The last bit of Europe

It's one of those days where you get up really early and so feel like you've been up for ages when it's only 1 in the afternoon. I was up at 3:30 this morning to catch my 6:40 flight from Dublin back to Berlin, and already it feels like days ago that I was creeping around the dark hostel room, trying not to wake the other eleven people as I packed my nightclothes and toothbrush.

And I only got about three hours of sleep last night, so I hope you'll excuse me from writing an extensive entry about the Ireland trip. I had a really good time - I split the nine days between Dublin and Galway, and took a few day trips out into the countryside and one to the Aran Islands. I crossed the country in a bus (twice) and saw a lot of sheep that had a recently-sheared look. I met some friendly people in the hostel in Galway and drank a few pints with them. And I did a lot of walking. I wish that I'd been able to stay longer and see more of the country, but I don't regret staying so long in either city - I'd much rather stay a few days in one place and get the lay of the land than dash around somewhere new every day. And it was nice to have moments of just sitting by the water or walking through a field.

The problem with overstaying my visa that I'd been worried about did not materialize - the woman at passport control at the aiport was more concered with the beaten-up look of my passport than my legal status (when I travel, I keep my passport and spare cash and cash cards in one of those money belts you wear under your clothes. It's more secure than carrying it in my purse, but after a week and a half of being toted through hostels, planes, trains, etc., it does start to look a little wrinkled). I have a few more things to take care of this afternoon, and then tonight I'm meeting a few friends for a last-hurrah dinner. And then tomorrow - hours and hours on a plane, and then home.