Last weekend it rained for almost three days. It was truly the definition of relentless rain. Even the Irish were complaining about, which means it's really serious rain. There is something surreal about going to sleep when it's raining and waking up and it's still raining with no sign of stopping. Like being in some rain vortex. It caused a lot of flooding especially because the tide was in in the Liffey. The river even pushed against the wall causing a huge crack to run down the side of the street and the road had to be closed for days. I am lucky that I live on the fourth floor of my building but others were not so lucky.
In other non weather related news I met my boyfriend's family last weekend in a oh so very posh restaurant in the K Club. Yes, even the name is posh. It's one of those "we're so posh we will just use a vague ambiguous letter for our name" clubs. Actually I think the K probably stands for Kildare but that is not the point. It looked like something out of Pride and Prejudice, especially with rain continuously coming down. The Irishman's family was lovely and very Irish, of course. Despite the intimidating setting I think meeting them went well, although I haven't been given any feedback...yet. I am getting ready to go spend the weekend with them in Mayo (eek!) and I have to go to mass. Wish me luck!
On Wednesday I went up to Lisburn for another workshop with the theatre company. It went very well except that we got very lost in Lisburn and everyone we asked directions from seemed to not be from Lisburn and were not very able to help. It was kind of like an existential crisis as we drove in circles. When I got back to Dublin I went to the community drama class I've been going to. They are performing their play next week after two years of working together! I'm very excited and glad that I was able to participate with them for one of those years.
Today I had to be a grown up and go get a flu shot all by myself in a foreign country. Ok, I've been here almost a year so it's not exactly foreign. And the doctor was very nice. But my mom wasn't here to buy me an ice cream sundae afterwards. Instead I bought myself a latte. Too grown up. Maybe I'll get some ice cream later. Or a pint. Either one seems like a well deserved reward.
Well that's all for now. Be back soon. Thanks for reading and have a happy Hallowe'en!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
¡Oh Valencia!
I went to Spain for a conference the theatre company was attending. Valencia, to be more precise, and I am in love. I know I previously wrote about my love for Ireland and it remains true, but now I am lusting after Valencia. Everyone needs a Spanish lover, right? It was so beautiful and hot. We didn't really have summer in Ireland so it felt wonderful to be outside in a sundress sipping a sangria in the heat. Oh and we ate so much amazing food. Tortilla espanola, paella, jamon, cheese, wine. I have to stop eating for at least a week now. On our second night the Spanish hosts had a special dinner for the group where a sommelier taught us how to taste Spanish wines and a champion meat carver showed us how to carve jamon (leg of pig). It was delicious. The next day after our conference we went to the beach. I swam in the ocean! The next morning I got up early to go to the market which was in this incredible old building. There was your usual meat, fish, fruit and vegetables and then there was the not-so-usual pigs feet, whole pigs head, liver, lung, heart, whole sheeps head. And some fishy things that I couldn't figure out what they were. It was very strange but I still enjoyed it. Then I went to the beach again to soak up the sun one last time before returning to Dublin.
And yes, I did do some work at this conference. But that's not exciting, you don't really want to hear about that. Now I am back in Dublin and it's freezing! Winter is right around the corner. I am trying very hard not to break out the hat and scarf but I am afraid that it's going to have to happen very soon. At least the sun is still out, but it is one of those low winter suns and you can feel the crisp, cool October air. I think it's time for some apple pie and butter nut squash. And Christmas. After that it has to be warm again because then it isn't really fun anymore.
I saw Midnight in Paris, the latest Woody Allen film, the other night. I really liked it because it captures the sort of magic element that Europe holds and lures you to it.
Yesterday I went to Arklow for a performance we were doing in secondary schools as part of mental health week. The drive was beautiful as Wicklow is a more wooded area and I saw some leaves changing and felt like it was really fall. I am, however, really glad to be done with secondary school. Those teenage years are pretty weird. Oh well.
Well I've caught up, finally! Oh and I've almost been in Ireland a whole year! Crazy, huh?
And yes, I did do some work at this conference. But that's not exciting, you don't really want to hear about that. Now I am back in Dublin and it's freezing! Winter is right around the corner. I am trying very hard not to break out the hat and scarf but I am afraid that it's going to have to happen very soon. At least the sun is still out, but it is one of those low winter suns and you can feel the crisp, cool October air. I think it's time for some apple pie and butter nut squash. And Christmas. After that it has to be warm again because then it isn't really fun anymore.
I saw Midnight in Paris, the latest Woody Allen film, the other night. I really liked it because it captures the sort of magic element that Europe holds and lures you to it.
Yesterday I went to Arklow for a performance we were doing in secondary schools as part of mental health week. The drive was beautiful as Wicklow is a more wooded area and I saw some leaves changing and felt like it was really fall. I am, however, really glad to be done with secondary school. Those teenage years are pretty weird. Oh well.
