lookwhatic

05/20/11 - Tales from Ireland

“The grass is always greener on the other side,” people say. I often dismiss these cliched statements, but it seems to ring especially true here in the land of the green.

I was with two friends, Kelli and Destinie, exploring the city of Kilkenny and we stopped by a restaurant/pub called Syd Harkin’s. It was a quaint locally owned spot that had a warm atmosphere. There was an old fireplace in the corner and it was adorned with furniture like you might find in my grandmother’s house. An older gentlemen took our order and we had a vegetable soup made by his wife. When we went up to pay for our order, we met a guy named Adrian who appeared to be in his mid-twenties. Come to find out, Adrian worked in Charlotte for a month via an Irish pub exchange program. It really is a small world. We told Adrian how we loved it here in Ireland to which he replied that he felt the same for North Carolina and wishes he were back there.

It seems that no matter where people are in life, there is always some level of discontentment and longing for something more. This trip has made me reflect on my hopes and desires; what I want out of life. For me, this is what traveling is all about. It’s an opportunity for introspection while reflecting on the different cultures, customs, and lives of other people.

Currently we are in Waterford for the night. It’s 6:30 pm now. We’ll be off to see Blarney Castle tomorrow and then onwards to Killarney.