Final days and wrapping up

28.5.
Wax Museum and walking around in the city. Lovely day... Got some more sun burns, though.

After the visit to wax museum I walked around a bit. Then I bought lunch and went to St Stephen's Green park to eat it. The place was packed with picnicers and other people.

It seems that sunshine affects both Finns and the Irish the same; we start sunbathing and spending time outside.

After lunch I basically walked back to the hostel and spent the rest of the day there.

29.5.
Packing and treating my sunburns. They're itchy. Stayed up way too late.

Last look at Dublin.

30.5.

The day I go home. Truly bittersweet. I am so happy to see all my friends and family again, but I've also fallen in love with Ireland, and feel really sad about leaving this place.

Finished packing and had a hostel breakfast. The checkout had to be done by ten thirty, so I decided to go to the airport straight after that. Too bad I couldn't do my check in before four o'clock. :P

Set up my laptop in the McDonald's there, bought coffee, and pottered about for a few hours.

One thing about travelling alone; you really have to decide to trust people. Sometimes you have to ask strangers to take your picture, ask them to watch your stuff or leave the luggage unattended (as close as possible) when you go to the bathroom. So far nothing's been stolen, or lost.

After the check in, I went to the security gates, completely forgetting that I'd left my pocket knife into my handbag. That almost got grabbed by the security, but the foreman said that it's fine, and I can take it... I'm willing to bet that if I had been a man, or wearing a veil, I wouldn't have had that option.

Bought the necessary souvenirs, had lunch/dinner (dunch? linner?), bought another coffee, and then it was time to start searching for the right gate.

Turns out it was about a kilometre away. The airport's huge!

Got to the plane all right. There was a hassle because some people had too much hand luggage that had to be moved to the cargo hold. The plane was packed, I think there was three empty seats, one luckily beside me (had an aisle seat, on row one), so I had a bit of space.

As the plane started its take off, I realised I was crying. I wasn't supposed to cry; I was going home!

Got some napkins from the stewardess, and calmed down. Spent the trip reading Pratchett's Making Money. Got safely home.

Now there's some unpacking and resting to do, before returning to "normal".

The hill of Tara and Newgrange - 27.5.

I got lucky with the weather. For once.

We left for the Hill of Tara at around 10.30. And arrived there around noon.

Mound of the Hostages - Dumha na nGiall

The Rock of Destiny - Lia Fáil

And of course they have to plant Patrick there
as well.

Next up it was a drive to Newgrange - the biggest open passage tomb. But first we had lunch at Newgrange Farm.

NTS: Don't have a tuna sandwich at a place where there
might be cats. Just kidding, this darling got her scratches. <3

Next up was the tomb itself. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the tomb, but it was beautiful.

And that was it. We had a quick stop over at the heritage centre, but nothing special. The drive back to Dublin took about an hour. I think the greatest thing about this tour was meeting the other people on it. They were all wonderful people, and they were from all over the world.

It was only half past four, when we got back to Dublin, so I went to the hostel to change and went back out again. Spent the day window shopping, grabbed some dinner. And because I just didn't want to go back to the hostel yet, I went to see the new X-Men film. :P

Got back to the hostel at around eleven.

Resting days - leaving Galway

24.5.
Had a leisurely morning. Packed my stuff, ready to move into another room for the next night and took them to the luggage room to wait for the afternoon. Had a bit of breakfast, lounged around, and then decided to pop into town for a few hours.

The Galway City is gorgeous, even in the rain. I would love to be there for longer next time... Maybe I should try to get a summer job from there, or something.

I bought flip flops, and sneakers for under 15 euro. :) And then I found a comic book store that had t-shirts... I just had to buy myself a Deadpool tee. <3 It was a bit expensive, but way worth it.

After lunch I returned to the hostel, dried up and put my laptop up in the dining area. Played games for the rest of the day...

My last night in Galway was spent in a ten bed dorm, and disturbed by this damned cold I've got.

25.5.
Checked out, had breakfast and made my way to the bus station. Feeling a bit sad about leaving Galway. I absolutely loved the place, and I will return there. That's a promise I make myself.

Had to wait a bit for the bus to Dublin, about forty minutes, or so, but for once the bus was on time! This cold is making me really tired, so I promptly fell asleep once I was safely on the bus. I was cold the whole three hour drive, but at least it kept me awake for the last fifteen minutes.

When I was taking my backpack from the boot of the bus, hauling it on my back, I fell straight on my ass against another bus. That must have looked ridiculous... But anyway, there was at least three guys helping me up immediately. The people here are so lovely.

Walked the short trip to my hostel, and checked in. I must admit, I was a bit worried, because I'd never gotten a confirmation e-mail, but everything was all right. I took my stuff into my room - top bunk, for a change - and went in search for lunch in the town.

Had fish and chips, and bought a gelato from next door. After that I still didn't feel like going back to the hostel I decided to catch a film. Went to see Godzilla. It was good.

Now I'm back at the hostel. Dead tired and a bit sore from the fall earlier. I think I'm going to take it easy tomorrow, just a trip to the post office, to send some more stuff back home, and getting some food.

Connemara - or Sheep on the Road

Left the hostel at little before ten, again, and headed to the other side of the Bay.

And I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

Ross Errilly Friary from the 14th century

They're planning of restoring a part of the roof
and making the place "tourist friendly"
but I preferred it this way.

Cong.

This is where The Quiet Man, a John Wayne film from the 50s was filmed. And it shows. ;)

Cong Abbey

There were fishermen everywhere, as well.

Sheep. They were everywhere.

 Lough Na Phooey (?) valley.

A school from 1800s and early 1900s. This small building
for the huge valley. O.O

Killary Fjord. The only one in Ireland.

Mussel farms.

Those pink flowers are rhododendrons.

A May bush. You make a wish and leave
something of your to make it come true.

Kylemore Abbey.

On the way back. One more photo stop at Lough Inagh.

After this I promptly fell asleep for an hour... I must be getting sick.