to the Chinese food place we hit up last night for lunch, and then Cary must
|
||||||
|
depart for his tattoo. Chris, Suf and I all decide to wander back into the pub
|
||||||
|
for a bit, where I finish up my KoL for the day, enjoy some more Scion, check
|
||||||
|
the email, and generally just chillax.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
We leave Killarney around 5:30 and arrive at our second-to-last destination,
|
||||||
|
Ballyseede Castle Hotel. Since we have nothing to do until later, we settle in,
|
||||||
|
relax for a bit and get to playing some more Scion. That's right: WE ROLEPLAYED
|
||||||
|
IN A CASTLE.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
After the session, we split up: Cary, Suf and Chris all head back to Killarney
|
||||||
|
(a whopping 15 minute drive) to hit up McSorley's again, and I lame out and take
|
||||||
|
the night off. Whilst waiting for sleep to drift in, I enjoy some good ol'
|
||||||
|
American past-time and watch a bit o' telly: 'Analyze That' was on. I watched
|
||||||
|
'Analyze That' in a castle. Today is just full of achievements!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 12: 08/07/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
"Ma'am? A quick question. We named the dogs: this one is named Roger the Mighty,
|
||||||
|
and this one is named George the Stout. How close were we?"
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
After a wonderful night's rest in the castle, we pack up our things, enjoy a
|
||||||
|
delicious breakfast, explore the castle grounds a bit more, and head off to our
|
||||||
|
final B&B, just outside of Shannon.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
As we approached our destination, we decided to stop by Limerick for
|
||||||
|
lunch/dinner and just explore our initial landing grounds one last time. We
|
||||||
|
wander to 'The Bitter End', take some pictures, and find our way to a Chinese
|
||||||
|
food place (big surprise) and an outdoor pub. Since we couldn't decide on which
|
||||||
|
one to go to, I suggested we go to both. This decision was met with much
|
||||||
|
happiness. After we finished our Chinese food (quite delicious), we headed next
|
||||||
|
door, and was met with delicious desserts and beautiful women. Our waitress let
|
||||||
|
slip it was her birthday, so in true, boistrious American style, we sang her
|
||||||
|
'Happy Birthday!' (Hope it was a good one, Sam!). Apparently she got in trouble
|
||||||
|
for that... Oops...
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Anyways, we hit up our B&B to drop stuff off, and repack our bags for tomorrow's
|
||||||
|
trip, and finish up our Scion campaign. We hopped out to 'Durty Nelly's' for a
|
||||||
|
quick dinner (and sadly, our waitress Una already had her birthday a month ago)
|
||||||
|
of traditional Fish and Chips, then back to the B&B to finish up our night
|
||||||
|
rolling the dice. With the campaign finished, we hit the hay in preparation for
|
||||||
|
tomorrow's voyage. Hopefully none of my loot get's wrecked!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# Day 13: 08/08/10
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
"Do I really have to be the asshole to say that we travelled back in time in
|
||||||
|
that hot tub?" - Hot Tub Time Machine
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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!
