my swans came back to say goodbye
Don't know if I mentioned it on here or not, but the day that I arrived in Dublin I saw a pair of swans swimming in the Liffey (a rare enough site, I'm told since they prefer other locales). Since then I've seen a lone swan a couple times (just the other night I saw one paddling around at about 10pm). But yesterday evening I saw the pair of them again (and a duck), and grabbed my camera to try to get a couple pics - results below ...
Decorative Arts Museum
So yesterday morning V and I went up on the Luas to the National Museum at Collins Barracks (the Decorative Arts and History 'branch', if you will). I didn't take my good camera because I knew it would be like the Arch. Museum with all it's pictographic little signs full of international NO symbols (NO food, NO drink, NO mobile phones, NO cameras, etc., etc.). But here's my camerphone pic of the outside:
For something more impressive looking, you can go HERE to see a really cool spinning panorama. Seeing everything took all morning, but then we had a lovely lunch at the cafe and headed back to the apt. to relax and regroup. Fortunately the heavier rain fell while we were inside planning the evening (we only had to use the umbrella on our walk down the street to the pub - by the time we went for pizza it was much lighter, and by the time we left the pizza place it had stopped - we had good luck yesterday!). BTW - I highly recommend Apache Pizza - really good pizza for a chain, and they had delicious jalapeno poppers!
However, while I was in the museum I couldn't resist the urge to take a (NON-flash!) photo that my dad will appreciate:
However, while I was in the museum I couldn't resist the urge to take a (NON-flash!) photo that my dad will appreciate:
hop on, hop off - day 1
So today V and I did the Dublin hop on/off bus tour (a couple times - in between we got a chicken pesto panini for lunch). Like a genious - I forgot my GOOD camera and had to shoot the day with just my camerphone :(
An ivy covered building (just for the atmosphere):
I think this is St. Patrick's:
St. Pat's again:
We also spent about 3 hours at the Archaeology Museum, where (before reading the "No cellphone" and "No Photography" signs I snapped a pic oof one of the Bogmen on display:
Then for dinner we gave The Winding Stair (www.winding-stair.com) a try. It was fabulous! Great place, great staff, great food! Had a delicious lamb chop with root veggies and red wine sauce (to die for!). An excellent intro to lamb :)
Now I'm off to bed early for tomorrow's LONG day (much anticipated trip to Giant's Causeway).
Here's the Spire on O'Connell St:
I think this one is Christchurch:
An ivy covered building (just for the atmosphere):
I think this is St. Patrick's:
St. Pat's again:
We also spent about 3 hours at the Archaeology Museum, where (before reading the "No cellphone" and "No Photography" signs I snapped a pic oof one of the Bogmen on display:
Then for dinner we gave The Winding Stair (www.winding-stair.com) a try. It was fabulous! Great place, great staff, great food! Had a delicious lamb chop with root veggies and red wine sauce (to die for!). An excellent intro to lamb :)
Now I'm off to bed early for tomorrow's LONG day (much anticipated trip to Giant's Causeway).
feeling a little better :)
Am still highly annoyed with myself for not going to Paris, but I'm trying not to think about it anymore. Today has been pretty good (which is helping to distract me and lift my mood).
The morning started by hearing that my dad's DNA results at www.23aneMe.com had come in ALREADY! So now I know all about my dad's line ... but the confusing thing is how his paternal ancestors, who are known to be Swiss and are rumored to have been Italian before that, have such a predominately Scandinavian genetic history. And on top of that, my dad's mitochondrial results are also strongest in the same geographic area. Initially I thought that was a bit odd since I think of that branch of the family as being German Jewish (my great-grandmother's maiden name was Zahn and we believe she was at least raised Jewish, though she spent her whole adult life and raised her 2 daughters Protestant), but actually my great-great grandmother was named Anna Sarah Kneer ... I could imagine a bit of Viking heritage there :)
Then, this afternoon, I decided to go sit on the boardwalk benches on The Liffey. I'm sure it sounds boring, but the sun was shinning brightly, the breeze was cool, and the gulls were swooping in and paddling in the river. I just sat, and watched the gulls, and read a book, and thought about life for a good 2 or 3 hours. It was somehow exactly what I needed - a quite, restful, aimless day all to myself, with no particular goal or fixed intention, no pressure, nothing in need of doing - nothing but the beauty of the sunny moment, the swooping gulls, my book, my thoughts, a bunch of strangers coveting my slot on the bench, and a knot of squabbling traffic behind me.
