I left my friends house in Dingle early in the morning (not really, it was like 10am) and started thumbing it towards Cork because I'd heard very pleasant things about the city. I was in the middle of nowhere it seemed, a very small town, but despite that a kind woman named Martha picked me up in about 5 minutes of me thumbin' it. She took me down a gorgeous coastal road to Inch where there was an incredible beach. I spent some time wandering it before I walked on out of the town with my thumb out.
I was kind of worried I wouldn't get a ride on account of there being one car maybe every 5 minutes. This was a small town after all and I doubted anyone was heading far. I still got picked up by Anne and Leslie on their way to Dublin. This next little bit will explain to you how small a place I'm in. We were driving down the road and we see a young girl thumbin' it too. And she had some swagger with it ya' know? Well they pull over to get her and I'm thinking it's pretty cool I'm about to meet another hitcher, but turns out they just all know each other and she is a local headed over to her friends house. I found that oddly amusing and incredible. Seriously, I wish I lived in a world where everyone knew everyone and you could thumb it down a road knowing full well a friend'll come along to collect you! Then, while driving down the road with her, we see another guy walking down the road too. And they're all like 'there's Tom' and the debated whether to pick him up too or not. It was a small car though and already a little cramped so they just drove by laughing making comments like 'no worries, Tom's a walker' and somehow I found that just hilarious. I'm chuckling over it just writing this haha. The way they said it ya' know? So funny. They dropped me in a small town where I grabbed a breakfast role and a ride from Stewart who was an incredible guy. He took me through Killarney and showed me around a bit before driving me all the way into Cork where I would spend all day wandering and enjoying the life.
I arrived in Cork and was instantly struck by the beautiful parks they have uptown. It was awesome, in my travels I've really learned to appreciate a good park. I spent all day wandering around the town. I felt out some tinder girls and sent some couchsurfing request since I arrived early enough in the day for that. Nothing struck me as a hit so I didn't worry and expected to camp somewhere. I did town things all day and checked my wifi later that night to discover a couchsufer had accepted me!! This was quite exciting as I haven't couchsurfed since the last time I was in Europe two years ago. And Peter reminded me of why I used to love it so much. He was so nice to accept me on such short notice and he showed me a great time. It was fun to just chill with him and talk about traveling and all that. Because god do I love to talk about traveling with someone who is also passionate about it. It was a grand night altogether and the next morning I headed out of Cork. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing cool city, but it wasn't speaking to me in terms of sticking around for a while.
I knew I needed to get back to Galway for a Marianna's birthday part so I decided to hitch in that direction for the day, that way I'd be closer for the morrow when I wanted to get in. But at a point someone took me so close to Galway it would've just been silly for me to not go in that night, plus I was kind of exhausted from the road. So I got a ride from two Polish guys all tatted up first, to get out of Cork, then Pat, Jon, Jarred, and another Polish guy. I spent a good two hours under a bridge singing to my Ipod when it was to wet out for me to bother hitching and it was good. I got into Galway quite early, ran into a girl I'd previously met and chatted before meeting two Americans and going out to dinner with them. Two fab girls, one from New York and one from New Jersey, both studying abroad in Galway and it was grand!
After that I met up with Shauna and had a nice night with her and her parents, though I was so exhausted and was no craic at all. I needed to save all my energy for the Birthday the next day anyways! So here's where the real story begins really. It's time for the birthday party! But to make it simple, because, per usual, I cannot relate to you the way this all went down, I will simply say it was a whirlwind of ecstatic fun bonding with family and friends in a whole knew cultural level and environment. Needless to say I loved it and Shauna's family is obviously incredibly sound. Seriously the best. I wish I could describe it better but have not the time. Maybe one day! Until then,
(not all of us)
Be happy!
Beacon
I arrived in Cork and was instantly struck by the beautiful parks they have uptown. It was awesome, in my travels I've really learned to appreciate a good park. I spent all day wandering around the town. I felt out some tinder girls and sent some couchsurfing request since I arrived early enough in the day for that. Nothing struck me as a hit so I didn't worry and expected to camp somewhere. I did town things all day and checked my wifi later that night to discover a couchsufer had accepted me!! This was quite exciting as I haven't couchsurfed since the last time I was in Europe two years ago. And Peter reminded me of why I used to love it so much. He was so nice to accept me on such short notice and he showed me a great time. It was fun to just chill with him and talk about traveling and all that. Because god do I love to talk about traveling with someone who is also passionate about it. It was a grand night altogether and the next morning I headed out of Cork. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing cool city, but it wasn't speaking to me in terms of sticking around for a while.
I knew I needed to get back to Galway for a Marianna's birthday part so I decided to hitch in that direction for the day, that way I'd be closer for the morrow when I wanted to get in. But at a point someone took me so close to Galway it would've just been silly for me to not go in that night, plus I was kind of exhausted from the road. So I got a ride from two Polish guys all tatted up first, to get out of Cork, then Pat, Jon, Jarred, and another Polish guy. I spent a good two hours under a bridge singing to my Ipod when it was to wet out for me to bother hitching and it was good. I got into Galway quite early, ran into a girl I'd previously met and chatted before meeting two Americans and going out to dinner with them. Two fab girls, one from New York and one from New Jersey, both studying abroad in Galway and it was grand!
After that I met up with Shauna and had a nice night with her and her parents, though I was so exhausted and was no craic at all. I needed to save all my energy for the Birthday the next day anyways! So here's where the real story begins really. It's time for the birthday party! But to make it simple, because, per usual, I cannot relate to you the way this all went down, I will simply say it was a whirlwind of ecstatic fun bonding with family and friends in a whole knew cultural level and environment. Needless to say I loved it and Shauna's family is obviously incredibly sound. Seriously the best. I wish I could describe it better but have not the time. Maybe one day! Until then,
Be happy!
Beacon
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