A field of greens

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This time, I did it a bit differently. Usually, I show up at a new place and sort of float around the country until the options dry up or I get sick of staying in dorm rooms. But with Ireland I wanted to do it differently, and I did. I guess I felt like since I got my Irish citizenship I owed it to my 'motherland' to pay her an extended visit. And so I decided to sublet a place in Dublin for the month of September and see where it would take me. After two days in the city I had found my place, a Georgian-style place shared with an Italian (Alberto) and a Frenchman (Fabien). It was a great setup.

Delphine came for a few days, which was nice, but because of the shortness of her visit we couldn't really leave Dublin while keeping it comfy (she only came for 3 days). Luckily a visit from a good friend from Canada gave me the excuse to get into the countryside. I wish I had been there all along...

Dublin is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's a stupendous place to party in my sort of style (not clubbing, just pubbing). On the other hand it doesn't offer up much beyond the bar scene. It's sort of a half-breed between a genuine European city and a take-your-pick American city, the result being a sort of charmless 'meh' of a town (albeit with a very rich history). But once you're out in the countryside the rumors of Irish beauty and quaintness find their mark.

Green. Green. More green. Cows, pubs, and sheep. Lovely, cliffy coast. Quiet and friendly. It's all true: Ireland is a Sunday-afternoon-nap sort of dream. Amanda, the old friend from Toronto, Jen, her travel companion, and I rented a car and spent about five days taking it all in. Do yourself a favor and add it to the list of things you'll do before you die.

And then, in a flash, the month was over. I made lots of friends in Dublin that I already miss (Pizza Mario the Italian and Jean-Francois the Frenchie, to name a couple) and had a blast. I am proud to have my roots in such a 'grand' place.

And so, after a week and change in Lyon with the lady-friend, I took a train to Barcelona where I am right now and will stay for the next while before checking out more of Spain in Portugal for the rest of the month... Adios !

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Comments

[Daniel]

Sold!
It's on the list - the trick, of course, is figuring out the deadline. But, I agree with you - it's great to know that we have roots in such an interesting homeland. I'll make it a point to explore soon. We missed you at thanksgiving dinner tonight. Dad won't miss you as he drinks the MacCallen 18 year old I picked him up at duty free, but he does most other times. Hope to see you in our other homeland (or my newfound one?) sometime soon. Seattle is lovely in November, you know ;) Lots of love. -Daniel