In July and August 2005, I spent two weeks in Ireland. Most of it was with a tour group via a public radio station, before I stayed at a Dublin hostel for three days. This excerpt covers the transition from traveling with a group to staying at a hostel.
Dublin Castle
Saturday August 6. 2005
The tour group ate breakfast at Trinity College. It was a cafeteria, but of course with tea and the ubiquitous little pitchers of milk. We had our last conversations over breakfast (when I’m not at my most awake). We parted, and I headed straight for the hostel in hopes that I could check in immediately, since I have luggage. I felt some sorrow at parting with the group.