|
||||||
|
|
@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ thanks to TCP.</p>
|
||||||
<p>Part 2 focuses more on the specifics of TLS: certificates, cipher
|
<p>Part 2 focuses more on the specifics of TLS: certificates, cipher
|
||||||
suites, and public key authentication.</p>
|
suites, and public key authentication.</p>
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<h3>Sources</h3>
|
<h1>Sources</h1>
|
||||||
<ol>
|
<ul>
|
||||||
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography">
|
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography">
|
||||||
Wikipedia: Public-key Cryptography</a></li>
|
Wikipedia: Public-key Cryptography</a></li>
|
||||||
<li><a
|
<li><a
|
||||||
|
|
@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ suites, and public key authentication.</p>
|
||||||
<li><a
|
<li><a
|
||||||
href="https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/20803/how-does-ssl-tls-work">
|
href="https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/20803/how-does-ssl-tls-work">
|
||||||
Stack Exchange: How Does SSL/TLS work?</a></li>
|
Stack Exchange: How Does SSL/TLS work?</a></li>
|
||||||
</ol>
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<!-- ================================= -->
|
<!-- ================================= -->
|
||||||
<!-- ================================= -->
|
<!-- ================================= -->
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ as a high-level overview of TLS, there are many more-detailed sources
|
||||||
available. I would suggest a visit to your local Wikipedia as a good first
|
available. I would suggest a visit to your local Wikipedia as a good first
|
||||||
step. Thanks for reading.</p>
|
step. Thanks for reading.</p>
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<h3>Sources</h3>
|
<h1>Sources</h1>
|
||||||
<ol>
|
<ul>
|
||||||
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography">
|
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography">
|
||||||
Wikipedia: Public-key Cryptography</a></li>
|
Wikipedia: Public-key Cryptography</a></li>
|
||||||
<li><a
|
<li><a
|
||||||
|
|
@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ step. Thanks for reading.</p>
|
||||||
<li><a
|
<li><a
|
||||||
href="https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/20803/how-does-ssl-tls-work">
|
href="https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/20803/how-does-ssl-tls-work">
|
||||||
Stack Exchange: How Does SSL/TLS work?</a></li>
|
Stack Exchange: How Does SSL/TLS work?</a></li>
|
||||||
</ol>
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
<!-- ================================= -->
|
<!-- ================================= -->
|
||||||
<!-- ================================= -->
|
<!-- ================================= -->
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -101,7 +101,9 @@ follow. A few names jump out: Tim Ferris, and Elon Musk. Ferris for his
|
||||||
unrelenting pursuit to better himself, and Musk for his unrelenting pursuit to
|
unrelenting pursuit to better himself, and Musk for his unrelenting pursuit to
|
||||||
better the world around him.
|
better the world around him.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Source
|
# Sources
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 11 on Wikisource](
|
* [Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 11 on Wikisource](
|
||||||
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_11)
|
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_11)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
###### [Letter Index]({{ site.baseurl }}{% post_url 2018-01-15-Letters-To-Lucilius %})
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ them effect your sense of self-worth. Second, endure the riches of yourself, and
|
||||||
do not let it inflate your self-worth. Finally, endure all riches, and recognize
|
do not let it inflate your self-worth. Finally, endure all riches, and recognize
|
||||||
them as an indifference, preferred but never at the expense of virtue.
|
them as an indifference, preferred but never at the expense of virtue.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Source
|
# Source
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 5 on Wikisource](
|
* [Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 5 on Wikisource](
|
||||||
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_5)
|
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_5)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
###### [Letter Index]({{ site.baseurl }}{% post_url 2018-01-15-Letters-To-Lucilius %})
|
###### [Letter Index]({{ site.baseurl }}{% post_url 2018-01-15-Letters-To-Lucilius %})
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -87,12 +87,11 @@ of fighting against every negative feeling or doubt, you must find strength and
|
||||||
power. Only then will you live with such assurance that you will harbor respect
|
power. Only then will you live with such assurance that you will harbor respect
|
||||||
wherever you walk.
|
wherever you walk.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Source
|
# Sources
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 6 on Wikisource](
|
* [Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 6 on Wikisource](
|
||||||
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_6)
|
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_6)
|
||||||
|
* [Why I Quit Being So Accomidating](
|
||||||
[Why I Quit Being So Accomidating](
|
|
||||||
https://mikecanex.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/1922-why-i-quit-being-so-accommodating/)
|
https://mikecanex.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/1922-why-i-quit-being-so-accommodating/)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
###### [Letter Index]({{ site.baseurl }}{% post_url 2018-01-15-Letters-To-Lucilius %})
|
###### [Letter Index]({{ site.baseurl }}{% post_url 2018-01-15-Letters-To-Lucilius %})
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -226,10 +226,9 @@ I'm writing this post as part of [#100DaysToOffload](
|
||||||
https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire writing habits. Perhaps
|
https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire writing habits. Perhaps
|
||||||
you could do the same.
