I Don't Do Anything that I Can See On A Postcard

May 4th

After a gorgeous breakfast in New York with my lovely Australian companions, I met up with the group on Canal Street. New York really is unreal: so many styles and people and no one seems to bother each other. Except for the painfully aggressive street vendors but thats neither here nor there. After a slice of pizza at Rudys in Little Italy and a stroll around Broadway, we returned to our hotel to claim our luggage and head back to the airport. Hiring what is sure to be a mafia-run van company, we arrived to the airport in black Lexus SUVS after a silent drive. silent because we were afraid that if we were to speak, we would be killed.
For this round, we were not in the airport long. We finally boarded our flight for Ireland! Gorgeous flight-- fed every few seconds with pretzels and Continental's idea of a fulfilling dinner and breakfast. Remained in a perpetual zombie state for most of the flight but got to see the unbelievable landing.
Ireland is exactly how you would imagine it. Sprawling greens hills, medieval architecture and sheeps in pastures everywhere. Horses roams near the streets blocked only by stone walls that look straight out of the Renaissance. We took a car into Galway-- the opposite roads are the most surreal thing to drive on-- and arrived to an Irish breakfast. Our driver was a native of Limerick and spoke joyfully of his trips in America and his plans to return to visit Mississippi. Our breakfast included sausage, black and white pudding, Irish oatmeal and unbelieavble Irish soda bread. Who said I wouldn't eat well in Europe? We proceeded on a walking tour with a "10 Generation Galwayian", Liam, who claimed he was homesick for Galway even when he was there. The town can be walked in 10 minutes flat and is the spot where Columbus landed prior to his journey to America; the harbor still stands with the Spanish arch. Pictures don't do this city justice: it looks positively medieval. We roamed through the oldest churches and down alleys still intact with cobblestone streets. The pubs are unreal, some dating back to the reign of King Charles, and the cafe culture is just gorgeous. We all went out for pastries and coffee, feeling very cultured and native; however, our white socks are apparently very telling of our American status. The natives are so friendly here and very helpful as we fumble around with our Euros and passports.
Joe, our driver, advised us to live among the locals and gave me my favorite quote of the day: "I don't do anything that I can see on a postcard". So valuable here. Will update after our night of Fish and Chips at a sailor's lounge and a pub intact with Irish dancers and Celtic music.

Love you all and miss you heaps xx