alison is a broad

the yay area

2011-10-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

muir beach, ca

Looking back on the friendships, the memories, and the entire experience of living in Dublin...I am confident I'll live abroad again. Next time it will be Chile or Germany or Spain or Thailand...the possibilities are endless.

Picking up and moving across the globe one year ago made it so simple to do again--I think it gets easier each time. I plan to test that theory!

Right now I am enjoying spending time with my dad, toasting in the California sunshine, eating Mexican food constantly, exploring Oakland with hubs, and making a whole new life. I feel mobile, light, happy.

muir beach, ca

adios Dublin

2011-09-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

farewell party - Against the Grain, Wexford Street, Dublin 2

As most of you already know, my time in Ireland is over. This blog has been a great way for me to keep friends + family caught up with my adventures. As you can imagine, things are on hold for a bit.

For those of you that don't know, I'm back in the states. Just before my visit, my dad became extremely sick and was hospitalized. On his 65th birthday he was diagnosed with cancer and told me over the phone what was going on. Thanks to a minor surgery and a few meds, my dad recovered from the hospital trip and has started treatment.

As I was packing to go home, I realized that returning to Dublin probably wasn't an option. I couldn't imagine being 5,000 miles away from an important doctor's appointment or a difficult day of treatment. Hubs and I decided pretty quickly to keep our return flights in order to pack up our stuff in Dublin and move in September.

The last two-and-a-half weeks I spent in Ireland were unforgettable. What a gift--to return to a city I love, see friends, and say a proper goodbye. Everybody was supportive: from the landlord who ignored the lease dates + gave us our full deposit early to the Spanish folks that cleared out our apartment to all the friends who made time for a final drink...I can't thank you enough.

Life is constantly in a state of change and the best I can do is enjoy myself along the way. This change was sudden, but I've had an exciting year. Besides--as every single person in Dublin reminded me--California is certainly not the worst place to go.

my final meal at Crackbird - South Williams Street

check you later - Liberty Lane, Dublin 2

culture shock: part deux

2011-09-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

dear salade nicoise, we met in 2011. thus began our love affair.

After three weeks in the states, it felt odd arriving back in Dublin...as if my brain couldn't decide which place should feel more like home. I saw with fresh eyes; noticed every small differences for the second time around. It's impossible to explain the exact feeling but my association with what felt familiar was off..like I didn't belong anywhere. It's not the most productive thing to do when you move, but I find my tendency is to constantly evaluate the differences between my old home and my new home.

Each tiny perceived 'difference' is merely a cultural norm that exists cohesively within Irish culture. I could easily say things like, 'Irish customer service is worse' or 'Irish public transportation is better' to try and explain what I feel. Though somewhat true, these statements dont even begin to tell the whole story. Yes, compared to the US, the customer service in Ireland is less attentive...but have you ever been to Spain? And yes, compared to most US cities, it is easier to get around Dublin...but have you seen Germany?

Instead of trying to place arbitrary better/worse labels on every moment, I learn to be thankful for the simple enrichment of living it. Each time somebody says to me, 'good woman' or I turn the corner to see the statue of yet another Irish literary figure, my life is changed. I can almost feel my brain cataloging differences in language, in lifestyle, in visual imagery, in history...every bit is added to the spectrum of my life experience. However corny, this year has been about loving the cultures of the world because of--not despite--our immense diversity. Returning to Ireland helped me to realize it has all been worth it.

With that profound thought out of the way, some snapshots:

Irish people make ice in blister packs. it boggles the mind.

nobby's nuts. any questions?

spreading a message of peace

7 years of bad luck right thurr.

obviously it's love. me + Skips + rachel = 4eva.

ladiez night out at the globe

tourists be jumpin' in random pictures.

fashion show at Jervis. the models were 10 yr old babies.

the beautiful + historic Gee Pee Oh

my first feijoada + one more step towards ominvorianism (word?)

cheese, guava, + dulce de leche dessert looking straight-up '1979 retro starfish'

mick wallace was making kissy-lips at us all night

this is how we flirt back

best coast

2011-08-22T23:45:00.000-07:00

the night's theme centered around raves + crepes
photo by Mary Allen Photography--coincidentally one of the bmz

I can't describe in words how much I love wedding festivities! Who can't get behind a week-long party in the name of love? Beyond the endless celebrations, there is nothing quite like seeing somebody you love take the next step in their life. I felt honored to take part in the experience and to be surrounded by people who are like family to me. That said, the word 'matron' is nothing I want to be associated with again anytime soon. Doesn't it sound like somebody horribly old?

workin' it

nine lovelies

wedding day: bottoms up brunch

have you ever seen anything more beautiful?

MOB + myself partaking

beautiful bridesmaidzzz

THAT DRESS! THAT VEIL! picture perfect.

MOHs: maid + matron of (dis)honor

...and this is more or less how the rest of the night went:

east coast

2011-08-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

boo + her mang

I spent the week ballin' in Baltimore with my college friends. Since all the girls lives extremely far away in various countries of the world, we try and marry somebody off at least once a year. It's a great excuse to get everyone together...and I'm only sort of joking.

The wedding week was absolutely lovely: lots of girl time, sight-seeing in MD, crab cakes around every corner, a wild night out, and one amazingly stunning bride. So whose turn is it next?

tante + stencil

boo + weed

beautiful baltimore

my birthday brunch complete with som tum thai papaya salad!

b/w bachelorette party

sonte + weed

howz my veil?

center stage

lovely ladies heading to rehearsal dinner

the inner harbor

wedding day brunch: crab cake benedict. oh em gee.

the FOB and his gorgeous daughter

bridal party

loving that wallpaper!

makin' it happen with a conga line

EEEEEEEEEEEEEH!

good ol' USofA

2011-08-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

layover in chicago - wrigley field

Spent a few weeks relaxing in the CA sun, spending time with my fam, and getting ready for my coast-to-coast wedding tour of the United States: jet-setting from the Bay to Baltimore and back to Berkeley.

celebrating my birthday at home with flowz and filipino cake

practicing fancy hair

to get ready for the upcoming wedding extravaganzas

reunited and it feels so good! commence mexican food diet

dranks with pops, broham, + hubs

the beautiful transamerica building at night

at an A's game enjoying some nachos with my jalapeños

in the Mission

macarons in the city

a sunny afternoon in Napa

july in dublin

2011-07-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

abbey street

July was a month of tough decisions. All I can say is that I made sure to enjoy every moment + tried to capture some of my regular trek around town.

'zoom' - LUAS

the way home

crouching angel on South Williams (Maser)

South Williams, probs my favorite street in all of Dublin

Eustace Street

zombie pub crawl

the undead descend on temple bar

blood + brainz residue

t.p. smiths. pretty much my local.

me + my beloved Smithwicks

hello there

tall ships

2011-07-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

all the elderly folks who crowded the train and forced me to sit on the floor >:\

Hubs + I went to Waterford for a couple days to hit up the Tall Ships festival and see our friends play a couple concerts. I sat outside, drank cider, listened to bands, and enjoyed the glorious summertime sun! Oh and I saw fireworks on the water one night. Happy early bee day, America!

this one was rather tall

people dressed as sailors or pirates. all the shop knew what was up.

