picnic in the park

St. Stephen's Green

Yesterday was probably one of my favorite days in Dublin. My friend Susan and I decided to have a picnic--and we went all out! We packed some crackers and cheese and brought along some poetry. The we stopped at the farmer's market (there is one every day at the City Center) and got some pears and blueberries and bread. Then we headed down to St. Stephen's Green (which, if you've ever read The Dubliners, is referenced quite a bit). It was such a nice little scene!
Afterwards we went to Ireland's National Gallery, an art museum (have I mentioned all museums are free?) and on one of the floors there was a really neat exhibit on Harry Clarke, an Irish artist who illustrated Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales in 1916. I bought myself a postcard as a souvenir.

looks good enough to eat, eh?

My best friend is having her baby!

There is going to be a beautiful new person in the world today! Never have I wanted to be home this badly. I can't wait to meet her!
I love you Schuyler! Congratulations Skip and Luke! Happy birthday Amber!

Outside My Window

Real Update this weekend. (probably)

some pictures!

dinner!

sauteed chicken breasts in onions red/green peppers and pineapple. serve over white rice.

picture post coming soon!

I can't believe I've been here a week!

WELL!
Week one is over! And I'm ok!
Today is my birthday as well as the day before classes start. It's really weird to be here on my birthday--very reminiscent of freshmen year. Last night we went to a pub to hear this singer my friend Kathleen likes. She snuck up while he was taking a break, and when he came back on stage he sang Happy Birthday to me! AND it was to the tune of "brown eyed girl" by van morrison--it was really sweet!
Tonight we're going to go out to dinner to this really cheesy restaurant called ThunderRoad Cafe. It's more Americana themed than Applebees. And then we might try to go out to a dance club. Last night, after the pub, we found a club without a cover charge. They had a band instead of a DJ, and the band was really good but very slow and smooth--not exactly dancing music! Still, we all had a good time.
We did a little bit of sightseeing yesterday during the day. First we went to Phoenix Park, it was very beautiful. Then we found a large obelisk memorial. It's the second largest in the world (second only to the one in Washington D.C) Then we tried finding this contemporary art museum (all museums are free admission in Dublin!) but by the time we got there it was closed. We walked a little further and sort of stumbled onto to the Christ Church Cathedral, and man was it gorgeous and HUGE. Unfortunately, my camera battery had died, so I didn't get pictures, but we're going to go back. I might even attend a service. I DID manage to get some postcards, so all was not lost.

It has rained every single day I've been here. It hasn't been horrible, and I've seen sun on most days, but it looks like today is going to be a pretty overcast/gray day.

Tomorrow, as I mentioned, is my first day of class (I only have one, my Philosophy class) and to celebrate I'm going to cook dinner for my suite mates (there are five of us). If anyone checks this in time, let me know your ideas!

picture post

My unpacked tiny room!







Street performer playing the spoons outside of Trinity and Oscar Wilde in the park.