April 18/2010 :: The Adventure Home

Day 86

So my little story continues~

When we last left off we were waking up @ 3:00 am to catch a cab to the airport. We got there, got through security and were set about to wait. However the flight right before ours was canceled due to "adverse weather conditions". I couldn't get a wink of sleep...fearful ours would meet the same fate. But the weather looked fine, gorgeous and clear, I couldn't imagine England [being an hour away] would be so significantly different. We got ready to board but -10 minutes before boarding- we recieved the awful news. Almost every single flight had been canceled.

We were trapped in a mad house.

Luckily we had VT with us and the girl was a savior. She had already researched alternative routes when we were planning the trip originally. She had everything ready. We raced to a computer and bought tickets for the ferry. Then we were off in a taxi to the docks.

Off and away!

The ferry was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. It's a pity I was so exhausted. I slept for most of the 2 hour journey. But it was amazing.

Not our ferry but...you get the idea...gorgeous!

We got to Holyhead and were then faced with another challenge...how do we get to Oxford? Doing this last minute meant we had to throw worries about cost out the window. There was only 1 option. Buy an 80 pound train ticket. It had to be done and I had no qualms about it. In dire situations you need to do whatever you can.

At this point I finally phoned my mom to tell her I was safe. By this point I knew for sure what had happened, I know more now as well.

In Iceland, for the second time this month, a volcano was erupting. It sent ash into the sky and, due to high pressure systems, the ash was not moving and dispersing. The ash could clog up a plane engine and -apparently- scrape paint off an aircraft, get into the air system and choke the passengers and potentially even break the windows. It was real luck that we didn't fly that day. Real luck indeed. [Even now as I write this I have friends still trapped in Europe with no way to get back.]

We got on the train and traveled through Wales. It was gorgeous. I love Wales. It's my favourite. It took hours but we finally got home. 12 hours after our flight was canceled we arrived back in Oxford. I've never been so relieved in my life.

The view from the train along the Welsh northern coast

Got home, phoned my mom again, and then crashed. I don't even remember falling asleep and turning off my light and computer. I was simply so tired.

So there's my Dublin adventure in its entirety. It was exhilarating, enjoyable and harrowing. I had to really buck up and make decisions on the spot and not care about the costs. I had to get home. And I did. I got home. It proves that Oxford really does feel like home.

I couldn't have done it without some people though. Thanks to VT for being so resourceful and knowledgeable about routes. Thanks to Syd and her BF for being there for support and a smile [they're so positive it's amazing]. Thanks to my parents for believing in me even when I was anxious...and for telling me they were proud of me. Really means a lot to know you have the love and support of your parents even when they're across the ocean. Also means a lot to survive such an adventure on your own.

[[expect one more blog post for today...for my position on the newest Doctor Who episode~]]

:: Julianne ::

April 18/2010 :: Dublin

Day 86
Mood: Refreshed and relieved
Weather: Beautiful...I'm surprised I'm in England
Quote of the Trip: "I'm as cute as a camel raised by seagulls....with crabs." [make of it what you will!]

So we're starting off with my Dublin adventure!

It began on Tuesday April 13th @ 1:00 am. We stayed up that late and walked to the bus station where the English bus driver played a very cruel joke on us. Turns out we'd read the ticket wrong and should have picked up the bus at a different stop. The driver proceeded to tell us our seats had been sold and we had no way to get to the airport. He then told us that he had been lying, I refuse to accept that this was some twisted humour, and let us on the bus. We were quite angry. Sleep was attempted on the bus but it was very difficult.

We arrived at Stanstead airport at around 4:00 am and got in line. It went very smoothly through the airport and we got on our Rynair flight without hindrance. Slept and then arrived in Dublin! 40 minute bus ride later and we arrive at Avalon House [our hostel]. I ended up in a loft bed...I didn't care either way...I was just tired.

My little loft~

We had a walking tour of Dublin at this point, free of charge~ Our guide Cillian was adorable! 3 hours later we were in St. Steven's Park. We sat and enjoyed the atmosphere before heading to Oscar Wilde's park.

Overview of Dublin!

Then it was back home. I finally ate my first meal in 24 hours. [food in Ireland is really expensive]. Then at 6:00 in the evening I fell asleep...until 7:00 am the next morning. I was really exhausted.

Day 2~

We started off the day with free breakfast at the hostel. We then went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. I realized, according to cost, I could either see the book or eat that day. I decided food would be my best decision so unfortunately I missed out.

But then we went to the Guinness factory and I had my first taste of Guinness. For 11 euros you got entry and 1.5 free pints of Guinness. Luckily I tried the first half pint and decided I did not like Guinness so I was able to use my ticket to get a free soda instead of another pint. We had a great view of the city from the top of the Guinness factory. It was gorgeous!!

At the Guinness factory

Then we wandered around some more and finally, that evening, we went on a pub crawl. We had some Tapas at one pub and then walked around to find another. Finally we headed back and spotted a pub with live Irish music. We stepped inside and proceeded to have the best time ever!

We randomly met a group of people when a Scottish girl at the table next to ours drank the rest of her boyfriend's Guinness. A group of Irish at the bar spotted her and hence began a hilarious slew of accusations. It was hilarious. Eventually those two tables and ours joined together and we had an absolute hoot! The Scottish and the Irish are so friendly!

Me at the pubs!

Then our evening ended and I went and had a 2 hour sleep...prepared to leave Ireland @ 3:00 am and return to Oxford.

Little did I know how hard that would end up being...

[stay tuned for Part 2 when Iceland ruins our travel plans!!]

:: Julianne ::