Last Day...

Last day in Dublin. It's shocking. Everybody says this, but it really feels like just last week that I was settling in and consulting my map constantly to get around the city.

I'll backtrack a few days. We had our final showcase on Wednesday. Rehearsals were a bit nutty because our instructors tend to be disorganized. Also, I hit my head really hard when I slipped in the shower on Tuesday and it left me with loudly ringing ears and a massive headache that made it difficult to focus in rehearsal so I had a few rough run-through moments. The showcase itself went fine. I didn't fall on my bum during the movement piece so I considered that a success.

Thursday I went to Avoca with Peter and Katie, where they finished up some Christmas shopping. Then Peter wandered off and Katie and I went to Habitat, an interior decorating store, where I discovered something really neat: Pocket Gardens. We had a final lunch at Queen of Tarts and I started feeling really sad because I knew I would never be coming back to that particular restaurant. That afternoon was the reading of Peter's adaptation of The Seagull. Later that night we had breakfast for dinner at Katie & Rachel's apartment. Sweet crepes with Nutella = delicious.

This morning I awoke with a unique sense of panic that I needed to see everything in Dublin one more time. This didn't quite happen. I did do a few things that I'd wanted to do, however. Peter and I strolled through St. Stephen's Green one last time and then took an ecocab. These are free, emissions-free bicycle cabs that will take you pretty much anywhere. Our 'driver' was very friendly and took us to The National Library where we saw a spectacular exhibition on the life of W.B. Yeats. I learned so much about the poet and it was well organized.

Then it was back to Temple Bar where we stopped at our favorite gelateria for the last time. I wanted to get my last cup of Butler's Hot Chocolate but that didn't work out. Perhaps I'll be able to get it at the Dublin airport tomorrow.

I have to leave early tomorrow to get to the airport with time to complete tax forms, go through customs, etc. I can't believe that it's all over.

Sliante!

My last few days in Dublin are passing too quickly for my liking. I spent the weekend catching up on the sites I had yet to see, and catching up on sleep as well.

On Saturday I went to the Hugh Lane Dublin City Gallery. They had a really lovely collection of impressionist art. Peter and I both fell in love with a few paintings, and we thoroughly enjoyed this small but well-curated gallery. The bookshop had some excellent arts education books and it was a challenge not to spend all of my cash on the books.

That afternoon I took Peter to the National Museum of Decorative Arts, to which I had already been, to see the Viking ship and the period furniture exhibits. I saw these adorable Christmas origami ornaments on a huge Christmas tree in the lobby and I insisted on tracking down whoever made them. After I successfully found the museum's Art Cart director and got the web address, Peter pointed out that I'm really just a preschool teacher at heart. It's true. That's what I would love to do every day if it didn't involve wiping runny noses, cleaning up kiddie puke, and dealing with children who don't know when to go to the bathroom.

Saturday evening we watched this phenomenal Irish sit com called Father Ted with some other theatre students. It was recommended to us by our excellent acting teacher, Donal. He brought in the entire series for us to watch. I need to buy the boxed set once I get home because it is one of the most absurd and clever comedies I've ever enjoyed.

Sunday - again, sleeping in was a luxury. Then it was off to church where a choir made the Advent mass even more enjoyable. I always get excited when the Advent mass ends with O Come O Come Emmanuel. It's one of my favorite Christmas songs. Kate, Nora, Peter and I went to lunch at Avoca. Decadent quiche and a chocolate covered shortbread...yum. Then I went to Lush and smelled all of the soaps. It was difficult to distinguish scents after a while because they all blend together making one general organic-y stink.

The rest of Sunday was spent at the Chester Beatty Library, a superb museum featuring rare editions of religious texts and a nice exhibit drawing comparisons between Eastern Religions, Islam, and Christianity. The museum was just the right size for my museum attention span. I learned stuff and didn't get bored. Perfect!

Peter was a good man and hauled all of the Leeson Street residents to Corrigan's, my neighborhood pub, for some socializing and a break from writing papers. The pub is perfect. Comfortable booths and an abundance of pine garland and Christmas decorations.

