Paris, France

So I am in Paris right now staying in Allie Swislocki's study abroad flat. It's pretty sweet but I'll get into Paris stuff later. For now I'll finish up the part of my time in Ireland (which only got better and better). So I left off with that wild night that I had in Dublin. After that I ended up having another wild night without even wanting to. I met these two Canadian guys in my hostel and we got to talking while we had a couple of pints. Then we were leaving to head back and crash for the most part when one of the guys, Trevor, decided to offer to help these two crazy drunk Irish people take a picture. They ended up getting us into the most elite club in Ireland (I shit you not) because the woman of the couple runs all the PR for people in Dublin and used to have a really popular TV show in Ireland. You can only get into this place if you're well known by people or have guests. We were the guests. There was a local rugby columnist, the chief editor of the magazine "The Dubliner", an Irish newscaster with his prostitute, an Irish soap star and an unbelievably wealthy American guy from Chicago who lived and did business in Ireland. The American guy and I bonded talking about politics (Barack Obama) and how the Irish don't understand American politics like him and I do. There was a table that was always reserved for Bono at all times in the off chance that he might show up because he is a regular there, but apparently he had quite a wild night there just two days earlier. There were also several Irish versions of the LA blonde ho who goes after the rich lonely guys who will by them expensive things. I got to talking with one of them for a while and got busy with her a little later, and I didn't even have to buy her a drink. I got her to get one of the rich guys to buy some extremely expensive champagne for her and then she poured us two glasses and turned her back to him. LOL!!!!!! It was so fucking funny and she thought it was hilarious too. She was actually a first officer for a plane company in Ireland I can't remember. She called me her American boy all night in response to that hit song that I can't remember. But goddamn alcoholic Irish women are a handful. I don't think we'll be seeing each other again.

After two hours of sleep I got up and went on a bus tour through southern Ireland. It was pretty touristy at times but completely worth it, and still not nearly as touristy as you'd think a bus tour would be. The people I met on the tour were amazing and we made all these great connections in such a short time. There was the tour guide Kevin, or as we called him towards the end Dr. Kev because we had an incredibly sarcastic conversation where he helped me sort through my feelings in front of everyone on the first night while we were a few pints deep. We figured out that it was ok for me to have feelings and express them. The driver Dave had a role in Braveheart as one of the guys who lifted up his kilt to moon the English and Dr. Kev and I decided he was suffering from little spoon syndrome on the first night of drinking. Next to me was Katie the Scottish nurse. She was a good sport the whole time while Dave made fun of her voice for sounding like Mrs. Doubtfire. "Oh Deary". There was Naill the chill hippie dude with dreads from Sydney who could rock the guitar. He also had a dirty rag handkerchief like Pat that he would use and put back in his pocket. Jen, the other Aussie from Sydney who had been traveling for 6 months and had quite the passionate kiss on the dance floor with a silly, but apparently cute, Irish man. She also walked around a wedding with her dress tucked in her underwear for 3 hours or so before anyone told her. Two Americans in front of me that were living in London but from Ohio (Kim and Becca). I yanked Kim out of the street when she was standing close to the middle because she didn't want to step in the mud even though a car was coming. She didn't get hit by the car or mud on her feet. A canadian mother and daughter (Kim and Megan) who would not stop asking me about my love life and pointing out that I looked like Ben Affleck. Joel and Brandi, the engaged couple from the LA area and Joel was fucking nuts when he got some drink in him. It was fun to say the least.

We met in Dublin but then went to an ancient monastic city on the Shannon River, then the cliffs of Moher (which were breathtaking and then we settled down in the small town of Doolin which had 2 stop lights and 4 pubs. We also went to a whiskey distillery where Joel and I popped our hands up immediately when they ask for tasting volunteers at then end of the tour. Doolin was a typical small Irish village in the countryside and it was beautiful. It was made more beautiful by getting many pints of Guinness that night. The next day we went to Dingle (a small fishing town) and the Dingle peninsula which was beautiful as well. It was cold and foggy but that didn't stop us from running down to the beach and dipping our legs in the water. I splashed just a little bit of water on the girls (some things will never change) but they got me back and I also climbed up on the giant rocks barefoot. We had a quick Irish coffee before we left to go to the Kerry mountains and take in the views. Dave drove off without Jen deliberately so she'd have to run after the bus. We all had a laugh and she was a good sport. Then we stayed in Killarney and had a nice dinner that night where we heard an authentic Irish story telling session. We then went to this Irish club with an Irish band. Then Naill and I were lead into the back with the girls we were with. All of the sudden the lights went dark, smoke started pouring out of the room, colorful lights were flashing. they had a giant disco floor in the back and the girls shouted "Oh my God let's go dance." So Naill and I danced out there with them for about 2 hours or so and Katie and I almost got kicked out for trying to put her on my shoulders. When we got back Naill kept shining his light on the girls while they were changing for bed. It was tasteful and the next day they were not offended. They all thought he was hilarious for it.

