Day 4: Long Bus Rides in the Rain and Mingling in Dingle

The title really says it all. Lots of long bus rides in the rain as we crossed over Ireland to Dingle in the West. I took some pictures while on the bus, but most didn't turn out well due to the rain. We found out some interesting things about Ireland buses- 1) they're cheaper than trains, not too much slower, and much less timely; 2) some are nice and clean while others aren't; 3) many kids (American high school equivalent I would guess) take them to school and back; and 4) going in and out of Limerick takes about three times as long as you plan for. The last point is quite significant. We managed to miss our transfer in Limerick, which got us into Dingle much later than anticipated. I don't even think the delay was due to traffic since there was a little in Dublin, but not much, and we were over an hour late. Also, somehow, our backpacks managed to get wet (Allie's was soaked, mine was a little damp). The wait for the next bus to Tralee was eventful because of this. Wanting to keep our bags dry and with little resources, we ended up coming up with the plan to cover them in plastic garbage bags. There were a couple of little places (sort of mini-convenience stores that aren't attached to gas stations) nearby the bus station, so Allie went out looking. She found one with garbage bags, but they didn't take cards. The second time I sent her back with pounds instead of euros, but the third time's the charm, and she came back, a little wetter than she had left, with a roll of black garbage bags. (There's a picture of Allie with her garbage bags and wet backpack.) The bus to Tralee was also rainy and unremarkable, as was the final leg of the journey from Tralee to Dingle. Once arriving in Dingle, things got a little better.

We spent part of the bus ride looking at hostels in Dingle. By far, the best looked like the Rainbow Hostel, described in my book as a "pot o'gold". It was a farmhouse about a mile from town, described as comfortable, clean, and having great management. The mile outside of town concerned us at first (since it was still raining) but they also had a courtesy shuttle that ran into town. We decided to find a pay phone and call the hostel when we got to Dingle town and ask for a ride. However, when we got off the bus, there it was waiting. (Apparently, they meet every bus, but all we knew was that it was a gift sent from the heavens.) The driver even waited for us to run into the grocery store and use the ATM, since they didn't take cards. It was also cheaper than the hostel in Dublin and by far nicer. They were a little full that night, so we ended sleeping in the converted stables which were surprisingly comfortable, the only downside being one of the other people in the room snored. (Ah, the perils of staying in hostel dorms...)

Since we had been eating out of grocery stores primarily to save money, we decided to have some genuine Irish pub food at Murphy's Pub. It was at this pub that I fell in love with Irish soda bread. (Delicious...) The food was good, and they had a nightly music session going on- three local male musicians who played various stringed instruments and sang ballads (some old, some new, some sweet, and some...raunchy). Overall, very enjoyable, if a little touristy. A little like DisneyIreland, if you get my meaning. I'd say a good 80 to 90% of the people in the pub were probably tourists.

We ended the day back in our stable dorm, hoping that it wouldn't be rainy again tomorrow, since a bike ride of the Dingle Peninsula was the plan.