June 15

Quite a day today. We got up and went to orientation at 9:15. It was pretty tiring, but I guess semi-informative. That was at DCU: Dublin City University.

(Walking through the university.)

(Orientation lecture.)

(All these kids ride these scooter things.)


When we got back from the lecture it was almost 2, so we grabbed some lunch at the Spar (local convenience store) and ate outside in the Shanowen Square quad. It was a hot Dublin day, aka 64 degrees.

After lunch, we were all tired from orientation, and still jet lagged somewhat, so we all retired to our rooms and took a nap. We met back up at 4. Our group kept seeming to multiply randomly, so it was hectic but fun getting to know everybody. So the plan was:
#1: Explore the city. None of us had really been into what's referred to as "City Centre"...basically the busy urban hustle and bustle part of the city. So that was the first goal.
#2: Get bus passes! We all have interviews either tomorrow, Thursday, or Friday and 90% of us will have to take buses (plural) to reach work everyday. Since the bus fare for one ride is a euro-sixty.. it adds up really, really fast.

So off we went.

(Attempting a group picture outside the Spar at Shanowen Square.)

So ironically, in order to go buy a bus pass, we had to take the bus. This is the closest bus stop to our apartments, but the signs are vague and the schedule is extremely confusing, so as confused American tourists do... we stood frustrated at the sign for a while.

(Told ya.)

We finally got on the 16 line. Heading into the City Centre.

(Maggie and Mandy, from Wisconsin.)

So... let me tell you a little story. We talked to about 30 people from different places asking how to get the monthly bus pass. Also, I need a pass that's a combination between the bus pass and the luas (Dublin's light-rail tram system), because I have to take both, to and from work everyday. Anyways, this is what we were told by 90% of the people we questioned.

They said, there is a process to get a bus pass. As far as we understood, we all had to:
#1: Get an "ISIC" card. Some members of the group got this card before they left the States. Most of us had not. It basically is like your International ID in Ireland, since we aren't Irish.

#2: After you have the ISIC card, you can go to Trinity College and apply for the Student Travel Card. We would get passport photos taken there and have this card made for us. It seems like an optional card, because it's purpose is to get you travel discounts on trains, ferries, buses, etc. But it's not optional. We have to pay the 15 euro fee to have the card made, in order to get these later discounts. And it's required for step three.

#3: Once we have the Student Travel Card, we can go buy the bus passes. Whew!

So, after we have figured all this out from various credible people, we thought we had the plan down. But at this time it was 6:30, and all the buildings we had to go to had closed at 5. So we saved the plan for another day, and explored the city for the rest of the night. PS- In Ireland, the sun doesn't fully go down until 11:30 pm... so that throws off your balance, but let's you feel like you can stay out later :)

(O'Connell Street: The main street in the City Centre. Similar to Broadway in Times Square in NYC.)

(More shots down O'Connell Street.)

(A pretty building.)

(O'Connell Street.)

(O'Connell Street.)

(O'Connell Street heading towards Aston Quay, I believe. Don't quote me though.)

(The River Liffy.)

As we walked down O'Connell, we soon found ourselves in the Temple Bar District. Which was pretty great. I look forward to spending a lot of time there. It seems like this area is known for shops and restaurants, but more of the young night life area in Dublin. Lots of pubs, cobblestone, and Irish bands.

(Megan from Oregon. She's excited to go to Temple Bar, too. )

(Temple Bar District.)

(That's right.)

(Temple Bar District.)

(Street signs in Dublin are extremely rare. No joke. So this was pretty impressive.)

(Temple Bar District.)

(Temple Bar District.)

(We got dinner in the Temple Bar area at a place called La Caverna. Is it pathetic that the best food I've had since I've been here was Italian?)

(We aren't tourists. Nahh.)

After dinner and a little cheesy shopping, we headed back to O'Connell Street to catch the bus back home.

(O'Connell Street.)

(Love the distortion that's happening in this picture.)

(This statue stands on O'Connell Street also. Not sure what it means, though.)

(Julie, Casey, Maggie, and Mandy on the bus ride home.)

(Jenny and myself.)

(Random last image of the day shows that the Irish have doorknobs in the middle of their doors.)



In conclusion: Long day. And unfruitful for the bus passes. But fun exploring :)