|
you could do the same.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Sources
|
# Sources
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|----|
|
* [btrfs on the Arch Wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Btrfs)
|
||||||
|[btrfs on the Arch Wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Btrfs)|
|
* [Snapper on the Arch Wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Snapper)
|
||||||
|[Snapper on the Arch Wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Snapper)|
|
* [snap-sync](https://github.com/wesbarnett/snap-sync)
|
||||||
|[snap-sync](https://github.com/wesbarnett/snap-sync)|
|
* [The BTRFS Wiki](https://btrfs.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Main_Page)
|
||||||
|[The BTRFS Wiki](https://btrfs.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Main_Page)|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ in her voice.
|
||||||
“I am the patron of Silent Fall. I am Erathis. You asked for my help. I have
|
“I am the patron of Silent Fall. I am Erathis. You asked for my help. I have
|
||||||
given it.”
|
given it.”
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### 100 Days
|
# 100 Days
|
||||||
I'm writing this post as part of
|
I'm writing this post as part of
|
||||||
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
||||||
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ survivor from inside the shop: a half elf. A contingent from the Flaming Fist
|
||||||
arrested Jhoric, the half-elf, and a nearby gnome that witnessed the explosion.
|
arrested Jhoric, the half-elf, and a nearby gnome that witnessed the explosion.
|
||||||
This is where his story truly begins.
|
This is where his story truly begins.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### 100 Days
|
# 100 Days
|
||||||
I'm writing this post as part of
|
I'm writing this post as part of
|
||||||
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
||||||
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ mounts; and two [Umbral
|
||||||
Dragon](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/dragons/dragon/-primal-umbral/umbral-dragon-juvenile)
|
Dragon](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/dragons/dragon/-primal-umbral/umbral-dragon-juvenile)
|
||||||
brothers.
|
brothers.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## The crater of Igrevor
|
# The Crater of Igrevor
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
>_While enjoying a pint and a quiet night at Tuckleberry’s tavern, The Leaf and
|
>_While enjoying a pint and a quiet night at Tuckleberry’s tavern, The Leaf and
|
||||||
>Lyre, the party is rudely interrupted by the sound of a massive explosion,
|
>Lyre, the party is rudely interrupted by the sound of a massive explosion,
|
||||||
|
|
@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ scales of the dragon, which gives them the immunities of the dragon. This turned
|
||||||
out to be a _very_ powerful option: immune to cold, death effects, negative
|
out to be a _very_ powerful option: immune to cold, death effects, negative
|
||||||
energy, paralysis, sleep.
|
energy, paralysis, sleep.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Aftermath
|
# Aftermath
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
I had a lot of fun with this one. The party made their way with through with
|
I had a lot of fun with this one. The party made their way with through with
|
||||||
consistent progress, and the boss battle was challenging but not overwhelming. I
|
consistent progress, and the boss battle was challenging but not overwhelming. I
|
||||||
|
|
@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ and the driving motivation for my upcoming third adventure. I look forward to
|
||||||
sharing those as well! Feel free to make use of this adventure in your own
|
sharing those as well! Feel free to make use of this adventure in your own
|
||||||
games!
|
games!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## MapTools
|
# MapTools
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
But wait, there's more! This adventure was my first foray into MapTools, a free
|
But wait, there's more! This adventure was my first foray into MapTools, a free
|
||||||
and open-source virtual table top system. It allows you to create detailed
|
and open-source virtual table top system. It allows you to create detailed
|
||||||
|
|
@ -334,13 +334,12 @@ to the campaign maps for this adventure [here (click to download)](
|
||||||
{{ site.url }}/src/campaigns/crater_of_igrevor.cmpgn).
|
{{ site.url }}/src/campaigns/crater_of_igrevor.cmpgn).
