Relocating

I'm relocating all of my 'Journal' entries to their own datestamp to keep them out of the main feed. Anyone interested in reading them can head to posts on May 22nd for Academic, May 23rd for Cultural. Or, click the links below under 'Labels' to jump to a category, or see them all.

Last Monday In Ireland

After class, tried to do some journals, did other stuff instead. Went to City Center to meet Dr. Renk for dinner at an Indian place that Keith recommended. Really good food, and the first legitimately spicy thing I've had in Ireland (well, second, but first that made me go daaaaaamn). Chatted about this and that, the course, then got onto serious injuries and family stuff - Keith and I felt awkward. Walked her home, ran into Dr. Chown, caught the bus home. Puttered a bit, then bed.

I Did It Gaaaaal-way.

Thursday, two busses to catch the train to Galway - 2.5 hours, not too shabby. Checked into the hostel, which was nicer than in Cork. Discovered I had left my camera's memory card in my laptop in Dublin. Booo! Headed to the Town Hall Theatre with Sam, Diana and Keith so that they could buy some tickets. I already had tickets for 7 shows, so I didn't get any more. Bought a Film Fleadh program as a souveneir, then we had lunch at a nice Chinese place. Bought a memory card for my camera, then did a bit of shopping at a few stores, bought a CD Keith and I had heard in a store.

Diana and I headed to the Cinemobile (a trailer that converts to a movie theatre, to bring movies to the masses) to see "Empire," supposedly a re-telling of the Orpheus myth set in Belfast, shot on a budget of zero dollars/euros/pounds. Not great. Re-telling in the broadest sense of the term, overemphasis on setup, lack of emphasis on the myth. Alas. Chown and the Renks were there, also unimpressed. After, booked it to the Omniplex for the film we were seeing as a group, "Nothing Personal;" story of a Dutch loner/backpacker who falls into a weird semi-relationship with an Irish recluse . . . not a fan, but tolerable. Returned to the hostel to sort out plans for the Aran Islands on Saturday while others were seeing films. Keith and I grabbed dinner at a kebab place on our way to the Cinemobile, which had some technical problems so we grabbed a pint and ran into Dr. Renk before the movie. Watched "Seer," a film about 7 strangers who wake up in a farmhouse with no memories and a creature outside that wants to kill them. One of them has flashes of visions, and it all leads up to an interesting climx - reminiscent of 'Identity' in some ways, ending dragged a bit, but overall I enjoyed it. Galway was pretty dead when we walked back, hung out a bit. Tried to use internet on Keith's laptop, but something went wrong with it so we tried to get it to work for a few hours and went to bed.

Friday, got up and headed to a 10am screening of Shorts (drama category). A lot of the group was there, saw some really good stuff and some clunkers. Standouts were'39 Years,' about love and other secrets, 'The Crush,' about a schoolboy who falls for his teacher and challenges her fiance to a duel to the death; 'The Ottoman Empire,' about a man who knows where things that vanish into couches go and is terrified about it, 'Lovely Dinner,' a cannibal romance, and 'In the Night, in the Dark,' about a woman in bed who keeps hearing noises, which ended the way that kind of film SHOULD end. Got some lunch at a pizza place with Sam, Diana and Keith (a regular pack, we are these days), wandered and shopped, saw the Spanish Arch and a bit of the museum before I hiked to the Omniplex for 'In Dreams,' a Neil Jordan film that I really liked - check it out! Met Keith, Matt, Sam, Diana, Kelsie and Hannah for dinner at the Kings Head pub, had a fantastic cold seafood platter - crab meat and claws, mussels, slamon, halibut and an oyster, came with a free beer! Napped at the hostel, then Keith and I saw 'Outcast,' an utterly brilliant film that is hard to summarize. See links for details!