La Gloria, from Colombia. the waterford girls were going nuts over those sailors!

pistachio ice cream. lick lick.

some less-tall ships

coaster with obama drinking a pint of the dark stuff.

i wanted a sailor cap so bad!

the horrible effects of hay fever

even the pigs at the butcher shop dressed up for the tall ships!

we stayed with a friend out in the country. isn't this just a lovely image?

the waterboys!

like a cannon in the rain

light in my head

and you in my arms

whoo ooh ooh!

sunshine ahoy

V, A, + T enjoying a little muzak

B dooing his thing

frankfurt

2011-06-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

between Brühl and Köln

St. Martin church I think

walking with the fam to our Frankfurt-bound train. sad face.

heyyy gurl

gonna take the ICE and top out at 297 km per hour (184.5 mph)

i found Mexican food at the Frankfurt airport!

tofu udon exxxtra hot, a weissbier, + women's world cup made my day

extra slasa and limes rice, please.

hubs + myself watching world cup during our 13th and final hour at the airport!

these d-bags wore a bib in public. HAHAHAHA.

cologne

2011-06-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

fam + friends at the best pub in Köln

cheez + bread

red currant jelly, raw onion, baked parsley, + fried brie. on german bread. yup.

hubs' currywurst + pomme frites

Gaffel Kölsch

street art in Köln

trekking

2011-06-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

Ahr wine country

Notice the giant mountain behind this house. We hiked that mountain all day long. It's called the Red Wine Trail. You hike through the vineyards and take breaks to drink sparkling grape juice! This is my kind of hiking, folks: tiring but gorgeous. Also, I got a cool sunglasses tan.

nederlands

2011-06-26T14:42:00.000-07:00

velvety

We took a quick day-trip into the Netherlands. We hung out in Valkenburg which is home to the awesome slash creepy Velvet Cave. During the tour they turned out all the lights and told us how two little boys snuck into the cave alone and died of fear in the dark. Seriously creepy. Also, the tour guide made me believe that Dutch people sound like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets. Flur flee flur flee flur! Enjoy some pictures from inside the underground cave!

i dont remember what this picture is of.

nor this one.

again...

soldiers during WWII hid here + carved their names. here is a guy from Van Nuys, CA.

um...yeah.

a chapel

valkenburg from the castle ruins on the hill

the netherlands is/are pretty. which is grammatically correct?

this one castle

some baby cars

i like this patio

a moto + moped brigade

dutch names crack me up

wouter!

of course i found mexican food in valkenburg. it's like i have a 6th sense.

aachen...gesundheit!

2011-06-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

some ancient Roman columns chillaxin' in the square

We spent the day in Aachen, Germany. Despite the rain, this place is gorgeous.

FIL, hubs, + MIL taking cover

can't get enough of those flowerboxes

beautiful, right?

hubs + i with the coolest teddy bear brolly

amazing asparagus stripper at the market

you push the produce in and it peels + cleans it. it's magic!

flowerz

angry face

this guy

Aachen Cathedral containing Charlemagne's throne

the most beautiful mosaics i've seen. in. my. life.

dork

mod vs. retro

jetsetting

2011-06-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

Limburg Cathedral

Oh, you know. I just jetted off with the fam for a quick weekend in Germany. No biggie. These are the same family friends that generously hosted hubs + I on our honeymoon almost three years ago.

Limburg, Germany

Germany is clean

Germany is cute

Germany is tasty

squid ink noodle pasta like whoa

coolest hot dog stand ever

howth harbour

2011-06-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

FIL, as pelican

the marina in the sunshine

oh just some Rollses

only the best salad OF MY LIFE: sweet potato, peas, sundried toms, feta, + mint

i see dead people

2011-06-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

michael collins

I took the fam to the Glasnevin Cemetary on the northside. I know that sounds depressing. To be honest, towards the end...it was. Still, it was interesting stuff. Lots of dead Irish heroes to visit!

old style

celtic crosses galore

eamon de valera

daniel o'connell

FIL's ridiculously amazing hand playing 500 that night. just disgusting.

flowertastic

2011-06-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to bother captioning these flowers. Besides, I have no idea what their names are. They are pretty though, and that's what is important. Enjoy my trip to the Dublin Botanical Gardens!

FIL bowing to the Almighty Coffee

amazeballs, right?

in town

2011-06-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Drury Street, Dublin 2

Today I took a church tour on the south side with the fam. We saw Christ Church, St. Audoen, St. Anne's, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. The first three were absolutely beautiful. St. Pat's was mildly offensive with all the political plaques and such covering the walls. But a church is a church and mostly they are amazing.

Dublin 8

oh you know. just a tractor driving around in town.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

a Lotus

back to dublin

2011-06-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

Clare Abbey. maybe?

After a weekend in Lehinch enjoying the beach and some nice weather, we headed back to Dublin. Backroads with FIL driving was thrilling, to say the least!

oh you know. just some more medieval ruins.

Knappogue Castle

Knappogue drawing room. i'd live here i guess.

obviously a spiral staircase. duh.

me, as a medieval baby.

step into my office

a bottle of whiskey and a taxidermy creature

the west coast

2011-06-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Liscannor? maybe

Lehinch

there was a bicycle race up a giant hill. it looked horrible.

dodging tractors + bikes was nerve-wracking

exploring the tide pools

fresh mussels! i mean...living mussels haha. made me hungry.

the Cliffs of Moher

cliffy, no?

hubs + i at the legendary cliffs

windy

SIL's amazing hairsplosion

pretty ocean

these are other cliffs. not The cliffs.

MIL at the windy cliffs

oh yes. we totally walked past this point.

sights

2011-06-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

Kilmacduah monastery + round tower built in the 6th century

My in-laws are in town! We rented a cottage on the west coast of Ireland so get ready for some pictures of the stuff we saw on the way to and from Lehinch in County Clare. Oh and did I mention I rented a car + drove on the LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD?!?! Completely cra-cra.

still Kilfenora

a few of my favorite things. vino + queso at the cottage!

rope swing status for hubs

a genuine miracle

2011-06-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Cheezus Christ, savior of all Doritos

Have you ever seen anything so amazing? A chip with a face!

taste of dublin

2011-06-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

som tum thai papaya salad from Diep

A friend of mine had two tickets to Taste of Dublin on Friday afternoon and sadly couldn't attend. Luckily, I am the only one without a job to prevent me from going to awesome mid-day activities. As you can see, I snatched those tickets up and enjoyed a day of wining, dining, cheesing, and Donal-ing with hubs. BTW 'Donal' is pronounced like 'doughnut'.

Highs: Donal Skehan cooking demo (is he on speed? is he over the age of 14?), the som tum, free samples of Coole Swan Dairy Cream Liquer, the gorgeous weather, and Saba's chocoalte chili mousse with raspbery coulis

Lows: SuperQuinn pancakes upon entry (ew), a sample of low-fat cheese (wha?), and Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer

hubs had a crispy hen's egg + black pudding from Pichet

fresh pea shoots. yes, please.

Gino D'Acampo and this ponytail girl in a green shirt

Donal!!! the charisma and the pointy hair in person

Donal in action...he made me vodka penne + whoopie pies

the Carmen Chilean wine tasting. <3 me some carmenere.

shock + awe

2011-06-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

There is something comforting about when a car crash fatality makes the front page of the Irish Times. In the US, I wouldn't bat an eye. Along the same lines, I enjoy the amount of shock and awe that people have about crime here. Someone gets stabbed and it's all over the radio; gun violence is a national headline story. To me, it's no big deal. Not sure if I feel tough or if that's just sad...I wonder what people here would think if they saw a 6-day violent crime report map of my old neighborhood in Minneapolis!

sunshine

2011-06-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

the weather is gorgeous + the streets are packed - Grogan's, Dublin 2

devious smile + gloved hand - Happy Pills, Temple Bar

The weather has been positively amazing. ~~I hear summer is very rainy in Dublin~~ I hope it stays just like this! I've spent the last two days sunbathing on the roof. I've also noticed every restaurant patio and pub with a terrace is completely packed. That picture above at Grogan's is actually a public street meant for walking through. It's definitely the start of summer!

In other news, today I found a sweets shop called Happy Pills. It's set up to look like a pharmacy but they only sell candy. They made me wear a glove to fill up my little bottle, which was just as creepy as it looks. As much as I like candy, I was more interested in some of their imported American goodies: Reese's Puffs cereal, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Big Red chewing gum, and Libby's canned pumpkin. Unfortunately, the prices are outrageous so I will have to continue to live without except for the lovely care packages that come in the post. Sad face.