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### 100 Days
|
# 100 Days
|
||||||
I'm writing this post as part of
|
I'm writing this post as part of
|
||||||
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
||||||
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Sources
|
# Sources
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|----|
|
* [MapTools](https://www.rptools.net/toolbox/maptool/)
|
||||||
|[MapTools](https://www.rptools.net/toolbox/maptool/)|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -89,14 +89,13 @@ but I'm not certain that I'll hang onto it. For now, I just need a simple way to
|
||||||
synchronize pictures between my phone and my desktop, and Syncthing provides
|
synchronize pictures between my phone and my desktop, and Syncthing provides
|
||||||
that.
|
that.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### 100 Days
|
# 100 Days
|
||||||
I'm writing this post as part of
|
I'm writing this post as part of
|
||||||
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
[#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload.com), an initiative to inspire
|
||||||
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Sources
|
# Sources
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|----|
|
* [Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/)
|
||||||
|[Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/)|
|
* [SyncTrayzor](https://github.com/canton7/SyncTrayzor)
|
||||||
|[SyncTrayzor](https://github.com/canton7/SyncTrayzor)|
|
* [Markor](https://gsantner.net/project/markor.html)
|
||||||
|[Markor](https://gsantner.net/project/markor.html)|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -271,9 +271,8 @@ necessary.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
This is very much a first draft, but I think it could be a fun one!
|
This is very much a first draft, but I think it could be a fun one!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Sources
|
# Sources
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|----|
|
* [Pathfinder SRD](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/)
|
||||||
|[Pathfinder SRD](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/)|
|
* [Prometheus Guide to the Druid](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PXamF43boZgYtCUlyJAMojfrPaAdYyjPOaGOo1vfqdM/edit#heading=h.nxj7sifd7tvs)
|
||||||
|[Prometheus Guide to the Druid](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PXamF43boZgYtCUlyJAMojfrPaAdYyjPOaGOo1vfqdM/edit#heading=h.nxj7sifd7tvs)|
|
* [Treantmonk's Guide to Druids](https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AcNyxDTKvAmqZGRtZzhzdjZfNDZnNHpzcmdodA&hl=en)
|
||||||
|[Treantmonk's Guide to Druids](https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AcNyxDTKvAmqZGRtZzhzdjZfNDZnNHpzcmdodA&hl=en)|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -305,8 +305,7 @@ out cool spells to add to the spell book, worthwhile scrolls, and just imagining
|
||||||
scenarios. Despite the apparent short-comings, the Eldritch Knight can
|
scenarios. Despite the apparent short-comings, the Eldritch Knight can
|
||||||
definitely hold it's own, though it does require a ramp-up time.
|
definitely hold it's own, though it does require a ramp-up time.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Sources
|
# Sources
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|----|
|
* [Pathfinder SRD](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/)
|
||||||
|[Pathfinder SRD](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/)|
|
* [The Muscle Wizard Guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10x042PGSyqX4JqHbYFf7vDsK1NCnhBT2ck8i1eG6kpc/edit)
|
||||||
|[The Muscle Wizard Guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10x042PGSyqX4JqHbYFf7vDsK1NCnhBT2ck8i1eG6kpc/edit)|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
|
||||||
---
|
---
|
||||||
tabtitle: "Oblivion on Linux"
|
tabtitle: "Oblivion on Linux Part 1, Tools"
|
||||||
title: "Oblivion on Linux, with Mods!"
|
title: "Oblivion on Linux, with Mods! Part 1 - Tools"
|
||||||
topics: [gaming]
|
topics: [gaming]
|
||||||
pub: "2021-11-20"
|
pub: "2021-11-28"
|
||||||
short_desc: ""
|
short_desc: "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is one of my favorite games of
|
||||||
|
all time. The vanilla game holds up, but mods take the game to an entirely
|
||||||
|
new level. Getting it working on Linux requires a bit of configuration, bit
|
||||||
|
is surprisingly accessible! This is part 1 of my journey."
|
||||||
---
|
---
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Oblivion holds a special place in my heart. I remember spending a summer in the
|
Oblivion holds a special place in my heart. I remember spending a summer in the
|
||||||
|
|
@ -20,7 +23,7 @@ that's what this write-up is all about!
