Again and again and again and again

It never ends!

A Break from Wine

Walking through Dublin is like a perpetual game of Laser Tag. This is only kind of a joke. See, the cross walks make the most ridiculous sounds, so much so that when I was intended to cross the street all I could think of was being released from the Briefing Room and into the game. For those of you who aren't avid laser taggers, what I mean is that being in Dublin is like living in the future. Except everyone is a lot less attractive than you'd hoped and imagined...
Aside from that, my trip revolved almost entirely around three things: James Joyce, grassy fields, and beer. I have no complaints.
Cameron and I went to the Guinness factory where I got unreasonably drunk off my free pint that was included in the entry fee. This was my fault, because for whatever reason I had convinced myself it would be easier/better to stay up all night rather than having to wake up for my early flight. This resulted in a useless half an hour of sleep that night, intense grumpiness, four naps, and general discontentment. Whatever though, right?
We also went to several writing-oriented museums and centers, parks with lovely sunshine and several pubs.
Then there was the volcano. To be fair, I can't even be that mad about it. It's too funny. I got trapped in Ireland because of a volcano. My flight out was cancelled, I had to take a ferry to Holyhead where I stayed overnight in the train station for eight hours in and out of consciousness, and was on various trains for the next five hours until finally I got back to home sweet New Cross because of a volcano. This appeals too much to my sense of humor to really be that upsetting.
In all honesty, though, I've never missed a place as much as I missed New Cross for those few days. I was completely ecstatic to get back. And the following day other people started trickling in and we ended up having a bit of a welcome back party. It feels good to be home.

I've met someone

Dear Solitude,

It's been great. I've missed you. However, considering the near future, my close relationships with the people I love, and the fact that you are a fair weather friend, I'm going to have to end things for now. Though I'm sure we'll meet again, it just isn't the right time in my life. Thanks for all of the fantastic music you've shared with me.

Until next time,
Rachel

Tricks and Treats

Most mornings while in Paris my friends and I would wake up and I would initiate a conversation about our dreams. In one of mine, magic existed. The only thing was, no one believed me and I had no way of proving it. Thinking about our time in Paris now, it occurred to me that we'll never again go on a trip together, that exact group of people. I hope everyone else realises how magical it was.

