Saturday September 9th, 2017
Hiked 7.3 miles
3:44 am
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| The sea is much deeper blue up north. |
Well I got my room a little after 2 yesterday afternoon and have slept almost 12 hours. I woke up earlier thinking I would go out. My throat was a bit sore, and I was feeling weak so I considered I might be getting sick. I went back to bed. I am less weak than I was, and my throat is still a bit sore. I did get a green drink last night, a large one, that helped. I am impressed that I made it out of Asia without so much as a runny stool. I am only slightly concerned about the cold. It seems there were a lot of sick people in Hong Kong.
Fifteen minutes ago my roommates all came in very happy from a fun night out. I am feeling like I had too much sleep so I just got up, grabbed my keyboard and left the room. As I was leaving once of the young cute french girls said, "Where are you going?" I explained it was late in the morning where I am from so I am heading out to see Dublin. The girls giggle and one says, "Good night." I said, "Good morning." and they giggled again.
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| The green farms as we land. |
It was 0330 hrs when my roommates came back from the bar. They were cute young European girls and a couple of studs from Naples, or Birmingham. He said Naples first then told me closer to Birmingham. I suppose it makes not a difference to me as I don't know where either of those places are or what they are like.
So now I am sitting out in the lobby area, but only extremely wasted people are coming in now, in no condition to have conversation.
I am sitting here holding an energy drink. I thought it would be a gatorade as it looked like the ones I saw in Thailand without the Thai writing. I can read this though. One sip of it last night and Rockstar came to mind. It is not a good drink at all but I can not say it is worse than our energy drinks. It is carbonated, caffeine water with vitamin C and glucose with artificial sweetener. I brought down some blueberries for breakfast too. At least to hold me together until I can go get what they say is an Irish breakfast. In America we skip breakfast and throw money at Starbucks.
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| A curious bird watching me through the bus window. |
This hostel was built many many years ago. It has been updated and repaired, but the stairs that lean to one side amplify the sound of every drunk bastard going up or down them at night.
6:11 am
I had to go pee and did not want to wake up my roommates so I headed down to McDonalds. It seems to be one of the few places open at this hour. The streets were almost empty. I noticed a handful of people sleeping in nice sleeping bags, but I couldn't tell if they were backpackers or homeless people. The streets feel safe and the people seem friendly.
I walked in McDonalds a few minutes ago with my sweater on and my hoodie up because it was cold. A police guy stood up and approached me and ask if he could help me. I said, "I was just going to use the bathroom then enjoy breakfast if that is alright?" He dressed like a security guard but only had a camera strapped across his chest. He
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| Very innovative bridge. |
pulled his hand up across his bald head and I guessed it was a hint to take down my hoody. I pulled it down and he excused me. I went upstairs to go to the bathroom then came down and ordered the Big Irish Sandwich and coffee. When I walked to the front of the store the same security officer said I should go upstairs. I walked upstairs and enjoyed the sandwich. It is 2 eggs on a long bun with sausage and bacon. (Bacon in ireland is what we call sliced ham.) They ask if I wanted ketchup or brown sauce. I decided to try brown sauce.
The brown sauce ended up being gravy and it was just salty enough to be really good on it.
Since I have been here I feel like I stick out. Everyone seems to know I am American before I open my mouth. I noticed that every European is wearing skinny pants, skinny jeans, or somehow has their ankles snug tight with the only exception being a suit.
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| A very old mounted deer head. |
The security guy came up here to make his rounds. He is a large black man. I tried to make conversation with him, but he just shrugged me off silently. He seemed to know english well earlier when he told me to come upstairs. I wonder if he does not speak English, or because he has a camera strapped to his chest.
6:58 pm
Well I learned a lot today. I came here having traced my family history back to William Carson of Ulster Ireland in the early 1700's. I did not know much else. My first stop today was the EPIC Irish immigration museum. It was 22 euros with the genealogy assistance. The museum was fascinating and I realized Obama, Ronald Reagan, Steve Jobs, and Billy the Kid are all Irishmen. I learned that 22 US presidents are Irish too. Prime ministers, comedians, and important people everywhere. It was well done and by the end of the presentation I was wondering if there was anyone that wasn't Irish.