The next day we went caving, kissed the Blarney stone at the Blarney castle, went to the Rock of Cashel and got back to Dublin. Those of us that didn't have to leave until the next day went out and got blasted on last time in Dubin. Joel showed up having slammed down 5 beers in an hour beforehand thinking we would all be drunk but he was way far ahead of us and hilarious. He had a discussion with the bartender about how much head (beer foam) he was getting and how he wanted some head from him but not too much head. I had to give the girls grandpa kisses before I left so there was plenty to go around. I had been sleeping through my alarm some on the trip for periods of time that were over an hour but I didn't think it would be an issue this time. Well I'm pretty sure I slept through it again that Monday because I woke up and it was set correctly but it was well past when I needed to get up so I missed my flight to Paris. I ended up buying another one for more than I wanted to pay but it was just time to leave Ireland. Plus I had plans of meeting up with Allie so I just bit the bullet and will have to plan my fiances more accordingly from here.

So now I'm in Paris. I found my way to Allie's place and she made me pasta, green beans, bread and cheese while I chomped on some chocolate bread. I bought some of the food and the wine though and I also did the dishes. Then her, me and 5 of her abroad girlfriends went to the Arc de Triomphe jut before it closed. We all shared 3 bottles of wine. Today I got up off of Allie's very comfortable floor and showered, shaved and did laundry for her and me while she was in class. We met up and went to a fresh food market with her friend Julie Goldenrosen or something from the bay area and who also knows my friends Phoebe and Lindsay because she went to high school with Lindsay. Tonight they have student drink specials at some bar that is really cheap. After dinner with Julie at her place Allie, me and a bunch of California girls are going to get drunk, go to the drink student special bar and get drunker. Should be wild. Before that though I plan so sit at a coffee shop, read a book and chill while Allie takes a nap. It will all be very cheap but fun, just my style.

I find myself constantly thinking about what these people and events mean to me. I made some great connections with people on the bus trip but I have no idea how long they will last or what will come of them. We all could have been great friends if we were in the same area and some of them I will most certainly see again at some point. I am well aware that this is all part of life. There are times when you meet people and can share great experiences but it doesn't really last forever. There are always people out there in different areas that you can get along with and have good friendships with but I don't like how those connections can be temporary or lose importance. I never have and I never will but it's inevitable that it will happen sometimes when you don't want it to. Aside from the connections I'm having more trouble understanding where I am geographically. Before I could literally feel that I was in Spain or Portugal or other areas. Now I know where I am, I'm seeing all the sights, I'm going off the touristy path as well and just seeing what some of these places are like where there aren't many foreigners when I go exploring but it still all feels surreal to me. There's still just lots of thoughts about the future and how this all ties into my life goals and can I be 100% sure I'm doing to right thing in my life. I can't be 100% sure and I don't see how you can ever be 100% sure. You never know if a choice is exactly right because there are many choices that could work out amazingly. I just know that I'm enjoying myself and seeing and doing things that I've always thought would be cool and fun to do. I don't think you can have much more than that. It was nicer before when I was traveling and I could bounce these ideas off someone who was having the same experiences. I hope you're enjoying yourself out there Pat. And Spence, I really did mean it when you said you couldn't explain what your trip meant to you and I said, "I understand that completely." I gotch ya on that buddy. Well I'm gonna peace out now. This posting was incredibly long but I hadn't been able to write for a while so I had to make up for lost time. I hope everybody is making the most out of where they are and whatever they're doing and I'll talk to you all later.

P.S. Mom, Allie wants you to send her lemon bars.