In Irlanda!!

Dia dhuit, friends!

That means "hello" in Gaelic--you wanna know why I used that phrase? Because I'm in IRELAND!!! Indeed, we landed last night at Dublin International Airport and stayed at the Four Courts Hostel--which, by the way, is a pretty darn good deal with free internet, free breakfast, clean beds, friendly staff, etc. I wish they'd had this place in Fox Glacier, New Zealand, last summer. Worst hostel experience of my life. Well no, there was that one hostel in Auckland...anyway, I'm here in Ireland for the first, but hopefully not last time in my life! My primary goal on the agenda today is to tour Trinity College and see the Book of Kells, the most famous illuminated manuscript in the world, dating back to the 9th century....I've basically spent half my life dreaming of Trinity and seeing the Book, so who cares about the 13 euro entrance fee!

However, what's possibly even more important about today is that I get to see Meagan Drone and Megan Reece again!! They're here in Dublin studying abroad with St. Mary's College, and are my very, very good friends from the piccolo section of the Notre Dame marching band. I'll be spending the weekend with them, and even join in on an SMC-organized daytrip to the Rock of Cashel and various other historic sites in the Irish countryside tomorrow. Apparently, the Rock of Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick himself in the 5th century AD.

WOW. The Book of Kells *and* castles *and* important religious sites?? This is exactly why I came to Ireland :)

Well, my internet time here at Four Courts is almost up, so I'll have to end this blog post. I realize I never wrote anything about Venice, but in reality, no words can describe Venice during Carnevale!! You just have to experience the wonder for yourself :)


Slan agat, and saol fada chugat (goodbye, and a good life to you),
Laura