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Starting from the beginning, Oblivion is available on many platforms, but my
|
Starting from the beginning, Oblivion is available on many platforms, but my
|
||||||
experiences here will assume the Steam installation. The primary difference will
|
experiences here will assume the Steam installation. The primary difference will
|
||||||
be with respect to the how the tools used to mod Oblivion are run. I've got the
|
be with respect to how the tools used to mod Oblivion are run. I've got the
|
||||||
Game of the Year edition, which is Steam ID `22330`.
|
Game of the Year edition, which is Steam ID `22330`.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -47,14 +50,21 @@ _Archives_ is where I store the actual archives of the mods I use. _Backups_ is
|
||||||
where I store any relevant backups for my Oblivion game, such as saves or
|
where I store any relevant backups for my Oblivion game, such as saves or
|
||||||
configuration files for the mods. _Tools_ is where I put the executables for all
|
configuration files for the mods. _Tools_ is where I put the executables for all
|
||||||
the tools I mentioned above. _WryeBash_ is used to store the unarchived mods
|
the tools I mentioned above. _WryeBash_ is used to store the unarchived mods
|
||||||
(which are called "projects") and mod data that `Wrye Bash` uses.
|
(which it calls "projects") and mod data that `Wrye Bash` uses.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Because each of these tools is run using Proton (or Wine for non-Steam
|
Because each of these tools is run using Proton, I also have a set of aliases
|
||||||
installs), I also have a set of aliases configured.
|
configured. Similar aliases could be setup for using Wine instead. For each
|
||||||
|
alias, modify the paths accordingly for your setup. I should also note that I'm
|
||||||
|
running Oblivion using [Glorious Eggroll's
|
||||||
|
Proton](https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/proton-ge-custom), version 6.16. I
|
||||||
|
haven't experimented with different Proton versions to find the most performant
|
||||||
|
version, but if I do in the future, I'll mention it.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Wrye Bash
|
## Wrye Bash
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Project Link](https://github.com/wrye-bash/wrye-bash) || [Homepage](https://wrye-bash.github.io/) || [Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/22368)
|
- [Project Link](https://github.com/wrye-bash/wrye-bash)
|
||||||
|
- [Homepage](https://wrye-bash.github.io/)
|
||||||
|
- [Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/22368)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
`Wrye Bash` is involved. I don't know how to use it fully. There are a few
|
`Wrye Bash` is involved. I don't know how to use it fully. There are a few
|
||||||
guides that helped me learn how to use it enough to get mods installed and
|
guides that helped me learn how to use it enough to get mods installed and
|
||||||
|
|
@ -72,10 +82,10 @@ Dispensation](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/49898).
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
The easiest option is to use the stand-alone executable from the GitHub releases
|
The easiest option is to use the stand-alone executable from the GitHub releases
|
||||||
page. Extract the archive, and then use Proton to run the executable in the
|
page. Extract the archive, and then use Proton to run the executable in the
|
||||||
_Mopy_ directory. This is the alias I use; replace directories accordingly:
|
_Mopy_ directory. This is the alias I use; replace paths accordingly:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
```
|
```
|
||||||
alias oblivion-wyre='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
alias oblivion-wrye='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
||||||
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
||||||
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/Mopy/Wrye\ Bash.exe'
|
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/Mopy/Wrye\ Bash.exe'
|
||||||
```
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
@ -98,7 +108,8 @@ do anything else.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## LOOT
|
## LOOT
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Project Link](https://github.com/loot/loot) || [Homepage](https://loot.github.io/)
|
- [Project Link](https://github.com/loot/loot)
|
||||||
|
- [Homepage](https://loot.github.io/)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
`LOOT` sets the proper load order for mods. There is a native Linux client, but
|
`LOOT` sets the proper load order for mods. There is a native Linux client, but
|
||||||
I ran into [this issue](https://github.com/loot/loot/issues/1615) and decided to
|
I ran into [this issue](https://github.com/loot/loot/issues/1615) and decided to
|
||||||
|
|
@ -108,10 +119,10 @@ with a stand-alone executable, and that's what I used.
