October 28, 29 2014 Travel Journal
Only a few days in and already lazing about! I guess it doesn't count because Dublin was a bit of a waystation for me (one of these days I'll give Ireland its due!), but I do feel a bit bad about it--Tuesday was supposed to be my Dublin day, but it was pouring rain and I was so tremendously jet-lagged.
I arrived in Dublin at about 8am--just a touch late--to a grey, dismal sky that was spitting just a bit of rain. Caught the 747 bus right at the terminal, which was useful, if expensive (€ for a return, which really isn't too much in the grand scheme of things, I suppose), which took me to Ushers Quay, just across the bridge from the hostel I had booked, the Generator Hostel Dublin. I was much, much too early to check in, so I was going to recharge my tablet and head out, only to find that once I'd parked my arse I was unable to move it again. Oops.
The hostel itself was my first experience with a hostel, and as far as that goes, I think it was a great way to ease into the idea. I was very nervous at first because I'd booked a bed in a six-bed mixed room, only to find it was me and six dudes--for female solo travelers, I'd recommend sticking with a female-only dorm, unless you're sure you're comfortable with that situation. It's not actually that bad; I wasn't uncomfortable, but it you think you might, it's something to consider. The hostel itself is really large and easy to find, even though my sense of direction is really remarkably bad. It's got lovely open spaces inside, too, and it's very conveniently located, with lots of food all around (including a very lovely little grocery store with really nice staff directly across the plaza). The rooms were much larger than I was expecting--very like a hotel room that had been gutted and replaced with bunk beds--and very clean. I recommend springing for the en suite bathroom, since I've seen the shared bathrooms and that's not something I cared for, but I wouldn't bother with breakfast, since €4 is cheap for breakfast but for around the same amount you could stop at the grocery across the way. If you are curious about the breakfast, it's very basic (but delicious): boiled eggs, bread, tomatoes, cheese, cereal, yoghurt, tinned fruits, coffee, tea, etc.
I meant to go across the river to the castle on Tuesday, and of course that didn't happen. I popped across the plaza for dinner and ate in the hostel open space, then showered off the travel grime and took a nap, after which I goofed around on the internet--the hostel has pretty decent free wifi available everywhere, and the beds have two power points built into them--before going back to sleep. That's the 28th spent--and wasted--but I think I may have been more jetlagged than I'd thought I was. Ah, well.
The next day was traveling on to London. I probably could have rushed out and done something--the weather was much nicer, and pretty--but I decided to hang about and take the day a bit slower. I got up at about 8:30, packed up everything (except my towel! I got to London and realized I'd left it on the hook in the bathroom, rats. I'm debating picking up another while I'm out shopping, but maybe not. We'll see!), and had breakfast, then checked out just a bit before the actual checkout time at 10am. I meandered my way out to find a cash machine and then poked around Tesco for a lunch to take with me, then headed up to O'Connell and caught the bus back to the airport after a little bit of wandering there.
Dublin Airport was, as always, easy and convenient. Compared to that, all I can say is ugh, Gatwick. The airport itself is pretty inside and easy enough to get around--the bathrooms are kind of incredible; I think the flat in Bayswater I like to rent was nearly the same size as the cubicles, good lord--but seriously, ugh, Gatwick. It's so inconveniently located and so far from everything. I had a reservation with EasyBus for a transfer from Gatwick to West Brompton, and I couldn't anti-rec them enough. EasyBus is horrible, horrible, horrible--neither easy nor a bus, really; two of the four "buses" that came to the stop after the time on my ticket said, "No, I'm not picking anyone up because it's time for me to go on break. You'll have to catch the next one." One was going to Waterloo instead of West Brompton and the driver was really rude about even talking to those of us who were going to the other end point. It was even more disappointing to see the National Rail bus going to Victoria leave at least four times like clockwork--I may have already paid for a return from EasyBus, but I'm considering reserving a seat from Victoria instead. We were over an hour late from Gatwick because of EasyBus (and only got out when we did because one of the ladies refused to take "no" for an answer from the fourth driver to come by), and the "bus" itself was absolutely miserable: small--much too small for a decent amount of luggage from anyone--with tiny, tight seats that hurt so much to sit in--my knees were jammed into the back of the seat in front of me, and there was no room to stretch at all--just. Ugh. EasyBus was a fucking miserable experience.
Once we finally arrived, it was smooth sailing. As soon as I saw the familiar sign for the tube, I was able to figure out where to go. Fortunately, my Oyster had enough money on it to get me to where I'm staying, and I had a pleasant evening chatting with the folks I'm staying with. Today is fairly relaxed--we're going Halloween costume hunting!--and I'm taking advantage of the slow pace to watch telly and update here. Hurrah!
