Dublin

2:50 done with my thermodynamics class and ready to hustle across campus back to my dorm grab my backpack and head to the bus stop.

The bus stop was packed!  There had to be 60 people waiting to get on the Dublin bus.  Andrea and I pushed our way forward when the bus pulled up only to find they had only SEVEN seats left.  Some how Andrea and I managed to make our way on!

I sat next to an Irish student who talked my ear off the first 45 mins.  I told him about my mission trip to Africa and how I LOVE this crazy guy called Jesus.  After that our conversation slowed and he eventually tried to sleep.  Here in Ireland being a Christian is not the norm as it is in the states.  If a person is religious than they are catholic and they maybe sometimes go to mass or something.  It's definitely weird sticking out more for my faith.  But I love it.  I love being able to be different!  I want to show these people I have something they want.  I have a best friend who's always there, I have peace and joy in good times and bad.  I have been praying for my roommates, many of whom are not saved and I know with full certainty that God put us together for a reason.

Ok, back to dublin.  The bus ride was gorgeous.  The landscape was spectacular.  Every shade of green you could imagine.  The fields were like filled with cows and sheep.  Even the tree trunks were wrapped in a green ivy.

We arrived in Dublin about 6:30, starving.  We found our hostel which was pretty nice.  I didn't really know what to expect as this was my first hostel experience.  Andrea and I were in two different rooms.  I wasn't very worried about it though; all you do is sleep in them.

We headed out to get food right away.  We found a really cute pub to eat at.  We were both feeling very American I guess, because I ordered a pizza and she got a hamburger.

It was Andrea and her boyfriend's two year anniversary, and I go to eat a candle light dinner with her.  Aren't I special?

After we ate we headed back to the hostel to make our plan of attack on the city of Dublin. We woke up early the next day to eat breakfast at the hostel.  It was in an old chapel and made me feel like I was at an old boarding school or something. 

First stop for the day was hitting Starbucks so we could get all coffeed up and Andrea could get her mug.  Inside Starbuck it was almost like we were back in the US. 

After that we were on our way!  We hit the tran to go to our first stop, Kilmainham jail. And no, I did not look like a tourist.  haha

Kilmainham jail was filled with all sort of history.  I loved it!  

It had great little chapel, the altar had been made by one of the inmates.  

The rooms were designed for one person.  However the jail was usually over full.  During the potato famine there would be anywhere from 5 to 8 people in one cell.  

After the jail we walked to the Guinness Storehouse to go on a tour.  To be honest, it was actually probably my least favorite thing we did.  The best part was the view from the top.

 We ate lunch at the cutest cafe!

My meal was great!

We got tea. 

And the best part the TARTS!

We walked around and saw much more of dublin before heading back to the hostel to get ready for dinner.  At the hostel we meet Haley.  She had been traveling around Spain for the past 9 weeks and her friends had just flown out.  We were happy to get dinner and spend the rest of the night with her

 We got dinner at a pub.  I went with the traditional option.

After dinner we went to see St. Patricks Cathedral.  It was amazing.

We had a great day Saturday, and by the end we were exhausted.  The next day we saw some of the Dublin Castle.

And of course we went back to our favorite cafe before heading to the bus!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru