Minotaurs Playing Polo
In the final weeks here in Dublin, there seems to be a natural tendency for things to wrap themselves up like they know we're leaving.
On Wednesday, we said goodbye to the Northeastern kids, who are now done, and home, in America. No more 80s nights at Q-bar with Kate, Pete and Mo, sadly, but I'm glad it became tradition. Wednesday was also the first night of Passover, which, unfortunately, I could not really celebrate. Matzoh is pretty hard to come by in a country that doesn't include Jews in their national census.
Thursday was a big emplyee night out for The Helix. 20 of us went to the Shelbourne Greyhound Racetrack (dogs, not busses), and we bet on some dogs. I won 9 Euro, but I don't really know how or why. The night got much much better though. In true Remix-to-Ignition fashion, the after party continued at the Ocean Bar, and then on to the hotel lobby...just kidding, the 3rd stop was someone's apartment.
The numbers dwindled gradually. About 15 of us went to the bar, but only 6 made it to the apartment. My boss, Rachel, included. She's awesome. It's interesting what you find when you take the work people out of the work environment (you can take the boy outta Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey outta the boy).
Friday, Karen and I met up with her friend from home, Joanna, and Joanna's boyfriend Justin, who is studying in Limerick for the semester, or as he calls it, Stab-City. We took the train out to Malahide for a few hours, to see the sea, the castle, and the minotaurs. Everything was there except the minotaurs, but we found a fantastic Peacock in their place.
I don't know what this statue is, but your lucky I didn't do what the little kids who were there wanted me to do to it.
Malahide is a quaint little beach town, with a very main-street feel to it. But the center piece of it all is Malahide Castle, complete with enchanted forest, peacock-filled gardens, and 7 very small people, each with their own name/defining characteristic.
We made dinner back at my apartment, then headed to our friend Christina's 21st Birthday Party. I got a nice surprise to find my friends Tay (short for Tay) and Alison there, who were in Madrid for the semester, but came for Christina's Birthday. I also met a girl from Freehold. Weird. Most of the night was pretty tame, but this is what happens when a birthday girl hears 'Vogue' and has all eyes on her.
Saturday, Karen and I went to Croke Park, the 80,000 capacity Gaelic Games stadium, and the site of the first Bloody Sunday in 1920. The tour was really interesting, but look in the picture at the contraption sprawled across the field. Since the sun is so rare in Ireland, this guy rolls down the field very slowly casting artificial UV rays onto the grass (which itself costs 2 Million Euro). Great way to get a tan. No one was allowed to go near the grass, but luckily, for 6.50, you can grow your own!
On Easter Sunday, we went to the Easter Parade. But it's not how you picture. It's fascinating how different countries feel towards holidays, so here's a quick breakdown. In Ireland, St Patty's Day is like July 4th. It has nothing to do with independance, but it's BBQ, beer, fireworks, celebration all day, etc. Good Friday is like our Easter. Very religious, families all get together for church and a nice meal. Bars and liquor stores have to stay closed, no alcohol can legally be sold on this day.
Easter, however, is like Patriot's Day, because it is, in fact, the anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916, the climax (or the kick-off, however you want to look at it) of the Irish war for Independence. No bunnies, in other words. This year was the 90 year anniversary of the Rising, so the parade was extra special, with all units of the military marching, fighter planes overhead, a speech from the President, and guns and tubas everywhere.
I have off work tomorrow, for a national holiday, which I find incredibly ironic, because if I was in Boston, I would also have off, for Marathon Monday. And while there will be no marathon here tomorrow, I'm sure we'll find something to keep us occupied. So long for now, and by the way, there's still time to donate to the amazing cause that is my brother's 600 mile ride for charity in the Aids Life Cycle. www.aidslifecycle.org/6611
Peace.
On Wednesday, we said goodbye to the Northeastern kids, who are now done, and home, in America. No more 80s nights at Q-bar with Kate, Pete and Mo, sadly, but I'm glad it became tradition. Wednesday was also the first night of Passover, which, unfortunately, I could not really celebrate. Matzoh is pretty hard to come by in a country that doesn't include Jews in their national census.
Thursday was a big emplyee night out for The Helix. 20 of us went to the Shelbourne Greyhound Racetrack (dogs, not busses), and we bet on some dogs. I won 9 Euro, but I don't really know how or why. The night got much much better though. In true Remix-to-Ignition fashion, the after party continued at the Ocean Bar, and then on to the hotel lobby...just kidding, the 3rd stop was someone's apartment.
The numbers dwindled gradually. About 15 of us went to the bar, but only 6 made it to the apartment. My boss, Rachel, included. She's awesome. It's interesting what you find when you take the work people out of the work environment (you can take the boy outta Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey outta the boy).
Friday, Karen and I met up with her friend from home, Joanna, and Joanna's boyfriend Justin, who is studying in Limerick for the semester, or as he calls it, Stab-City. We took the train out to Malahide for a few hours, to see the sea, the castle, and the minotaurs. Everything was there except the minotaurs, but we found a fantastic Peacock in their place.
I don't know what this statue is, but your lucky I didn't do what the little kids who were there wanted me to do to it.
Malahide is a quaint little beach town, with a very main-street feel to it. But the center piece of it all is Malahide Castle, complete with enchanted forest, peacock-filled gardens, and 7 very small people, each with their own name/defining characteristic.
We made dinner back at my apartment, then headed to our friend Christina's 21st Birthday Party. I got a nice surprise to find my friends Tay (short for Tay) and Alison there, who were in Madrid for the semester, but came for Christina's Birthday. I also met a girl from Freehold. Weird. Most of the night was pretty tame, but this is what happens when a birthday girl hears 'Vogue' and has all eyes on her.
Saturday, Karen and I went to Croke Park, the 80,000 capacity Gaelic Games stadium, and the site of the first Bloody Sunday in 1920. The tour was really interesting, but look in the picture at the contraption sprawled across the field. Since the sun is so rare in Ireland, this guy rolls down the field very slowly casting artificial UV rays onto the grass (which itself costs 2 Million Euro). Great way to get a tan. No one was allowed to go near the grass, but luckily, for 6.50, you can grow your own!
On Easter Sunday, we went to the Easter Parade. But it's not how you picture. It's fascinating how different countries feel towards holidays, so here's a quick breakdown. In Ireland, St Patty's Day is like July 4th. It has nothing to do with independance, but it's BBQ, beer, fireworks, celebration all day, etc. Good Friday is like our Easter. Very religious, families all get together for church and a nice meal. Bars and liquor stores have to stay closed, no alcohol can legally be sold on this day.
Easter, however, is like Patriot's Day, because it is, in fact, the anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916, the climax (or the kick-off, however you want to look at it) of the Irish war for Independence. No bunnies, in other words. This year was the 90 year anniversary of the Rising, so the parade was extra special, with all units of the military marching, fighter planes overhead, a speech from the President, and guns and tubas everywhere.
I have off work tomorrow, for a national holiday, which I find incredibly ironic, because if I was in Boston, I would also have off, for Marathon Monday. And while there will be no marathon here tomorrow, I'm sure we'll find something to keep us occupied. So long for now, and by the way, there's still time to donate to the amazing cause that is my brother's 600 mile ride for charity in the Aids Life Cycle. www.aidslifecycle.org/6611
Peace.
posted by Evan at 4:47 PM
1 Comments:
Evan!! It's Leslie! Last time I saw you I was on the T at Hynes and it was leaving and we were both waving at each other to call to hang out! hahaha! I hope you remember!
I have a blogspot too! Hope you are enjoying / working this summer <3 Tear..we're old!
Post a Comment
<< Home