10 days and counting!

So, for those of you who don't know, I am going to Ireland October 6th! Oh yeah.. I am friggin' going out of my mind with what to do whilst there! I have 4 or 5 book, maps, tips from friends who have been, and countless hours logged at the computer surfing numerous sites giving me info as to where I should go and what I should avoid. I don't know if my mind is completely wrapped around the fact that I will FINALLY be traveling to Europe. Ireland is on my top 6 places to visit before I die. Number 1 on my list is France, then Italy, Ibiza, Amsterdam, Australia. Oh sure there are PLENTY of other places that I must visit before I die. Those 6 just happen to be tops. I have already been to the best place on earth imo (in my opinion)... NYC. I LOVE it there and SOMEDAY I WILL live there.

I really feel that in order to travel to these other countries that I must have a basic understanding if not be fluent in their language. This is probably the reason that I haven't been anywhere other than Canada and TJ (Mexico). I can at least as for a bathroom in Spanish and for "dos cervezas por favor" (2 beers please). What else would I need to know??? However in France and Italy I want to completely immerse myself in the culture and to do so I think I must be able to speak the language. It always seems that when foreigners are here in the states "we" assume that they should know English, so yeah same basic principle to me anyway.

On to the trip at hand. I have had people requesting I take photos of certain statues, etc. I know that I will hit up some of the tourist trap kind of places. I used to hate the term tourist, but that is what I am gosh darn it! I want to see the country and experience it, ie: TOUR. I am also pretty set on getting my first tattoo while there. I have a basic idea of what I want, just have to decide where it will go. I haven't even began to think about packing either. Hmmm, maybe I should put some thought into that.