Saturday was the Aran Islands. We tried to get crepes, but the restaurant was closed, so we ate at the hostel (toast & cereal - just like Dublin!). Bus to Ros-a-Mhil, ferry to Inis Mor, the largest island. Kelsie, Diana and I went to check out the shops and get some tissues while Keith, Sam, Kris, Matt, and Hany rented bikes and headed out. Given our schedule, the coming rain, and my knee acting up I wasn't inclined to ride, so the three of us talked to some tour bus drivers, all basically the same route and all the same price ,€10. The last guy we talked to, however, had an almost-full van, so had lowered his rate to €7, so we went with him. Great driver, very funny and madcap. Took us to the seal colony, where only a few were present but hey, it's seals. Then to Dun Aonghasa, an ancient fort perched on a cliff, 330' above the ocean. A long hike up, but spectacular views, amazing scale. No guides or guardrails, so we got some dizzying photos. Saw a choral group who had been on the ferry with us warm up, but it started to rain so we headed back before they started their scheduled performance. Got lunch at a FANTASTIC shop that our driver recommended, as did the bike rental place (the rest of our group was coming out as we arrived). Ate, shopped a bit, then waited for the bus, which took us to the Northernmost point of the island, to 7 Churches, past our sopping wet classmates and their bicycles, a few monuments and the house that was built to film Man of Aran. Back to the port, did some more serious shopping, helped Sam finish her pint and find her ticket, then onto the Ferry. Three of the group had bought later tickets, but were able to get on the ferry with us. Bus took us home, where the bikers changed and showered, and the rest of us lazed a bit. Went to dinner at the kebab place with the group, then saw 'Sensation,' the story of a young man who uses his inheritance to help a call girl he hires start her own brothel. Better than it sounds, and it sounds pretty great, so chew on that. Wanted a pint after, so we tried to get those who didn't come to the film to meet us, then went and got them, went to a pub that some of them decided was too old a crowd. Keith and I stayted and argued about the film for 2 pints, then headed back to the hostel. Did some internet, talked to drunk classmates, met a band who is playing a show in Dublin the night before our final exam, and went to bed.

Slept in a bit on Sunday, packed, checked out of the hostel and left bag to wander.Breakfast at the crepe restaurant, then Diana and I found the JFK plaque/bust, Norah Barnacle's house, the Christopher Columbus visit memorial, and some shops. Tried to go to the museum, but it was closed. My umbrella never turned up, sadly. Tried to get cookies, settled for a pint and a candy bar, then Diana headed off and I went to buy a hurling stick. Back to hostel for luggage, caught our 3pm train to Dublin, headed home and had some tasty dinner. Meant to do some work and watch the final match over a pint with the group, but Keith and I basically collapsed. Watched the game at home and went to sleep.

Runup to Galway

Monday was intense. Took a coach bus to a series of places, starting with the Hill of Tara, a series of ancient passage tombs and monuments, seat of the High Kings of old. Neat church and graveyard nearby. Started with a video, then a tour of the site. In the old days, potential kings had to come here to be tested. A worthy High King would fit into his predecessors cloak, harness 2 wild (never broken) horses to his chariot, ride it at top speed at the gates to Tara (which would open magically if he were worthy), then touch a special stone that would scream out his name if he were to be king. The stone did not scream my name when I hugged it, but to be fair I never harnessed the horses. Hany rolled down some hills, we hiked around, then got back on the bus.

--Next was Loughcrew, a hike up a mountain to the passage tomb and cairns at the top. A guide takes you INSIDE the passage tomb, talks about it, very cool. All the guides tell you the science, then the myth, and invite you to remember whichever one you prefer. After that, we climbed atop the tomb, hiked a bit, and walked down the mountain a quicker way. Hany got left behind, ran after us and couldn't stop, then fell. Lucky bastard missed stones, nettles, and a barbed wire fence by doing that and didn't injure himself. Back . . . to the bus!

--Kells - where the book came from. Celtic crosses and an old church, then about 15 minutes to check out shops and cram sandwiches down our gullets. Hany hurt himself jumping a low wall to see the crosses.

--Trim Castle (I Think - need to check) Nice groungs, rained a bit. Got some good photos, then a tour of the inside and roof of the castle. Pretty cool. We got back, and I opted not to go to the authors reading which had been made optional. Headed down for a pint with the crew afterwards.

Tuesday after class we toured the Jameson Distillery. It was fun, similar yet smaller than Guiness or Heineken. Guided tour, very basic process and history. I was selected as a Whisky Taster at the start, thanks to Matt abdicating (due to my name and all), so after the tour I got to sit and do a tasting of 3 whiskeys - Jack Daniels, Johnnie Walker, and Jameson. All good in their own way, overall I preferred the Jameson. Also had my free tour drink, Jameson and Ginger Ale, which was tasty. Got a certificate proclaiming me a trained whiskey taster, shopped, then home for dinner and to the pub to watch the Netherlands pound Uruguay. Wednesday we went to City Center after class for some lunch, then some general wandering and shopping. A few bookstores, a comic/movie/media store Keith and I found, Caroll's (the Irish gifts mecca), and the Sinn Feinn shop. Got a miniature hurling stick with a quote and an image of the Proclamation on it. Keith bought a beard trimmer that will require a power converter to use at home, but he's fine with that. Dinner, then to the pub to watch Spain throttle Germany - wtf Germany? Way to prove that octopus right!

If You Like It Then You Better Put A Cork In It

Well, this whole blogging thing hasn't exactly been smooth, but I'll try to get y'all up to speed in a condensed format. Yes, I'm recycling the title, but I like it.

