Flying Away: (my last post) October 24, 2009

I debated just leaving my posts with the last one, a perfect ending to a perfect summer. But after some deliberating, I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t just leave out the hectic journey homewards. It’s worth telling, but isn’t that storybook ending that perhaps I secretly wished to show. Allow me to enlighten you:

Ally and I had a lot of work to do on our suitcases, and didn’t exactly plan ahead knowing that we would be out all night for the Speed Connector Event. Coming in from the rain and our farewells to Caitlin and Laura, Ally and I joined Jen in our apartment for the most dysfunctional attempt at packing I’ve ever been a part of.

Keep in mind that twenty minutes prior to this we were outside in the rain crying in agony over our departure, and with a night’s worth of drinks in us. We were required to clean our rooms for our checkout of Shanowen Square, and due to physical and time restraints, this was proving itself to be quite the difficult task!

By the time things were practically finished, I managed to sneak in an hour of sleep. But an hour was all that I was able to get because our flight back to the States was taking off at 9am. I don’t know if some internal clock was working in my brain that morning (which was essentially and extension of the day/night before) but I somehow managed to awaken just in time to get ready and leave for the airport.

I woke up around 5:45 and managed to coordinate our taxi ride with the other Seattle students, so we could take 2 van cabs there. Ally was one big struggle that morning; losing her keys for checkout among other things. Stress was by far the only emotion all of us were feeling. Jen was leaving Dublin with us as well, and all of us waited for the cabs outside the Shanowen Spar together.

the Shanowen Spar ♡

When they came, everyone’s luggage hardly fit in the two vans, but we were on our way nonetheless. Goodbye, Spar! Goodbye Shanowen! Farewell Santry!

Did I mention I spent just about every single euro I owned the night before? That, mixed with the difficulty of finding our airport gate, almost leaving my rented phone at the security station, rushing through customs, and boarding the plane almost last made for a beyond crazy departure. Not to mention I was exhausted. Thankfully I had Ally with me through it all !

As the patchy green Irish landscapes disappeared into a foggy haze, I was sad to go, but my heart knew that it would not be the last time I would be in this beautiful country. I left a piece of my heart in Dublin, and it’s waiting for me to come back. And that’s a promise I fully intend to keep.

my sincerest thanks!

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE THAT READ, AND CONTINUED TO READ MY ADVENTURES. I WROTE THEM FOR ALL OF YOU! CHEERS!

the Connector team

Fairy Tale Ending October 23, 2009

The next morning I woke up with the taste of garlic in my mouth, despite the three attempts at brushing my teeth the night before. Blech. But that sick feeling quickly passed when I realized that this was the day. THE LAST DAY. The very last day in Dublin. In Ireland. No excuses. No pretending. This was it!

Excitement and sadness make for an interesting combination of emotions when you’re getting ready in the morning, but when I left my apartment to a gorgeously sunny and out of the ordinary day, I was so happy I could almost skip. Before I had left, I managed to fold, pack, shove, cram, and squeeze close to the entirety of my “Irish” life into my two suitcases. But now I was headed to the City Centre, ready for what I could already tell was going to be my best day yet. It was in the air.

I don’t know if it was the sun, or unusual normality of the riding the Dublin Bus (as I had nearly every day previously), but I was purely and completely happy. It’s not like I was at all pleased with my time in Dublin coming to an end, but the day was mine.

sunshine & the Spire

I got off the bus at O’Connell Street, and as the bus pulled away a flower stand seemed to appear at the base of the Spire. Acting on impulses alone, I crossed the street and felt compelled to buy the gigantic sunflowers on display. Three beautiful sunflowers later, I was walking down O’Connell, along the Liffey, and then Parliament St., the sun still glossy in the sky.

a beautiful last day

When I got to the Connector Office I said hello to Stephen from BalconyTV and got to work on my final blog of the summer. After my review of Saba was up and posted, quite the gathering in the office ensued. Ally, Jen, Conor, Caiohmhe hung about the office then went to a lovely pizza lunch together. The afternoon was rounded off with a final coffee with Conor and I was off back to Shanowen to get ready for my last Connector event– Speed Connector!

