Animal House or Animal Farm?

It has been a busy week with my theatre company as we are applying for grants for the year. I am still really enjoying my work there. My boss gave me a pair of slippers that her mother knitted for me! They are super cute and cozy.

The other night as I was trying to sleep I heard the sound of a distant siren and momentarily mistook it for a lonely coyote, as I am more used to hearing than the sounds of the city. I felt a pang of yearning for the quiet countryside nights I grew up with. So how did I remedy this? Went to the zoo, of course! I know, I am sure you are thinking that I should have gone to Ireland's beautiful countryside (next time I promise) but the zoo was closer. Almost as if the zoo knew what I had been missing, the pack of grey wolves put on a great show of howling. We also saw the seals being fed and got up close to some lovely peacocks. The highlight of the Dublin zoo is their Red Panda which was adorable. Ironically we were most excited about the puppies we see on our walk back through Phoenix Park.

On Saturday night I had dinner with some friends for a friend's birthday. It was a pretty eclectic group; 2 Americans, 2 Irish, 3 Spaniards, 1 person from Poland and 1 person from China. One of the many benefits of living in a large city being able to meet people from all over the world. Great food and great company.

The biggest drama of my time here in Ireland occurred on Sunday. The Smithfield Horse Market occurs ever first Sunday of the month on the square right outside my apartment. This past Sunday the market was especially larger than most because the Dublin city council has been threatening to close the market due to safety concerns and participants wanted to show the council that they would not stand down. Well, I had not been able to see the market before so I decided to brave the crowds. It is rumored that there 400 horses and ponies, I am not sure if that is true because I could not even see the whole square because it was so crowded. Having been around horses before, and having my own donkey, my instincts told me that this was not safe. Too many horses and people and too many spectators who did not know how to safely be around horses. I left and right on time! As I made breakfast in my flat I heard a lot of noise, and horses running around. Then I heard sirens and helicopters circling overhead. I knew something was up. It turns out that two men were shot (with a makeshift shotgun) and had to be taken to the hospital. The gunshots spooked the horses and they ran, causing a stampede of animals and horses. It is a miracle more people were not hurt. Ireland's police force, the Gardai (meaning guardians of the peace), do not carry guns so the Irish army had to step in to secure the scene. The shooting occurred due to a Traveller feud. Traveller's are an Irish ethnic group that are known as "modern-day gypsies". There is a lot of tension between them and Irish people, I know too little and it is too controversial for me to really get into. My theatre company has run programs that work with Traveller organizations, so I have come across the culture through my work there as well.

All drama aside, it has been very nice here with the spring weather and I have enjoyed walking around Dublin, taking in the sights. Also my culinary skills are improving as I am learning to be a grown up and cook for myself. Today I made basil pesto and bread pudding. I am also excited to see what Ireland will be like as tomorrow is Pancake Tuesday followed by Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. I am not entirely sure why I am excited, but I know it is an important part to Ireland's culture and hopefully it will be an interesting experience. Of course I am most excited for St. Patrick's Day which is just around the corner!

After while crocodile!

(Did you see that? I made an animal joke to go with my animal theme. Genius, I know.)