June 29, 2007 - 20:30:41

As I begin writing this blog entry, I am sitting in a dirty little internet cafe. The man to my right is gambling in an online cassino. The men to my left just stood to leave; they seemed to be looking at something I felt somewhat uneasy seeing when glancing.

At any rate, DUBLIN! w00t! I've been here 2 days and have walked almost every direction in the city limits of Dublin. I've been to the Guinness Storehouse (the tour where you get a free pint at the top!); I've been to the largest park in Europe (Phoenix Park. There's a zoo. I didn't go in.); I've been to the Gate Theatre (saw Sweeny Todd and broke the curse upon my soul that has weighed me down for over 6 years); I went to revolution memorials and shopping areas and tourist traps and traditional 'Dub' hangouts and even an art museum (free of course! I don't have that much money in my bank account and the dollar is weak... Stupid €...)

Basic catchup on my experiences:
?Flights were late up until the ultimate arrival which was 10 minutes early (impressive for being over an hour late most of the way there). On the planes I read 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,' listened to Wagner's 'Das Rheingold' and watched 'Grease' (on the in-flight movie programming, this last one).
>Took the bus to Dublin. An elderly woman helped me find my way.
>Got off the bus and got lost. More elderly women seemed eager to help...
>Checked into my hostel, got unpacked-ish and headed out!
>First: food. Fish and Chips on O'Connell and Abbey. Good food!
>Went to a free art gallery. An old guard showed me a tourist map of Dublin. He told me many places to check out. I wrote the names down and prepared to go to get a map.
>B.T.W. this feels like a video game, so I'm keeping my journal like I'm playing Elder Scroll's III: Morrowind.
>Tried to get a map, store closed. Got enchiladas. They were good.
>Went to the Gate Theatre and got a student ticket to Sweeny Todd! AMAZING!
>Slept well.
>Woke to a talkative Spaniard in the room. We ate food and tried to communicate. Mostly failed because he's like trying to talk to Mr. Brusel.
>I went out to get a map. Acquired Map! Went to Trinity College and got the lay of the land. Went to a little coffee shoppe and mapped out my day a bit. Good Cappuccino.
>B.T.W. average tourists in Temple Bar are scary.
>I found 2 cents on the ground.
>I went down Grafton St. - Amazing street music. Then went to St. Steven's green - gorgeous park (the entryway arch has names of 'traitors,' or men who fought for the British, inlaid in the underside as you walk through).
>Going back up Grafton, I found a 'silver statue man' dressed in Arthurian clothing. I felt good about myself.
>A ate at a palce called 'Abrakababra.' Seriously.
>Wandered Phoenix Park. Okay, got over that fast.
>Went to the Guinness Storehouse and did the tour and drank an pint. P-Magnum, that one's for you!
>I tried to find Dublin Castle and failed. I found a churc that looks like a castle though. I even took some video and jumped off a wall after doing so (Mike, that one's for you).
>Almost bought a guitar... I don't know if that'd be stupid...
>I got a pre-made sandwich from a nature-food and save-Darfur kind of place. They were closing for the night so gave it to me for free! w00t! I told them I'd come back and gave them a 2€ tip.
>Went back to the hostel and tried to sit down in my room. My key didn't work. About that time I was told at the front desk that they had me down for only two nights... not four... BUGGER! They got it fixed. HUZZAH! I sat, I organized something (OKAY I'M COMPULSIVE!) and came here. I'm thirsty, though. OFF TO QUENCH MY THIRST!

End Captain's Log Entry_