Ally and Jen would be joining me for at Krystle Nightclub for Speed Connector, and we got all dolled up for this exciting event! Catching a cab to Harcourt St., the three of us would be helping with the setup to this event, sponsored by Jameson (which Ally and I couldn’t be more excited about!). We worked the sign-in table for an hour or so, but the night blossomed into a tremendous amount of fun. Conor even gave me a parting gift– an absolutely gorgeous silver Celtic knot pendant. I loved it!

Speed Connector, photo by Philippe Holderied

photo by Philippe Holderied

I could go on for pages on the extraordinary night that I had, but words would hardly be sufficient to describe the experience (and that’s coming from me!). Hours felt like minutes and the time well spent suddenly melted and glittered in synch with the pulsating rhythms of Krystle and our laughter combined.

Ally, Jen, Stephen from BalconyTV and I popped in to The Sugar Club for a bit before making an epic cab ride home. After dropping Stephen off, Ally and I held each other in utter despair at the thought of leaving. All our sentences either started with “this is the last time I’ll see ________” or “I’ll miss __________” and Jen watched with sympathy as we cried. Our sorrows amplified by the Jameson and ginger ales, we lamented on the most amazing summer of our lives.

When we got back to Shanowen Square, we entered the slow squeaky gate, and Ally and I, teary and bleary-eyed, camped out under the mailboxes refusing to succumb to the inevitable reality of parting. Crying, we composed ourselves enough to say our farewells to the slumbering Laura and Caitlin in their apartment.

This evening could only be summed up in such a way that Emily Dickinson would describe:

“Wild nights! Wild nights!

Were I with thee,

wild nights should be

our luxury!”

The Final Day… Thursday Edition October 22, 2009

Thursday was a another day to bring in the lingering anticipation of the departure that was less than 48 hours ahead of me. I can’t say how much I didn’t want to leave. But time refused to stop, and my plane ticket was binding. I think I kept telling people that if I didn’t care about graduating from college then I would’ve stayed… unfortunately I do, and leaving Dublin was required. Part of the program description, no less.

Regardless, I went to work, ate a wonderful vegetarian quiche at Gruel, peeked through the gates of Christ Church Cathedral for a filming of the Tudors, and ended the day with a Bulmers with Caiomhe at Grogan’s. It was a windy, overcast day, but we sat outside, enjoying our drinks and an absolutely brilliant street musician. I also took this opportunity to do some quality people watching (my favorite pastime).

Tonight was my farewell dinner, and Conor met up with Caiomhe and I and we headed over to Saba for a meal in exchange for a blog. It was quite perfect, actually. We were joined by another blogger, Rob from Venntertainment for a very delicious Thai meal. For more specifics, you can read my Connector blog about it here.

at Saba

After our meal, we met up with Ally and Jen at the Long Hall for some pints. I had a pint of Guinness and the realization came that I would not be able to enjoy a true Guinness for a very long time from this point forward. I could no longer take the frothy goodness of a properly poured pint for granted!

Ally & Conor experimenting with sour candies!

at Whelans

We hung out in the Long Hall for a bit before moving on to the legendary Whelan’s.  This was by far one of my favorite nights, full of the paparazzi (Jen), friends, and mirth. Ally, Jen, and I ended our night (almost tragically) at Eddie Rocket’s diner. Sound familiar? This late-night eatery was an almost identical match for the American Johnny Rocket’s, as if the namesake didn’t already point to that conclusion. Needless to say, our 2am “snack” consisted of 3 orders of cheese and/or garlic smothered french fries and an Oreo Shake that we slurped down in a matter of minutes.

After our “meal” we headed back to Shanowen for the night, all while enjoying some great conversation with our cab driver (as usual). Nothing like greasy food to finish of a fantastic evening.

ketchup modeling at Eddie Rocket's

we demolished our fries! not something to be proud of...

THE LAST WEEK (ah!): Mon-Wed October 22, 2009

It was nearly impossible to think that this was my last week in Dublin. To sound utterly trite: where did the time go? It was also impossible, because quite frankly I didn’t want to believe that this moment would ever arrive. It was difficult to even fathom how eight weeks could flash by so quickly, like a good movie that’s over before you’re ready for its conclusion.

And considering movies, my time spent in Dublin almost felt like a rough composite of one. Weeks flickered by like days, or even hours, and here I was, my final week. It was an incredible journey, and I went into my last week with every intent of making the most of every single day, hour, minute, and quite possibly second. Cherishing the moments can hardly describe how I was feeling!