|
||||||
### Setup
|
### Setup
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Download the stand-alone executable, and extract it to _OblivionMods/Tools_.
|
Download the stand-alone executable, and extract it to _OblivionMods/Tools_.
|
||||||
This is the alias I use; replace directories accordingly:
|
This is the alias I use; replace paths accordingly:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
```
|
```
|
||||||
alias oblivion-wyre='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
alias oblivion-loot='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
||||||
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
||||||
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/LOOT/LOOT.exe'
|
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/LOOT/LOOT.exe'
|
||||||
```
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
@ -126,169 +137,105 @@ for configuration.
|
||||||
determine the optimal load order for all installed mods. I ran into an issue
|
determine the optimal load order for all installed mods. I ran into an issue
|
||||||
where `LOOT` couldn't properly download the master list, and so as a work-around
|
where `LOOT` couldn't properly download the master list, and so as a work-around
|
||||||
I manually downloaded the master list, and then configured `LOOT` to use that
|
I manually downloaded the master list, and then configured `LOOT` to use that
|
||||||
local file instead of the remote Git repository. If everything works, and the
|
local file instead of the remote Git repository. Those instructions are covered
|
||||||
list of mods is there, then you can run a sort, and apply the changes. `LOOT`
|
[in the FAQ](https://loot.github.io/docs/help/LOOT-FAQs.html#git-errors). If
|
||||||
will inform you of any "dirty" mods, which you can use the next tool the clear
|
everything works, and the list of mods is there, then you can run a sort, and
|
||||||
up. I ended up keeping `LOOT` open, while stepping through the cleaning
|
apply the changes. `LOOT` will inform you of any "dirty" mods, which you can use
|
||||||
procedure for each mod, until everything looked happy.
|
the next tool the clear up. I ended up keeping `LOOT` open, while stepping
|
||||||
|
through the cleaning procedure for each mod, until everything looked happy.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## TES4Edit
|
## TES4Edit
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Project Link](https://github.com/TES5Edit/TES5Edit) || [Homepage](https://tes5edit.github.io/) || [Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/11536)
|
- [Project Link](https://github.com/TES5Edit/TES5Edit)
|
||||||
|
- [Homepage](https://tes5edit.github.io/)
|
||||||
|
- [Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/11536)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
`TES4Edit` is the Oblivion version of `xEdit`, which is an incredible tool. All
|
`TES4Edit` is the Oblivion version of `xEdit`, which is an incredible tool. All
|
||||||
I use it for is to clean dirty mods. `LOOT` provides a link to the [quick
|
I use it for is to clean dirty mods. `LOOT` provides a link to the [quick cleaning
|
||||||
cleaning guide](https://tes5edit.github.io/docs/7-mod-cleaning-and-error-checking.html#ThreeEasyStepstocleanMods), which gives us exactly the steps required.
|
guide](https://tes5edit.github.io/docs/7-mod-cleaning-and-error-checking.html#ThreeEasyStepstocleanMods),
|
||||||
|
which gives us exactly the steps required.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Setup
|
### Setup
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Download the latest build from GitHub, and extract it to _OblivionMods/Tools_.
|
Download the latest build from GitHub, and extract it to _OblivionMods/Tools_.
|
||||||
This is the alias I use, which runs the "Quick Auto Clean" function; replace
|
This is the alias I use, which runs the "Quick Auto Clean" function; replace
|
||||||
directories accordingly:
|
paths accordingly:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
```
|
```
|
||||||
alias oblivion-wyre='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
alias oblivion-tes4edit-quick='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
||||||
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
||||||
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/TES4Edit/TES4EditQuickAutoClean.exe'
|
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/TES4Edit/TES4EditQuickAutoClean.exe'
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
TES4Edit is also useful for other, non-quick-clean functionality, so I have this
|
||||||
|
alias for that:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
alias oblivion-tes4edit='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
||||||
|
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
||||||
|
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/TES4Edit/TES4Edit.exe'
|
||||||
```
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Usage
|
### Usage
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Run the alias, select the problematic file, and click "OK". Only one file can be
|
Run the quick-clean alias, select the problematic file, and click "OK". Only one
|
||||||
cleaned at a time.