Today I have more rehearsal and packing and cleaning. I need to take my un-needed items to Oxfam so that I don't have to worry about trashing them or taking them home. I can't believe I'll be home so soon. It will be sad to not be in Dublin, but nice to be with my family again and in a functional kitchen with appliances that work. I've already started making my Christmas cookie grocery list.

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who has sent Peter and/or myself mail in the past few days: Sarah, Nicholas & Cody, Jim, and my family.

I used the Christmas lights & stockings that Sarah sent to make a Christmas corner and I put up the picture that Cody sent me. Happy St. Nicholas Day eve to everyone!

Put a Cork in it

This weekend we went to Cork. It was excellent. Cork has been my favorite city (other than Dublin) so far. It felt a bit industrial, yet had just the right amount of independent shops, fantastic restaurants, and open air markets. I just loved it there and felt really down when I had to get on the train to return back to Dublin. Maybe it's because it was my last weekend trip, but I think it was because I really connected with the city.

Peter and I left so early on Saturday morning that we arrived at the train station before it even opened. Once on the train I promptly conked out, and awoke just in time to work on the outlines for the pile of papers I have to write this week. Our first task upon arrival in Cork was to check into our B&B. There was a little mix-up there which was completely my fault, but we had a place to stay and it was great. Except for the fact that the B&B was on a tilt. I was leaning ever-so-slightly to the side for most of the trip.

Our first stop was the tourist office to figure out how to get to Blarney. Tickets in hand, we strolled around city centre and explored the shops until it was time to get on the bus. The town of Blarney is so quaint you'd think it was plucked right from a Yeats poem. The grounds of Blarney castle were an easy walk from the bus stop, and we were eager to see everything.
That's Blarney Castle.

Blarney Castle was the coolest castle we've seen so far because it was ruins, not a refurbished replica of the old castle. It was so fascinating to climb around in the ruins. It started to rain heavily, making the steep circular stone staircases very slippery and I was nervous that I would slip and knock out my front teeth, but I managed to get all the way to the top to kiss the Blarney Stone. A lecherous old man holds you, bending backwards over the edge, making snappy comments as you kiss the stone. I tried not to think about how many people's lips have touched the stone before mine did.
This is the stream that runs through the grounds of Blarney Castle.
This is Pete at the very top of the castle.
Me in one of the old rooms of the castle.
This is a sign from The Murder Hole, aka the Best Room in the Castle.

After kissing the stone it was time to explore the grounds. There was a druid circle, wishing steps, a witch's kitchen, and other beautiful natural settings filled with lore.
The grounds of Blarney Castle as seen from the top of the castle.

It began to rain even more heavily but we stuck it out for a while. When we felt that we had seen enough of the landscape, we booked it to a local cafe to dry out. We ended up at the Kopi Cafe in Blarney where I had some lovely dark hot chocolate and a slice of apple pie (I shared the apple pie with Pete, for the record.) Then we went to Blarney Woolen Mills, which was like any other Irish design store, but with more neat woven and knit items.

We caught the bus back to Cork and had supper at Market Lane, a restaurant that gets its ingredients exclusively from the exquisite open air English Market in Cork. We had walked through the English Market earlier - it was a bustling place with fresh produce and meat and baked goods. Market Lane was awesome. Well made food, excellent quality. We were tired and not really up for going to the pubs so we decided instead to see Fred Claus. Urgh. Not the best movie ever made.

The next morning we decided that we really, really wanted to visit the Cork Butter Museum. We walked all the way there and found it easily - but it was closed for the season! A grave disappointment.See how disappointed Pete is that the doors to the museum are locked?

So then we walked some more and went to the Cork Gaol. We walked the entire distance of Cork to get there. Uphill. Sore legs. Despite the physical strain, the visit to the Gaol was good. The building was filled with highly realistic wax figures dressed as prisoners, wardens, etc., which made for a creepy atmosphere.
See? The wax figures are creepy, aren't they?

Exterior of the Gaol
Interior of the Gaol.

After the Gaol it was back down town for lunch. We went to Market Lane again because it was so good. I had butternut squash and feta au gratin with sundried tomatoes. Yum. Then back home on the train to Dublin. And now I need to write papers.