I'm Just an Animal Lookin' for a Home

As promised, this is a TRAVEL update. It's funny, I've called this a 'Travel Blog' but to be honest Paris was the first legitimate trip I've taken. You know, aside from moving to London and all. Anyway, Paris was incredible and I've got loads to share with you, dear reader!
We arrived Samedi, le 27 Mars in the evening, argued about how to get to our hostel (though I'd looked it up just before leaving our flat) and eventually took the train to Gare du Nord where we promptly took the wrong exit and got lost. After too much walking in the wrong direction we finally made it, tired and a little grumpy (though our only rule was "No Being Grumpy In Paris." This was broken several more times). We met up with Kristen and Courtney, completing out group, and had a later dinner at BIP Burger across the street where I first dipped my toes in the icy waters of the French language. To my surprise, it went well. My confidence in my speaking skills were restored almost instantly and I ended up communicating for the entire group the majority of the time. Team Rachel: 1. We then searched for somewhere to drink and found a cute little place where we all had grenadine beer (mmm!) and James ate his first of something like eight French steaks. We think this may have caught up to him our last night there. I had a world of trouble sleeping the first night, and most to be honest, but it was all right. On day two we woke up early for the Bastille market which was full of fresh produce, cheap wine and gorgeous breads and cheeses. After spending a few hours there we embarked on our hunt for a dry place to eat. No such luck. Eventually we just say on the edge of some nondescript building that was shielded from the rain and had evaded the wet now covering the ground and all benches along our way towards Le Cimetière du Père Lachaise. Once there we visited the graves of Jim Morrison, Chopin and Oscar Wilde. Oscar's was the only one I really cared to see, and it was well worth the long trek to the back of the cemetery. It was a huge monument covered in lipstick kisses. After all this walking we had to take a nap and stayed near the hostel for the rest of the night. This was also when I met my first of many "French boyfriends." Make no mistake, this was not by choice. I had heard stories about aggressive (and often drunk Frenchmen) and how they act towards women, and was prepared for this, but GEEZ! This first one, Alex was highly intoxicated and could not speak a lick of English, but I was actually able to hold a descent conversation with him. I ended up writing my name for him on a pokemon card so he could find me on facebook, which, fortunately, never happened.
The next morning we woke up much later than planned. Fortunately, though, we had planned to explore Montmarte, the area in which we were staying so we didn't waste any time traveling. The first stop was Sacré Coeur. It's on top of a massive hill, but the climb up is gorgeous--loads of stone steps, green grass and lovely gardens. Then there's the view. After each tier of steps we tackled, we'd turn around for an increasingly breathtaking view of the city. By the end of it we were looking at the best view in Paris--and it was! I think maybe it was the first time I missed romance on our trip. My enchantment didn't last long: we went inside. The cathedral was huge and had amazing architecture, but it was absolutely haunting. Between the inappropriately ominous organ chords, the enforced silence, the vastness of the place, the comic-esque stained glass and the general feeling of cultish religious devotion and disapproval of me personally, I was pretty uncomfortable. We explored the rest of Montmartre including the artsy cafes and knick-knack shops, Moulin Rouge, a sex shop called Sexedrone, etc. That night we ate dinner and built a fort at the hostel where we played drinking games and may or may not have napped a little. We wanted to go somewhere but instead had grenadine beer on the benches outside the hostel. We had a long day ahead of us.
We started with the Jardin du Luxembourg, which was impressive, cute and relaxing. Then there was a lot of walking (through the Latin Quarter) in order to get to Notre Dame, which was also nice from the outside and a little intimidating within. We walked more, ate a nice (albeit expensive) lunch at a restaurant along the river where we all tried escargot. It wasn't bad. We continued on our way to Champs-Élyseés but had to stop at at least four pet shops, one after another, along the same stretch of road. Finally we reaches Champs-Élyseés, checked out a few shops, and ultimately walked the entire road to L'Arc du Triumph. I actually enjoyed this much more than I'd expected to. It was beautiful, huge and so intricate. I loved it. And then onward-ho in the direction of the Eiffel Tower. It was worth the journey. It was just getting dark when we reached it and it was absolutely incredible. The top tier was closed so instead of going up it we talked to the hill nearby and got to bask in its glory. And it was so glorious. After half an hour or so, we went for an over-priced and underwhelming bite to eat before heading back. Then the drinking began and I met "French boyfriend number 2." He actually kissed me and I was too tired to attempt to communicate but was able to fend him off fairly easily. Bed was nice that night.
Then it was Wednesday morning and everyone got up too late to do anything before my train left for Angers (Ahn-jhey...sort of). I took the metro to the most confusing center for public transportation I have ever been to. After wandering aimlessly, lucking into picking up my tickets, not seeing where my train was and actually getting on the wrong train, I finally found it in the nick of time. Angers was lovely. It's small but not rural. Cameron took me all around--to his university, the cafes and bars he frequents, to the river, the gardens, le centre-ville. I was mostly exhausted the entire time, but it was great. The first night we ate soufflé, which was probably my favorite meal in France. I returned to Paris on Friday.
Immediately upon arrival my phone died and I was unable to get in contact with my friends and ended up spending most of the day waiting around at the hostel. Aside from lunch. I went to a place just around the corner, and upon leaving some guy walking past outside stopped for a look at me. When I got out the door he was waiting for me. He spoke no English and only some strange dialect of French I was too tired to even try to understand. He followed me to the hostel where he proceeded to tell me he loved me, kissed me several times, and told me he'd meet me outside at 12 that night. I made certain to not be around at 12. Instead we met up with Sara's friend who studies in Paris and hit a few bars, one vaguely Mexican themed where we had margaritas.
The next day, our last full day in Paris, was kind of a bust. We went to Versailles and were severely unimpressed. For 13 Euros we had expected a bit more. At least entrance to the gardens. Oh well. When we went out that night James felt sick (maybe all the steak?) and Liam and I got into a stupid fight. Everyone went to bed kind of angry.
For our last day we went once more to the Eiffel Tower and had a nice time.

Overall, Paris was great. Maybe I'll see you there some day.