Non-Stoop to Ireland!

Non-Stoop to Ireland! This made me laugh :).

Now I actually haven't flown into another country since I went to Japan with my Dad at least ten years ago so I was a little nervous. I tried to read up on the immigration process and do my research before I left the country. Getting through security to leave the country was pretty easy. The hardest part was keeping an eye on everything because they make you lay out most of your things in separate trays.

I really love this silhouette. I took this while riding the escalator to my terminal. Man, it was the furthest terminal! I felt like I walked at least a mile and it was the absolute last terminal in the building. Although, SFO resembles a labyrinth so for all I know I was just lost.

 

I wanted to get a lot more than this for my trip but I have a $500 withdrawl limit on my card. I didn't know it would be processed like that. Anyway, my advice is to order traveling checks from your bank before you leave. Actually on my next trip I was able to overnight cash but that's only because I have an account at Bank of America. My mom uses a credit union and they are not able to order cash; they can still order travelers checks. Do sign your checks when you receive them! I haven't used traveler's checks before so I didn't know that you are supposed to sign them once, and then sign at the counter when you cash them. I wasn't an issue for me but you should sign them right when you get them just in case.

I hate to admit it but I love to play with foreign currency.

On the plane and ready to go! The flight was very long and this was exacerbated by who I was sitting next to. When I was first boarding the plane there was this really weird guy staring at the line of boarding passengers. Of course he was in the seat right in front of me so it was really awkward.

I sat down and settled in but I could not help overhearing his story. I guess that he was looking for his son who was a sort of troublemaker. I was not overjoyed to hear this, as the family was loosely grouped around me and the only free seat was the one right next to mine. Sure enough, this troublemaker was sitting right next to me.

Now he didn't act out or anything during the flight but the Dad would not stop picking on this kid. I would have felt bad for him, but he smelled really horrible so I just tried to ignore it. Gosh I guess I was spoiled because I grew up in a household of mostly girls and one very clean boy. It's not really his fault though so I just tried to get through it.

I made it to Ireland and through immigration! I guess I hadn't done my research as well as I had thought. At first I thought Ireland was  a Schengen country, but it isn't and the entry requirements are slightly different. Luckily my travel insurance proved that I wasn't trying to illegally enter the country and they finally let me on my way after standing in line for two hours and making me wait in the immigration box for an hour worried that I would start out my big trip by being deported.

Needless to say I was exhausted by the time I made it to town but I still needed to find a hotel. I went straight to the visitors bureau and found a room close by. It was very simple accommodation but it was very clean and that's all that I really ask for. Of course check in wasn't until 4PM so I spent the next few hours wandering around the downtown area.

There's a funny story about this statue that I will tell you next time!

Eventually I did make it back to the hotel room to get some sleep. I wasn't the only one that was exhausted. My friend the peep pointed out that while I was enjoying an economy seat he was crammed into a handbag. I apologized to Sir-peeps-alot profusely and offered him the bed as a compromise. By that time I was tired enough to sleep standing up anyway.

Next post: Downtown Dublin!