One pack of Big Red gum costs €6.50....so $9.50 for 17 sticks!

dublin fun

2011-06-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

one of the more attractive pubs in city centre - McDaid's, Dublin 2

It's been awhile since I shared new Irish vocab with you folks. Don't think it will run out anytime soon...there are important linguistic gems around every corner:

street vocab

"grass up" = rat out

"yoke" = ecstasy pill or thingy, as in that yoke over there

"gaf" = house/pad, as in meet me back at my gaf

"shift" = kiss, as in did you shift anyone last night?

shopping vocab

"vest" = tank top

"glad" = gladiator sandal

"pump" = ballet flat NOT a high heel

bank vocab

"BIC" = SWIFT number

"IBAN" = account number

"sort code" = routing number

"standing order" = direct deposit

fast clouds

2011-06-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

from sunshine

to cloud cover

in 30 seconds

flat

always something

2011-05-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

there's always something to protest on O'Connell Street

trip to carlow

2011-05-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

good friend

good laughs

My friend Rachel has been up to Dublin more times than I'd like to admit and this week I finally got around to returning the favor. Carlow is about an hour south of Dublin and there is a cheap bus that took me on a gorgeous, winding trip through all the little towns along the way. We made some nice dinner, got our fill of girl talk, and then headed to a house party and dancing at a club called the Foundry with her friends from class.

We recalled our crazy nights in San Diego and the few months in the summer of 2005 when we were living and working together. I wish I could explain the warm fuzzy feeling I got hearing old nicknames after so many years! I am thankful to have those genuine friends you can talk about anything with. The rare ones who pick up right where you left off.

this kid said he hated Americans so i made sure to bug him

remains of the killer chocolate birthday cake we shared

dont know her but i liked her dress so this is for shopping posterity

rathmines

2011-05-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

via New York Times' Dublin Travel Guide

pink peppercorn coriander parmesan fries at joburger.

thai green curry sweet potato burger: drool.

I have to take a 5 minute bus to get down to Rathmines, a neighborhood just south of city centre. I've managed more than a few visits. Except for the class on how to make a proper mojito at the fake Honduran place, every trip has been about eating at Jo'Burger. Aside from the crazy good food, I think I like it because the place reminds me of Minneapolis. There is a DJ pumping indie/dance hits, the walls are covered in street art style murals, and it's positively full of aloof hipsters. Probably a turn-off to most but to me it feels like a little slice of home--a cross between the Triple Rock, Bryant Lake Bowl, and the Acadia. Not too many places in Dublin that give off the dive vibe so I have learned to cherish it.

After eating my delicious veggie burger and more than my fair share of those fries, hubs and I decided it would be best to walk home. Rathmines seems like a hip place to explore and the walk down George/Aungier/Wexford/Camden is probably my favorite stretch of road in the city. File that away for next time I'm bored and have a day to kill.

Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6

Adventuretime with Finn & Jake--wiggly noodle arms and all. anyone?

2011-05-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

get me outta here

Found a shot I took leaving Temple Bar after Obama's speech--people lined up on the southside quay to watch B's motorcade leave town. Talk about contact agoraphobia.

obama block party

2011-05-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

hubs + i at b's party. check out aul' sourface there on the left.

this is the closest i got. the star-spangled glitter hat made it OK.

Today I went to see Obama's speech at College Green with 100,000 others. The speech was much like his presidency--incredibly inspiring...and yet a couple of things made me feel uncomfortable. Lots of references to him being 'Irish' and him 'coming home'. Odd, considering he's further removed from his Irish relative than most. On the flip side, lots of credit given to the Irish for American accomplishments. As an American I understand our obsession with heritage but does B give the same credit to every country he visits? Does he speak that way to the Mexican people?

I am obviously a grouch. Overall it was a good speech! B spoke a little Irish, mentioned the pint he drank, made a few adorable jokes, and encouraged everybody to focus on a bright future. Sounds cheesy but coming out of his mouth it was beautiful and it seemed everybody was impressed. Something about that halted speech pattern makes every moment meaningful, am I right?

Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny managed to confuse me, inviting people from around the world to 'follow Obama and come home' to Ireland. This, from the man in charge of a government who just denied me a work permit. Dont invite people if you can't support them, please. He also announced that if anyone questioned whether Ireland was important, then today was their answer. If I were Irish, alluding to the idea that Ireland garners its importance through acknowledgement by actually important countries would leave me a bit miffed. Still, he did look handsome and made nice wavy motions with his arm. You done good, Enda, you done good.

looking west on dame street

east towards the speech location

enthusiastic secondary school kids

Even with a 3.5 hour wait to get in, not getting closer and having to watch the whole thing on a large screen half a block away, U2 not showing up, completely missing Jedward whilst in the queue, AND not joining B and Michelle onstage as we had planned, I enjoyed the day. B's speech made me be proud ~~to be an American~~. Wow, that sounded really redneck.

for awhile the river was completely blocked off--no access to the southside.

so i walked all the way to fishamble street

and got in this queue

irish + american flags flew side-by-side

lots of shoving from 2pm-5pm. i moved about one block.

they outlawed umbrellas, flags, backpacks, and beverages so stuff was abandoned

more standstill in front of city hall.

right about here is where i missed jedward

B arrived in his helicopter

had to empty pockets, walk through a metal detector, and get swiped with wands

halfway down dame street there was a large screen. westlife performed?!

right so maybe i'll just watch from here

enda kenny looking handsome in a lime tie, michelle + B in the background

B O'Bama working his magic, kissing ginger kids, taking names

word on the street

2011-05-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

The Irish Times says that B's block party includes a performance by Jedward coming off their Eurovision fame. Also, the newspaper reports that 'with the help of God and a private jet' Bono or all of U2 will make an appearance! Tons of other music and sports stars will show up and there will be a movie-style grand finale at the end with everybody on stage swaying together in perfect harmony.

Co. Offaly is also getting ready by painting every single one of their houses--srsly--and printing 'What's the craic, Barack?' tshirts. How can it get any better?

I dont care how sick I am, I will be at this party. Dearest masses of Dublin, I will try not to breathe on you.

B is coming to town

2011-05-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

hello dublin - photo from Obama: The College Years, Time Magazine

As he announced on St. Patrick's Day, B will hang out with his crew here in Dublin then swing by Moneygall, Co. Offaly where his maternal great-great-great grandfather Fullmouth Kearney was raised before leaving Ireland in 1850. Lots of talk on the radio about getting him to drink Guinness, as that would be a historic photograph. Here in Dublin there is supposed to be music and theatre performances from 2pm. B is throwing us a party!

In other news, the White House rejected a speech at Croke Park because it didn't 'look Irish enough' for the cameras. He is going to address me and a couple thousand others in front of the Bank of Ireland in College Green--about 4 blocks from my building. Something I found odd was that he wont visit Northern Ireland because there is a diplomatic rule where heads of state cannot cross the border without first setting foot in Britain.

See you and my girl Michelle on Monday, B!

7,500 arrive daily by the busload for royal + presidential security - Ormond Quay

curry

2011-05-20T03:30:00.000-07:00

i can haz curry?

I've always cooked 'ethnic' food at home. Being from California, Mexican tacos and burritos have been on the dinner table since I was a kid. Lasagna, pasta, and pizza are staples in the American diet for sure. In college I tried my hand at home-rolled Japanese sushi. In Minnesota I bought a giant stone mortar + pestal for som thum Thai and made sweet coconut curries. I made fresh Vietnamese spring rolls with daikon radishes and peanut dipping sauce. Once I even whipped up Polish pirogies with my friend Ilsa--sour cream dough and all. I am no stranger to ethnic cooking but there is always something to learn.

