Arrival in Dingle

I arrived in Cork and had to catch a bus to Tralee. The bus had been pretty enjoyable and not too bad. One thing I do like about the bus is that you get the ability to see other towns that you might want to go back and see. I'd like to go back and see more of Cork, Dongarven, Killarney, and Macroom. Not this trip....next time.

When I got on the bus to Tralee from Cork the bus driver looked at my EuRail pass for a while. I said, "I spoke with the Inspector and he said that you can call the numbers if you had any questions." He said, "Oh okay, that's fine". Whoa, that was close! So, I think I know what I need to do now. When I got to Tralee and hopped on the bus to Dingle the driver looked at my pass for a while and I said the same thing. He says, "Well, if that is what the Inspector said then I don't have a problem." Awesome! This bus driver was funny. He was talking with some folks on the bus. One guy asked, "Are you going to the retirement party for your co-worker?" and the driver says in his thick accent. "No. You know, you can't control who you work with; so that means that I can be picky about who I'll share a drink with." I thought that was a fantastic perspective. To me it means that life is short and you need to hold the people who treat you with respect and dignity pretty darn close. No need to waste your time on those who you wouldn't want to spend you last waking hours with. Life is short, you know?

When I arrived in Dingle I tried looking for a Bed & Breakfast. The good and bad news was that there was a Hiking Festival going on in town. Most all the rooms were booked! I really wanted to find a B&B because I'd been staying in hostels and needed some space for myself. Plus, it's so nice here.....I wanted to be pampered. Anyway, the only room I could find was a room with 2-beds and they charge per person here so I'd have to pay double. 50 Euro per night was the cheapest I could find. I said, "Screw it!" and went to the hostel. Turns out the hostel had a private room open. I said, "How much is it? per night" and the nice lady says, "How much do you want to pay? I want to meet your budget." I said, "What's fair?"....keep in mind that a private room at a hostel runs anywhere from 35-85 Euros.....which is not bad, but a little out of my budget. However, this was a little splurge for me. So, the lady says, "Is 25 Euros too much?" Ha Ha! I was amazed! But, I played the game and I made a face (no words, just a face). I made the face that my dad gives after my sister Megan tells him that she just got a new tattoo. The best way I can describe it is biting on a sour lemon and then trying to smile. Well, the lady says, "Okay, how about 20 Euro". I was not expecting that! I calmly said, "I think I can afford that....I'll be staying two nights". It was awesome! I've stayed in hostels where I shared a room with 8-10 people for more than that. She was great! She showed be around the place. They offered breakfast, wifi, a lounge, coffee and tea all day, etc. Sweet! She shows me up to my room and gives me a fun tour. She says, "Okay, this is your heater and it turns on like this, this is your view....oh can you fix that curtain for me?" So I fix the curtain and she continues, "So, this is your heater and it turns on like this. You have a closet, and a heater, and king bed.....and when you turn on the heater you need to press this button.....or turn this dial...anyway, you turn it on like this. Okay, how is it?" I say, "Wow, I've been staying in such small places that this room is big." She replies, "Oh, I have a smaller one upstairs if you prefer". Ha Ha! She was so cute! She even offered to do my laundry for me. How awesome!

I walked around town and did some errands. Dingle is sure a great place! I was walking around with my bag to drop it off at the hostel so I didn't have to worry about lugging it around as I checked out the town further. On my way I ran into a group of girls who were trying to take a group photo. I offered to help and said, "It's okay, I'm a photographer!" which was both true and misleading. I've sold my photos before, but I feel like an amateur compared to others. Anyway, it was a group of good-looking young college girls so I probably would have said I was an astronaut if that was the first thing that came to mind. Ha Ha! Too funny! After they came up to me and we talked for a while. It was enjoyable being the attention of 10-12 girls. They were all attending college in Cork on a foreign exchange program. The girl from Montana bragged that she was one out of the group who lived the closest to me. Ha Ha! How cute! They were all so polite and bubbly. They said, "Do you live in Dingle?" I should have "Yes" just to have some fun, but I told the truth. They asked, "Why are you in Dingle?" and I said one of my usual Matt comments, "I'm here because Rick Steves' said that I need to go here before I die.....and I know that's why all of you are here too". They laughed. So, my bad joke is only funny if you have ever read a Rick Steves' book. Dingle is his Irish bread and butter......and I see exactly why. Just, he does talk about this place.....a lot! Also, if it wasn't for Rick Steves', I don't think that Dingle would have as mush tourism as it does today. Anyway! The girls were charming and it was fun chatting with them.

I made my way back to the hostel and then walked around the town some more. As it started getting dark I headed toward the wharf so I could take some sunset photos.

Sunset

Sunset

It was cold, windy, and absolutely amazing! Not to go all "Rick Steves'" on you, but Dingle inflames the senses. I'm standing there on the edge of the water with the wind blowing around me. You can hear the clanking of medal from the docked fishing boats and smell the fresh salt air. I've never been the best at wording things, so it's hard to describe. It was just bliss! I stood at the shoreline for maybe 30-minutes or so until the sun went down.

Dingle

I made my way back to to hostel where I met Malorie from Australia. We chatted it up for a while and decided to go to dinner together since were both solos. We chatted all of dinner and then found our way to a place called, "O'Flaherty's" for some traditional Irish music. It was fun! I could have stayed there all night listening to the misic, but Malorie wanted to checkout the Late Bar. The Late Bar was was where the younger crowd was and the more modern music. It was part bar and part night club. Not my thing! We stayed in the bar area drinking cider. We met some interesting characters and a really drunk Irishman. People in Ireland get really really drunk in the bars. Everyone is hammered! I didn't like it too much. We met a group of Irish folk and Malorie and I got separated. After a while I went looking around for her, but I could find her or the people she was with anywhere. I think I hung around longer than I should of. I mean, she's a grown woman, but it didn't feel right just leaving her without saying anything. So, I made my way back to the hostel and went to bed. The my fricke'n conscious got the best of me and I walked down to the bar again and tried to find her. It was just on the next block....it's a small town. I didn't see her and the bar was clearing out. I headed back to the hostel. I felt totally bad! I mean, not like we were on a date or anything....just I felt responsible because she had her fair share to drink. If something happened, the guilt would consume me. When I returned to the hostel I met these three girls who were from Ireland. They asked what was up and I was honest and got their advice. They said not to worry and to check with the hostel owner in the morning to ensure that she got in safe. I suppose that some good advice, but it still doesn't help with the worry. As we were talking Malorie walks in and I apologize profusely. We had just gotten split-up. She was totally cool and had wondered what had happened to me. She said that she had such a fun night. I was glad that she was safe and wasn't pissed at me for leaving.

Sadly, that was the last time I saw Malorie. In hostels you meet people like crazy.....even traveling solo you meet a lot of people. Part of it because you all share a common interest which is traveling. You all wound-up at the same spot somehow. Also, you need to force you self to be proactive in meeting people just to have company......and in a local sense you can't really understand people in the particular country you are visiting unless you talk with them. Now, Malorie is pretty much no different than anyone else you meet in a hostel. You'll meet a group and if your lucky you'll go out and have dinner or a drink, share stories, a few laughs, and then you part ways. It's sad to some extent, but really not that big of a deal. It's just important that you make temporary friends and share some good laughs. The reason I bring this up is because thoughout my trip I've ran into people who always talk about how many people that they meet. I like it! I like the idea of meeting people with the pure purpose of just having great conversation and joking around. You know? No preasure! But, I'm picky about who I'll share a drink with..........even those temporary friends.

Irish Cider at O'Flaherty's