#ryanparma

We nipped across to our hotel to see if early check-in was available. It wasn't. We were told we'd have to wait until three. Owch. So, we returned to the cold hard streets of Dublin, a good seven hours awake, to try find something (cheap) to do. That was the other problem. The only things to do involved money, and we had relatively limited funds. Either that or we're all cheap. Whatever it was, we were sat with suitcases (thankfully small) and good intentions for a good while. 

In our defense, we didn't plan to queue early, and I don't actually think we stood outside the venue til around twelve, maybe one. Considering we had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go, that wasn't bad going. We actually sat more near the venue than outside of it, waiting to hear from Megan and for something interesting to come along. 

Very shortly after, we got to see the lovely Ryan, who films (edits and directs?) PTXperience (amongst a plethora of other things). Honestly, one of the nicest guys. It was great to meet him on the tour, to see him at (I think) all the shows we did. If you haven't already, you should check out his blog and the PTXperience videos (and then more of his work) because I can fully account for that guy weathering the rain (it's almost a pun) for his craft. He stayed and chatted for a little while, before we glanced across the road, and low and behold, Scott, Mitch and Kirstie were rolling out of the bubble tea place across the road. 

I actually just realized I'd planned to get bubble tea earlier that day (it was closed at the time), and somehow forgot in the seven or so hours we were hanging out. Either that, or 'over the road' was too vast a distance to travel for boba tea. Across the Irish Sea for Pentatonix? Yeah. Well. That's different.

They also stuck around for a little chat before going in to rehearse for a few hours. Then, I suppose, we queued. Although, it was less queuing, more extensive discussion on how tired we were, writing small essays on cards, and generally keeping ourselves amused. I don't actually know what time anyone else arrived. Megan joined us soon enough (fresh from her suite, holla) and we just sort of... did our thing. The day passed pretty quickly, to be honest. Eventually we could check in. Arran and Jess went to handle that, then Megan and I switched and went to change. The poor love had put a hole in her tights, oops.  

Later, Ryan came out again to grab some things for PTXperience, filmed a young acapella choir. We finally grabbed him for a selfie, after realizing that we hadn't, despite seeing and talking with him as often as we had!

Then at - and I feel it's a little bad that I remember an almost-specific time - half four, we had Papa John's pizza. Of course, life has it's disappointments, and for us? It was the fact the Papa John's in Dublin doesn't do stuffed crust. That was fairly crushing. Still, the pizza was good, and the very nice security guy (a+ to The Academy for hiring the man!) that had been around all day permitted us to stay under the shelter while we sat on the floor and ate pizza. 

Honestly? I don't really remember much until we got in the venue, and I witnessed one of the greatest vocal groups put on a show that defines 110%. Pentatonix consists of five incredible vocalists who nail their shows every time, but the way they let loose in Dublin made it the most memorable performance of the tour. Understandably, being that they were able to do so, without any subsequent vocal commitments.

After the show, the four of us (Jess, Arran, Megan, I) went out for drinks, which was kind of the best way to close the tour. Sure, the weather was rainy and shit - we're English, we're used to it - and it was a Sunday night so bars were a little less open than we might like, but it was just pretty sweet to have a drink with - ahem - my three best friends (like we do it all the time, so let's... do it again?) and to just live in a moment. 

Yeah, I'm serious about the three best friends. Jess, Megan, Arran (then also Abbey and Lauren!!), you guys made this entire collection of shows all the more special, and I love y'all, and I'm very, very excited to do it again. Especially if Jess cries over confetti, ja feel?