Every country has its tasty treats and if there is one type of food that I am learning to cook exclusively in Ireland, it is Indian food. On Gordon Ramsey's contest Best Restaurant, G told me that curry holds the title for the UK's favorite food. On Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Meals he makes an entire meal around lamb rogan josh. Even the chippers (late-night take away restaurants) have curry chips on the menu. ~~I suck at baking~~ I have yet to add homemade naan to my repertoire but so far I've got a pretty mean vegetable curry that I can adjust with seasonal vegetables and my clove-scented rice is on-point.

BTW curry chips + cheese = heaven

footballers

2011-05-19T03:09:00.000-07:00

la muchedumbre

This is what the streets of Dublin look like when a match is on. It doesn't matter what sport--football, hurling, rugby, Gaelic--it usually involves jerseys, neck towels, and lots of shouting. People gather in the pubs to see the games and then spill out into the streets singing team songs and jumping around with each other.

In this case, both teams in the Europa Leage Finals here at Aviva Stadium were Portuguese: FC Porto and Braga. According to the newspaper some 16,000 fans and 70 charter flights arrived in Dublin just for the day.

Something unique to Europe is that fans can afford to travel and see their team's play in other countries. A few weeks ago when Leinster Rugby were playing a match, the DART was a mixture of different accents and races of people from all over Europe who came to root on their favorite team. I'm not into sports entertainment and following stats, but it's charming to see people connect on that level. I especially like the singing.

the guards chatting amongst themselves

her royal highness

2011-05-17T15:15:00.002-07:00

checkpoints a, b, c, + d behind my building - Jervis Street, Dublin 1

So I got up ~~extremely~~ decently early for a morning meeting. Unfortunately for me, the whole of city centre is shut down for the visit of Queen Elizabeth. Dublin is a happenin' place: the Dalai Lama visited a few weeks ago, Her Majesty the Queen of England this week, President Barack Obama next week, and of course moi...I have been here since September.

There are conflicting views about the queen's visit, as it is the first time a reigning monarch has visited the Republic since Ireland gained independence from British rule in 1922. Some people have it in their heads that an 85-year old woman in a color-blocked suit dress is going to re-take the country. Along with the guards door-knocking to thwart evil plots, it's a security nightmare. A north Dublin pub that posted an anti-queen banner awhile back got raided and they found weapons. Oh and they found a bomb made by the IRA on a Dublin bus headed towards the city yesterday. So that's ~~scary~~ exciting, right?

As for me, the queen's visit made me 45 minutes late to my meeting. O'Connell Street where I catch my bus was completely closed to traffic. I had to walk ten minutes south before I could pick up a bus. I have never seen so many Guardai (police) in the streets, the road barriers from St. Patrick's Day are back up, and helicopters are circling constantly. Here are some quick photos I snapped on my morning stroll. As I type this (3.15pm) I can see a helicopter out the window flying in a straight line along the river and there is a bunch of noise. Pretty sure Her Majesty just drove past. Holla atcha girl Queenie!

Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1

O'Connell Street, Dublin 1

protest sticker - College Green, Dublin 2

i had to get searched + they even rifled through my bag. oops did i say 'rifle'?

my hood

2011-05-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

A lovely article about how gross Dublin is these days; Wolf Tone Park is my hood.

Drugs, drink, and the stench of urine are alive, alive oh

The graffiti on the front of my building was recently painted. In related news, the guards knocked on the door last week to interview hubs + I. They wanted to ensure we weren't plotting to kill Queen Elizabeth or Barack Obama during their May trips to Ireland. Big brother is watching---probably on CCTV!

in the works

2011-05-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the DETI, I am scrapping my plans to obtain a work permit.

The job I attempted was well within the guidelines of their department and I was still denied. I seriously doubt if the Irish government is issuing work permits to anybody at this point. It took me 7 months to find a company willing to fill out the application! I may still look casually, and certainly will limit my search to multinational corporations for better chances. I also seriously doubt my stamina to complete another work permit application only to be denied. Especially if it's outside of the non-profit sector. It's a lot of work for something that I am not passionate about...

...no...it seems that if I am going to remain in Ireland past next May, I must become a student. I guess part of the adventure is when life decisions are made for you? I have always planned on getting my Masters here in Ireland--just not this soon. Moving that plan up by a year is going to take some extra work. In the meantime, I've jumped into action and will find out more along the way.

I have already spoken with deans of post-grad programs at All Hallows College, UCD, and DCU. I have one more meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning. Deadlines for applications are the end of May. I haven't figured out the details yet but I am going to put my applications in before it is too late and make the big decisions after that. What whirlwind!

Thanks to my work with a microfinance institution in the US, I am looking at Social Justice and Public Policy programs here in Ireland. My hope is to end up in the public transportation field but nothing I've seen is very specific. Still, every program requires a dissertation. Maybe I can base my research around transport and work it into my education that way? So many things to iron out at this point: A little scared. A little excited. A little unsure.

back to reality

2011-05-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

weeeeee!

As our final act of showing off Irish life, we took Nathan on a mini pub crawl up Camden Street. We hit Hell for dinner and drinks, then old-man standby Devitts for quite a few pints of Smithwicks, and finally to the Library Bar for a night cap. The grand finale was a trip to the chipper on Parnell Street for cod + chops and then home. Could you ask for more? Adios, nos vemos pronto!

day trippin'

2011-04-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

dreadlocks in the moonlight

We took a quick ride on the DART to spend the day in Dun Laoghaire and Sandycove. Technically, it was the beach. Hubs, Nathan, and I went to a local market to pick up a loaf of bread, some brie, stuffed olives, and pasta salad for a leisurely picnic. As soon as we found some big, flat rocks we were settled.

Also, we spent a ridiculous amount of money on a box of strawberries. Seriously, it was €4 for a box of twelve. In fairness, they were the most delicious, tasty strawberries I've ever had. Giant cartoon strawberries--all shiny + sweet + juicy...mmmMMMmmm!

hubs + nathan

presbyterian church

me + 99 flake cone + paddywagon = tom haverford face

forty foot, no fishing - Sandycove

what is a tog?

long walks

2011-04-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

a lovely jaunt through Smithfield

I love that having a visitor in town forces me to take long walks and enjoy the sights more than usual. I haven't been keeping up with my random photography around town so having Nathan here is a good excuse to take pictures. For instance, I never thought that Smithfield was especially cute, and yet it was today.

In the meantime, I contemplate my future! Things are in the works...

the obligatory stop at l. mulligan grocer's - Stoneybatter, Dublin 7

pura vida

vida

2011-04-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Today I went into the Habitat for Humanity Ireland office after they received a response from the DETI office about my employment. Unfortunately, my work permit was denied. That means I will not be working at Habitat for Humanity--not because they dont want me, but because the Irish government wont let me.

Based on the letter, I'd say it was a rubber-stamp situation. They put three separate reasons for the refusal:

They just aren't giving out many permits. At the moment even renewals are being scrutinized.
They wanted the salary to be a bit higher.
I am unqualified for the position.

Reason 1 is legitimate. Reason 2 is nitpicky yet successfully bars me from the appeals process. Reason 3 is an outright lie. If I had no regard for internet etiquette, this next paragraph would appear in ALL CAPS:

You can imagine how ticked off I was to read that I am deemed unqualified by a government bureaucrat when the company has offered me the job, saying that I am, in fact, highly qualified for the job. You can imagine how pissed off it might make me to read that I am 'unqualified' and know there was a 3-page letter from Habitat for Humanity Ireland on my behalf detailing how my experience and abilities matched the requirements for this position perfectly. You can imagine how infuriating it is to spend weeks agonizing over the paperwork, making sure every line is correct, and attaching fifteen supplemental documents, only to see a generic response that demonstrates the application was denied without even a glance at the content of the paperwork.

In the end, I am the one left feeling like an a-hole. Habitat waited through the entire process in hopes that I could begin working for them: a total of 1.5 months. I left my temporary job at the restaurant since I planned to be starting soon. What a complete waste of all our time.

