Europe adventure. Day 8 of 34.

Written in the Dublin airport on day 9.

I'm leaving Ireland today, and even though I am going off to have more adventures I am sad that I am leaving this country behind. I'm going to miss it, from the way people say "You okay?" all the time to the way they paint each apartment in a row a subtly different color. I love how friendly Irish people are, though according to one of my tour guides it is just a strong curiosity. Something about being invaded so much as a country and wanting to know their enemy. But honestly, the kindness and acceptance I saw all around was just grand. Even when everyone was getting very drunk, which is what most Irish people do. And the music! I am going to miss the music.

I am also going to miss the nature. There is something so calming and inspiring about the Irish countryside. I saw so many beautiful places, from cliffs and caves to lakes and mountains. Yesterday I went on a tour of Wicklow and Glendalough, which was some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. Our guide, Dennis, was just fantastic. He was just so Irish, wearing a sweater and an Irish hat and smoking a pipe. He was so funny! And when he made all of us tea and coffee he offered "a drop of whiskey". Trust me, it was more than a drop.

When I got back to the city I went back to the apartment and hung out with Arnaud, ate some pasta and caught up on my blog. Then against Arnaud's will I cleaned his house, because it seriously needed it. He kept saying "Would you just stop already? You're way overdoing it," but I think he appreciated it.

At around eleven I decided to go check out a pub called The Black Sheep, which I had seen walking by. It was a very hipstery place with a lot of home brews and expensive, good drinks. I really liked the quirky-ness of it. It reminded me of home for a few different reasons.

Arnaud and I played a couple of board games there at the pub, because of course this place had board games, and we had a lot of fun. It really was a good last night in Dublin. I had started to really like the city once I saw more really fun, less touristy places.

I'll be back, Ireland!