| DATE | DETAILS | DAY |
| June 6 |
Flight left Toronto, Canada at 11:45pm after a three hour delay.
| 01 |
| June 7 |
Landed in Dublin at noon and took the Dublin Transit to Rathcoole, Co. Dublin to stay with friends of the family and get over the jet lag.
| 02 |
| June 8 |
Stayed in Rathcoole for the day and slept. Went for a quick evening trip to Glendalough in the Wiclow Mountains.
| 03 |
| June 9 |
Moved into Dublin and my first hostel (Dublin International). Spent the day wondering around the city. I visited Phoenix Park, St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College and a few other sites, though mostly just the streets of the downtown.
| 04 |
| June 10 |
Deciding that Dublin wasn't much more then another big city, I headed out on a bus to the Town of Donegal, Co. Donegal. Arrived in the late afternoon, hiked along the bay by the town and met fellow travellers in the hostel.
| 05 |
| June 11 |
Visited the town of Donegal and hiked out into the woods to an abandoned castle. That night went out to Zac's (local pub) with the gang from the hostel. That was the night I had my first Guiness.
| 06 |
| June 12 |
Tried to hitch-hike to Slieve League with Carole and Samatha, but only got to Killybegs before turning around and heading back "home." We spent the rest of the day in the hostel cooking diner and sitting around talking with two bottles of Sunny Delight.
| 07 |
| June 13 |
Venturing out on my own, I hitch-hike with greater success to Glencollumbkille, Co. Donegal. After dropping my stuff at the Dooey Hostel, I hiked up to the watchtower on the far side of the bay. That night the whole group from the hostel (about seven of us) went out to the pub in town.
| 08 |
| June 14 |
Since I was spending three nights in Glencollumbkille, I decided to make a day trip out to Slieve League (local mountain). I got a lift out there with two Americans staying at the hostel and spent two hours hiking to the summit and two more down. They after hitching back to Glenc., I sat in a small cove and watched the Irish sunset. Once the sun was gone I went to the local pub and spent a few hours talking with Gabriel. He's an Irish school teacher that stays in the Dooey Hostel when he's on vacation in the town.
| 09 |
| June 15 |
On this very wet day, I hiked over the hills and along the coast to the abandoned fishing village of Port. It was two hours both way and I got completely soaked through. After getting back to the hostel and changing clothes, I spent the night in the hostel with a local musician, Paddy, and many others from the hostel.
| 10 |
| June 16 |
I caught a lift with two American friends from the Dooey Hostel to Sligo, as they were head there themselves. At that hostel I ran into someone who was one my flight from Toronto 11 days earlier. He had been cycling up the west coast.
| 11 |
| June 16 |
Hung around Sligo in the morning and saw some stuff in the Yeat's Museam. The town was nice but I kept moving and caught a bus to Westport.
| 12 |
| June 17 |
In Westport I did little more than read and sleep. There wasn't much to the town and I didn't enjoy the hostel as it was too big and full of school kids.
| 13 |
| June 18 |
On my way out that morning I ran into my American friends from Glenc. again and got a lift with them to Achill Island. Spent the rest of the day hiking/hitch-hiking to the grocery store. That night just hung out in the pub attached to the hostel.
| 14 |
| June 19 |
This was a very rainy day so I spent most of it in the window of the hostel watching the Swallows fly or sitting in the pub by the turf fire.
| 15 |
| June 20 |
Spent the day hitch-hiking down to Cliften in the Connemara and it only took seven seperate lifts. I even got a pint of Guiness from a truck driver at a quick stop on the way into the town.
| 16 |
| June 21 |
Walked out on "Sky Road" along the coast. I walked to a local beach where, for the first time since arriving in Ireland, I touched the Atlantic Ocean.
| 17 |
| June 22 |
Got a lift the next morning with a crab delivery to Gallway, where I was hoping to catch the ferry to the Aran Island, Inishmór. I ended up taking a bus to the ferry port. After a quick ferry ride I got to the hostel on the Islands. After dinner I talked with a few Americans and read.