Consolation: My would-be supervisor was upset and extremely apologetic when she showed me the letter. I think she was as shocked as me. They immediately posted the job to the same non-profit job board and began looking because they didn't have a second candidate in mind. In short, MY job is still available because I was the right candidate. It feels better--albeit a little bit--to know that much.

cultura

2011-04-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

i'm a little teapot

To cheer up, we decided to check out the Frida Kahlo/Diego Rivera exhibition at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. I've seen Diego Rivera pieces before and an amazing Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Walker in Minneapolis, but nothing compared to the Jacques & Natasha Gelman Collection at the IMMA.

I'm not a huge fan of Rivera but there was a painting (The Healer? The Exorcism?) that gave me a new appreciation for his darker pieces. Mostly, I loved the variety of media from Ms. Kahlo. There were pen and ink drawings, sketches, anatomical diagrams, tiny oil paintings, and massive painted metal pieces. About half were recognizable to me and the other half were oddities with interesting explanations throughout the exhibit. Nathan made a good point when he said she didn't attempt to make herself more beautiful. As the subject of over 1/3 of her own paintings, she had every opportunity to glamazon herself. For whatever reason she emerged as a master of the perfectly-detailed unibrow instead. Gutsy.

The collection is here through the 26th of June and I will be back, as the museum closed before we could see the photographic series by her British ex-lover. A peek at the lovely gardens behind the IMMA:

lush

frolicking amongst the foliage

enjoying the greenery

maybe a little too much?

geometric flower beds

we have a visitor

2011-04-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

hubs + nathan - docklands near the Cill Airne

Nathan has arrived! Even though he lives in Spain now, he definitely brought a special american spirit with him. Same as when Ilsa visited back in January--a little slice of home goes a long way in my book!

A testament to the ease of travel in Europe: We have seen Nathan twice since January and he lives in another country. Compare that with the 2-3 times a year I visited my family in California whilst living in Minnesota and you've got yourself a sad story.

Irish vocab:

MV Cill Airne = a party barge, say Kill Arnie

going away

2011-04-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

extremely attractive photograph; a 9.9 on the scale

Now that I've made a decent amount of friends through the restaurant, it looks like they are all leaving the country. Some destinations are Peru, South Carolina, and Barcelona. South Carolina?...are you sure about that?! Well, it IS the setting for one of my favorite movies of all time called Shag. If Murtle Beach today is anything like 1989's rendition of a 1961 beachside dance party, then you've made a good choice.

On one hand I will miss my new buddies. On the other hand, we will never truly be apart since our short-term friendships can become long-distance stalking. Thanks, Facebook. In the very least, the mass exodus from Ireland is making for some memorable farewell parties.

this one is more like a 6.5--eyes closed, hideous background, awkward crouching, etc.

good friday

2011-04-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

no booze for you

Today is Good Friday, one of two days in the calendar year including Christmas when you cannot purchase alcohol in Ireland. Anywhere. Pubs are closed, restaurants wont serve a drop, and the local Tesco has barricaded the liquor aisle to prevent wild booze-hounds from pilfering bottles on such a sacred day.

I heard whispers of so-called 'crucifixion parties' where people buy drinks the day before and hold house parties on Good Friday. I even read about one being held by Urban Outfitters--I guess a few years back they started holding a Good Friday Bash with a DJ in the clothing shop. Since nobody is allowed to sell alcohol, they gave it away and offered special discounts on all merchandise to the people who showed up. Hubs and I went to investigate and although there was none of the rumored booze, everything was 20% off so I bought a shirt. Basically the score on that outing is UO: 1 Alison: 0.

In other news, despite my own fashion advice and the best possible judgement, I also purchased clothing at a grocery store today. It's a Tesco brand ~~leather~~ ~~pleather~~ plastic jacket aaaaaaand at €17.50 I am in love. Feel free to judge me. Heck, I judge myself.

staying classy

around town

2011-04-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

one of many 'portraits' near lower camden

sweet car. dad--a little help?

brunch

2011-04-18T22:39:00.000-07:00

cake cafe - pleasant place, dublin 8

♥

whiskey

2011-04-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

celtic whiskey shop & wines on the green - dawson st, dublin 2

I'm not a fan of whiskey but hubs and I were near Stephen's Green for brunch today and decided to check out the Celtic Whiskey Shop. The shop guy was helpful, explaining the different whiskeys to people. He even offered us a taste of Connemara he had out on a barrel. I dont plan on buying whiskey anytime soon, but if I did, it would be here rather than from those snoots over on Grafton Street. So there.

whiskey

more whiskey

dublin eye

2011-04-15T23:12:00.000-07:00

a couple dublin bikes + the custom house

Is it called the Dublin Eye or the Dublin Wheel? Either way, I won tickets for 2 on the giant ferris wheel near the ocean on the east side of the city. It was the perfect excuse to take a leisurely 40 minute walk and enjoy the Docklands in the evening. I can't believe the gorgeous weather lately!

I also won a trip on the Wheel in a private compartment for up to 6 people so I am saving that for when the fam visits this June. As hubs and I rode the Wheel, there was commentary with attractions to look at. I dont know if it was the dark or that I forgot my glasses, but it was just a huge blur of lights. Next time we'll go in the daytime.

anglo irish bank hq + butt bridge in the background. yes, for isaac butt.

the moon

convention centre dublin - n wall quay

giant glitter box, what are you for? can i go inside please?

dublin general warehousing near the 02 arena

pod loading dock

terror. did i mention that ferris wheels scare the bejeezus out of me?

calm + collected

so beautiful. do you think that cable is thick enough to hold us?

yes it's gorgeous. did you feel that? what is that noise?

safe back on the ground

some hot pink flower tree on the way home

signage

2011-04-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

[insert weed joke] the mercantile - dame street, dublin 2

I get a kick out of oddly-worded signs. Judge away.

swanky

2011-04-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

octagon bar-clarence hotel, wellington quay, dublin 2

Cocktails are a bit of a treat in Dublin. I mentioned before that I've been mixing my own drink since arriving. Most pubs dont mix cocktails and most bartenders don't know the names of standard drinks. As an American, I was shocked since my bartender friends in the US went to mixology schools. One friend had a stack of 200 flashcards with recipes that we quizzed him with as he prepared to apply for jobs.

Here, it seems, bartenders are more concerned with pulling a proper pint. To me a pint is a pint is a pint; I don't have the palate to taste the difference between beers of the same brand on draught. I'm told by those 'in the know' that there is an art to it including temperature, process, clean tubes, etc.

Even with the focus on beer, Dublin does have 'cocktail bars' where you can expect an excellent drink menu and house-made recipes worth trying. The Octagon Bar is one of those places and it's famously located at the Clarence Hotel, owned by Bono and The Edge of U2. I thought it was the coziest little space; perfect for a nice chat with my friends from the restaurant. Most impressive is the octagonal in shape of the room and the bar--how very apropos.

a manhattan in honor of stan the man

360 degrees

2011-04-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

informative write-up and photo of the Grattan Bridge

Enjoy 360° of sunshine in the middle of Dublin city centre. These were taken from the Grattan Bridge, which joins Parliament Street on the southside with Capel Street on the northside. Just one bridge west of my hood.

west

south; essex + wellington quays w/ city hall dome on the horizon

east; millenium + ha'penny bridges

south; upper + lower ormond quays

ireland census

2011-04-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

full page of the Ireland Census 2011

You can click on the pictures to see larger versions. I just thought those of you outside of Ireland might be interested in a peek at the census. It was meant to be filled out last night Sunday 10 April. Compared to the US census I filled out last year, I found the Irish version a little intrusive. Detailed health questions? What time I leave the house in the morning? How long I walk to work? I guess that's important for government provided services.

I was also rather amused by the options available for religion and ethnicity. I did some creative fill-in answers. I wonder how they will tabulate me?

