My internet totally sucks!!! I had just written 500 words, and then the internet stopped working and the blog thing made me sign in again and everything was deleted. I’m going to try to replicate what I wrote before but I doubt it will be as funny.

I haven’t written in a while, but I have a really really good excuse! I just returned last night from a 6 day trip to Dublin. I left with 8 of my friends on Friday, they all returned Monday morning, and I stayed by myself for another 3 days. This turned out to be a most excellent idea. Crowds aren’t exactly my thing, and 8 people almost never agree upon anything (we did all want to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College). But I did most of my sightseeing and exploring on my own. Before I go on to talk about the Book of Kells, I’m going to give you a little tidbit about Trinity College.

Trinity College was constructed under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I, Protestant majesty of England. To this day, there is a provision in the charter of this great learning institution that if a student were to look out of one of the small windows at the top floor, and that student happened to look down into the courtyard and see a person whom they knew for fact to be a Catholic, that student would then be required to shoot at said Catholic with their crossbow. Someone doesn’t like Queen Elizabeth all that much!

I don’t really want to talk about the Book of Kells again. I’ll try to update it later. But basically, The Book of Kells is supposedly the most beautiful book in the world.

We stayed in this really really nice hostel pretty close to the city center. We were right across the street (and around the corner) from St. Stephen’s Green. This is a very famous park where people used to get flogged and hanged and stuff, but now is really pretty and has a big lake in the middle. It is a lot less foresty and a lot more park-like than Central or Prospect parks. Everything seems to be exactly in place. On a map of Dublin, this park seems quite large, but the map is deceptive. Indeed it is simply that Dublin is quite small. The hostel was filled with Italian, French, and Spanish people. Most were there to see the Rugby match (Ireland creamed Italy. What What!) Some were there by accident, like us. Everyone was super friendly. There was a street that started just across from the entrance to the Green called Grafton. This was an interesting street because it is generally closed to cars. The sidewalk extends from one storefront right up to the other. There were lots of familiar name stores here (such as TopShop, McDonalds, Burger King, McDonalds), some now familiar Irish chains, and random stores. It was off this street that I found the most amazing place on earth! It’s called The Secret Bookshop. There’s a sign with the name outside a door for a hair salon. The hair salon is upstairs, the long corridor brings you to the book/record shop. There were records, tapes, Cds, new and used all in bins in the center of the room. The books were stacked in shelves along all the walls. Every book looked interesting, every CD enticing. AHHHhh!!!! It was heaven on earth!

Next stop was Dublin Castle. This is a very strange building with a very strange history. It was built by the English to watch over the Irish. The statue over one of the main gates is of Justice. This is a very controversial statue which made every Irish person I saw talk about it red with anger (and since they’re so pale they actually turn red). The first problem is that the statue is facing inward, towards the court, rather than out on the people. Why do the people who make the rules need justice? Second problem, the statue is lacking the blindfold that generally symbolizes her objectiveness. Third problem: the sculptor decided it would be cool to make the scales actually work, unfortunately the statue was placed outside subject to the elements, and in a country where it rains everyday of the year, the scales would constantly not be constant. This was remedied a few years ago when some one drilled holes in the scales to let out the water. The castle was first built in the 1600s. The British stored their gunpowder incorrectly at some point, and blew most of the structure up. There is only one remaining original tower. It was rebuilt during the Georgian era, and added on to in the Victorian. A Cathedral was added in the 1920s, so there are many very beautiful, but very different types of buildings all in this one building. When you go around to the back, the castle is painted different colors. It makes no sense.

Walking around the castle was a bit unsettling. There were so many symbols of England’s mighty power over Ireland. Although it made me uncomfortable, the experience made me want to visit Northern Ireland to experience the atmosphere there. Especially if I were to go to a Catholic majority area.

Sunday I met up with my good friend, Katie Kline’s friend Ilsa and her roommates. The three of us caught the Dart to Bray (about half an hour outside Dublin) and went for a walk. The morning fog was a little daunting, we couldn’t even see to the top of the hill! But we trudged on anyway. We followed the path around two hills, and then decided to go up to the top to find an easier way back to the town. I found out that even though I walk a lot in the city, going uphill on grass is quite difficult. Consequently, I do not have many photos of this day.

We went out Friday night, and found out just how expensive Dublin really is. I only brought 5euro out, so I couldn’t spend very much money, but my friends were buying shots and pints for 6. This was upsetting, especially since the Irish people next to us would only be asked to pay 4. I keep forgetting that I am a tourist here. I’m so used to making fun of them. At home, when I’m embaressed about not knowing where I am and I have to ask directions, I sometimes put on a fake accent so the person will think I’m a tourist. And I do that here too! Even though I don’t have to put on an accent since I’m already a tourist! I’m so silly. Someone made fun of me in Dublin because of it. He asked if I knew what a cobblestone was. I was offended.

I also went to the Guinness Storehouse. It was really just a big museum that gave you a free pint as a reward for patiently looking at all the machinery and advertising through the ages. It should have been interesting, but I realized that I really just don’t care how beer is made. I did, however, get to pour my own pint. That was a pretty “room temperature”.

I’m really sleepy now. I’ll add another post tomorrow! Good night world!