Land of lost iPhones

Easter morning started off waking up at precisely 10:47 a.m. to hear my obnoxious doorbell being buzzed. Thinking whoever was out there would go away, I pulled the covers over my head because I could tell I had a good night from the leftover Turkish pizza wrapper that didn't make it into my trash can and was now lying on my floor.

 Then I remembered I made plans with Abby and Sarah to go to church at 11. Whoops. I let in Abby who laughed when she saw me and reminded me that we went to a single empty bar the night before, proceeded to take multiple selfies, then skipped going to Miller's which was packed simply because we wanted food. You can tell where our priorities lie.

I'm not entirely sure what we were thinking. Good thing no one was there (except Abby's crush who witnessed the entire thing)

Clearly making it to church wasn't going to happen so we went to the beach at Scheveningen instead to get some brunch and Bloody Marys! 

Definitely not like the Bloody Marys in America...sigh. 

After our brunch it was significantly colder, so we all decided to buy matching beanies because I have decided the Netherlands will never see sunlight ever again. 

We were really happy with our purchases, but looking back on it I decided my hat bears a striking resemblance to a chef's hat. 

^Me. 

After walking around for a little bit, the most delicious smell greeted my nostrils like an old friend. Churros. 

Don't let the sight of this woman fool you, those things were delicious. 

We then spotted the comfiest looking seats outside by a fire, ordered the best hot chocolate I have ever had, and enjoyed life. 

Unfortunately, this was the last picture my loyal iPhone of two years will have taken. After this exact moment, I put my phone next to me and thought, "Hm I should probably put that in my purse so I don't forget it." But the hot chocolate was calling my name, so I pushed that thought to the back of my mind. BIG mistake. After a couple of hours we decided to head home, so happy about our Easter weekend and that we finally made it to the beach! We got on the tram and a couple minutes into the ride, Abby and I both wanted to take a picture to Instagram later (classic). I reached into my pocket and alas, my fingers brushed only a single piece of lint. 

I knew I was about to become a member of the "I lost my iPhone while studying abroad" group, but I clung to the thought that it might still be at the restaurant. Thinking that the tram wouldn't take that long to run its course, we decided to stay on until it turned around so we wouldn't have to get off. About an hour later we realized we were nowhere near the Hague, but at least we were getting a nice tour of Delft and other surrounding cities. Another half hour passed, and we realized we were really not getting closer to our destination, so we asked the tram driver how to get back to the Hague. He laughed at us and told us we were going in the complete opposite direction. Once we transferred trams and finally got back to the Hague so we could go back to the beach, we decided since we had already wasted that much time we would make a little pit stop, seeing as it was nearing dinner. And what screams Easter dinner more than KFC and really cheap wine to sooth my sorrows? After we got our libations, we finally headed back to the beach. After asking the restaurant workers and searching endlessly through all the cushions, we finally gave up hope of ever finding my iPhone. RIP little buddy, we have been through a lot together. I will never forget you. 

Well, time for some dinner. 

Other than losing my phone, we had an amazing Easter weekend! Although I did miss the traditional Darmody Easter butter lamb, courtesy of my mom, as well as my family!

At least I have supportive friends...

Luck of the Irish....or not so lucky

I'm going to give myself plenty of time to get to the airport so I don't miss my flight!!! Yes, good idea Laura. I leave my apartment at 4:15 to walk to the train station to go to Schiphol airport for my 8:45 flight. Surprisingly, everything goes smoothly and I arrive at the airport, through security, and at the proper gate, three hours early. Good thing I have my trusty Rick Steve's guide that I have read cover to cover multiple times to keep me company (if you are reading this send me a new book. any book.) Three hours later my flight starts to board, finally! I make it on the airplane and I'm so happy with myself that I actually made it onto the right airplane at the right time without anything going wrong that I open the flight menu to get ready to buy myself a congratulatory rum and coke (or maybe three).

15 minutes go by and everyone really seems to be sitting down in their seats with their seat belts on and their trays in the full upright and locked position waiting for the plane to take off. The captain says something over the intercom but it was in Dutch so naturally I tuned him out. After reading the entire SkyMall magazine (yes I DO want a toilet paper iPod holder and a Big Foot garden yeti sculpture, how did you know?!) we still hadn't taken off yet. Then the captain gets on the intercom and says (in English) we are waiting to be de-iced and it should only take a few more minutes. Weird, because earlier that day it seemed as if spring was actually coming!

