Why Not Ireland?

So as I booked my first all expenses paid (by severence) trip. I am super excited. I will finally get back to my dream of traveling that my former employee cut short many months earlier.

I have always had this idea in my head that I would love Ireland. However, I never had any actual idea why. Perhaps it was because of my affinity for Guinness or maybe it is because I find the accent incredibly entertaining, but I knew before I landed in Dublin that this location was one that I was destined to fall in love with.

Sidenote...

I travel in a strange way... When I am somewhere new I like to completely amerce myself in the culture. I wont eat anywhere that the locals wont eat and I wont do anything the locals wont do. It's almost like the second I go somewhere new I become a new person and typically I like that person more than I like the New York City version of me. (the real version of me is kind of a dick) No matter which way you slice it though my traveling habits are atypical. Every time I go to a new country I get so into the culture and language that I have an overwhelming desire more there permanently. So far due to monetary restrictions I haven't been able to do this, but I have a few family members that already think of me as an expat.

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Back to my story....

So on a Sunday in January I take off from JFK International and land in Dublin where it is snowing...

My first of many Irish surprises was that the weather would actually be as bad as people told me it would be. I am not talking about funny bad weather where it rains one day and then the next is sunny. I am talking about Crazy 4 seasons in one afternoon weather (sun, rain, hail, and snow all before breakfast) The Irish have a reputation for being drinkers and not only is the accurate it may be a complete necessity. I am pretty certain that if there wasn't alcohol in Ireland, the weather would caused people to go crazy and die out centuries before. At least being drunk creates the ability to laugh about the fact that you cant feel your toes.