The First Week in Dublin, part 1
I had thought about making this account for some time, but only now I finally had the time and energy to actually do it.
Last night I slep well and long and now I'm enjoying the morning in my cozy bed, with the laptop.
But no, I won't go ahead of things, I'll record what has happened the best I can. I have told various things to various people already, but I'll try to be more detailed now. And add pics. I'll start carrying my camera with me :)
The Weekend of my Arrival
On Saturday morning I had to wake up rather early, and carry my 3 super heavy bags to the car. At least my dear flatmate had had the sense to borrow a car from her mother and drove me to the airport. Thanks a lot!
I found a trolley for my bags, and joined the long line towards the check-in. Gosh, but it took me an hour! I had to pay for 18 kg of extra luggage, but I think it was the easiest, and among the cheapest way to get everything with me.
I had not much time to wait for the flight, even if it was bit late since they were changing some internal phone system on the plane. The flight was uneventful, and we arrived Dublin in schedule. But the gate was not free to us, since someone in the plane occupying it had gotten a fit and so our arrival was delayed.
I got my bags and headed to the Tourist Information desk. I figured that after I had managed not myself to get me a place to sleep the coming night, I'd pay for someone to look it for me. Worked fine, I got a reservation and the address, and then a taxi. Me and my bags arrived to the neat home of an elderly couple. The lady was bit bossy, and the husband I saw only once. The room was nice, not much smaller than the one I reside in now. I settled my things, found out there was an unprotected wireless there and used it. I also activated my pre-paid and get in touch few people who had a sharing add in daft.ie.
Then I went out, with good guidelines about the busses to the city centre from the lady.
I walked around Dublin, found interesting places and shops and had nice time. I only managed to get to the Dublinbus office too late, it was already closed. With that small setback I went back to the B&B and went to sleep early.
The breakfast was good, and then I set out to see one of the apartments I had queried earlier. It was a long trip, since the B&B place was on the wrong side of Dublin. (The busses here are neat, 2 storey ones most of them. The fee is paid in coins, depending how many stops one travels. And you need to have the exact fare. There is also 3- 7- and I guess other days Rambler tickets. With one you can use busses as much you wish in the given time.) I found the place, without much a fuss, I got good directions from W. The house is neat, and the area is peacefull. The useful things, like buss stop, store and shopping centre, are nearby, so it wasn't a hard desicion for me to choose this lil house in Clonsilla. I'll show you pictures later :)
Well, then the easy part was done and I started moving my things. Since I had the 3-days buss card, I decided to use busses instead of a taxi. Good decision moneywise, but in timewise it took the rest of my day. I took 2 trips to collect everything I had and was back rather late in Sunday night. Luckily my other housemate, who was not home, works in same place I do, so W was able to give me some information about the busses. (The Dublinbuss website loses a lot to HKL and Reittiopas, I have to say. And I haven't found any good routemap from anywhere. Oh well, now I'm already fine with the busses, so no problem.) I went to sleep without much unpacking.
On Monday I woke up early, walked to Blankchartstown Shopping Centre and eventually found me a good buss too. I even managed accidentally to get off the right stop! (Yes, I'm not good with asking advice or directions...) I was at the reception desk in time and found few other new people waiting too. Eventually we got shepherded inside, had to fill in papers, got out pics taken for the ID cards and started our training.
I started with 2 other people, we go to the same team, but have different functions. And before you ask, I signed quite a strict non-disclosure agreement (or whatever), and am not allowed to talk about my job.
~more to come later~
Last night I slep well and long and now I'm enjoying the morning in my cozy bed, with the laptop.
But no, I won't go ahead of things, I'll record what has happened the best I can. I have told various things to various people already, but I'll try to be more detailed now. And add pics. I'll start carrying my camera with me :)
The Weekend of my Arrival
On Saturday morning I had to wake up rather early, and carry my 3 super heavy bags to the car. At least my dear flatmate had had the sense to borrow a car from her mother and drove me to the airport. Thanks a lot!
I found a trolley for my bags, and joined the long line towards the check-in. Gosh, but it took me an hour! I had to pay for 18 kg of extra luggage, but I think it was the easiest, and among the cheapest way to get everything with me.
I had not much time to wait for the flight, even if it was bit late since they were changing some internal phone system on the plane. The flight was uneventful, and we arrived Dublin in schedule. But the gate was not free to us, since someone in the plane occupying it had gotten a fit and so our arrival was delayed.
I got my bags and headed to the Tourist Information desk. I figured that after I had managed not myself to get me a place to sleep the coming night, I'd pay for someone to look it for me. Worked fine, I got a reservation and the address, and then a taxi. Me and my bags arrived to the neat home of an elderly couple. The lady was bit bossy, and the husband I saw only once. The room was nice, not much smaller than the one I reside in now. I settled my things, found out there was an unprotected wireless there and used it. I also activated my pre-paid and get in touch few people who had a sharing add in daft.ie.
Then I went out, with good guidelines about the busses to the city centre from the lady.
I walked around Dublin, found interesting places and shops and had nice time. I only managed to get to the Dublinbus office too late, it was already closed. With that small setback I went back to the B&B and went to sleep early.
The breakfast was good, and then I set out to see one of the apartments I had queried earlier. It was a long trip, since the B&B place was on the wrong side of Dublin. (The busses here are neat, 2 storey ones most of them. The fee is paid in coins, depending how many stops one travels. And you need to have the exact fare. There is also 3- 7- and I guess other days Rambler tickets. With one you can use busses as much you wish in the given time.) I found the place, without much a fuss, I got good directions from W. The house is neat, and the area is peacefull. The useful things, like buss stop, store and shopping centre, are nearby, so it wasn't a hard desicion for me to choose this lil house in Clonsilla. I'll show you pictures later :)
Well, then the easy part was done and I started moving my things. Since I had the 3-days buss card, I decided to use busses instead of a taxi. Good decision moneywise, but in timewise it took the rest of my day. I took 2 trips to collect everything I had and was back rather late in Sunday night. Luckily my other housemate, who was not home, works in same place I do, so W was able to give me some information about the busses. (The Dublinbuss website loses a lot to HKL and Reittiopas, I have to say. And I haven't found any good routemap from anywhere. Oh well, now I'm already fine with the busses, so no problem.) I went to sleep without much unpacking.
On Monday I woke up early, walked to Blankchartstown Shopping Centre and eventually found me a good buss too. I even managed accidentally to get off the right stop! (Yes, I'm not good with asking advice or directions...) I was at the reception desk in time and found few other new people waiting too. Eventually we got shepherded inside, had to fill in papers, got out pics taken for the ID cards and started our training.
I started with 2 other people, we go to the same team, but have different functions. And before you ask, I signed quite a strict non-disclosure agreement (or whatever), and am not allowed to talk about my job.
~more to come later~