An overdue update

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This account follows the tale of a young 21 year-old traveller finding herself while on the green lands of eire. Most sincere apologies for not writing sooner, it has been somewhat of an adjustment lving away from home, depsite all the comforts one could ask for. I can safely say that so far my time in Ireland has been one in which knowledge about people has be ascertained, limits tested, tastes enlarged and fitness increased. :D That first fortnight or so was spent dully looking for jobs while being discriminated against because of own surname. Kind of a wake-up call, given that my unusual ethinc background gave me somewhat of a distinction amongst my peers. But for a country that was until very recently, ethinically homogenous (while having its place in wider multicultural and well travelled society), I was suprised to see the amount of Poles everywhere and how much prejudice they get from the native Irish. This realisation did sour things for me for a few days but I quickly perked up as the euros started rolling in (everybody roll your eyes and groan inwardly if you want). the different attitudes to money here is also rather startling. I don't think that I ever would've gotten about 200 bucks in tips in one Saturday night at Basilico; the Irish, in short, love to give; a philsophy that I have long admired in people. At this stage I would liek to thank Tiff, Rex, tilly and lucy for taking me into their home and letting me become something liek a way-cool older sister/young hip aunt, much appreciated.

In other news, spent Easter at delightful lttle city called Cork, where I met my cousin Paul for the first time, a but surreal again but very cool, it's good to have family everywhere. Whilst in Cork I discovered the magic of Tesco and Argos and was very wisely bestowed with the gift of the gab by means of kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. Polish easter, very traditional with lots of food and drinking and blessing of baskets and going to mass. Have since spent my time in Ireland extensively looking around Dublin, going out to eat at some of the most over-priced restaurants (but still good) in town, shopping, drinking at the Purty Kitchen and making new friends. At this stage I have to tell Magda that I have since met Greg and two thumbs DOWN my lady friend, sorry but not the kind of disposition that I like to see in males. Hello to Katie and Gertie too who may possibly be reading this in case of slander, don't worry ladies, Sunday hasn't arrived yet.

Have been driven around the Wicklow mountainms and been to Johnny Fox's pub where I learned that the most common Irish name is.........................MURPHY!!!!!! So congratulations! So, Bono, Van Morrisson and Enya live down the road which add to the Toorak-like feel of Sandycove and Dalkey which are in themselves quaint sort of suburbs, close enough to Dublin to have a city glamour but not eaten but by huge franchises just yet but rumour has it that a Starbucks may be opening in Dalkey (cue dramatic gasp), so maybe it might up the standard of coffee here which is overburnt, too strong and too hot. If I may, I will make something plain here, in order to acheive the desired texture of milk for a coffee, one does not need to shake the jug up and down as you would for other things which shall remain nameless. It ake me realise what coffee snobs we all are in Melbourne.

In conclusion (for the time being) I would like to give big Irish-style toothless hugs to my friends and mum who I'm beginning to miss slightly and I'm sending you all loads of big fat craic and some delightful Irish rain as soon as I can find a big enough envelope!

Peace out!
Marta

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Photos

In a pub
popping the guiness cherry

more pub action
Is this what i'm to expect?

Dublin Castle
The Palace Gardens