Escape from Gatwick

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  Dublin, Ireland
Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Ah!!! I'm in freakin Ireland now. What the heck!
Yes, yesterday night I made my escape from Gatwick airport in London and arrived in Dublin. I was at the airport for two whole days. 48hours plus. Why you ask? Because I am strange I say. I didn't want to go into London or anywhere for one night and shower and get a decent night sleep. What would have been the point of that. So I wandered around Gatwick, slept little, and washed my hair in the bathroom sink. Actually might have gotten more than 6 hours of sleep my last night there. Maybe 6, but definitely no more. I don't even remember specific days from the last 3 weeks anymore. I just know what I did. It was great fun.
My last two days in Italy were spent in Venice. Their Carnavale was on, so I really wanted to see that. The hostel I spent my first night at was good. Right near the Rialto Bridge. I met an American girl there and we wandered around the city that Friday night. It was cool. Lots of people in costumes in San Marco. A free concert with tuba players???? AND THE CROWD WENT NUTS!!! Basically the equivalent of parents and family going nuts and screaming at a school band concert, but yet another reason I am not Italian. It was a good atmosphere. People dressed up strangely, singing, dancing, swiggin from the home made mixed drinks and bottles of wine in the streets and so on. Gotta love that about Europe. Why doesn't Canada do that hmmm??? Why can't you walk around Portage and Main or The Forks with you wine in hand - and not in a paper bag???? I think it would go over well don't you?? Try it out for me and let me know k?
We got a little lost going back to the hostel with no help from me at all even though I knew my way around. Eventually found the Rialto again where low and behold on the top of the bridge were Dancing Penguins. You heard me. Dancing Penguins. Dancing to the Gorillaz and running around in full-on penguin suits. One of them was even pecking everyone on the head with his orange beak that tried to cross the bridge. I didn't see any alcohol in their flippers, but you've got to be kidding me if you think there was none involved in that little stunt. But it's all good because it's CARNAVALE!! Over the bridge into the next square with music blasting to find a group of 5 people dancing. Just normal people, no costume, except.....they were all tied to one another. Yes, tied to one another by a big rope and therefore a large dancing circle/blob. You go where I go and we all follow type blob. Righty then. I think I need some wine first. Found one more square just outside our hostel with a DJ and neon lights set up then it was back to the hostel. The next morning, me and the other girl had planned to meet up that nigth, but it never happened. So I didn't get to take part in the festivities, but I definitely recommend them to everyone who is there with someone at the time. Venice is great and it was again.
Off to Milan the next morning to pick up my bags, to the airport, to Gatwick, two days at the airport (whoohoo), and got to Ireland last night around 11pm.
This morning I met someone at breakfast who then took me to the National Gallery which was cool and wandering around the streets of Dublin. Tonight it's off to a pub, and not in the Temple Bar area. Supposedly a real Irish pub and with music too. I am so excited as that is what I wanted to accomplish when in Dublin. Just find some people and got to a real Irish pub.
I am off somewhere tomorrow, not yet sure where that will be, but will let you know when I get there. I don't really want to stay in Dublin, though there is nothing wrong with it. It's a nice city. A big city, but it still has an Irish feel to it. I can't describe it. Even though I've not even been here 24 hours, I can still say that Ireland has this feeling about it. That there is so much history around you everywhere you look. Of course all European cities are like that, but it's different here. I think it's that the so-called history is still taking place that makes it seem so vivid and apparent. Ireland is known for the history of it's people, the fighting, the wars, and yet it is still taking place. The story isn't finished yet. Portugese explorers are finished exploring, the Moors have left Spain, the french and the english aren't fighting anymore. Big history, but it's over. Apparently there were big riots here a few days ago on the streets that my tour guide friend took me on today. The orangemen came down from Northern Ireland to march in the streets of Dublin and of course the fights started. It's not that this place is any more dangerous than anywhere else I've been, nor do I feel unsafe, it's just not history yet. It's hard to explain, but there's just something about Ireland and I am intrigued to learn and see more.
I'm struggling at the moment on whether or not to see the cities, or stay in the little towns as long as they have hostels. I want to see the real Ireland, and I understand people way too easily in Dublin. Wish I had more time here, but this will just have to be a taste and I will have to return again someday. So until the next town/city/guiness or pub. Slainte!!?!

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