Stop 4- Dublin

Day 1- Flying on RyanAir is interesting.  In theory, the inexpensive tickets would be ideal for backpackers.  However, when one takes into consideration the fact that checking bags costs about double the price of the ticket, and that if one does not check bags, then they must be very small carry-ons, that logic is quickly disproved.  M checked Jack (her pack) and L carried Mack.  In order to get Jack into the weight limit for checked bags, we had to pitch our shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and sunscreen.  We arrived in Dublin- with a very turbulent landing-safely, which is all we can really ask.  We went grocery shopping and M discovered flapjacks.  This is how she describes them:

Baked oats in a golden maple-y goodness with a fruity aroma.  Yummy.  They're like granola bars only thicker.  

Day 2- We managed to get on a free tour, which was wonderful for getting to know the city.  We also saw the hotel where President and Mrs. Obama were staying.

Day 3- A day of wondering.  We went to Trinity College and got the chance to see the Book of Kells and the Old Library in the Long Room(which was the inspiration for both the Jedi Library in Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Hogwarts Library in Harry Potter).  We stopped by Christ Church.  We also made our way down to Temple Bar to hear some Irish music and have some drinks.  In fact, we had drinks at the ACTUAL Temple Bar.

Dublin was the first place where we found that all our planning had one pretty major flaw: we lose almost all our chances for spontaneity.  We both loved Ireland, and if we could've, we would've stayed at least one more day to see Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.  But we had a plane to catch...and to London we went.

Also in Dublin, we met Marissa, who is a wonderful person on a wonderful adventure.  She's sort of in a figure-it-out phase of life, and she's traveling through Europe now.  If you want to learn more about her and her travels, her blog is: http://leavingheregoingwhere.blogspot.cz/.  Don't worry, she's much better about updating her blog than we are.

Stop 3- Brussels

Was Brussels really a stop?  M and L would vote no.  But, technically, we did crash here one night.  So for that reason (and that reason ALONE), Brussels gets a post.

We should have known we would be unimpressed when:

1.  M further got squished into a doorway by a very unfriendly lady on her way out of said bathroom.
2.  L got a little too close to a man who had clearly been in a fight (bloodied shirt, broken nose, etc.)
3.  We followed a screaming child and her mother all the way to the hostel.
4.  Our complimentary map from the hostel TOLD us that we wouldn't like Brussels at first, which, considering we were only staying in the city for about 10 hours, was very encouraging.

We got to the hostel, settled in slightly, and then we went out for fries and waffles and, hopefully, to check-out Grand Platz and the Peeing Boy statue.

Fries- A
Waffles- B+
Tiny plastic forks used to eat the waffles- F---------
Grand Platz- B: but in all fairness, it was nighttime, we were tired, and we'd already had enough of Brussels by that point.

...and then there was the Peeing Boy statue.  It was our last stop of the night and we had used both maps and public signs to try to find him.  Waffles in hand, we stand on a street corner, wondering where the h*ll this statue is.  Then we turn around.  And there he is!  All 1.5 feet of him.  M and L were highly unimpressed.

And that was Brussels.