Dubliners

Last Sunday I decided to go exploring in City Center (what Dubliners refer to as downtown). It was a gorgeous day, and I couldn't wait to just be in this place without having to be somewhere. I wanted to go there alone, with my camera and music, to just take the scene in. I spent a few hours people watching/shopping/walking and taking pictures. It was a great day--I love to do things on my own and I'm thankful for my independence. It can also be a bad thing, but in new situations like these I thrive on being on my own, not sure why.

I found a cool vendor in the temple bar area that was selling all types of old books amongst other odd things so I stopped by to have a look. I ended up being torn between whether I should buy Anne Frank's diary, which I haven't read since I was in elementary school and I want to go visit her house in Amsterdam, or "the Beach" which I have heard through a few people is a good read. I opted for "the Beach", I am also reading "Angela's Ashes" right now so I thought I would enjoy something slightly more uplifting. Although I'm not even sure the Beach is uplifting, but I know for certain Anne's book is not. The man selling the books probably hated me. I didn't understand that I just gave the money to this man who looked like he was shopping there himself. I'm from the suburbs and go to school in a small college town so I'm not used to street vendors, it was a first for me to buy something there. I just wondered around looking for anything that resembled a cash register, when I noticed this old man staring at me. I realized then I needed to pay him, he probably thought I was trying to steal his book--which wouldn't have been a bad idea considering I'm totally poor and afraid that I won't have enough money to last me the three months. But I wouldn't stoop that low, not yet...
Any ideas about how I can make money abroad? I'm thinking something illegal or at least a job I could get paid under the table, because Europeans are fuckers about paying Americans (which I understand---completely).

Let's see, next I walked out to the port of Dublin which is on the Irish sea. It was beautiful, it smelled like the sea even though the river didn't look that clean. I have no idea if it is, but whatever. These Italian or French guys walked up to me while I was walking and it caught me off-guard big time. They were perfectly fine, but I was by myself and paranoid about getting my stuff stolen. We were isolated on this marina and there were three of them. In my mind they could have ripped my back pack off me and I would have no way to stop them. I talked to them though for a moment and they were young tourists too, just looking for a destination. It seems that no matter I go I get asked for directions, like a lot. I don't know what to make of this--maybe I look nice. (ha yeah right)

The night before Sunday, so Saturday, the group went out together in city center to a few different places---Grand Central and Coppers. Grand Central is pub type place where I have already been twice after being here about five days. Coppers is a night club dancing place that I didn't make it to, but the others said it was a great time. 10 euro cover, which is pretty standard I hear from my roomates. I ended up meeting a few german travelers at Grand Central and had some Bulmers with them. Bulmers, for those who aren't familiar, is this Irish cider with higher alcohol content than regular pints that is very popular. I like it decently, although it's pretty sweet for my liking. I have also, for the record, tried Guinness and liked alright. It's not a beer I would drink often and and Irish native told me it's an "old man" beer, but nonetheless. So these german travelers and I got drunk and danced and had great times. People are pretty friendly here I find. They want to know about you and chat over pints. Or maybe they just want to get you drunk to take advantage, still trying to figure this out. Either way I can handle anything, didn't you know? I'm a whore!

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