Dublin street art

Andrew was gone, traveling through France with his family, and I was alone in the office, but not for long. Caoimhe joined me as a new Connector “employee” so to speak, and she was starting to work on the Connector Music Event that would take place in September. It was nice having someone to spend time in the office with, and Caiomhe was simply a lovely person.

Monday after work I met Conor’s aunt who is from Seattle. That was an interesting twist to my day, and right afterwards I met Ally and Jen at the semi-Mexican restaurant Acapulco (I say “semi-Mexican” because try as they might, no Mexican food in Dublin really tastes the same as it does back home). It was Jen’s birthday, and we were celebrating the best way possible– with burritos and margaritas!

After our lovely dinner, we returned to Shanowen to get ready to go out for the night in celebration of Jen’s special day! This evening was EXTRA special because our treasured friend Dan (of Ikea fame) was joining us! We started off the night at the Grafton St. Porterhouse and moved on to Dandelion. I had the absolute BEST time hanging out, dancing, chatting, and creating mischief with Dan! He’s brilliant!

I ♡ dan!!

Ally and I said our long, emotional, and intoxicated good-byes to our first friend Dan on a nearly-deserted end of Grafton Street. Many hugs, kisses, and photographs later, we were nestled into our beds (around 3am!).

Grafton St. kisses

Tuesday came, work was productive, and Conor’s friend (and mine too!), the wonderful Mayuri, visited me for some midday company. That evening was a farewell dinner put on by EUSA at Talbot 101. This restaurant was a really trendy place with GREAT food. My dinner included a delicious sundried tomato and cashew dip with crudite and warm pita. And that was only the appetizer! I ate too much and came home to begin packing for the looming departure on Saturday.

oh, the horror!

Wednesday was another day with nothing out of the ordinary in the office. The days were dwindling, and it was a horribly dreadful feeling, but it allowed me to appreciate everything I was doing, seeing, experiencing, and living that much more. Waiting for the unpredictable Dublin Bus wasn’t a annoyance of my lengthy commute, but an opportunity to people watch instead.

last intern standing in the Connector Office

I took this opportunity to visit the tourist store Carroll’s as well. I had been putting this necessary evil off the entire trip, but souvenirs were definitely needed, so I let go of my ego and bought the shot glasses, posters, and small trinkets as a superficial remembrance of my life in Dublin. Purchasing the items was just fine. Rather, it was the dreaded green Carroll’s bag that was haunting me. I was mortified carrying the Carroll’s bag up O’Connell, for it screams “TOURIST!” in every way possible.

Then the rain came. My Carroll’s bag, made of paper, ripped, leaving me no choice but to carry the decent sized bag like a baby, clutched tightly to my chest. Oh, the agony. I bared through it and safely packed my souvenirs in my bag.

Don’t assume that the night was over after that. It had only just begun! Ally and I took Jen into Temple Bar, a rite of passage, no less, and met some interesting characters to say the least. We ended the night with a live band (the mediocre Sweet Corn Riot) at Fitzsimon’s. Ally and I decided liking the Spire was the best way to express our love to the city, and we have photographic evidence to prove it. :)

loving on the Spire

Last weekend + Good Friends = ♡ October 20, 2009

Well, not that we didn’t love our other Shanowen friends, but there was a weekend to be had!

The departure of most of the Ohio, Towson, New York (and other) kids left us Seattlites ready to explore some uncharted Dublin territory. Caitlin, Ally, Laura, and I had a plan for the weekend already in the works, and we were with no time to lose, we were off on the Dublin City Bus to the City Centre.

Our plan? The Liffey River Cruise! It was an incredibly touristy thing to do, but hey why not? We boarded the river boat, an usually long boat that’s cabin was half underwater, half out. The sun was shining this beautiful Saturday afternoon, and it was a refreshing day to go on adventures, the the four of us.

on the Liffey River Cruise

After the cruise, Ally and I split off from Caitlin and Laura in pursuit of the majestic and enormous Phoenix Park. The second largest city park in the European Union, we rented bicycles for 5 euro to only get an hour’s worth of the park’s majesty. Majestical. That was seriously the only word I could use to describe the vastly unmatched greenness that sprawled in front of me! “Majestically riding our bikes…..” seemed to be an impromptu theme song that Ally and I belted throughout our time there.

majestically riding my bike

Phoenix Park was an absolute sanctuary. I regret not making the 10 minute bus ride journey there earlier on my trip. We rode in and out of forested roads, gardens, cricket playing fields, giant crosses, and the zoo, and playful children with their families. Ally and I would, as is our tendency, stop every so often and take some gorgeous pictures of the majesty surrounding us.