The gentleman that helped me out at the genealogy part was quite knowledgable with the websites. He knows the free ones and you get a trial of an Irish records site for 30 days with your tour. I found out that Carsons spotted northern Ireland and that my ancestor likely came over during the Ulster migration of 200,000 people in 1722. They primarily landed in the Boston area and North Carolina where William landed. I also learned that the Carsons were not originally from Ireland but came over at the wishes of King James in the 1600's to help Ireland become more protestant. I have yet to go to England and see where else my family history leads. I feel that it was well worth my visit and I even found two more leads from William Carson from another family tree. That would be two more generations of Irish in me.
On the way back I went to Penney's so I can dress like a European. My baggy pants are giving me away as a yank. I got some tight sweats and a sweater. I had to go back and get sizes too big because I am not used to skin tight and it felt weird. I will wear them tomorrow. On my way back to my room I stopped at Istanbul Turkish food. I got the gyro plate. The Russian speaking man behind the counter made me a gyro fit for a trucker and just as many fries for only 5 euro.
While I ate I had an interesting talk. He was very concerned about our country and he said thousands were wiped out. I ask where and I thought he said Korea. I said, "Really I was just there." I said something about how I knew tensions were boiling up. He seemed more concerned and showed me a video in Russian about the devastating storm in Cuba and Florida.
I have to say I was relieved that we were not at nuclear war but it was comforting the whole world was concerned when we got hit by such a destructive storm.
11:51 pm
After my last entry I realized all my room-mates were sleeping so I stayed downstairs and finished
my movie "Sand Castle". It was and interesting movie about desert storm in 2003. Then I started talking to a lady from Cape Horn Africa. She was an older lady who went by the name "B". She was a citizen of south Africa having a problem with her visa to stay for her work here. She said I should go to South Africa. She said they have blue ribbon beaches with no trash. She showed me pictures of awesome surf and only seaweed washing up on the shore. Sure there are lots of sharks, but I will take sharks over sewage.
I spoke with a few other hostel dwellers. Two guys from India who were studying IT at the center of technology. Then I decided to find a pub. I passed a few that were packed with tourist, as I went further up the road I saw two guys exiting and as I looked in the door I saw one seat at the bar.
I sat down and ordered a local light beer. Soon I struck a conversation with a guy named Kevin from Chicago. Kevin was talking to Mick who sat between us for quite awhile. Mick was a local who just dropped by after his visit to downtown to go to the store. He was just about retirement age and was already nearing his alcohol limit. He taught me a lot. I learned that in Ireland they play a sport called Hurley. The teams knock around a giant sized softball while trying to break each others knees with the sticks. They volunteer for this. There is no income so these are policemen, doctors, plumbers, and janitors all battling it out for free on a field where 82,000 fans show up to watch.
We talked about how American football players looked like pussies with all their padding, He found this hilarious. I think it was Kevin that brought of that word. Mick found it absolutely hilarious.
We all drank a few more ales. Then Kevin had to leave. I sat on the other side of Mick because he said he was deaf on the other side. We talked about current events, sports, how little we westerners know about rugby. Then he said joyful and loud, "Do you need a straw with that beer? Hey bartender, get this kid a straw! Hahahah!" We both laughed. I decided tomorrow I would go buy a taste for Guinness at the storehouse.
We had a lot of Good laughs. At one point we were talking about what I write about. I showed him a picture of a Yin Yang. He immediately ask, "Which side is evil?"
I replied neither and gave him a brief synopsis of my philosophy.
"Aye. That is too deep for me lad."
Well I learned a lot today. I came here having traced my family history back to William Carson of Ulster Ireland in the early 1700's. I did not know much else. My first stop today was the EPIC Irish immigration museum. It was 22 euros with the genealogy assistance. The museum was fascinating and I realized Obama, Ronald Reagan, Steve Jobs, and Billy the Kid are all Irishmen. I learned that 22 US presidents are Irish too. Prime ministers, comedians, and important people everywhere. It was well done and by the end of the presentation I was wondering if there was anyone that wasn't Irish.