I admit I had fun on my previous tour, and I am REALLY looking forward to next Wed.'s tour ... but today was a REAL vacation ... to me anyway :)
The morning started by hearing that my dad's DNA results at www.23aneMe.com had come in ALREADY! So now I know all about my dad's line ... but the confusing thing is how his paternal ancestors, who are known to be Swiss and are rumored to have been Italian before that, have such a predominately Scandinavian genetic history. And on top of that, my dad's mitochondrial results are also strongest in the same geographic area. Initially I thought that was a bit odd since I think of that branch of the family as being German Jewish (my great-grandmother's maiden name was Zahn and we believe she was at least raised Jewish, though she spent her whole adult life and raised her 2 daughters Protestant), but actually my great-great grandmother was named Anna Sarah Kneer ... I could imagine a bit of Viking heritage there :)
Then, this afternoon, I decided to go sit on the boardwalk benches on The Liffey. I'm sure it sounds boring, but the sun was shinning brightly, the breeze was cool, and the gulls were swooping in and paddling in the river. I just sat, and watched the gulls, and read a book, and thought about life for a good 2 or 3 hours. It was somehow exactly what I needed - a quite, restful, aimless day all to myself, with no particular goal or fixed intention, no pressure, nothing in need of doing - nothing but the beauty of the sunny moment, the swooping gulls, my book, my thoughts, a bunch of strangers coveting my slot on the bench, and a knot of squabbling traffic behind me.
I admit I had fun on my previous tour, and I am REALLY looking forward to next Wed.'s tour ... but today was a REAL vacation ... to me anyway :)
bad morning
So I've spent the morning flipping out and throwing up every 5 minutes (OK, maybe it was only four or five times). Which means one of 3 things:
1) I had a panic attack
2) I'm pregnant (I know, not funny!)
3) I'm psychic and the plane was going to explode.
My money's on #1.
I totally freaked out about going to Paris. Thoughts of being lost/stranded in a country where I literally only know 3 words of the language scared the hell out of me - I got so worried something would go wrong I called the airline to check on the flight status and the hotel to re-re-re-check on my reservation. None of it made me feel any better. Then I started feeling the pressure of how much money I'd spent and how I HAD TO go (the pressure of that just made the vomiting worse).
So, I decided not to go (couldn't have gone really - couldn't stop being sick!). Long about the time I was unpacking, the nausea left.
Apparently, my parents were not asleep (despite it being 3 and 4 am) and got freaked out by my 'tweets' so I got them all upset too :(
So now I have to find something else to do with my weekend (in addition to doing some grocery shopping) so that I can stop feeling like a COMPLETE loser for chickening out.
Maybe I've just gotten too old to be adventurous on my own when I don't speak the language. Maybe I need to book some kind of tour where they will hold my hand constantly.
1) I had a panic attack
2) I'm pregnant (I know, not funny!)
3) I'm psychic and the plane was going to explode.
My money's on #1.
I totally freaked out about going to Paris. Thoughts of being lost/stranded in a country where I literally only know 3 words of the language scared the hell out of me - I got so worried something would go wrong I called the airline to check on the flight status and the hotel to re-re-re-check on my reservation. None of it made me feel any better. Then I started feeling the pressure of how much money I'd spent and how I HAD TO go (the pressure of that just made the vomiting worse).
So, I decided not to go (couldn't have gone really - couldn't stop being sick!). Long about the time I was unpacking, the nausea left.
Apparently, my parents were not asleep (despite it being 3 and 4 am) and got freaked out by my 'tweets' so I got them all upset too :(
So now I have to find something else to do with my weekend (in addition to doing some grocery shopping) so that I can stop feeling like a COMPLETE loser for chickening out.