| 18 |
| June 23 |
I rented a bike and cycled across the island. I stopped at the Dún Aengus Fort. I also spent a few hours recording some thoughts on my tape recorder and tried teaching myself to play the tin whistle. That night was King John's even. Basically an excuse to find every piece of wood on the island, burn it, and get drunk. Man, I love the Irish. I spent it out with two Aussies and two Canadians that met at the hostel. After four pints of Guiness, I managed my way back to the hostel and slept.
| 19 |
| June 24 |
This was one of the best days of my trip. After getting up for the nine o'clock ferry, I was treated to a show by the Irish Marine Emergency Services as they practiced repelling. After reaching port I ran into Natasha, a fellow traveller. We spent the day talking as we rode into Gallway and once there, as we walked around the street. To make a long story short, we ended up falling in love as the sun set.
| 20 |
| June 25 |
Saying goodbye to Natasha, with plans to meet in seven days, I took the bus down to Doolin, Co. Clare. From there I hiked out to the Cliffs of Moher. After five hours, I returned to the hostel.
| 21 |
| June 26 |
Took the bus to Ennis, Co. Clare. Caught up with people back home, via phone and e-mail. Spent the evening out going over my trip so far.
| 22 |
| June 27 |
From Ennis I hitch-hiked out to Knappogue Castle and the Craggaunowen Megalithic Centre in the country side. From there I caught a lift down to Limerick.
| 23 |
| June 28 |
First thing in the morning saw King John's Castle in Limerick. From there I caught a bus to Dingle. Went out for one quick pint with a few people from the hostel.
| 24 |
| June 29 |
Hitch-hiked out to Slea Head on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula. Hung out at the hostel talking with other travellers.
| 25 |
| June 30 |
Got up early to leave Dingle. I was starting to head back to Dublin to meet Natasha, with two stops in Killarney and Tipperary. As I arrived in Killarney and went to check in at a hostel, I ran into Natasha (totally by chance two days early). She had been travelling with a penpal of her's and just by chance were both standing there. After a few hours hanging around with her penpal, we went out for dinner and then dancing at a local night club (the Crypt).
| 26 |
| July 1 |
The next morning we left for Dublin on the bus. We arrived there late in the day and did little more then get dinner.
| 27 |
| July 2 |
Natasha and I spent the day around the city shopping and seeing the sights. We spent a few hours sitting in St. Stephen's Green and that night we went to see, "Dancing at Lughnasa" at the Abbey Theatre.
| 28 |
| July 3 |
Another day of wondering around the city and shopping. We got the info for the ferries as Natasha had to make it back to London for her flight in a few days. We had lunch at the "Bad Ass Cafe" and dinner at a small Italian Restaurant.
| 29 |
| July 4 |
Together, Natasha and I caught the ferry to Wales. I was headed to Bath, England and she was going back to London. As we arrived in Wales, we caught the train headed towards London. With our final fair wells until we met again a month later in Arizona, we went our seperate ways. I spent that night in Bath Spa.
| 30 |
| July 5 |
Bath Spa, or just plain Bath as it is more commonly called, is the most beautiful city I have ever been to. During the day, it's full of tourists and I visited the Roman Baths in the city centre, but as the night fell the streets emptied and left only young couples to wonder in peace.
| 31 |
| July 6 |
Caught a bus from Bath to Edinburgh, Scotland. This little trip through England and Scotland was little more than just a quick tour. I just figured, since I'm over here I mind as well, but I really didn't see much beyond the main attractions. I wandered around the city during the night.
| 32 |
| July 7 |
This day was spent in Edinburgh. I visited Edinburgh Castle that over looks the city. I spent most of the day in the local parks and shops.
| 33 |
| July 8 |
I spent this day mostly travelling from Edinburgh to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Though a lot of people back home told me to watch my self because of "the troubles," I didn't see any conflict or danger. Though the city wasn't very exciting either.
| 34 |
| July 9 |
From the hostel, I took a quick tour out along the northern coast to see the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Bushmills (Irish Whiskey) Distillery.
| 35 |
| July 10 |
Took the train from Belfast to Dublin. After quickly revisiting the city, one last time, I headed back out to Rathcoole to stay my remaining days with my family's friends.
| 36 |
| July 11 |
Spent the day relaxing in the backyard sunshine and reflecting on my trip.
| 37 |
| July 12 |
I left at 9:10 in the morning for back home, this time without delay.
| 38 |
