Busy week behind, busy weeks ahead

Alright then....out of the states and on the emerald isle. John and I drove up to DC on Friday and were welcomed with a delicious mexican cookout at Alex and Orr's house. Alex cooked up some delicious steak and chicken fajita/burritos with homemade salsa and guac while Orr made some really amazing cocktails. We went out to a bar briefly and then hobo'd all over their couches. Thank you very much for the hospitality!
The next day I was blessed enough to have my wonderful cousin Kate come down to DC and visit along with the riotous Uncle Ev and (relatively speaking) mild-mannered Aunt Linda. It was really nice of them to come down from PA and bid me a farewell, especially since I haven't been able to see them in nearly 3 years! Thanks again guys, love you very much and good luck with grad school this fall Kate!
Saturday night John took it easy at my brother Matt's apartment (who played gracious host to us the rest of the weekend, including giving up his A/C to us!). I headed back up to Columbia Heights area to go to a party thrown by Kate, a very outgoing friend of Alex and Orr's whom I had met the night before. A great party, some free Yuengling and plenty of interesting people to talk to. I even met a young lady who had just moved from Asheville to Carrboro! Made me a little nostalgic as I rattled out a few of my favorite haunts for her to go explore.
Sunday we kicked it around town, ate the most delicious burger of my life at Hellburger and John and I went out to East Falls Church on the metro to visit my homeboy and penultimate shredder of the gnar, Brad Copeland.
Monday John and I wrapped up loose ends around DC while Matt worked a halfday. Matt came home around 1 PM, we packed our stuff into the Trailblazer and swung by the pharmacy to get my anti-malarials. $150 for those pills! NOT covered by my health insurance! Damn....still cheaper than getting malaria I suppose. Won't even need them for at least 3 more months.
Got to the airport uneventfully. Everything went pretty smoothly until Irish customs kind of gave John and I a hard time. Luckily we were towards the front of the ever-growing line so I think they kinda gave us a break. Phew!
Assembled the bikes in the airport (minus some fenders as my frustration and fatigue was mounting). Rode on out into our first taste of wild Irish traffic. We were so intimidated by the whole left hand side thing and the crazy traffic roundabouts we ended up going about 20 or so km north towards Belfast! It was cool, drizzly, grey....just what I was told to expect but what I didn't want to imagaine, hahah! Eventually we asked a postman where we were headed and after some trial and error we got ourselves pointed for the City Center. A few more detours later and we arrived at our hostel, Globetrotters on the Lower Gardinier.
Globetrotters is an amazing value....a bit pricey in comparison to other hostels, but I've never seen a hostel this clean, comfortable and with so many amenities. John and I worried ourselves about finding a place to store our gear for the next week. Ate some fish and chips (great cod, who cares about some fries..), checked some bike stores. Everyone was saying they were too crowded to help us and we became slightly stressed. Finally John struck paygold at a local internet cafe/luggage storage. 7.50 for everything per day. I sure hope they are trustworthy...I had some doubts but we took some photos of our stuff in the storage room and the people working there seemed nice enough. Only time will tell I suppose!
After such ordeals Jon and I went over to a famous pub for our well-deserved Guiness. Okay folks....no matter what people say, you will never understand what they mean about Guiness tasting better over here. It is like night and day. I may have ruined Guiness outside of Ireland for myself...it is THAT GOOD! Amazing full breakfast here this morning at Globetrotters. I can't recommend this hostel enough.
Alright...we are about to catch the public bus up to the airport and try to meet Mom and Pops at the car rental place. Then it is on to Athlone. Sure hope Dad is up to the challenge of driving...this should be an interesting experience. I'll try to check in this evening or tomorrow...stay posted!