Maybe I've just gotten too old to be adventurous on my own when I don't speak the language. Maybe I need to book some kind of tour where they will hold my hand constantly.
recuperating
So, the tour I went on last Wednesday did a real number on my feet - have a small blister on each Achilles tendon, the start of one on the ball of my right foot, and tons of them starting across the tops of all my toes. Yesterday I couldn't wear shoes AT ALL.
Today, I managed to get a different pair of shoes (one that hits in mostly different spots) on for long enough to run down to the basement/parking area where the trash dumpsters are located. But the feets do still hurt so I'm just hanging out today. Other than that I really have very little to say for myself.
Today is mostly grey and cloudy (so I'm not missing much being an invalid) - but tomorrow is supposed to be lovely. Kind of hoping my feet will allow for some mild sightseeing of some sort tomorrow ... fingers crossed for AT LEAST something of the hop on/off bus tour variety (even if I just rode around in the sunshine all day - that would be nice enough!) ... but we'll see.
Today, I managed to get a different pair of shoes (one that hits in mostly different spots) on for long enough to run down to the basement/parking area where the trash dumpsters are located. But the feets do still hurt so I'm just hanging out today. Other than that I really have very little to say for myself.
Today is mostly grey and cloudy (so I'm not missing much being an invalid) - but tomorrow is supposed to be lovely. Kind of hoping my feet will allow for some mild sightseeing of some sort tomorrow ... fingers crossed for AT LEAST something of the hop on/off bus tour variety (even if I just rode around in the sunshine all day - that would be nice enough!) ... but we'll see.
misc. things o' beauty
A river on the opposite side of the road from the pub we ate lunch at in Doolin, Co. Clare:
In the distance you can make out the Aran Islands (you will probably need to click the photo to enlarge it - but trust me, they were lovely!):
A cemetary by the side of the road described the guide as a "famine graveyard":
The guide said that we were going to stop off to see 'Tom' - the oldest man in County Clare, and a close personal friend of the driver, who would be hurt if we didn't all go say hello. We drove on awhile, and them came to a stop on the side of the road .... here is Tom (see the face?):
out west
So yesterday I went on a rail/coach tour to Limerick, Bunratty Castle, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, and Galway.
The Limerick segment consisted of the portions of the city seen while one passes from the train/bus depot to the highway that heads to Galway. It did, however, pass the childhood home of Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes), but I did not get a pic of the blue door that was his since it was on the other side of the bus. It also crossed over the Shannon River which afford this quick snap:
Because these are going to be rather image intensive posts I'm going to make a post for each location ... I will try to get them all done today.
PS - I VERY highly recommend Railtours Ireland - I had an absolutely GREAT time!
The Limerick segment consisted of the portions of the city seen while one passes from the train/bus depot to the highway that heads to Galway. It did, however, pass the childhood home of Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes), but I did not get a pic of the blue door that was his since it was on the other side of the bus. It also crossed over the Shannon River which afford this quick snap:
Because these are going to be rather image intensive posts I'm going to make a post for each location ... I will try to get them all done today.
PS - I VERY highly recommend Railtours Ireland - I had an absolutely GREAT time!
can't believe that tomorrow marks 1 week that I've been here
Today was absolutely gorgeous ... though at the moment it is blustery and raining a bit.
This afternoon I went over to see if I could find the Abbey St Luas stop that I'm going to need to be at early in the morning (for tomorrow's all day rail/coach tour to the west). Then I sauntered up and down the side of O'Connell St that I didn't travel when I went up to the store the other day. I am, I have discovered, not much of a happy wanderer when it comes to exploring the city streets. I really prefer to have a destination in mind and then try to take in as much as I can along the way (for example - I enjoyed my walk to the store the other day much more than today's exploratory jaunt). I blame my mother for this - it must be a little snippet of her type A peronality cropping up in my genes! ;)
Out and about today I decided, long about the 17th time I whipped out my massive camera, that I really needed cameraphone capabilities for occasions like this. I mean, tomorrow I'm taking my REAL camera, because it's supposed to be 'to die for gorgeous'. And I won't feel a bit funny using it when the tour bus stops and we all pile out (in our bermuda shorts, baseball caps, and sandals with socks!) to take pics of each other standing in front of a sign (ok, maybe I exagerate). But I really do hate pulling out a whopping "TOURIST HERE!!!!" camera in the middle of a city street. To solve that, I've gone ahead and downloaded some kind of update for my phone that may make trouble when I put my old SIM back in, but I really don't care right now. So photos should be more plentiful in the future - but in the meantime .. I did take a couple halfway decent ones today while I was out with the SLR ...