By the time we went home to Shanowen, it was time to go back out again for the night. After eating a deliciously home-cooked meal, compliments of Chef Caitlin, we surprised Laura… with a fake 21-birthday! We dubbed it her “Irish Birthday”, as a reason to provide with a giant badge and to get potentially free drinks!

pasta and wine :)

We took her out to our new favorite, Dandelion, and had such a great evening! We even got in without a cover, a special treat for the “birthday” girl!

The next day, after a LATE night out with some crazy blokes, Ally went straightaway to pick up her best friend Jen from the airport! Jen was visiting Ally for out last week, as well as celebrating her own birthday! This could of course, only mean a countless number of adventures to come!

The first thing Ally and I do to welcome Jen into Dublin is take her into the City Centre to catch the DART to the coastal city Howth! I had been looking forward to visiting Howth for just about my entire trip, and the moment was finally here. Jen was so adorable, taking countless pictures and making comments on everything in the city that had since become home to me. It made me think of my first week here, and those memories alone were so great to relive!

A 30 minute ride on the DART later, the three of us arrived in the small seaside town of Howth. There was a Sunday outdoor market taking place, and we all ended up buying rings from local merchants (of not more than one ring, Ally!). There were fat and hungry seals eager for tourists to throw them fishes from the local fish stand nearby, lighthouses, adorable old men, and scrumptious food. It was a wonderful day trip!

We concluded our evening with a pint of Bulmers at Messrs. MaGuire and good conversation. A wonderful week was ahead…

Nearing the end…. October 20, 2009

Again many apologizes to those who have been wondering how my summer ended. Autumn is officially in full swing, I’m back into the swing of college life in Seattle and missing my Dublin life tremendously. So that leaves me here, reviving the revelry and memories that I have yet to complete in this wonderful little corner of cyberspace that I can claim for my own.

Where to begin? Well, where I left off would be nice….

This week (August 10th- 15th) marked the countdown to my final weeks in Dublin. The end was near, but my heart would not fully accept my imminent departure. Andrew was leaving this week, so alot of the Connector work was focused around that. This included final meetings with our Career Coach, script writing for a Connector Intern Video, and many farewell celebrations.

filming the Connector Intern video

Connector connections

The middle of the week was rather unproductive for Andrew and I, but we conducted our own Connector blog interview with a Lifetime Humanitarian Award Winner Paddy MaGuinness. I went to a “Handbag Therapy” event later that evening (which Andrew opted out of, with due cause of course). Fashion-related events are always fun, and I even received a 25 euro gift certificate to the Kildaire Village Shopping Center. Unfortunately, with my time in Dublin dwindling, I didn’t make it out to use that free money. I passed it along though!

Right after the Handbag Event, I headed straight away to meet Caitlin, Ally, Rory, and Laura at a tapas bar in Temple Bar. Caitlin’s Internship owned this particular tapas bar, Pinxto, and we got the hook-up with a complimentary cheese platter complete with grapes. The wine was great too.

at Pinxto with the girls!

Thursday was Andrew’s farewell dinner, which was a lovely bout of fun for everyone involved! After work Conor, Andrew and I went to O’Donoghue’s for a round of Guinness before our wining and dining just across the street at Hugo’s. Our office mate Tom from Balcony TV, was playing jazz that evening as well as hosting a farewell dinner for their intern, Jessie. This could only mean lively conversation, great food, and excellent laughter.

Andrew & I at Hugo's

And the night didn’t stop there! The rest of the Shanowen gang was also in the City Centre, off to a great start for the night. Andrew and I soon joined everyone at Dandelion for an amazing night of fun!

The next day was Andrew’s very last day in the Connector Office and we enjoyed a lovely farewell lunch (yes, many farewells to be had) at Da Pino, the very place where Andrew managed to get his first blog-for-a-free-meal endeavor.

