3rd Jan - 13th Jan

So I arrive in Dublin and meet up with Amy and head straight to the pub, not even taking my bags home. We have some dinner and a drink then make the journey back to her house to drop off my stuff then head out again; we meet up with the others and hit the town.

Tuesday I slept in and recovered and went for a walk to see what Dublin had to offer, I found the City Sightseeing bus and enquired about the tours. So I ended up buying a 2 day Dublin (hop on, Hop off) bus tour, Wicklow mountains tour and Malahide Castle tour all for 50 euros!!! Alright for 4 days worth of bus tours! So I spent the next 4 days cramming the info and tours and history and everything Dublin and the Republic of Ireland…. So by Saturday I had my tours over and guess what, I hit the piss again, got smashed and went to the Mezz where a band played. So… I totally got hit on, by… the Enrique looking lead singer of the band who was Brazilian with an Irish accent…. Get that? I was flattered by the advance but graciously declined…. And Sunday was the worst hang over I have ever had…. Ever!!

Monday I left on a 3 day Paddy Wagon Northern Ireland tour, so my friends had tried to to explain the division between the Republic and the North but I just didn't get it till I went on the tour.

So the republic is obviously a Republic and independent and the North, a small pocket still is ruled by the monarchy so they are on the same Island but two different countries. So Different rules, different colored markings on the road, different currencies…. Its confusing as! But the reason why there is so much fighting in Northern Ireland is because of this, the native Ireland citizens (Catholics 45%) want independence and the Loyalists (Prodistants 55%) want to remain under the Queen…. So they have basically spent all this time blowing each other up and fighting to prove their points to each other…. Witch none want to budge on….

So we visited Derry and Belfast as well as a few historic stops along the way like the Giants Causeway ect. It was good that about 50% of the people on the tour where traveling alone like me so making friends was super easy and had a great time with them, I met mainly Aussies and Kiwis so I felt as much at home as I could!!!

Anyway… Loved it, Ireland is amazing, defiantly worth the visit and I really want to make it back for good old 17th March… St Patties day!!!