"THE BIG DAY"

Hokay. I am in Paris at the moment, but we'll get to that later. I'm gonna get St. Paddy's taken care of in this post and then immediately write one for Paris. K? K.

So St. Patrick's day, otherwise known as St. Paddy's, or if you're in Dublin "The Big Day".

We got up a little later than planned and headed towards the post office. Closed. Unsurprising considering the importance of this day. So after that we went to find a spot for the parade. It was scheduled to start at 12 and we found a spot around 11am. This hour wait would've been fine if we hadn't been at the end of the parade route. Essentially the parade got to us at 1 and then ended.

After the parade, which was fun, but had an unnecessary number of tribal and eastern displays, we decided to check out the Guinness Storehouse and take the tour and all that. So, consulting our handy dandy map of Dublin, we figured out that we just needed to walk along the river and then it would be on our left. According the some website that I had checked out it was about a 20 minute walk from Trinity. LIES!!!!!

After 40 minutes of lugging around the crap we needed to ship we FINALLY made it. Except, we didn't. Its like a friggin labyrinth to get to the entrance. I swear we made a full circle at some point. Anyhoo, we pay our fee and waltz on into the storehouse.

It was fun. Since it was "the big day" they had like four bands playing (each on a different level) and everyone was, of course, all decked out in their green. The tour (which is self-guided) was interesting. They definitely have a lovely layout and the process is fairly easy to grasp by reading the signs and such. Only, having been on the intimate tour of Boulder Brewing Co., it seemed kind of boring. Part of the fun of brewery tours is the guide.

We wandered for a while and then made our way up to the Gravity Bar, which is a 360 view of Dublin. Going up in the elevator is fun and kind of like Charlie in the glass elevator at the end of Willy Wonka. We had already had our little tasting glass of Guinness on the third floor and decided to forego the free pint because...well, guinness tastes bad. Just saying, not a big fan.

The view was interesting. I think maybe, it would be cooler at night, cause the city is...well...dirty. It just looks like a dirty city from above. Not pretty at all. I'm thinking in the cover of darkness with only dots lighting the city it would look cool. Who knows?

So after that we grabbed a cab back to the hostel with the intention of resting up for a couple of hours. We met our Canadian roommates Europa and some girl whose name I don't recall and they were kinda cool. They seemed nice, but Europa is a center of attention kind of girl, whose apparent claim to fame is about 3 degrees from the stars of Degrassi. So they leave to go drink and I head down to the lounge to pop on the net for a few before squeezing in a nap. Emily comes to join me about 20 minutes later with the news that the other three have returned and deliberately woke her up from her nap to ask if they could have some peanut butter. Europa's reaction to finding out she woke her up "Oh, well shorter naps are better for you anyway". Yeah *shakes head*.

So we decide to head out about 7pm and don't even get to a bar before we hear "Are you from America?"

HOW CAN THEY TELL?????????

We were wearing various shades of green like everyone else!

So we ended up taking to 3 guys (Colin, Kevin, and Flick, who is also a Kevin) for awhile about various American television shows they we watch. It was just simple fun. Oh, and Em and I were sipping out of a bottle that had Malibu and Pineapple juice in it.

The boys were hilarious and we were having a great time, but we wanted to get drunk so we all headed to the shop to buy some beer. During our time with them we learned that in Ireland they call alcohol "drink", because really, what else are they drinking?

So after buying some drink, we set off to find some place where the police wouldn't see us drinking in public, because as much as it feels like it, Dublin is not Vegas. No drinking in public places :(

One thing I forgot to mention about our new friends. Only one of them is legally allowed to drink. That's right, we spent St. Paddy's with 17 yr. olds. I know what you're thinking: that's retarded/lame. But it wasn't. It was actually really fucking fun. Firstly, 95% of the time they don't act like annoying teenagers. Secondly, they were super ridiculously entertaining. Thirdly, we all wanted to get drunk so who cares?!

Anyhoodles, since they were underage the only bar that they could easily get into is a gay bar. Yes, a gay bar. So we head on over and we all get in except Colin, who was so sure they'd get in. Ha! So I go out to try to get him in and we eventually succeed after he takes his hat off. Weird.

This bar was so gay. The decor wasn't, it looked like a regular club, but the music. OMG. The only way it could've been more gay is if it was remixed showtunes.

We made our way upstairs and hung out (finishing my can of beer that I accidentally snuck in) and then decided to go downstairs. I bought us all a round of drinks and there was much dancing, laughing, drinking for the next while.

Oh, yeah. Btw I totally slid down the last 4-5 steps when we came downstairs. Totally didn't feel it until yesterday. Ouch. And yes, I was drunk.

Moving on. We were there for a good amount of time. I have no idea how long since I was drunk. Suffice to say the younguns missed the last bus and had to take a taxi.

Kel...Ireland was represented, but the competitor was a little...shall we say green?...and the lack of spark kinda made it more like a lesson. Yes, it was a cougar moment (which thoroughly amuses me). But, in Ireland's defense, with a little more experience they can be definite winners. So far, Scotland still in first. I'm pretty sure France isn't gonna happen, because my general reaction to them is "ew".

K, enough of that. After we sent the boys off to their homes, we headed out to do some drinking. We swung by Temple Bar but it was waaaaaaaay too packed so we hopped next door. Had a cider and danced some more before heading back to the hostel.

Then my alarm went of at 7am and I woke up not knowing where I was, what was making that noise, and why the room was spinning.

Good times.

That was my big day, how was yours?