Andrew's final days in the Connector Office

lunch at Da Pino

Another night of drinking and farewells ensued, and the next morning necessitated a good-bye breakfast in Shanowen. There was no better way to execute such a meal than to get some wonderful Spar food and eat it in our Shanowen apartments. Deliciously convenient. The breakfast was terribly cute, and it was sad to see much of our clan depart.

final farewells to many of the Shanowen kids

Kilmainham Gaol & Fiesta Time! September 5, 2009

Cait and I outside Kilmainham Gaol

The next day was a Saturday, which of course means… jamming it full of stuff! Today’s agenda? Kilmainham Gaol with Cait! Her peer from Baltimore, Bryan came along as well.

A bus ride past the Guinness Storehouse and we were at the now-museum jail, a significant piece of Irish history. Political prisoners of the civil war and Easter Uprising, (and much more, forgive me for my lack of expertise on this!) were held in Kilmainham.

Our guided tour lasted a bit over an hour, and we, along with 30 other tourists from around the world, got to walk the halls, chambers, and visit the cells throughout the jail. Our tour guide led us around, pointing out the significance of every nook and cranny, explaining names, dates, and events along the way. I came out of the tour with a better grasp of the struggles of the Irish in an all-too-recent historical context.

I think the most moving part of the tour was standing in the execution yard, shadows of former political prisoners’ resistance and passion still present. Incredible, truly.

After we left Kilmainham Gaol, we met up with Rory in the City Centre. We milled about George’s St. Arcade for a bit, I bought a handful of old Irish pennies, and then hungry, wandered to Café Seven for some food. After consuming a delicious early-evening meal, we realized everyone else in Shanowen was planning a fiesta. Well, looks like I would be having two dinners!

The fiesta, a plan devised due to the lack of Mexican food in Ireland (or at least “real” Mexican food), was a group effort, headed by the excellent chef of a person, Caitlin. We picked up our items of contribution in the City Centre and bused it back to the apartments, just in time for the fiesta. Not incredibly hungry (to say the least!), I still partook in the fiesta-ing. Yummy burritos and much socializing morphed in to the most epic pre-gaming party ever. A true fiesta, you might say.

the aftermath of the fiesta, stuffed and ready for a siesta!

To explain, the fiesta (sans food) moved its way into the middle square of Shanowen, and our merry crowd of 10 soon turned in to 30+ Shanowen-ites! If you fiesta, they will come.

Nonetheless, the fiesta did not stay in Shanowen, but moved down to the City Centre. Messrs. Maguire being the first stop of choice, the night was an excellent one at that!

So fun, indeed, that I may have lost my phone that night. But no worries! I got it back the next day… :)

Day Trip: Part 2 September 4, 2009

Leaving Monasterboice, the PaddyWagon was on its way north to Belfast. Less than an hour later we were no longer in the Republic of Ireland, but in Northern Ireland. There was no “Welcome to Northern Ireland” sign, no markings of a border. The only signal was the switch from kilometers to miles on the signs on the side of the road. And the Union Jack flags. Those were a clear indication of the distinctions.

I won’t pretend like I can even fathom the depth of the struggles that are so ingrained into the situation with Northern Ireland. I will only record what I observed as a mere visitor to Northern Ireland, for I only spent close to 4 hours total in Belfast.

Upon our arrival in Belfast, the PaddyWagon drove straight in to the City Centre, passing the majestically beautiful City Hall, and dropped us off into the hands of our Black Cab Tour cabs and their drivers.

our Corona-clad Black Cab

The Black Cab Tour is a group of taxis that take tourists to the divided areas of Belfast, and they can do so without causing disturbances or trouble. Our group needed 3 cabs total, and our first stop was in the Protestant/Loyalist area of Belfast. With the well-informed driver giving us a historical and current explanation, we stepped out into a park bordered with giant murals.

These murals were hauntingly large, and blatantly anti-Catholic. Oliver Cromwell, William of Orange, and U.F.F. members among them, photographs could never capture the feeling that surrounded these murals. Haunting is probably the best I can do to explain.

After walking around and snapping pictures of the murals, our cabs loaded us up and drove to one of many “Peace Walls” that are all over Northern Ireland. I believe the cab driver said there were 18 in Belfast alone, but the exact number I can’t recall. Stopping at the wall, we were handed permanent markers to write our own messages of peace, like so many before us. That was definitely a humbling experience, thinking that people live with this wall as a part of their everyday life. Incredible. Moving, indeed.