Irish vocab: "tick" = check, as in tick the box

ethnicity options

religion options

how very precise

evaluating my own health, i ticked 'vg' like the rest of the nation.

whoa stalkers

taking the 14.9% unemployment rate into consideration

do not include babies born after midnight. thanks.

summertime

2011-04-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

snacktime! summer in the city.

kind of like garbanzo crackers. tastes like a pretzel.

Today was a gorgeous day. It was 16°C. I am still not hip to the Celsius temperature scale, but I know that anything above 11 is ~~pretty warm~~ good enough to go without a coat. The internet says it was 61° F today. Ok so I thought it was a bit warmer. Who cares, it felt like the first day of summer.

To celebrate the sunshine, I took my towel + sunglasses up to the rooftop of the building to read my new book. Instead of learning all afternoon, fate stepped in and I had a lovely little kip. As a result, I was also rewarded with a mini-tan.

Later, hubs and I tried out this recipe for baked garbanzo beans (chickpeas). You have to leave them in the oven for much longer than I was willing to wait. Although a bit soft, they were delicious. For best results, I recommend you start baking them before you are ravenously hungry.

A grab bag of Irish vocab words I've been corrected about in public recently. Fun:

"kip" = nap

"soya" = soy

"bum bag" = fanny pack
"fanny" = female frontspiece (arrested d joke)
"lift" = a ride in a car

"ride" = sexual connotation (really wish I could stop saying this one)

"drop the hand" = getting to 3rd base (or at least joking about it)

"debs" = Irish equivalent of prom

not working...yet

2011-04-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

pinchos + sangria @ Havana Tapas Bar -George's Street, Dublin 2

Folks keep asking if I'm working yet. The sad answer is no. I was supposed to start last Monday but I am still wading through the red tape. Here is the breakdown of my permit paperwork timeline:

March 14th: Habitat for Humanity Ireland calls me and offers the job
March 16th: I send my permit application forms to Habitat
March 25th: Habitat completes forms and I pick them up from the office
March 29th: I complete + send application, passport photos, and a hefty fee to the Department of Enterprise, Trade, & Innovation
April 1st: Application comes back in the mail, claiming I did not include a job description (I did)
April 2nd: I highlight the job description, place it in the front of the packet, type up a Table of Contents--to avoid confusion--and post again
April 6th: Email arrives confirming receipt of my app + hefty fee
April 10th: Still waiting

For whatever reason (the phone message says staff training but I presume that's code for 'budget cutbacks') the DETI no longer has office hours. They allow people to ring for information between 8am-12pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. I am calling three times a week to check on my application. Today, the DETI website states they are processing applications from March 21st. This means they are at least 2 weeks away from mine.

Oh and the best part about waiting? My employer needs to have a copy of my work permit before I can officially get on payroll and begin work. I've been told by Habitat that I need to start in 3 weeks or they might have to reconsider the job offer. Excellent. I am not freaking out at all.

tummy nostalgia

2011-04-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

only cheap sushi anywhere -YO! Sushi, Dundrum Town Centre

I'm sure I've harped on about missing Mexican food more than you can stand. Lately it's been more than just delicious burritos with tons of guacamole...mmm...but all kinds of food. I think my tummy is having a case of nostalgia for all the places I've lived before:

CA Bay Area (Chinese) - salt + pepper fish, garlic asparagus, fried tofu
San Diego (Japanese, Mexican) - miso, edamame, sushi, burritos, fish tacos, hot sauce
Madrid (Spanish) - tortilla de patata, manchego
MN Twin Cities (Vietnamese, Thai) - banh mi, spring rolls, pad see yew, som tum

Instead of lamenting the lack of food that I can't have, maybe I need to figure out what Dublin does right. So far, I know they have Italian down. Based on the number of nationals I've met here, I should probably go looking for Brazilian, Polish, and Mauritian food next.

tramore

2011-04-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

hello, Ocean. so nice to see you again.

Dear Tramore,

You are a lovely little beach town. Thanks for the hour I spent staring at the ocean, watching surfers and the never-ending waves. Even though it was a bit chilly, I forgive you. I want to hang out at your crappy little carnival and play at your putt-putt golf course near the coastline. You also serve delicious chips at 3am. Thanks again for the free food when the chipper guy messed up my order. It made me feel like a stealth, chip-stealing ninja. I had an entirely pleasant time hanging out with you. Have a great summer.

Love,

Alison

oh and Sunshine too. welcome.

"ringbuoy" = lifesaver

Beach.

kite boarders and actual surfers. reminded me of Mission Beach, SD.

view from our hotel balcony

yes

making eating motions at a blue cheese brownie-Seahorse Tavern, Tramore.

adorbs

getting pink cheeks for the first time since spain

lebowski sleepover

2011-04-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

perusing the hotel attractions

The concert was a lock-in at the Grand Hotel Tramore and they left the venue open for attendees the entire night. What started out as a wild midnight show ended up with people sitting around the pub singing songs, telling stories, and cracking jokes until the wee hours of the morning. I met a bunch of really cool people that, unfortunately, all live in Waterford.

hubs filled in on bass for a song

hubs, v showing off her blue raspberry WKD, and myself

flute sounded awesome. wish i hadn't given up on the flute in 5th grade.

new friends

time for bed

waterford

2011-04-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

so ready to ride this train

So hubs and I went to Waterford + Tramore for the weekend to see a show. The trip to Waterford on the train takes 2 hours 45 minutes from Heuston Station in the city centre. I was overjoyed to book tickets online using a special Tuesday discount last week. Then, all I did was show up at the station and retrieve them from an automated machine. €18 for two adults and we were on our way to the southeast corner of the bear. The whole weekend was loads of fun and seeing some green countryside as well as the ocean (!) did wonders for me.

Aside from some cool street art and a few upcoming festivals, I can't see spending a ton of time in Waterford. Tramore was a hilly little beach town with surfers and kite boarders and a beach that reminded me of Mission Beach in San Diego. As gorgeous as the coast was, I am glad we live in Dublin with all the crazy people and mix of cultures. This was the first time that we were driving into the city and got that feeling of coming home. Home!

riding the rails

my main thought as i looked out the window

was that everything (including the lambies) looked

exactly how ireland should.

Waterford, Ireland

the big reveal

2011-03-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

in love with H! by Henry Holland. pretty sure it's a clothing line for teens.

falafel sandwich with sriracha + last of my yucateco green sauce. moo.

staff party. oops only took one picture.

my last day as a chef (for now at least)

I spent this week gearing up for a change in my life. The big news?

I got the job with Habitat for Humanity Ireland. I start April 4th. Kablow.
200 applications. 7 months. Finally...and it's the one I wanted.
Life is good!

To get ready, I did a little shopping and bought a very office-worthy blazer.
I said goodbye to my short-lived + beloved restaurant family.
Now I get a week off for a staycation.
Big things are in store.

name game

2011-03-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

personalized wallets with common names

Some totally normal Irish names:

Boys: Eamonn, Caoimhín, Eoghan, Eimear, Pádraig, Enda, Cearnaigh
Girls: Mairéad, Gráinne, Finola, Aoife, Eabha, Gormlaith, Maeve, Niamh, Una

more door

2011-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

somewhere near Crow's Lane-Temple Bar, Dublin 2

~~I guess I have a thing for doorways.~~ Please excuse my obsession with pictures of doors. I am realizing this is not normal. Anyway, notice the sweet brunch art featured to my right.

food

2011-03-21T16:05:00.001-07:00

ñom ñom ñom

Grubbing on the couch: Spanish tortilla made by a real, live Spaniard. Whoa buddy.

sweets

2011-03-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

almost as tasty as George Michael himself

Ireland knows sweets. The candy display at the corner Spar is bigger than the candy selection at an American grocery store. That says ~~something~~ a whole lot. I have heard stories of Irish people visiting the US or Canada and coming back with bags of new candies for their friends and family to try. Candy as souvenirs = awesome. The Irish are such fans of sugar that they even put it in their tea with milk. I have learned that I like my tea 'black'. To me, this is like asking for my ice cream served 'cold'. Please excuse the state of me and enjoy this photo montage of me eating a WHAM bar.

