So it is definitely time for a new post on my blog....now that I am on the road and all. The question is, what to write about? I have seen so many things and met so many people in just four days. I cannot even imagine how much I am going to experience as time goes on.
I want to tell you about my day in Dun Laoghaire. I woke up today just wanting to spend a nice relaxing day before I went on my 10-day tour of the country. I had heard that there were many close, great towns by Dublin that one could take a train (the DART to be exact) to get there. I pulled up the list of destinations, went to the reception area at the hostel and asked the girl working which place she would recommend. She suggested Dun Laoghaire.
I set off for the DART station feeling slightly nervous. Would I get there okay? Would I find things to do when I got there? At that moment the rain was coming down pretty hard. This is typical Irish weather though, which I am sure that you have heard about. It will be raining and cold one minute and the next the sun is shining and you just want to take your hoodie off more than anything and get that sun on your skin. I was pretty sure I knew what I was doing but I asked the nice ticket selling man to confirm that I was getting the right ticket and he told me where to go. The DART train was extremely clean, fast, and cheap. I had a lovely view of the water as I made my way over to the town. I noticed just how nice the riders were as they pointed out empty seats on the train to those who had just boarded.
I arrived at Dun Laoghaire and the sun was shining. It is a town right on the coast and immediately I was hit with the view of beautiful blue water. The buildings were right there by the sea. I had heard that the pier was a good place to chill and that is where I set off first. I felt the sun sink into my skin. Off in the distance I saw pretty little colored sailboats in the bay. The wind was strong and whipped through my hair. I walked up the pier and just took a moment, staring off into the sea and the city. It was finally starting to hit me....that I was on this trip, that I was experiencing this beautiful moment. It was the first part of my trip that I was really on my own, not doing a planned thing. It was the first part of my trip where I really started to feel completely and totally at peace with myself.
For about an hour I just laid on a bench and felt the sun on my skin. I didn't listen to music, and I didn't read. I just enjoyed the moment, and I thought. I wondered, when was the last time that I had done this? Just had time for me, completely in the moment. The experience left me feeling recharged. Then, I walked to the end of the pier where there was a lighthouse. The wind was so incredibly strong as it practically pushed me forward.
Afterwards I found myself in a public park where I found many happy people enjoying the sun and, even better, many different food stands. There was Chinese, Tai, and Lebanese food. There was even a crepe stand! My stomach was churning at this point and I just couldn't make up my mind. Do I attempt to be healthy? Well, you should know that I went for the sausage sandwich with onions and peppers and it was amazing!!! No regrets (I made up for it later with yogurt and an apple for dinner). After eating I just sat in the park and watched. I felt the soft green grass under my hands and feet. I watched the water fountain directly ahead of me. But the best part was that I got to watch all the Irish families around me. The children were all playing with each other and the people were laughing, socializing and sunning themselves. For some reason I was just mesmerized watching this all. I just thought it was such a lovely afternoon and I felt blessed to be apart of it.
I walked around the town for a bit and then eventually found myself back at the DART station, incredibly happy to have seen this great town.
I know that there are some backpackers that only go to Dublin, perhaps a few other major cities in Ireland, and then move on. I think that this is such a shame. I have only been here a few days but I can tell you that Ireland is a great country with the nicest people and sense of community. I think you really need to leave the cities to experience it. I am so happy that this was my first destination on my round-the-world trip and I know that I will be sad when I have to leave.
