Welcome to Ireland, now..go home?? :(

     So you may recall I lost quite a bit of weight while I was in France...about twenty pounds and I didn't really have to do anything except live the way I was. Well, I've been in Ireland for about 36 hours now and I've gained back ten of it. Thanks, Dublin, you devil.

     Would you like to know THE NUMBER ONE REASON THE UK IS BETTER THAN THE USA? I'll tell you. it's quite simple really, but it's the most incredible thing, and no matter how the USA tries to duplicate it, it will never be as good. This thing, that I'm about the tell you, is THE reason I'm considering skipping my flight tomorrow (if I had to choose just one reason). This thing, is Primark. PRIMARK, people/. PPPRRRRRIIIMMMAAAARRRRK!!!!! The land of shopping heaven. Seriously. Everything you could ever wanted for any even possible, decent enough quality, and just for what you'd spend on lunch. Seriously. I've spent over ten hours in Primark and I've only been in the UK for a week, and I've only spent about 50 bucks here, because I keep forcing myself to put things back. (space in my suitcase is the best motivator so far). I am crying (...inside...of course) about leaving the land of Primark. So if anyone knows anyone who lives in the UK and would be willing to go shopping for me a few times a year...I'd love to chat! 

     I've been eating a ton (ok..this might be the actual reason for the first paragraph...whatever), basically anything I can get my hands on  that isn't American, I'll eat. I think it's some sort of ridiculous way to keep myself here, like, if I don't fit on the plane...I have to stay, right? Or maybe, it's because I'm hoping if I continue to ingest bits of Ireland and England, they'll stay in my system after I've left the country. I'm not really thinking, honestly, just shoveling. What, am I shoveling? Mars Bars. Picnic bars (The ONLY Cadbury I like). Maynards Wine Gums, Strawberry-Pear-Vanilla ice cream bars, Mint Matchmakers Mcflurries, BigMacs (they're amazing here), fish n chips, bangers and mash, coke, ham sammies with coleslaw inside, Srawberry flavored volcanic water,  and fake peppermint mentos. OK, yeah, I know it's all junk food. Shut up. It's delicious.

One thing I HAVEN'T eaten yet, but I mean, really, they're so inviting! I might...

     I'm sort of just wandering around, getting lost on purpose, running into things and people and scuffing up my shoes, anything to magically extend my time here, to take it all in, to make the most of my final hours. Tonight I'm going to sit on the river, eat digestives and drink an 80cent can of shandy, nasty as it is, because there is something so magical about the idea of leaving where I began, as if by somehow completing the cycle, I'm setting it in motion for next time, so that it isn't a time line with starts and stops but a real cycle. One can hope.

So long, Dublin, thanks for helping me get started and round off. I won't forget yeh yet.

One last lovely look up the Liffey from O'Connell Street