The moral of the story is that I've found amazing candy here in Ireland. It is super sweet and sugary and all of it sparkles like rainbows and shooting stars. Current Top Three:

WHAM bar = semi-hard raspberry thing the consistency of a Now and Later
M&S Butter Mints = hard candy that mixes the flavors of butterscotch + mint
Curly Wurly = a chocolate-covered toffee bar in a cool, twisty shape

Irish vocab lesson of the day:

"sweets" = candy

"toffee" = caramel

"biscuits" = cookies

"fruit gums" = gummies

"wine gums" = gummies that taste like wine. gross.

"digestives" = plain flat disc cookies like MarieLus

"jaffa cakes" = fruit + chocolate is usually gross as well.

"penguins" = tim tams for those of you aussies out there.

"banoffee" = a caramel and banana cake that Jamie Oliver loves

"buttons" = chocolate circle tweaked-out animal eyes. see above. yeah.
"the state of me" = a phrase meaning I am doing something horribly unattractive
vrrry useful.

over the lips and through the gums...

look out cavities, here we come!

pot + kettle = black

2011-03-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

the aftermath - George's Street, Dublin 2

Oh Mr. Moylan...stop pretending like it is only Americans who use St. Patrick's Day as an excuse to get drunk. Please, do expound on how you celebrated this 'once-meaningful holiday'.

st. patrick's day

2011-03-17T23:25:00.000-07:00

got my wellies on

So I didn't get to enjoy the festivities or see the parade but the streets of Dublin were full of people today. Here are a few snapshots from my morning 'commute' and coming home. Lots of wild orange and green hats, face paint, green neck towels, and green leggings. Aside from the outfits and the fact that it was a Thursday, I can't say it looked different from a normal night out in Dublin.

I am not interested in a themed frat party in the streets, so hubs and I ordered in and enjoyed some cheap cider from the Spar around the corner. Does that make me a party pooper?

I was hoping to get a sense of something St. Patrick-related. Maybe some snakes could slither away from me or maybe a special extra-Catholic St. Patrick-themed prayer could be recited. Or honestly any aspect of history that would make St. Patrick's Day in Ireland different from St. Paul, Minnesota. Unfortunately, I didn't learn anything. All I kept thinking is that I can go to an Irish pub and drink Irish beer with Irish people any time I want. That's something to be thankful for, right? At least it was a festive day and people seemed to be in a good mood. I especially enjoyed the flags along the river.

southside quays

parade route blocked off -Dame Street, Dublin 2

George's Street at 9.00am

George's Street looking south at 6.00pm

George's Street looking north

Dame Street

heading towards Temple Bar

Temple Bar

here comes paddy

2011-03-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

be wearing wellies for sure

On a normal weekday morning at around 8:30am, I see one puddle of puke on the streets of Temple Bar. In fairness, there are a few homeless shelters in the neighborhood and sometimes I can see the culprit responsible for the vom ~~slumped down~~ perched on a nearby stoop with an open can.

Weekends produce between 2-4 puddles in the three blocks I walk to George's Street. These probably belong to the tourists staying in the hostels nearby. After all, the Dublin experience revolves around whiskey and Guinness.

I would just like to put it out there: I am frightened for my morning walk tomorrow, because it's St. Patrick's Day. This week alone, I've seen a huge influx of tourists in the neighborhood; rolly suitcases in hand, jittering along on cobblestone roads, getting ready for the party. All the corner stores started selling giant green foam hats and clover pins and shirts with ridiculous sayings.

I had heard (from American friends) that St. Patrick's Day in Ireland is supposed to be a somber religious holiday. I'm convinced this something the Irish Tourism Board came up with to downplay reality. Based on the PSAs on the radio this week ('do everything in your power to keep your kids away from alcohol') the whole day is a drink-fest and the world is invited to participate. It is three weeks of Oktoberfest rolled into a single day.

I am told they shut down all the streets in the city centre and it can take over 20 minutes to cross Dame Street. I've been told to avoid Temple Bar if at all possible and there are supposed to be half a million people in the city centre alone. I guess I want to enjoy St. Patrick's Day since it's part of the experience, but I'm questioning if I'll go out at all. I might feel different if I was here on a visit, but the fact that it all happens in my neighborhood sort of makes me want to hide. Whatever happens, I will take my camera and see what there is to see!

big news

2011-03-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

I have some big news. I can't announce it here just yet...but...it's awesome. If you are family, then you already know.

Anyway, as a result I haven't had much time for blogging these past few weeks. I just have a few things to wrap up and then I'll let you know. Hooray!

queen of the crepes

2011-03-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

R-L: cameo by hubby's finger et moi

Once I was crowned the Queen of Minneapolis after a seriously intense game of Dutch Blitz. There was a metal crown fitted on my head in a ceremony and everything.

Now that I am no longer a resident, I probably have been replaced so that royal duties continue uninterrupted. At least I am still Queen of the Crepes. Here we have a succulent spinach + cheez crepe for your viewing pleasure.

so it begins

2011-03-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

our new scrabble board

Hubs and I broke down and got ourselves a Scrabble board today. Thankfully, Ireland believes in classic board games. Walking around the Smyth's toy store I was beginning to worry that the world had become completely animatronic.

With that in mind, our Scrabble board has plastic tiles instead of wooden ones. Despite this small disappointment, the game is still lovely. Not only is it fun to play, but it is also a solemn matter of showing off your supreme intelligence...

...I kid, I kid!

Seriously, come to my house. Play with me. We have Scrabble headbands and everything:

peace be with you

and also with you

hot + spicy

2011-03-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

Jo'Burger -Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6

After eating at CrackBird, a pop-up restaurant currently in its third of a twelve-week stint in Temple Bar, hubs and I decided to try the original restaurant of owner Joe Macken. I was smitten with CrackBird because they served me a habanero chili sauce that made me cry. Oh, that's a good thing.

We ended up at Jo'Burger after a quick trip on the 83 bus and I was delighted to find they had two types of veggie burgers and a plethora of burger toppings. I went with avocado and hot peppers, my two favorite condiments of all time. Oh and those Sriracha fries? To die for.

I also discovered an Asian grocery near me called Asian Food Co. that sells all kinds of lovely things. The thing that impresses me the most is the amazing produce selection: pink Japanese eggplants, ripe (!) avocados, quarter chunks of fresh pumpkin, and scotch bonnet peppers. I have completely sworn off Tesco and will try to do all my shopping here from now on. Yesterday hubs & I bought a week's worth of groceries for a mere €13. And the place doesn't smell weird, either.

legumes + curries galore -Asian Food Co. Mary Lane, Dublin 1

Irish vocab:

"cookery" = things having to do with cooking (pots, pans, cookery books)

"pancakes" = small ones, like griddle cakes

"chilis" = hot peppers, usually a medium-spicy red thai chili

"piri piri" = a blended sauce or spices with bird's eye chile, lime, and salt

sketch

2011-03-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

chips in every color of the chocolate rainbow-Kitchen Compliments, Chatham St

Today I learned that the word "sketch" is a word you say when you are doing something shady and the Garda, or police, are coming. Also, it's what people whisper at you when you are talking about a person and they are coming up behind you, hearing every word. Oops, my bad.

