Couch Surfing in Ireland, Better Than Hostels

When I decided to run the Dublin marathon I needed to sort out my travel plans. I acquired a plane ticket, registered for the marathon (which set me back about 100 Euros) and started looking at Hostel's and modest hotel accommodations. Through the course of searching for a hostel in Ireland I found Couchsurfing.com a networking website which connects travelers with locals. Couchsurfing.com allows for a user to search for a couch in or near a city. Each user who signs up on couchsurfing.com has the choice to offer their couch to fellow travelers in return for receiving the same. Basically you sign up and when you travel, you crash at someone else's place, and when they travel they crash at your place.

It was early in May 2006 when I first contacted Rory, a swell Irishman who hosted people fairly regularly and loved spreading his hospitality across the globe. I messaged several other surfers in Dublin, but Rory seemed to be the most genuine guy. We chatted back and forth over the internet for the next few months as I trained for the marathon and figured out my complete travel itinerary. Then in late October I messaged Rory for the last time saying, "I'll be taking off in a few hours and I will call you when I get near your flat". With a backpack over my shoulder and a suitcase stowed in the plane below I took my seat and as a nineteen year old boy I said goodbye to America and flew across the Atlantic for the first time in my life.

My travel woes were almost comical, as my plane was late in Chicago, and had to be rerouted to London Heathrow, where I hopped on Air Lingus. Air Lingus was probably the best airline I have ever flown, between the hospitality of the flight attendants and the aid the gate attendants gave me in locating my luggage. I finally touched down about 16 hours after leaving Kentucky and was in Ireland with nothing but a backpack and directions printed off Google maps.

After I filled a report for my missing luggage I asked the attendant how to get into the city center, figuring that if I made it to a prominent landmark, I could get my bearings and walk the rest of the way. She informed me that the bus would be the cheapest method, and thus I stepped outside and onto a bus with all sorts of people who seemed like they knew a great deal that I did not. I stepped off the bus In O'Connell Square and began walking down the River Liffey to where Rory Laden lived. I walked down the Cobblestone streets of my ancestors and finally spotted the tall smoke stacks of the Jameson Distillery which rested directly across from Rory's flat.

I buzzed up, or at least tried to, because as the Irishman came out the door, he and two Hungarian women hustled me off to the local pub for a pint, rather than up to the apartment for a nap. The next four days were ideal, with community meals prepared by Rory or the Hungarian woman who were also staying with us and running the Dublin marathon. It was no doubt a full house, especially with the addition of an Australian guy named Nick. I must say that I did not add much to the atmosphere, but in my defense I was rather under the weather. We ran the marathon on Monday morning after two days of sightseeing and relaxation, the weather was perfect and the accommodations were lovely. The next morning I stepped out of the Flat slightly before six and shuffled my way down the cobblestones with luggage in hand this time, they had delivered it the morning of the marathon.

I was one of the few tourists out that Tuesday morning, as most people were on their way to work; I was on my way back to America. I stepped on the same bus which had brought me from the airport, and as I climbed aboard I watched the stores and sights fade away as we climbed off into the countryside. Soon enough I was on the plane and headed home.

The experience was one which could not be imagined. A hotel could offer various amenities but none would come close to the experience which I gained from staying with Rory and his friends. The food, the music, the culture, all of it was constantly around me, so much that I picked up a slight accent in my few days there. The hospitality and generosity of Rory can never be repaid, but if he does ever come to Kentucky, then certainly I will try, and that is truly the goal of couch surfing.