Next, the Black Cab Tour transitioned in to the Catholic/Unionist section of Belfast. The atmosphere definitely felt a bit less haunting, and we saw murals dedicated to martyrs and Civil Rights activists. A wall of murals was dedicated entirely to world leaders in Civil Rights.

Shortly after our stop there, our tour had made its rounds, and headed back to the City Centre. Moved, affected, and hungry, a group of us sought out a yummy on-the-go meal from Marks & Spencer’s. We ate our food on the green outside City Hall, admiring the giant Ferris wheel, the Belfast Eye (or something like that).

Our PaddyWagon was due for pick up in less than an hour, so we quickly went to explore. A nearby shopping center had a look out point at the top of the building, offering a 360-degree view of the city, so naturally we went there first. It was a lovely sight. Belfast is much different than Dublin. It was nice to have a change up, but also comforting to know that there was Dublin to come back to. Belfast has much more of an industrial feel. Even looking around from the glass tower one could see the port where the Titanic was built.

Wanting to get some souvenirs from my day trip, I quickly went searching for a gift shop with a couple of the girls. It was not easy to find (no Carrolls on every block like in Dublin!), but I eventually did. After buying a few things, we hopped on our PaddyWagon, and headed south back to Dublin.

A thoroughly enjoyable, poignant, and sunny day of adventuring, if there ever was one!

Day Trip: Part 1 September 4, 2009

A nearly uncharacteristically bright and sunny Friday was a EUSA-organized day trip. This August 7^th trip would include a PaddyWagon Tour (yes, like the previous Kilkenny/Glendalough tour) to the site of the Battle of the Boyne, a stop in Drogheda, Monasterboice, and then finally Belfast.

Seeing as I usually voluntarily work on Fridays, this day was an exception and I had asked for it off. The evening before I spent going to the Bulmers Live at Leopardstown Raceway concert with the Coronas for Connector. Afterwards, I met up with some of the girls in the City Centre for a lovely start of the evening at a tapas bar, and then later headed out into Temple Bar for a nightly romp.

Unfortunately that romp may have been the reason I neglected to set an alarm for the morning. Mistake.

The PaddyWagon Tour was scheduled to take off at 8:00 am sharp, about the time I woke up to pounding on my bedroom door. Needless to say, Ally was my savior and came to get me for the tour! I frantically dressed, grabbed my purse, and packed my make-up, running out the door, barely getting in time to use the toilet or brush my teeth.

Apparently Ally had thought I went to the PaddyWagon before her, and when she saw I wasn’t on, quickly ran back through the gates of Shanowen to get me. Note to self: have a friend like Ally while traveling!

Despite the rough start to the morning, the sunshine and good company (the other Seattle interns and some other EUSA interns,) laid out a gleaming path to the wonderfulness to come.

The first stop on our day tour was to the site of the Battle of the Boyne. Our bus arrived to the battlefield rather early, probably around 8:45, before the historical-museum type of stuff was open, so we explored on our own.

Jumping out of the bus, nearly forgetting that not too long ago I was frantically running about Shanowen Square, the considerable stretch of field laid before me was refreshing, and of course, green. A bunch of us bounced about, oddly lively for the morning, between replica canons and grassy fields still damp from the morning dew.

We spent a short time there, snapping group photos on the line of canons, only to hop back on our big green touring bus, and head to our next destination: Drogheda.

In Drogheda, (in Irish Drogheda means “bridge”, according to our PaddyWagon Driver, don’t quote me on this one…) we went to see Saint Oliver Plunkett’s preserved head inside a church. The church was beautiful both inside and out, and the peculiar shrines holding the remains of the martyr Oliver Plunkett oddly fit in, residing right beside the pews.

With a 20-cent donation, a bunch of us lit a candle to honor St. Oliver, and looking at his old, decrepit, yet wonderfully intact head, admired the uniqueness of the entire situation. Moments were then spent admiring the elaborate and ornately beautiful churches I’ve ever been in, before we grabbed a snack across the street and got back on the bus. Coffee was part of my snack…

St. Oliver Plunkett's head... nice teeth

The next site on the list was Monasterboice, a national site that houses ancient high crosses and a round tower. The site was filled with headstones and Celtic crosses, much like Glendalough. However, the high cross in Monasterboice is the tallest standing one in the country.

