Ireland

Dublin was awesome!  Very touristy...got at the hostel very early in the morning and could not check in until after 2pm.  So....I went on a FREE walking tour and checked out some historical places, the city hall, Trinity College, etc.  Also, that night I ran into this awesome live wind/drums band and enjoyed some really awesome and authentic music.  Yup, I was that tourist head banging to the music in the crowd!  :)  Then I went to Belfast, searched for my hostel for almost half the day because I could not find it, finally found it, booked my ferry over to Scotland and went to dinner and that is all I had time for in Belfast, Ireland.  Belfast was definitely not my favorite, a little bit scary actually.  The hostel was even worse.  The shower did not drain and the hostel itself seemed like it was going to crumble down.  Needless to say I woke up at 430 am in order to catch a 6am taxi lol, yup it was THAT bad.  Now, I am in Scotland.  While I was on the ferry, I met a random Irish man that lived in Scotland and he showed me around the really nice hilly parts of Scotland.  So, random and although I may have been a little too trusting getting in a car with an Irish man, it saved me money and fortunately did not cost me my life and I had a fabulous time enjoying the non-touristy areas of the hills and lochs (lakes)--beautiful and breath-taking!  Here are some pictures from Ireland and some from the live band we saw.  The music was awesome.  Keep posted for some more things from Scotland.  I will be going to the castle and a place where the Queen stays while she is in Edinburgh, Scotland and then maybe a little hike in one of their parks.  This has been freakin' awesome so far.  Tried posting pictures and it is just taking WAYYY too long.  Sorry folks, maybe when I actually have some time on my hands.

thanks again all for your thoughts, prayers, and support,
Anne

At the Airport!

Hey all!  I am at ATX airport waiting to depart to North Carolina for a layover and then here I go.  I am feeling anxious, nervous, kind of want to throw up in my mouth kind of EXCITED!  I keep running through my head whether or not I packed everything that I needed.  I circled my house probably about 4, 5, 6, 7...or so times making sure I didn't leave anything.  I will be able to text (I am hoping) with an app I got on my ipod touch while I have wifi.  So, cross your fingers.  Alrighty, keep posted for pictures soon!  Post to you guys later.

P.S. Also, when you guys reply or post anything please put your name.  I don't have ESP guys!!  ;)

Anne

Anticipation, 7 more days!

There are only 7 days until I depart for Europe landing in Dublin, Ireland and mingling with the locals while drinking warm beer.  UGH!  Everyone thinks I am craaazy for traveling alone but as it turns out, it just seems free-ing to me.  Noone to answer to, noone to tell me where to go and when I need to do it, just me, Europe, and my backpack.  Everyone says I am doing like the bookk Eat, pray, love...?  I do not know since I have not watched the movie or read the book.  I have always been talking about traveling, backpacking, hiking, and exploring the world and since I can now, I am and will.  Watch out Europe, here I come!  Please keep posted for pictures and more blogging to come.  This is my first time blogging so bare with me all!  Thanks for all the support everyone has given me throughout my struggles and this process, I appreciate it more than you will ever know.

Anne