Lots of busrides. I just arrived back in Dublin and checked back in at the Avalon House. Turns out I will be performing tomorrow night, but I decided to stay tonight as well. I like it here. It's mostly everything you could want in a hostel. Posters everywhere, bright walls, good music, a cafe attached, free internet, right in the heart of Dublin, and most important, free breakfast. It was a bit sad to leave Galway, but I'm determined to get to know Dublin, and if not love it, at least really like it. Temple street is my favorite here, it feels alot like St. Mark's in NY with cobblestone streets and piercing parlors and funky hole in the wall restaurants everywhere. If I'm doing the city, I might as well feel at home. Not sure what's going on tonight, but my aim is to find some traditional Irish music in a pub. We'll see what happens. Also, one side note, the signs in Ireland are absolutely awful. Today I read a sign in the bus station that said if one wants to purchase bus tickets, that one would find the ticket vending machine situated in the next room. There are lots of wordy phrases like that all over; they make me feel like I'm reading PTA brochures. Dr. Tubbs would be appalled.

Internet here costs money, so these are in spurts. Galway is lovely. I like it more than Dublin in fact. More of a town than a city and lots of green everywhere. The Cliffs of Moher are every kind of beautiful Ireland that one can dream of. I took a bus tour today from 10 to 5, past 12th century castles and caves, and the cliffs and beaches. I ate the best seafood chowder of my life above the water in a little village called Doolin. This hostel is also really nice. I have made two friends; a drag queen hairdresser who gave me a free hair dry job as I was leaving Dublin, and a woman named Melissa who is from San Fran, but lived in NYC for eight years. Travelling alone is lonely. It is also good. I've spent lots of time lonely enough to read my Bible, and even pray. I went to a festival by the water tonight and saw the Hotspot Flowers perform. They are amazing. I smoked my old pipe and ate shepherd's pie. Tomorrow is a big bus trip back to Dublin. I'm scared to perform. But a free night is a free night.

Just got an email back from Avalon House... I'm booked! I'll be doing a poetry reading tomorrow night in exchange for a free night's stay!

Well, I got my first kiss from an Irishman. I can't say I didn't think it might happen, just not this way. He was the dirtiest, smelliest, crudest mad, possibly in all of Ireland. I took a 5 hour bus trip to Galway yesterday, and he sat behind me snorting and slurping and stretching for the first half of the ride. At break he got off and someone new took his seat. Most of the bus was empty but when he returned he picked up my bag and handed it to me before sitting so close to me I was second hand smoking his clothes. He spoke soemthing that had hints of english in it and asked me questions that I couldn't understand. I nodded. Shrugged. He offered me some soda and took a few teddy grahams from me. He spent the night before in Dublin jail for disturbing the peace. Big surprise. We were fast friends and when the bus stopped at last he said, my but ya are a stunner, and kissed me on the cheek, good and wet. Nice.

It's some late afternoon time and I'm here in Dublin. The flight was great. Turbelence for 45 minutes with a screaming baby and the guy across the aisle throwing up. At one point in the flight the PA asked if there were any medical doctor's on board to please make themselves known to the staff. Well, apart from that it wasn't bad.
I made it to Avalon house safe. Took the 16a bus and got off four stops early because I was nervous. There are backpackers everywhere here. All young; all with expensive backpacks and nalgene bottles; all in groups. I tried to check in at 11 am, but the room wasn't ready. I stumbled onto a free tour of Dublin City Hall, and stayed with it until my stomach was louder than the guide. So I left and found lunch for 2e, which is dirt cheap, and tasted as good. I took it to Stephen's Green which is somehow brilliantly more green than any park I've ever seen. It's a lot like Central Park except they have exotic white ducks in their pond. Nevermind, those are seagulls that visitors feed and photograph.
I fell asleep in the park on my bag and when I woke, headed back toward Avalon. Dublin's a pretty cool city. But apart from people driving on the other side of the street and Irish medlies instead of classic American panhandles, it doesn't feel so foreign. Lot's of the same stores and lots of tourists. I'll see what I can do to travel outside of the city while I'm here.
Back to Avalon and I slept until I woke up, which is now. Is it around 5? There is a sign on the door that says, Want a Free Nights Stay? Willing to Perform? I brought my book to the counter. They aren't used to nonmusical performances. They might make an exception and I might have a free place to stay. I'll find out in the morning.

I'm leaving for Dublin in 15 minutes. What do I need?

Prayer.