Wandering around the site, admiring both the old high crosses, full of historical importance, as well as the headstones, and their dates, including some in the last 5 years. A truly amazing site, and the sun was still on our side.

Start of August: Individual Explorations, PART 2 September 3, 2009

Sunday of my individual explorations was equally as wonderful and refreshing as the Saturday.

I slept in again (it’s a rare opportunity that should be taken advantage of!), and headed out of Shanowen Square, only to stop at the Spar for a baguette, and was on my way for another day of adventures.

The bus I boarded was full of rowdy late- teenage girls wearing brightly colored clothing and rain boots. I still haven’t figured out what in the hell was going on with that, but it had to be something, for when the bus arrived on O’Connell St, there seemed to be more of these girls. Shrugging, I made my way toward the Liffey.

Instead of crossing the river on O’Connell Bridge, I decided to walk along the boardwalk along the north bank. There was an Artwalk taking place, so as I strolled along, I got to admire the artwork as well.

Ha'Penny Bridge

I crossed the Liffey at the pedestrian Ha’Penny Bridge, and headed straight through to Temple Bar. I made my way through the tourist-ridden cobblestones as a shortcut to the Dublin Castle. This was my neck of the woods, so to speak, for my Connector Office is on the edge of Temple Bar’s romping grounds.

portal to Temple Bar :)

My intentions of visiting Dublin Castle were to see the recently added sand sculptures that were in the main courtyard. Admiring the skill it takes to mold giant blocks of sand, I then moved on the Chester Beatty Library. This Museum is essentially in the Castle’s backyard, so I simply followed the signs that led me there.

sand sculpture representing the element Earth

The Chester Beatty Library was a fascinating treasure trove of ancient artifacts from Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity donated to Ireland by the American Beatty. Because this museum was also free, I didn’t feel obligated to stay more than I deemed necessary.

My next destination was Christ Church Cathedral, which had been standing proudly just a block past my office, and I had yet to visit! I sat outside this awesome cathedral, admiring the architecture, but didn’t get the chance to go inside, for Sunday service was in session.

Christ Church Cathedral

The same was true for St. Patrick’s Cathedral, my next sight-seeing location. Just a stone’s throw south of Christ Church, St. Patrick’s was equally inspiring in the architectural realm of things. Behind the church was a lovely park behind it where I sat for a while, resting and journaling.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Satisfying my hunger for reflectiveness, I wandered over to where I guessed Grafton St. would be. I hadn’t been in this area of the city yet, so I was using my inner compass to guide me. And guess what? That compass works pretty damn well, if I do say so myself. I walked until I recognized something, even if it was as insignificant as an Indian food restaurant, and treaded on to St. Stephen’s Green shopping mall to get a smoothie to quench my thirst.

Grafton St. performer

I somehow ended up at TopShop (I think I have some sort of magnetic pull drawing me there!) and bought 3 of my favorite items of apparel: a blue blazer, chunky gold necklace, and magenta fishnet tights. Shopping wasn’t my original plan for the day, but hey! Why not?

I headed home shortly after, expecting a night out with Ally (who was on her way home from a weekend with the family), and caught my bus. I dozed off on the ride, as usual, and woke up just in time for my stop at the Spar (for dinner!) and the off-license. This was no typical Sunday, mind you. It was the Sunday before Monday’s Bank Holiday. No work the next day = late nights!

And a late night it was! Ally didn’t come back to the apartment until 10pm, so we had a lot of ground to cover! Excited to go out for the night, just the two of us, we got dressed up and caught a cab into the city. Bouncing from The Globe (for a quick pee), to Hogans, to the Porterhouse, the night was a romp like no other. Fantastic fun, just us two.

Monday, the Bank Holiday, I spent with Ally and her two brothers. We meandered around Grafton St., St. Stephen Green’s shopping mall, and then the Guinness Storehouse. The Guinness Storehouse was awesome, and the free pint at the Gravity Bar was a moment of revelation when I realized that I thoroughly LOVE Guinness. Deliciousness.

delicious Guinness

view of Dublin from the top of the Guinness Storehouse

After, we ate some appetizer’s at the Brazen Head, the 4 of us, and sat around enjoying ech other’s company. We parted ways, they to their fancy dinner, and me to my delicious meal of a savory vegetarian crepe from the fantastic restaurant Lemon. Great day for my taste buds!

This was overall an entirely amazing weekend. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!