Thursday, my flight was scheduled to leave from Dulles at 8:40 pm. I got there, and when I checked in, I was told that my flight was going to be pushed back an hour because of the mechanics of the airline I was taking. They had gone on strike, and caused all flights to be delayed. It was all good though because I got to hang out with Mom, Dad and Aimee for another hour at the airport. We got cinna-sticks and lemonade to hold us over :) I was SOOO glad that my parents and Aimee met me at the airport. I love you guys and I miss you so much already (Meri and Allie too)!!!!
Aunt Annette, THANK YOU SO MUCH for knowing everything about traveling. Everything you told me was very helpful and got me here in one piece. You rock!
Also thanks to Keith, Kay. You guys were a huge help with my flight and everything! Thank you so much and I am taking LOTS of pictures!
Oh yea... back to my flight. So my flight actually got delayed 4 HOURS! We were still sitting in the airport 4 hours later waiting to board the plane because of the strike (it was kinda good though because I got to call/text all my friends for one last time before I left). When I finally got to Amsterdam, VIVIENNE, DOLORES, and EFE were waiting for me at the arrivals gate.
We got my bags and put them into a locker at the airport for 24 hours and it cost only 8 euros. So I was basically stuck in the clothes that I had been wearing since Thursday morning when I left JMU. No big deal though. We left the airport and headed right into the heart of the city. We first went all around just to look at the different sites. Then we headed to a pizza place because my friends had a little too much fun the night before and needed some food to cure themselves.
After pizza, Vivienne's sister, Efe, had to leave because she had other plans that night for one of her friend's birthday party. So it was just the three amigos out to explore the city. We walked and just saw different things. We saw the "coffee shops" where they don't actually sell coffee.
Once it started to get later, we decided it was time to hit up the red light district! We went and just looked at all the different places where there were girls standing and dancing in the windows. It was very eye opening. It kind of made me sad to see that this is what these girls had to do to make money.
Once we got our fair share of hookers, we ventured on to find Anne Frank's house. We found it on the map, and although it looked kinda far, we figured, why not? What else were we going to do at that time? So we walked the direction of the house. Then we saw a church and got confused on the map and thought we were walking the wrong way so we turned around and walked like 10 blocks the other way. We finally asked for directions, and the lady told us that it was right behind the church that we were at before. We said "forget it," and kept going in the direction we were headed because the main bar places were only 2 or 3 blocks away. I decided that the Anne Frank house is something that I could go and see on my own on my way back to America.
So we made it to the bars, and it started to rain. The first place we went into, ironically, was an irish pub. We ordered Rose Beer (PINK BEER!). It was sooo yummy. Mom, you would've loved it!
The next bar that we went to was like a bar/club. We walked in and only stayed for a little because we were all exhausted. We just had 2 drinks, danced a little (the european way, no booty bumpin') and then headed out. We made our way onto a bus in the pouring rain and ventured back to Vivienne's sister's apartment on her university campus. It was really nice! She had her bed, a couch and a bathroom all to herself.
The next morning we woke up, took the bus and then the train to the airport where we had breakfast/lunch. After that, we got my luggage and I was on my way to Ireland. I skyped my dad while I was in the airport totally forgetting the time difference and didn't even realize that it was 5 am his time and 11am my time! SORRY DAD. Anyway, made it to Dublin safe and sound... on the plane at least.
Once I got off the plane I caught a bus. The bus driver took me like 30 minutes from the airport and left me on the side of the road. I had no clue where I was. I asked someone and they directed me to the campus. So there I was, walking onto the biggest campus in Europe, no clue where I was going, and no left wheel on my luggage (oh yea, forgot to tell you that I lost it somewhere between D.C. and Dublin). Oh well, I am here now, settled in my room, and we went out exploring today. We're waiting for 3 or 4 more people to arrive tomorrow, and then we will have our orientation and hopefully go out for a night on the town! I can't wait to see what Dublin is all about!!!
xoxo
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