The neverending, torturous, painful trip home

We got in the cab and embarked on our 20-minute ride to the Dublin airport. We got there about two hours early, so we hung out for a bit near the check-out counter waiting for our flight to start check-ins. Melissa walked around and found out that we were on the other side of the counters, so after drunkenly sitting around for about a half an hour we turned the corner and were able to check in right away. We then started coming down from our drunkenness and feeling extremely tired and dead to the world. We decided that we needed to put some food in our system so we went upstairs and got some grilled paninis (mmm tomato mozzarella and pesto for me). We were all dying. Felt like crap. Not from drinking, but mostly from lack of sleep. You would not believe how bloodshot my eyes were. After sitting and eating for another half an hour we went next store to buy some overpriced bottles of water. Then we went to our gate where, in true RyanAir style, we were forced to stand in a disorganized line for an hour. We were supposed to board at 6:05 for our 6:35 flight, but we didn´t board until 6:35! Ugh. Also, people kept pushing and budging, it was a mess. Standing in line I really felt like crap. I had been going on so little sleep all weekend and it was just getting to its pinnacle. While in line I literally felt like I was going to fall over. I was cranky. I almost yelled at a child. A child! There was something very wrong with me. When Lisa has no sleep she becomes Mr. Hyde. Well, needless to say, we eventually got on the plane and were able to grab 3 seats together. We passed out right away. I slept really lightly because the RyanAir seats are so uncomfortable and my stomach was kind of bothering. Too many paninis! Hehe. We got into Málaga at around 10am-ish, and we looked/felt like hell. We dragged ourselves over to baggage claim which took forever, then found a bus to take us to the bus station. We got to the station at around 11:45 and our bus wasn´t until 1 so we hung out in the cafeteria where Stacey and I got Spanish tortilla sandwiches (we missed our Spanish food a bit) and lots and lots of water. We were not doing great, especially Melissa who looked like she was ready to die. Málaga was also still kind of cold and dreary like when we arrived. We finally boarded our bus and immediately passed out. I think I slept the whole way. We got into Sevilla at around 3:30 and it was sooooo hot out! I was not ready for the hot weather. I mean, it was pretty warm when we left Sevilla, but it wasn´t HOT. It felt like it was about 90 degrees in the sun. Stacey and I had been sharing a suitcase, so it was huge and heavy. There was no way that with our exhaustion, the heat, and the weight we were walking the entire half hour home. So we found a bus that would drop us off 5 minutes from our place. Melissa opted to walk home because she felt like she needed the fresh air. Stacey and I got home around 4:15. I unpacked, took a much-needed shower (I was more than disgusting), then took care of some things online. I had to force myself to start blogging about Ireland because now that I was home I had to devote all of my free time to studying. So I could not hold off on the blog. I forced one entry out until dinner was served at 9:30. We had shellfish croquetas, green salad, and cooked cauliflower. Not a bad meal, a very standard Maruja dinner. For dessert we had macedonia de frutas--strawberry, banana, and pear. Then, although I was overly exhausted and just wanted to sleep, I had to do some reading for Iconografía. I had tutoría the next day, and he assigned me reading for us to discuss. All about the iconography of Jesus, and the story of the Passion. I´m learning Catholocism, woohoo! Despite my tiredness, the reading was actually kind of interesting and didn´t take too long. All the while I talked to María del Mar and found out the real reason Marta was going home: her 24-year-old brother has a drug problem and her mom needs Marta around to be more moral support as he goes through rehab. He had been through rehab, but then relapsed. Oy, poor thing. So that was the big news of the day. I passed out...literally passed out...at 1am. What a day. I mean, two days. It never seemed to end! I missed Ireland, though, and wished I was there. I don´t want to study! My last European vacation had officially ended and I was very sad. I can´t believe how fast time has flown. How many times have I said that? Hehe. However, I am more than happy that Ireland was my final trip; it was perfect. Just pure fun. I haven´t had pure fun in a very long time. I needed that! Now I could really buckle down and get ready to get back to reality.