After a great week in London catching up with all my friends there, I flew to Dublin and then to the very tiny but very convenient Donegal airport. I stepped off the plane and onto the red carpet to the sounds of a fanfare and raptous applause. Not quite... my homecoming wasn't quite that grand but it was still nice to be met by my brothers, father and my slightly tearful mother. In recent years we've banned her from coming to the airport with us as no matter where we're going or for how long the place seems to make her emotional!
I left Donegal to go to college (first in Northern Ireland and then to England) when I was seventeen so haven't spent a great deal of time there since. The county is located in the north west of Ireland and and is notorious for its changable weather due to the fact that it faces the Atlantic Ocean. My parents live in Gweedore, which is one of the most densely populated rural areas in Europe and is in the Gaeltacht, which is an Irish (Gaelic) speaking area. Its situated on the coast so its lovely to be able to see and hear the sea every day.
I timed my return well as it was the start of the Easter holidays so I got to see the whole family - my sister Mairead (and her boyfriend Oscar), brothers Eamonn and Liam and my parents, who will shortly both be retired. I've been very fortunate that the weather has mostly been great (by Donegal standards anyway!) so I've been able to make the most of it and go for walks on the beach and in the surrounding countryside. Our local pub, Hudai Beags, is a few minutes walk away which is very convenient! It hasn't been too much of a culture shock as I think I had mentally prepared myself for what lay ahead. Its been nice to have a bit of stability (plus home cooking and my own bedroom!) and to ease myself back into normal life. I've started to job hunt in Dublin and have had a few interviews so I'm hopeful that it will all fall into place quite soon. I've enjoyed my stay in Donegal and having the opportunity to send some time with my folks, but it will be nice to get back to the liveliness of a city again. I'm already missing the museums, art galleries, cinemas and music scene but it will be nice to know that I can come back here when I want a break from the city.
Its hard to belive that a whole year has passed since I left to go travelling but its been fantastic and I have absolutely no regrets! Apart from eating that dodgy meat in Bolivia... The thing I miss most about my travelling experience is the opportunity to see somewhere new and meet different people every day. I've met some lovely people and hope to keep in touch and even see some of them again in the future. So if any of you fancy a trip to Ireland let me know! Now, I must go and start to plan my next holiday. Or maybe I'll try to find a job first... Thanks for reading about my exploits and stay in touch!
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travelogue (reply)
Jun 12, 2007 15:07 EST by liamoid
yo ev, enjoyed the blog alot. nice way of keeping track of yr travellings and impressions of diff places and peoples.
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