And, last but not least (my first phone pic) - because the more things change the more they stay the same - I went out to the store this afternoon (this pic is mostly for my dad's enjoyyment):
(they did have sour cream and onion, but I got these instead).
I also gave myself some bangs today - I was feeling bored and blah, and highly frustrated while brushing my hair (it's grown increasinglly frizzy and unruly since I got here) - had the urge to go down the road to a salon I passed the other day and just tell them to whack it all off ... instead I gave myself bangs ... I think I like them.
This afternoon I went over to see if I could find the Abbey St Luas stop that I'm going to need to be at early in the morning (for tomorrow's all day rail/coach tour to the west). Then I sauntered up and down the side of O'Connell St that I didn't travel when I went up to the store the other day. I am, I have discovered, not much of a happy wanderer when it comes to exploring the city streets. I really prefer to have a destination in mind and then try to take in as much as I can along the way (for example - I enjoyed my walk to the store the other day much more than today's exploratory jaunt). I blame my mother for this - it must be a little snippet of her type A peronality cropping up in my genes! ;)
Out and about today I decided, long about the 17th time I whipped out my massive camera, that I really needed cameraphone capabilities for occasions like this. I mean, tomorrow I'm taking my REAL camera, because it's supposed to be 'to die for gorgeous'. And I won't feel a bit funny using it when the tour bus stops and we all pile out (in our bermuda shorts, baseball caps, and sandals with socks!) to take pics of each other standing in front of a sign (ok, maybe I exagerate). But I really do hate pulling out a whopping "TOURIST HERE!!!!" camera in the middle of a city street. To solve that, I've gone ahead and downloaded some kind of update for my phone that may make trouble when I put my old SIM back in, but I really don't care right now. So photos should be more plentiful in the future - but in the meantime .. I did take a couple halfway decent ones today while I was out with the SLR ...
The O'Connell Monument:
Was trying to get a shot of the clock outside Eason's (from across the street). Was going to crop it down to just the clock - but for some reason this particular crop looks vaguely artistic and cool to me - a nifty little cross-section of everything that just sort of says: City (at least to me):
And, last but not least (my first phone pic) - because the more things change the more they stay the same - I went out to the store this afternoon (this pic is mostly for my dad's enjoyyment):
(they did have sour cream and onion, but I got these instead).I also gave myself some bangs today - I was feeling bored and blah, and highly frustrated while brushing my hair (it's grown increasinglly frizzy and unruly since I got here) - had the urge to go down the road to a salon I passed the other day and just tell them to whack it all off ... instead I gave myself bangs ... I think I like them.
Yes, I really am THIS EXCITING ...
Earlier today it was lovely and sunny, and (on someone's very sound advice) I went out for a bit today (despite being more in the mood to take a nap).
I went and sat on a bench by the Liffey (first thing this morning when I opened my bedroom curtains I saw a man sitting on one of the benches reading a paper and I thought to myself - I'd like to do that some morning! So when I went out I went straight for the benches). No swans were seen today (while waiting around the day I got here I saw a pair of swans swimming up the river - though I am told this is not their usual haunt, they apparently prefer Phoenix Park). But it was nice to sit in the sun, the occasional cool breeze on my face, and watch the sun shimmer on the water (while ignorning the interruption of a few bits of floating trash here and there).
Anyway, enjoyed it for about 20 mins. or so, then walked across the Ha'penny Bridge to a little shop and picked up the TP and paper towels I was in need of (and some other exciting items, like eggs). I did manage to get some postcards there - and stamps (though I asked/paid for 7 and am pretty sure I was handed only 5 stamps - but I will double check my purse in case they slipped down somewhere).
