First stop, Dublin.

        I'm pleased to announce that Ryan and I made it over seas on the first leg of our journey! 
        We had a very lengthy drive to JFK airport yesterday and I was very sad to say goodbye to my sweet little pup, but we made it to the airport just in time. Now, just because I said we made it to the airport on time, don't assume that we actually took off on time. That would be too easy huh? Nah, really it wasn't that bad and it was understandable considering the thundering and lightening echoing outside in the dark night sky. We ended up leaving some three hours after scheduled time, but, that's better than not departing at all don't c'ha say?
        After two somewhat entertaining romantic comedies, a microwaved semi-decent dinner, a four hour nap, some poor old man collapsing and vomiting in the middle of the isle and a quick breakfast we finally arrived in Dublin, Ireland! It was really strange to me how quickly you can go from one part of the world to the next. One minute you're in the safety net of America and the next you're among a whole new kind of people. 
        When going through customs, I received my very first passport stamp. I felt accomplished. Little things make me happy.
        Our hostel definitely does the job. We get free Wi-fi, our own bathrooms, community pool table and an amazing location. We were told of a free walking tour that goes all around the city of Dublin and provides historical facts and sites to the crowd. We joined this financially-suitable event and saw so many amazing buildings and various architecture; churches, castles, Trinity College. At the end of the tour we stopped at a little cafe and had ourselves some delicious ham and cheese and chicken and bacon crepes and a latte and hot chocolate.         
        After browsing the cobblestone roads and alleyways searching for jackets and sweatshirts (by the way, it's really cold here), we passed the "Temple Bar". Ryan was excited to stop in and try a real Irish Guinness beer and I decided to sample a Baileys on the rocks. Wow. Both of the two taste completely different than they do in the states. The Baileys tasted like butter. Silky, creamy, sugary buttery milk. I'm not even sure if it was an alcoholic beverage. And the Guinness?, it was so smooth and chocolaty. 
        The strangest thing about the Temple Bar was that it was so typical of what the U.S. imitates of them. When inside, I wasn't really sure of where I was. It was sort of surreal because I was in an Irish pub like I have been several times, except this time it was the real thing, but I couldn't tell the difference. Very much an out-of-body moment.
        Overall, Dublin is a clean city with very friendly people consumed with a lot of American tourists. Although,  good thing I'm not British because after being in this country for five minutes got the point that they're the not most well-liked people around here. 
        Since it doesn't get dark here until around 10:30 pm (apparently it's too far north on the globe), we're off to another pub tonight to watch a band play who are friends with our hostel-mate. I feel so blessed that we made it here safely and am so very excited to see what the rest of the trip brings! Until the next time!...