Well I've caught up, finally! Oh and I've almost been in Ireland a whole year! Crazy, huh?
Visiting Hours
So my parents were here! And it was great and they fed and clothed me and then they left which was not so great cause they weren't here long enough but it's ok because they'll come back soon. Right?
When they got here I showed them around Dublin and it was very exiting for me to show them where I have been living for almost a year. I took them to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, a depiction of the gospel dating from the 12th century, and The Long Room, the original library of Trinity which has been featured in many films due to its breathtaking ceilings. Then we went to Christchurch Cathedral and Dublin Castle. This is yet another thing I love about Europe, the way the history remains apart of the city, where it can be observed or remain unnoticed by passersby.
Their second night in Dublin we went to see an Irish band, Lunasa, play. We have seen this band perform several times over the years in Santa Fe and in California last year, I also had the opportunity to dance with them when I was in high school, so it was a special treat to finally get to see them play in Ireland. They were amazing, of course, and definitely a highlight of my parents' trip here.
Then my parents got to see the little office where I've been working and meet my boss and the artistic director of the company. We also had lunch with my friend (and their friend) R. and it was great for the four of us to be together since that has not happened in years! Oh and they met my boyfriend (eek!).
Then we set of for the West to Clare. My dad drove and I had anxiety attacks the entire time. Especially when my mom pointed out that he was on the wrong side of the road. In his defense the roads are very narrow, nonetheless you must be on the proper side of the road when a truck or tractor comes barreling down the other side. We stopped at Moran's on the Weir in Clarenbridge where my parents had been told to go for the best oysters. Oh boy were they ever. We had about two dozen. Washed down with a pint of Guinness, chips and seafood chowder. Yum. We stayed in a small town called Doolin which was perfectly picturesque which unfortunately has led to it's invasion of tourists. When we got there it was very cold and windy so we hunkered down in the pub and had an early night. The next day we drove up to the Cliffs of Moher and although I had already seen them their beauty begs to be seen again and again. Afterwards we drove to La Hinch, apparently a good surfing spot, and the sun was out so we had a nice long walk on the sandy beach. There were some brave people who were actually swimming but I was not one of them. We hopped back in the car and drove through a tiny town called Ennistimon and then onto The Burren, a beautiful and rugged landscape where we saw old burial tombs of the Druids dating back to the new stone age. Pretty impressive stuff. Then we drove back along the scenic coastal road to Doolin for one last night. The following morning we drove back to Dublin stopping, of course, for some more oysters from Moran's. Yes, they were good enough that we needed a second visit. Then for their final night I took my parents to see The Blue Boy, the production I assisted with in the Dublin Theatre Festival. It was a great and very moving performance (if I do say so myself) and I was glad that my parents were able to see something that I had participated on.
After my parents left I settled back into my seemingly more normal life. Then I went with my boyfriend to his friends birthday party at this very fancy french restaurant called French Paradox. At first I thought that was a strange name for a restaurant until I read the menu and couldn't make heads nor tails of it or decide what I wanted to eat. Then the name made complete sense, though I am not sure if that was their intention. We ended up ordering several things for the table to share. Including several bottles of wine. Never in my life have I eaten so much duck confit, fois gras, patee oh and cheese. It was a feast of duck like I had never seen before. It was great! Unfortunately it was also before I had to get up early the next day to get on a plane to Spain. But I am not complaining here...
When they got here I showed them around Dublin and it was very exiting for me to show them where I have been living for almost a year. I took them to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, a depiction of the gospel dating from the 12th century, and The Long Room, the original library of Trinity which has been featured in many films due to its breathtaking ceilings. Then we went to Christchurch Cathedral and Dublin Castle. This is yet another thing I love about Europe, the way the history remains apart of the city, where it can be observed or remain unnoticed by passersby.
Their second night in Dublin we went to see an Irish band, Lunasa, play. We have seen this band perform several times over the years in Santa Fe and in California last year, I also had the opportunity to dance with them when I was in high school, so it was a special treat to finally get to see them play in Ireland. They were amazing, of course, and definitely a highlight of my parents' trip here.
Then my parents got to see the little office where I've been working and meet my boss and the artistic director of the company. We also had lunch with my friend (and their friend) R. and it was great for the four of us to be together since that has not happened in years! Oh and they met my boyfriend (eek!).
