Ireland!

Shop Street, Galway

Hi everyone!
I'm officially in Galway! This is just a little update on the last 24 hours of my life. I've only been here for 1 day & I can already tell you these observations:

- People here LOVE Obama. A few people have asked me about him already. This morning there was a street performer who had a puppet with Obama's face. Every time he pulled the strings on the puppet, it would smash some symbols together. Also learned that I probably should be carrying around a camera 24/7 for moments like this.

- Woke up at 8am and it was so dark that I thought I slept from 8pm-8am (24 hours?!). Nope, it's just super dark in the morning here. Let's face it, not like I'm ever going to get up that early once the jet lag is gone--knowing me that is.

- It hasn't been raining as much I expected, but it has been cold (about 40 degrees F today). Santa Barbara has made me a wuss.

- Despite most of you saying I would pass for Irish... I don't. I didn't even open my mouth in the cell phone store before the guy asked me if I needed a phone to call the states. But there is definitely 10 times as many redheads, easily.

- Guinness. Everywhere.

- Sandwiches. Everywhere.

Travelling was tiresome. I probably only slept 1 hour during the 20 hour journey. I was the only American/International on the plane from London-Shannon. They set me to the side & put all the Irish citizens through first. The guy at customs was hilarious. He would say things like, "Intruding into our land, are ye?" Very thick accent and I had a bit of a hard time understanding. He helped me find the bus stop because I "looked like a lost American puppy". I got lost again once I got off the bus. Some Aussies helped me find my hostel. I don't want to hear any jokes about me getting lost! It was dark and I hadn't slept for 24 hours, haha.

Almost every person staying at my hostel right now speaks french. "Parlez-vous français?" Je souhait (Better, that is).

Tomorrow starts my hunt for housing. Pray for my feet after all the walking I will be doing.

x