Navigating the Maze

Tá brón orm, that this blog hasn’t been updated in a while. I’m afraid I’ve spent a great deal of time lost in a maze. Not a literal one, mind you, but a maze, none the less.

When I came to Ireland I knew that navigating immigration might be a challenge, but hopes were high, my heart was soaring, and of course, I had my paperwork in order, thinking I had the right information. Not quite.

I suspect that centuries of trying to outwit and confuse the British have made the Irish wary of providing too much information. This would apply not only to the lack of street and other navigation signs, but to the immigration process as well. Although I talked to multiple people to make sure I was on the right track, I received multiple conflicting answers. I’m waiting for a new communication with the latest details on how to extend my stay past the maximum 90 days allowed by visitors. Hopefully it doesn’t raise more questions than it is supposed to answer.

One thing I did realize as I rode the bus once more to Dublin was that I didn’t mind visiting the capital city. At one time, it was a place to be avoided, just another impersonal big city. However, after my series of day and overnight trips, I’ve actually made peace with Dublin, or at least the City Center. It’s quite easy to get around and has some very beautiful parks. If you ignore the modern, soulless buildings, and focus on the Georgian houses and other historic structures, it has the same warmth and charm that I love about Edinburgh. Each time I go it seems I find myself in another interesting section, discovering more things to love about Dublin.

So hopefully I’ll be getting a little more quality sleep, at least until I find out there’s another maze yet to navigate, and will be able to impart some new fascinating, entertaining, and informative information from Ireland.

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