Traveling seeker in British Isles

1-29-06

Arrival in Westport – (Part one)

I got all ready to leave Dublin with no problem. So I got the taxi to pick me up, but he was a bit late, but no worry, I had planned to be very early- so I was OK. But then this crazy driving man seemed to take the REALLY long way to the station. I was told it would be about 7 euros, which was a lot since the station was 5 minutes drive from the hostel. But this guy was either looking for more money or wanted to show me more of the city then I cared to at the moment! I was trying to stay calm but I was so afraid to miss my rail! He finally got me there and dumped me on at the entrance, and charged me 8.50! I picked up the big red monsters and dragged myself to the “ticket machine” that would spit out my ticket. I got up there and was confused. I didn’t want to waste time trying to figure it all out, so I went to information. The girl that waited on me was to be no help but a God-Gift came up and just got the ticket for me. I asked where the rest rooms where (they call them toilets here and it’s such a gross name – so I won’t use it) and she told me around the corner. But the God-Gift told me that I didn’t have time, I had to get to platform 6- they were boarding! I ran like the wind on drugs and was frantic by the time I found platform 6. They were remolding and everything was gated off. I did in my panic see a trolley thing to put my bags on and I was off and running. I had to go through a gate with a man stamping the ticket and just happened to get behind a woman that was trying to get on the train without a ticket. She was a friend of someone that worked there. They chatted and she was flirting a bit and he finally gave her a ticket. I was standing there panting like a dog in heat as this exchange that was going on, willing her to get the hell out of my way! People are just so totally unaware of other people. Is that because they are accustomed to people always being right next to them? I am so aware of everyone. I just can’t understand this behavior. Anyway, again I vamp…

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January 26, 2006

What I’ve been up to…

Well, aside from having a breakdown. I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster. I purposefully didn’t “think” about what it would be like here in Ireland because I had no information to base it on. So I just focused on leaving and what that all entailed. Well, that was a huge mistake. But I really had no other way to know how the place was. I read all kinds of books and looked at travel blogs. I just wasn’t getting the nitty gritty of it all. But enough whining- at least in this paragraph!

I am adjusting, not at quickly as I had hoped, but it is happening. I am not as intimated by the city any longer and I go out and find the things I want and need.

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