I also learned that it is a very Irish thing to tie a handkerchief around your neck when you have a sore throat. To me, it looks like some simple French-style flare, but I guess to the Irish it is helping them medically. I suppose it's time for another Irish vocab lesson:

"loads" = a lot of something

"sketch" = here come the cops

"deadly" = fantastic

"dodgy" = sketchy

"dodger" = a shady character

"massive" = big

"knackered" = tired, not to be confused with...
"knackers" = derogatory term for Irish Travellers

the temple bar

2011-03-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

the cadavos @ the temple bar-temple bar, dublin 2

Hubby's band played The Temple Bar tonight. The Temple Bar is kind of a big deal because the entire neighborhood is named after it. It's the bar that I used to make my blog banner. Look up there. When we were looking for a neighborhood in Dublin, we wanted to be in a place is known for artistic residents, locally-owned shops, and the open-air markets--basically somewhat like where we lived in Minneapolis. Even though it is overrun with tourists, The Temple Bar is a huge traditional style pub and is probably the most well-known pub in all of Dublin. So, you should have figured out by now that hubs is a pretty big deal for playing there.

I did my part by parading around with the ~~tip jar~~ empty pint glass asking for tips. It turns out they were well-liked and are going to play again next Friday night. Sweet.

taking pictures because they are famous

choice music prize

2011-03-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Here are my pictures from the Choice Music Prize awards show at the beautiful Vicar Street venue. Aside from the idiot girl behind me who shushed me and poked me repeatedly in the shoulder to be quiet even though she talked with her friend at a rather loud volume the rest of the show, I had a great time. Girl, you are lucky you touched me and have lived to tell the tale.

The Choice Music Prize is an annual event where they award bands for best Irish album of the year, with a focus on non-mainstream bands. It's a sort of indie music awards for the entire country. For the event that we attended, each nominee plays two songs and does an on-camera interview. At the end they announce the winner and hand them a giant check for €10,000. I was rooting for a band called O, Emperor that some friends showed me awhile back. They are from Waterford and put on an amazing set.

SPOILER ALERT: O, Emperor did not win. Still, I'm glad we went because I discovered a bunch of talented Irish bands. I also discovered an expensive fizzy drink called WKD that tastes like raspberries and is bright blue. Highly recommended. Oh and almost all the bands had five-part harmonies and a little folksy twang. Thanks Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes, and friends. I am thoroughly enjoying your success.

our seats were in block A

James Vincent McMorrow sounds and looks a bit like Sam Beam. No complaints here:

james vincent mcmorrow

O, Emperor was the band from Waterford. They are friends of the couple that went to the event with us and put on the biggest set of the night:

o, emperor

Fight Like Apes had a crazy girl in spandex running around. I was jealous of her giant hair:

These guys were obviously the most famous already. Thankfully, they said they'd donate the money to charity.

two door cinema club (winners)

The Villagers were the favorites to win. How do I know? Well, in Ireland you can go into a betting shop and find all sorts of statistics. These guys had the worst odds so that means they were probably going to win. Have I told you that I want to take up gambling? Nobody will take me to Ladbrokes yet, but I will find some shady yoke to teach me all about the underworld...

the villagers

Cathy Davey was my favorite of the three female-fronted bands that played:

cathy davey

george's street art

2011-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

west side of the mercantile restaurant-george's st, dublin 2

Iroincally, there is real scaffolding next to the fake ladder. Anyway, I found a website called Big Art Mob that documents street art in the UK and Ireland since some of the artists' work appears here and in England. The have all the locations pinpointed using GoogleMaps, which is handy. I noticed a few of the pieces on the site that I've already seen around town and a couple that I'd still like to find.

irish fashion

2011-02-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

donuts, magic wands, an ample sweater + leather jacket selection at Tesco

I dont want to make negative comments about fashion in Ireland but Gok Wan told me on his fashion show that the majority of people in the UK buy their clothes at the grocery store. I realize Ireland is not part of the UK anymore, but semantics aside, they have a clothing aisle at the local Tesco. See what I can buy alongside my roast vegetable medley and fruit trifle dessert?

Once I bought a pair of flip-flops from the Raley's in my hometown because my own pair broke as I was walking around the store. Even with the dire circumstance at the time, I knew it was an embarrassing move. If anybody were to ask me, "Where did you get those plain black flip-flops?" I would've had to make something up. The horror. Moral of the story: There is a pink and black striped sweater currently on sale at Tesco that I would totally wear. Obviously I haven't purchased it on principle alone.

Here is a fun article I found on the Irish Times about how men dress here. I believe I have mentioned the tracksuits before.

paint it black

2011-02-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

the cadavos @ headline bar-lower clanbrassil street, dublin 7

g-l-o-r-i-a, gloria

i see a red door and i want it painted black

Another Saturday night at the Headline Bar with hubby's band. I recently discovered they have a name: The Cadavos. It was fun because Dylan's little sister came along. She is about to graduate high school, so we had a lot to talk about. ~~We spent the night discussing cross-cultural exchange and the effect American media has on moral values across Western civilization.~~ We talked about Teen Mom all night. We agreed that Amber is cra-cra, Tyler and Caitlynn are tortured, and Macy is a 'good' mom.

my new friend yazmine

She explained to me that Spicers are basically mini-Rod Stewart emo types (kids that wear skinny jeans, heavy makeup, and have really spiky or back-combed rat's nest type hair with lots of colors). I told her in Chile that these people are called Pokemon. She asked why all the young mothers in Teen Mom have southern accents and I explained that there is a place called the Bible Belt that doesn't believe in birth control. It was an enlightening night all around.

I used to wonder how anyone outside the U.S. knew about American TV shows. My cousins in Chile love Arrested Development and The Office. I just couldn't figure out how they'd even heard of these shows, much less seen them. Now I know there are websites that post shows within minutes of them airing in the states. The legality of these sites are questionable--every once in awhile they get shut down and replaced by large, foreboding FCC warnings--but we still watch most of our TV on the computer this way.

I wish I had known about TV on the internet back in Minnesota when I was waiting for Netflix to release the new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Hulu didn't carry HBO programs. The important, life-changing things you learn abroad!

teddy bear hospital

2011-02-25T15:39:00.000-08:00

the dollstore-George's Street, Dublin 2

I know what you are thinking. Who took that amazing photograph? If you knew that I took the picture whilst riding my bike down the opposite side of the street, you would be pretty impressed. Well I didn't because I don't own a bicycle. Just get over it.

I took this picture because The Dollstore is an amazing place and I've never heard of anything like it before in the world. Most people know it as the 'teddy bear hospital'. You can't possibly make it out through the blur, but the sign says "The Dolls Hospital & The Teddy Bears Clinic". You can take your old teddy bears there and they will refurbish them with new eyes and limbs and stuffing! Isn't that adorable?

Yeah I thought so too until I went to their website. I have learned that apart from repairing normal childhood toys like teddy bears and dolls, they sell these creepy things. I once saw a documentary about people like that. Right? RIGHT?!

no romance

2011-02-24T23:27:00.000-08:00

my social life is full of sophisticated and classy outings

Thanks to my fake job, I had free tickets to see the Nancy Harris play No Romance at the Abbey Theatre. Hubs and I went, as you might have gathered from this picture. I was supposed to write about it for a friend who manages a blog in California but I basically took over a week to finish so I think that ship has sailed. Still, we enjoyed the show. ~~The play was a poignant commentary juxtaposing an individual's right to privacy versus the perils of keeping secrets from those we love.~~ It was about how the internet is making us all techno-maniac freaks and this drives little old ladies to hole up in their cottages and write sexual fantasy blogs. Highly recommended.

about town

2011-02-22T15:55:00.000-08:00

Dublin Castle-Dublin 2

After five months in the beautiful city of Dublin, I am getting to the point where things look normal. I don't even notice the gorgeous buildings or the rustic cobblestone streets anymore. A castle with structure originating in the 1100s looks completely typical to me because I walk by it so often! I want to appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. I want to notice the art, architecture, and history embedded in every block of Dublin city. I am trying to ~~be extremely hippie~~ practice active consciousness so I have decided to take random pictures as I walk around town. Obviously, here are two.

kid on a bicycle successfully chatting up a female guard outside parliament