Vagabonding : 2006 August |

Journey to Sverige!

More »

I thought that maybe the airline was giving away free ticket vouchers, or maybe that the airport was on fire, but no - it was the “French” queue forming up for my flight to Sweden from Dublin on the budget airline.

It was so funny, we all sat for over an hour in an orderly fashion, being good little adults, reading newspapers, giving quick glances at each other. Then, with one announcement from the airline attendant, people were on their feet and fighting to get in the queue for open seating. Since I am new to budget airlines, I thought that maybe only part of the seats had cushions and everyone else had to sit on wooden benches for the flight? Im not sure what the motivation was, but I breathed a swoosh of air out as the old lady beside of me threw an elbow into my ribs so that she could move forward one slot. I memorized her face in hopes that I run into her in a dark street somewhere.

(Read more…)

Posted in Sweden | Tags: Stockholm, Sweden, travel

Goodbye Ireland

More »

In a few hours I board a plane for Stockholm to begin a new chapter of my trip.

After 18 days in Ireland, I find it hard to leave. The people, the scenery, and the pubs have been more than outstanding. I will probably break my legs and my budget coming back here again real soon.

(Read more…)

Posted in Ireland | Tags: dublin, Ireland, travel

Sheila’s hostel

More »

I didn’t know if I should be angry or laugh my butt off.

One of my 7 new roomates at Sheila’s hostel, a large full facility hostel across the river, had just managed to somehow find his way home after 03:00am. I was sleeping in a top bunk near the door, so before he even entered the room, my spider-sense has gone off and I was awake as he was outside the door fumbling with his key card. It was a friday night and he had made good use of it by pounding his liver into submission with God knows what. He made made a half hearted effort to get undressed, which resulted in his pants around his knees (one shoe still on). then he belly flopped into the nearest bottom bunk, much to the surprise of the sleeping occupant. They argued for a while in what I think was Dutch, then the drunk bastard fell asleep in the floor. He was still lying there when I got up to pack my backpack in the cramped quarters this morning.

(Read more…)

Posted in Ireland | Tags: cork, hostel, Ireland, travel