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| The Spire at the end of Talbot street. |
The gentleman that helped me out at the genealogy part was quite knowledgable with the websites. He knows the free ones and you get a trial of an Irish records site for 30 days with your tour. I found out that Carsons spotted northern Ireland and that my ancestor likely came over during the Ulster migration of 200,000 people in 1722. They primarily landed in the Boston area and North Carolina where William landed. I also learned that the Carsons were not originally from Ireland but came over at the wishes of King James in the 1600's to help Ireland become more protestant. I have yet to go to England and see where else my family history leads. I feel that it was well worth my visit and I even found two more leads from William Carson from another family tree. That would be two more generations of Irish in me.
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| My hostel on the right side. |
On the way back I went to Penney's so I can dress like a European. My baggy pants are giving me away as a yank. I got some tight sweats and a sweater. I had to go back and get sizes too big because I am not used to skin tight and it felt weird. I will wear them tomorrow. On my way back to my room I stopped at Istanbul Turkish food. I got the gyro plate. The Russian speaking man behind the counter made me a gyro fit for a trucker and just as many fries for only 5 euro.
While I ate I had an interesting talk. He was very concerned about our country and he said thousands were wiped out. I ask where and I thought he said Korea. I said, "Really I was just there." I said something about how I knew tensions were boiling up. He seemed more concerned and showed me a video in Russian about the devastating storm in Cuba and Florida.
I have to say I was relieved that we were not at nuclear war but it was comforting the whole world was concerned when we got hit by such a destructive storm.
11:51 pm
After my last entry I realized all my room-mates were sleeping so I stayed downstairs and finished
 |
| Old buildings are amazingly strong. |
my movie "Sand Castle". It was and interesting movie about desert storm in 2003. Then I started talking to a lady from Cape Horn Africa. She was an older lady who went by the name "B". She was a citizen of south Africa having a problem with her visa to stay for her work here. She said I should go to South Africa. She said they have blue ribbon beaches with no trash. She showed me pictures of awesome surf and only seaweed washing up on the shore. Sure there are lots of sharks, but I will take sharks over sewage.
I spoke with a few other hostel dwellers. Two guys from India who were studying IT at the center of technology. Then I decided to find a pub. I passed a few that were packed with tourist, as I went further up the road I saw two guys exiting and as I looked in the door I saw one seat at the bar.
I sat down and ordered a local light beer. Soon I struck a conversation with a guy named Kevin from Chicago. Kevin was talking to Mick who sat between us for quite awhile. Mick was a local who just dropped by after his visit to downtown to go to the store. He was just about retirement age and was already nearing his alcohol limit. He taught me a lot. I learned that in Ireland they play a sport called Hurley. The teams knock around a giant sized softball while trying to break each others knees with the sticks. They volunteer for this. There is no income so these are policemen, doctors, plumbers, and janitors all battling it out for free on a field where 82,000 fans show up to watch.
We talked about how American football players looked like pussies with all their padding, He found this hilarious. I think it was Kevin that brought of that word. Mick found it absolutely hilarious.
We all drank a few more ales. Then Kevin had to leave. I sat on the other side of Mick because he said he was deaf on the other side. We talked about current events, sports, how little we westerners know about rugby. Then he said joyful and loud, "Do you need a straw with that beer? Hey bartender, get this kid a straw! Hahahah!" We both laughed. I decided tomorrow I would go buy a taste for Guinness at the storehouse.
We had a lot of Good laughs. At one point we were talking about what I write about. I showed him a picture of a Yin Yang. He immediately ask, "Which side is evil?"
I replied neither and gave him a brief synopsis of my philosophy.
"Aye. That is too deep for me lad."
I was getting too deep for me too so we said our goodbyes, "Come back here when they knight you and we'll have a beer", Mick said. "Your a good man!", the bartender said. It was a very friendly bar. I had great laughs, learned a lot about true Irish drinking. I also know what I must do tomorrow in my new skinny sweat pants. Find a taste for Guinness.