But by mid afternoon it looked like this outside:
And so I decided to stay put, make the scrumptious repast pictured below for my dinner (which I have just finished eating), and watch some tv:
In a little while I will go to bed early because I have not been sleeping well (partly jet lag ... partly the gang of carrolling drunk girls that seemingly circled both sides of the Liffey between the Ha'penny Bridge and O'Connell St, not once but twice last night at 2.30am .... and partly because I cannot sleep in a quiet room (no tv in the bedroom), and I've got some kind of Edgar Allen Poe Tell-Tale Heart thing going on with the kitchen clock.
I went and sat on a bench by the Liffey (first thing this morning when I opened my bedroom curtains I saw a man sitting on one of the benches reading a paper and I thought to myself - I'd like to do that some morning! So when I went out I went straight for the benches). No swans were seen today (while waiting around the day I got here I saw a pair of swans swimming up the river - though I am told this is not their usual haunt, they apparently prefer Phoenix Park). But it was nice to sit in the sun, the occasional cool breeze on my face, and watch the sun shimmer on the water (while ignorning the interruption of a few bits of floating trash here and there).
Anyway, enjoyed it for about 20 mins. or so, then walked across the Ha'penny Bridge to a little shop and picked up the TP and paper towels I was in need of (and some other exciting items, like eggs). I did manage to get some postcards there - and stamps (though I asked/paid for 7 and am pretty sure I was handed only 5 stamps - but I will double check my purse in case they slipped down somewhere).
But by mid afternoon it looked like this outside:
And so I decided to stay put, make the scrumptious repast pictured below for my dinner (which I have just finished eating), and watch some tv:
In a little while I will go to bed early because I have not been sleeping well (partly jet lag ... partly the gang of carrolling drunk girls that seemingly circled both sides of the Liffey between the Ha'penny Bridge and O'Connell St, not once but twice last night at 2.30am .... and partly because I cannot sleep in a quiet room (no tv in the bedroom), and I've got some kind of Edgar Allen Poe Tell-Tale Heart thing going on with the kitchen clock.
What's the nicest sensation in the world?
Well ... after 10 hours of total flying time, not including a 6 hour layover - all of it spent cramped up (especially since I always seem to be seated behind someone who feels they have the right to spend the whole flight leaning half way back into my lap), the last leg of which was spent with a raucous team of 17 year old soccer players who broke into song a few times, and an entire tour group of soccer moms who enjoyed cackling (in a pack) every time I was about to nod off, all the while being tossed around on one of the more turbulent flights I've ever been on ....
And after picking up my bags, getting change so I could use a payphone to let the apartment people know I was on my way, and getting to the location (long about 12.15pm) where I was supposed to meet 'The Apartment Guy' to pick up my keys .... and after waiting about4 hours (during which time both Tigger and I made copious phone calls to everyone even vaguely associated with 'The Apartment Guy') for someone to bring the stupid keys ...
The nicest sensation in the world .... is 7 and a half hours in a comfy bed followed by a hot shower! :)
But despite the INSANE hassle of getting into this place (apparently this is a lot more 'mom and pop' than I knew (the person who brought the keys over eventually was the family au pair!), it is lovely here. Seriously, I love it!
For your viewing pleasure .. a tour of the apartment:
And after picking up my bags, getting change so I could use a payphone to let the apartment people know I was on my way, and getting to the location (long about 12.15pm) where I was supposed to meet 'The Apartment Guy' to pick up my keys .... and after waiting about4 hours (during which time both Tigger and I made copious phone calls to everyone even vaguely associated with 'The Apartment Guy') for someone to bring the stupid keys ...
The nicest sensation in the world .... is 7 and a half hours in a comfy bed followed by a hot shower! :)
But despite the INSANE hassle of getting into this place (apparently this is a lot more 'mom and pop' than I knew (the person who brought the keys over eventually was the family au pair!), it is lovely here. Seriously, I love it!
For your viewing pleasure .. a tour of the apartment:
View from the Living Room (The Liffey River):
The bedroom view includes the Ha'penny Bridge:
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