|
file can be cleaned at a time.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## TES4LODGen
|
## TES4LODGen
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Project Link](https://github.com/TES5Edit/xLODGen) || [Homepage](https://tes5edit.github.io/docs/16-xLODGen.html) || [Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/15781?tab=description)
|
- [Project Link](https://github.com/TES5Edit/xLODGen)
|
||||||
|
- [Homepage](https://tes5edit.github.io/docs/16-xLODGen.html)
|
||||||
|
- [Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/15781?tab=description)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
`TES4LODGen` will generate the relevant LOD file ahead of time. Apparently it
|
`TES4LODGen` will generate the relevant LOD files ahead of time. Apparently it
|
||||||
helps with performance in-game, but may result in slower initial load times when
|
helps with performance in-game, but may result in slower initial load times when
|
||||||
starting the game.
|
starting the game.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Setup
|
### Setup
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
I downloaded the files from Nexus, and extracted the archive to
|
I downloaded the files from Nexus, and extracted the archive to
|
||||||
_OblivionMods/Tools/TES4LODGen_.
|
_OblivionMods/Tools/TES4LODGen_. Here's the alias; replace paths accordingly:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
alias oblivion-tes4lodgen='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
||||||
|
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
||||||
|
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/TES4LODGen/TES4LODGen.exe'
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Usage
|
### Usage
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Run the alias. The program should auto-find everything, do some magic, and will
|
Run the alias. The program should auto-find everything, do some magic, and will
|
||||||
eventually report that it has finished. At this point, you can close the
|
eventually report that it has finished. At that point, you can close the
|
||||||
application. Here's the alias; replace directories accordingly:
|
application.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
```
|
|
||||||
alias oblivion-wyre='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
|
||||||
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
|
||||||
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/TES4LODGen/TES4LODGen.exe'
|
|
||||||
```
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## BethINI
|
## BethINI
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
- [Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/46440)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
# Mod List
|
`BethINI` helps manage the "oblivion.ini" file, providing sane options and a
|
||||||
|
wizard for configuration. While not required, it does help with optimizations.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Every player's mod list is different. Some will focus on visuals, making the
|
### Setup
|
||||||
game as graphically impressive and pretty as possible. Others care primarily
|
|
||||||
about additional content. I tend towards the later, with a preference for
|
|
||||||
additional survival or realism mods. I recommend starting with the "Core Mods"
|
|
||||||
section in the [Oblivion Comprehensive Modding Guide by
|
|
||||||
Dispensation](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/49898) which will cover
|
|
||||||
some essential performance and enhancement mods.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Below are some specific mods I would like to highlight, and which I enjoy.
|
I downloaded the files from Nexus, and extracted the archive to
|
||||||
|
_OblivionMods/Tools/Bethini_. If you use AutoHotKey apparently you can use that
|
||||||
|
to run it, but that doesn't make sense to me, so I went with the stand-alone
|
||||||
|
executable. Here's the alias; replace paths accordingly:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
alias oblivion-bethini='STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/steamapps/compatdata/22330/ \
|
||||||
|
STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/path/to/steam/directory/ \
|
||||||
|
/path/to/proton/proton run /path/to/OblivionMods/Tools/BethINI/BethINI.exe'
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
### Usage
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Just like the rest, run the alias and answer the questions. `BethINI` will make
|
||||||
|
backups of the modified INI files before over-writing them.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Survival Related
|
# Next Steps
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Basic Primary Needs & Personal Hygiene
|
Once all the tools are assembled, and usable, the next step is mods! In my next
|
||||||
|
post, I'll cover some of my favorite mods. The third part will then be a
|
||||||
[Nexus Link - Basic Primary
|
complete walk-thru of my installation of my full mod list.
