To Dublin and Beyond

Yes I know I am running late with the updates and all but here is a little review of my time in Dublin (Aug 11-16th)

Friday 11th: Well I was feeling really sick so I went to Dublin a day late - on the day of the uncovering of the terrorist plots at Heathrow - so it was all chaos - so I took the train instead of the bus. Got to Holyhead sometime in the wee hours of the morning - was shouted at by 60 something Granny who felt my skateboard was alittle too close to her sleeping son - it was over a meter away and we had all had along day so no need to take it out on me.
The ferry was big and steady and like being in a house - I was so tired anyway i just feel asleep the whole way - arriving just after 6:00am. Got my stuff and met up with Shane and Noreen (His Mom) they took me through the city and back to their house, which is 3miles out of the centre. I had some much needed coffee and breakfast and we had a chat and did some catching up. We played some pool and skated the waxed curb down the rd.
Not wanting to waste a day just because I was tired we decided to take one of those topless busses around the city. It allowed me to get a feel for the city and view the major attractions without having to do anything to physical.

Sat 12th: Well a good nite sleep does wonders for the body and brain, I was ready to explore!!
Noreen dropped us off in the City and we had lots to see and do, First of all we went to Dublina - which is a sort of interactive museum about the stories of the Vikings who came to Dublin. You also get to walk up this tower and get a great view across the city. We then walked past Christ Church (very beautiful) then down into the trendy Temple Bar, through the market and had a look into the photographic Gallery. Bizarrely in the middle of Temple Bar on one of the side streets there was a plastic duck in a latern which I took a photo of - no one in site seemed to take claim to this duck, pretty random really. Some interesting Irish street performers where out as we walked towards Trinity College, where we view the Book of Kells - written in 800AD. As well as walk through Trinitys very old library. We checked out the local skateshop had a bite to eat and decided to take the bus home. After a late lunch Shane had told me about a new concrete park/bowl they where building about a 20min skate away so we decided to go and check it out and see how far they had to go to completion - too our luck the concrete had dried and there where people skating it, but you had to find your own way in as it was all fenced off, being quite small we found a hole in the fence and managed to squeeze through. The bowl was pretty big - the biggest concrete one I have ever skated - had a cool session though and all the guys seemed pretty friendly. Although was pretty pooped after the long day - another early night I think.

Sun 13th: So we decided we wanted to explore more of Ireland and picked up a map and picked a place that sounded cool that had places to skate and what we found was Galway which was on the otherside of Ireland about a 3hr train trip, so we packed our stuff and headed out that morning and an adventure. It was cool to see the countryside and relax on the train. I enjoy hanging out with other South Africans as they have the same sense of humor - we had fun talking like we where from the Cape Flats although no one else got our jokes. Shortly after arriving in Galway we went through Eyre Square - perfect place to skate!!! Loads of ledges, waxed and stairs etc...anyway we booked in at Kinlay backpackers. Which was clean and colorful and very central - better than the London one and the staff where very friendly too except for on Russian guy who was abit over protective of the kitchen.
Anyway once we had change and packed our bags away we went in search of the skatepark which was situated behind the cathedral in a beautiful little park near a stream where massive Salmon swam up with people fly-fishy - hmmmmmmmm Irish life.
skatepark was basic but fun and had a good session. After that we had some supper and decided to go see a movie so we walked to the Movie Plex getting lost along the way but finding it eventually. After bagging myself a kids ticket for the movie (bargain) we say Nachos Libra - starring Jake Black - very funny - go see it!!! Dry humor though. After that we had a night skate at Eyre square and then crashed out after another long day.

Mon 14th - After breakfast we made some veggie burgers and packed our stuff and checked-out. We made our way to the skate park and had a long skate session and got to know some of the locals. Near the skatepark we found a wide 3 set with a hubba and a really waxed up step which we had fun grinding on. After that we walked over the bridge and watched the fly fishers for a while trying to catch the huge Salmon swimming upstream. We decided to see what the town (well city) was all about and explored some of the shops and down, loads happening, bustling pubs and street performers. Eventually the street took us down to the river that connect to the sea by the Spanish Arch - there was also a set of 4 stairs which we skated - I just ollied them but shane flip em. At this point i was pretty stiff form all the skating and tied, we had a chill in Eyre square on the grass and at about 6:00pm we boarded our train back to Dublin after a good two days in Galway.

Tues 15th - Ahhhhh my last proper day in Ireland and guess what it's raining - but no fear because what i hadn't done yet but still had to do was luckily indoors - The Guinness Factory!!!!! We went on the tour and it was you know so-so, I mean brewing beer is interesting but not as much as drinking the stuff. We had some Guinness chocolate whilst we read half of the information and made our way up to the bar. Looking like a 13yrs old I went armed with my passport, yet still had uncomfortable stares by one of the staff, anyway had my pint of Guinness which I did not finish but atleast I had one!!! Since it was abit cold and wet we decided to go for some warming soup and headed to Temple Bar where we enjoyed some tomato and Basil soup and some homemade rustic bread - yum yum. We took the bus back which once again I bargained a child ticket. It was Noreen's birthday today, so she took us out (it should have been the other way round though) to a very nice restaurant - I had a yummy Greek salad and some red wine - what a nice way to finish off my stay.

Weds 16th Another early departure - 7:30am. This time I was taking the swift and not the Cruise - the swift only takes 1hr 30 as oppose to 3 and a half hrs but the ferry is alot smaller and moves a whole lot more. so after saying my goodbyes I faced the sea sickness and made my way back to Wales. In one Nauseas piece. It was nice because on the way up it was dark and I did not get to see much of the Welsh Countryside but even though I was tired I didn't want to miss the North, We went along the coast passed Cowny and Boring sorry Bangor and then passed the place with the longest name in the world something something something ......GoGo that's all i know. But wow Wales is so beautiful - it really is one of the most stunning places in the world. I really want to spend some time in the North.
Anyway I arrived in Cardiff at about 2:30 making it to home just after 3:00 - long long day. But had a great time, but it was now time for a nap (hmmmmmmm I'm getting old hahah)