Then we set of for the West to Clare. My dad drove and I had anxiety attacks the entire time. Especially when my mom pointed out that he was on the wrong side of the road. In his defense the roads are very narrow, nonetheless you must be on the proper side of the road when a truck or tractor comes barreling down the other side. We stopped at Moran's on the Weir in Clarenbridge where my parents had been told to go for the best oysters. Oh boy were they ever. We had about two dozen. Washed down with a pint of Guinness, chips and seafood chowder. Yum. We stayed in a small town called Doolin which was perfectly picturesque which unfortunately has led to it's invasion of tourists. When we got there it was very cold and windy so we hunkered down in the pub and had an early night. The next day we drove up to the Cliffs of Moher and although I had already seen them their beauty begs to be seen again and again. Afterwards we drove to La Hinch, apparently a good surfing spot, and the sun was out so we had a nice long walk on the sandy beach. There were some brave people who were actually swimming but I was not one of them. We hopped back in the car and drove through a tiny town called Ennistimon and then onto The Burren, a beautiful and rugged landscape where we saw old burial tombs of the Druids dating back to the new stone age. Pretty impressive stuff. Then we drove back along the scenic coastal road to Doolin for one last night. The following morning we drove back to Dublin stopping, of course, for some more oysters from Moran's. Yes, they were good enough that we needed a second visit. Then for their final night I took my parents to see The Blue Boy, the production I assisted with in the Dublin Theatre Festival. It was a great and very moving performance (if I do say so myself) and I was glad that my parents were able to see something that I had participated on.
After my parents left I settled back into my seemingly more normal life. Then I went with my boyfriend to his friends birthday party at this very fancy french restaurant called French Paradox. At first I thought that was a strange name for a restaurant until I read the menu and couldn't make heads nor tails of it or decide what I wanted to eat. Then the name made complete sense, though I am not sure if that was their intention. We ended up ordering several things for the table to share. Including several bottles of wine. Never in my life have I eaten so much duck confit, fois gras, patee oh and cheese. It was a feast of duck like I had never seen before. It was great! Unfortunately it was also before I had to get up early the next day to get on a plane to Spain. But I am not complaining here...
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Oktoberfest, Plays, Yay!
Oktoberfest: another thing to love about Europe. No I didn't make it to Germany but Dublin had their own with authentic German beer, food and beer wenches. I don't really care for the latter but the former is fine with me! I went and met up with some friends we had a great time. I even drank my beer in a real large glass thing (stein?) and it was so heavy I had to use both hands to hold it. Pathetic I know, I think from now on I'll stick with a pint.
The Dublin Theatre Festival is on and in addition to being a production assistant for a play that is in the festival I have been seeing plays all week! For free! I could get used to this. First I saw Peer Gynt, an adaptation of the original play by Henrik Ibsen. The music was beautiful and the cast was talented. The set was lovely though a bit over the top and unnecessary. I tried really hard to like it but I couldn't. But I think this is a case of recognizing that it simply was not too my taste. Next I saw Donka: A Letter to Chekov by an Italian company that used circus and aerial stunts. Visually it was amazing. At one point there was a chandelier with ice and the actors were smashing large plates of ice onstage and then a man was juggling spheres of ice. What did that have to do with Chekov? I don't know. It was entertaining anyways. Finally last night I saw 16 Possible Glimpses a new play by Marina Carr. I studied her work the summer that I was here on a theatre course and really enjoy her writing. This play was also about the life of Chekov (do we detect a theme here?) and I liked how Carr's writing stayed true to her imaginative and poetic style while still encompassing Chekov's writing style.
October is here and I am looking forward to autumn in Ireland last year in New Mexico I spent the fall in the Valle Caldera spotting elk and hearing them bellow. The other night as I was crossing over the Liffer I saw an egret wading in it. A rare sighting and hopefully a good omen.
Now, the most exciting part, when I wake up tomorrow my parents will be here!
Till next time!
The Dublin Theatre Festival is on and in addition to being a production assistant for a play that is in the festival I have been seeing plays all week! For free! I could get used to this. First I saw Peer Gynt, an adaptation of the original play by Henrik Ibsen. The music was beautiful and the cast was talented. The set was lovely though a bit over the top and unnecessary. I tried really hard to like it but I couldn't. But I think this is a case of recognizing that it simply was not too my taste. Next I saw Donka: A Letter to Chekov by an Italian company that used circus and aerial stunts. Visually it was amazing. At one point there was a chandelier with ice and the actors were smashing large plates of ice onstage and then a man was juggling spheres of ice. What did that have to do with Chekov? I don't know. It was entertaining anyways. Finally last night I saw 16 Possible Glimpses a new play by Marina Carr. I studied her work the summer that I was here on a theatre course and really enjoy her writing. This play was also about the life of Chekov (do we detect a theme here?) and I liked how Carr's writing stayed true to her imaginative and poetic style while still encompassing Chekov's writing style.
October is here and I am looking forward to autumn in Ireland last year in New Mexico I spent the fall in the Valle Caldera spotting elk and hearing them bellow. The other night as I was crossing over the Liffer I saw an egret wading in it. A rare sighting and hopefully a good omen.
Now, the most exciting part, when I wake up tomorrow my parents will be here!
Till next time!
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