|
||||||
Needs](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/37088)
|
|
||||||
[Nexus Link - Basic Personal
|
|
||||||
Hygiene](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/42038_)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
These two mods cover most of the survival aspects of my mod pack. "Basic Primary
|
|
||||||
Needs" adds hunger, thirst, and fatigue, while "Basic Personal Hygiene" adds
|
|
||||||
cleanliness. Managing these will feel tedious to some, but I really like having
|
|
||||||
to eat and drink, and visiting a bath house after a long time adventuring.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Each mod can make use of [additional HUD Status
|
|
||||||
Bars](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/34905), which makes tracking the
|
|
||||||
new needs much easier.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Traveler's Tent
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/49654)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
This mod adds a portable player home, and is supremely comfy.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## World Enhancement
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
These I would consider my graphical improvements. I'm generally not too
|
|
||||||
concerned with making the game look good, but I love making the game feel more
|
|
||||||
realistic. These mods make Cyrodiil feel more alive.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Better Cities
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/16513/)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
This is a massive collection of city overhaul and enhancement mods. I was
|
|
||||||
awe-struck when I walked around the Imperial City for the first time with this
|
|
||||||
mod enabled. Bravil felt like a dangerous, crowded harbor town. Leyawin looks
|
|
||||||
like an actual place people live. Though the improvements do come with FPS hits.
|
|
||||||
Doubly-so if enabling the Open Cities option, which moves cities into the
|
|
||||||
overworld space, instead of their own individual instances. It's a balancing
|
|
||||||
act: the immersion of walking directly into a city sometimes isn't worth
|
|
||||||
crashing to desktop when adventuring around cities.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### COBL
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/21104)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
"Common Oblivion" enriches the world of Oblivion by adding lots of little
|
|
||||||
things, and helping different mods "talk" to each other. I like to think of it
|
|
||||||
as filling in a lot of the details that couldn't be included initially.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Enhanced Economy
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/25078) and [Lubrons
|
|
||||||
Patch](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/47184)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
This mod and the corresponding patch make the economy of the world more dynamic.
|
|
||||||
What I really like are the merchant quests that are added. Several merchants in
|
|
||||||
each town will ask you to find an item in one of the nearby dungeons. It adds
|
|
||||||
flavor to the game in just the right way.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Lights of Oblivion - Road Lanterns
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/46131)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
A very simple mod that I feel really enhances my travel around Cyrodiil. I avoid
|
|
||||||
fast-traveling whenever possible, and walking lit roads at night feels comfy.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Natural Environments
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[Nexus Link](https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/2536)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Cyrodiil Travel Services
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
[AFK Mods
|
|
||||||
Link](https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/files/file/263-cyrodiil-travel-services/)
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
I really enjoyed that in Skyrim there was a dude with a wagon you could pay to
|
|
||||||
travel to the various cities. This mod adds similar functionality, and then
|
|
||||||
some. Useful when playing the game without fast-travel enabled.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
## Overhauls
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Arguably, these are the heavy hitters. These mods will alter the mechanics of
|
|
||||||
the game, often making things more challenging but also more rewarding.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Vanilla Combat Enhanced
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
### Supreme Magicka
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
@ -73,12 +73,13 @@ h2 {
|
||||||
color: darkgrey; letter-spacing: 0.6em;
|
color: darkgrey; letter-spacing: 0.6em;
|
||||||
}
|
}
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
/* Article section Header, right-aligned */
|
/* Article section Sub-Header, left-aligned */
|
||||||
h3 {
|
h3 {
|
||||||
text-align: right;
|
text-align: left;
|
||||||
padding: 10px;
|
padding: 10px;
|
||||||
font: 1.0em "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", sans-serif;
|
margin-left: 10px;
|
||||||
color: darkgrey; letter-spacing: 0.6em;
|
font: 0.85em "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", sans-serif;
|
||||||
|
color: darkgrey; letter-spacing: 0.5em;
|
||||||
}
|
}
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
/* Article footer and tags */
|
/* Article footer and tags */
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
Loading…
Reference in a new issue