An hour later, and we are finally in the que! Wow good thing it is currently 10 p.m. aka the same time I am supposed to be in Dublin checking on to my bus. FINALLY 15 minutes later the airplane takes off which is ironically the same time my bus is leaving. Classic. Good thing I don't have wifi to let Annie, who is picking me up from the airport, know that I will be a few hours late.

The plane lands and they announce the time as 22:30 which I thought was definitely wrong unless we somehow got to Ireland in 15 minutes and then I remembered Ireland is an hour behind the Netherlands! That threw me for a loop but I still had to let Annie know I would be arriving in Dublin at either 2:30 a.m. or 6 a.m. I'm waiting to get through Customs and oh look someone from Calvert Hall!!

Am I creepy? Absolutely. 

I Facebook Annie and let her know I missed my bus and am either arriving in Galway around 2:30 or 6, depending on if I can catch the next bus. I find the busses after some searching and the nice bus driver lets me get on the 12:15 for no extra charge! Irish people are so nice, the French made us pay for another bus ticket naturally. He even let me go grab food bless his soul. As I was eating some sort of pot pie that was actually delicious I remembered I never messaged Annie telling her I made it on to the bus and now I didn't have wifi. Crap. 

I arrive in Galway around 2:30 a.m. and am thanking my lucky stars they have free wifi. I message her but she is asleep so again, I am homeless for the night in a FREEZING COLD deserted bus station. Has nobody in Europe ever heard of heat?

Thank goodness I had these M&Ms to keep me company. 

Welcome to my humble abode. 

Around 4 a.m. after I opened my suitcase and put on every possible layer of clothing I owned (flashback to when I first arrived here sans ski jacket) I spotted a coffee machine. Wow that will be the perfect thing to get my blood flowing again! *Puts in 2 euro*

This is what I received. 

A single, empty, cold, cup. 

I'm pretty sure if I put it on the ground people would put change into it.

Around six a.m., as I could feel the icy grip of death close around me, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I'm in Heaven...hmm thought it would be warmer. I take off my jacket that was over my face and see an angel in the form of Annie McGuire. I was saved!! Hallelujah! 

We walked the bitter 20 minute walk back to her apartment where I proceeded to pass out until 3 p.m. 

After I woke from my slumber we went to the grocery store and made some dinner. I found this little gem at the grocery store. 

Classic Mount de Sales.

After dinner we went to the pubs with Annie's friends! 

The next day we wandered around the city center looking for something green for Saint Patty's Day, and I saw Galway Bay! So pretty. 

 And the cutest little boys!!!!!!!!!!

After that we grabbed some lunch of seafood chowder which was delicious! 

And ended the day at Butler's, where you get a free piece of chocolate with any hot chocolate. Ireland, you're being too kind. 

Chili hot chocolate, which was fantastic.

Classic Ireland weather, sunny with rain in the future. 

The next day before the McGuire children were to arrive, Annie and I stopped by the Saturday market and paid a visit to the crepe man. I should keep a tally of how many crepes I've eaten. 

There he is in all his glory. Some would call this love. 

I got a ham, cheese, mustard, onion, and scallion crepe. Of all the crepes I have eaten this might top the charts. 

Annie got a caramelized banana with chocolate and Bailey's crepe. 

Then we picked up the McGuire children! Adorbz. 

After they got settled in, we went from pub to pub to get a nice sampling of what Galway had to offer. 

Carolyn Schorr even stopped by for a visit!!! 

The next day was Saint Patty's day so we had to start the day off right.

Clearly we were the most spirited. 

Saint Patty's day was a slight blur due to so much fun being thrown at me at once. Parades were happening, beers were being drunk (drank? drunken? gets me every time), fun meters were rising. 

Probably the reason my flight in the morning was unpleasant. 

The next thing I know my alarm clock is going off at 4 a.m. Time to catch the 5:15 bus to take me to the airport. I hurriedly stuffed everything into my suitcase and sprinted out the door. I get to the airport smoothly! Shocked?

Dublin airport was a sight to see the day after Saint Patty's day, let me tell you. It took me a good five times going through security, and finally having to get pat down, that I realized the reason the buzzer kept going off was because I was still wearing my fun meter. After I got through security my fun was at a minimum.  However, I got on the plane with no trouble and landed safely in Amsterdam, where I was the last person getting off the plane because I was in the bathroom. I think you can guess why. Happy Saint Patty's Day!