Around the time of my last post, saw the movie 'His & Hers,' a documentary which interviewed dozens of women from young to elderly about themselves and their relationship with men. Very cool, often funny, occasionally wrenching. I recommend it. Had a bit of a hike after taking the wrong bus, made Sam cry (a theme for me) but she was fine by the time she came back to get the housekey from her roommate and stayed with us at the pub. Hany wasn't speaking for awhile after we all yelled at him for saying he was going to go on a hunger strike on the bus. On to Friday. Rather, on Friday when I get back from class.

Or, the next day. Both good. Two weeks ago Friday we went to the IFC for our weekly film screenings, then headed once again to the bus station for our 4.5 hour ride to Cork. The whole group went, and all 10 of us shared a hostel room. Kinda fun, really. Hostel was tolerable, but not great. Breakfast was included, but was only toast, so some of us chose not to participate. Internet was stupid expensive. We had some money confusion when Winnie only wanted to stay one night but it was too late, so a few of us overpaid until she could repay us. Ate at a nice restaurant with a fixed menu - I had sweet potato soup and a crab tart with a glass of wine. Winnie went to church instead. We found a pub for some drinks and saw Ghana fall apart in penalty shootout. Lame! Live music, then bed for all but Hany, Sam and Kris.

Saturday we got up and all but Winnie (who went to church) caught a bus to Kinsale, a port town that can be described as slightly better than quaint, where I spend the day with Keith, Sam, and Diana. Lunch at Mother Hubbards, which is apparently well-known, and then walked to town. Saw a batch of 68' sailboats in on the last stop of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race - very cool. Shopped a bit, visited Desmond Castle where we paid a Euro to get into the Wine Museum, which basically meant wander the castle then look at a room with wine stuff in it. It was neat. Wandered the street fair that was set up, listened to music, got some ice cream and a pint, then back to the bus to Cork. Relaxed in the hostel for a bit, then went to dinner while Winnie went to church. Had a HUGE and DELICIOUS fixed meal - rib and wing appetizer, fish and chips main, and a Bailey's cheesecake. Unreal, and under €20. Keith, Kelsie and Hany went back to the hostel while the rest of us had a pint. Then, bed.

Sunday we checked out of the hostel, learned that everything in town was closed until noon. Ate at McDonalds (those who didn't catch the earlier bus), wandered, then bus. Lovely bit of salmon at home in Dublin, then bed.

If You Like It Then You Better Put A Cork On It

It appears that I may have extra readers - Sam, of 'the younguns' fame, has been peeking. Shame, shame! And hello Aggie, as well!

I'm in Cork, paying for internet, so goodbye!

Coupla Days

Crazy that I'm creeping up on the halfway point of this program, and 3 weeks in Europe total. Wow. Anyway!

As you may have inferred, I visited the Guiness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol this week, specifically on Monday. We headed down as a class, got our tickets and such, then went to the storehouse. It was pretty cool, though somehow I liked the Heineken Experience better. More beers, maybe? Who can say! Anyway, some old gear and tubs, exhibits on transport and how ahead of the times Guiness has always been, advertising exhibits and such. There is a small bar where you can pour your own pint, but I opted to save my free pint ticket for the Gravity Bar, a glass-walled, circular bar at the top of the 7-story structure (shaped like a pint glass). Amazing views of the city, truly dazzling. Only one pint, but hadn't eaten since breakfast so I felt it a bit. Visited the gift shop, got myself a hat and a little something for Amanda, then the group hiked an endless hill to the Gaol (it was seriously a long walk, and the neighborhood looked a little sketchy to us). Anyway.

Kilmainham is a prison that was used by the British to hold and execute not only criminals but the 1916 Rising leaders and others. Many famous revolutionaries passed through that place, and it's fascinating to stand in. The newer portion was epic and airy, panopticon style of easy viewing for guards. The older part is downright dank, stone walls and echoing halls, windows that originally had no glass, and the original doors. Pretty harsh stuff, and freezing in winter. Also have a small museum that we visited, then hopped a bus back to city center for lunch.On the bus, a woman asked Keith to give a sip of his water bottle to a woman she claimed was pregnant, so he just gave it to her (it was a few days old anyway). The woman and her friends then smoked meth, which was unexpected and ridiculous. Made me nostalgic for Galesburg!

Anyway, most of us went to Eddie Rockets for lunch, basically an american diner themed restaurant. Decent food, standard prices for Dublin. Winnie went home and Kelsie wandered off on her own. After lunch we split up; Keith, Hany and I did some shopping, got a pint at Gogartys, and went to Trinity to hang out until music time. We chatted with a girl from Naperville there studying through NYU, disappointed kids at a leadership camp that kept asking us scavenger hunt questions we didn't know the answers to, and the others filtered in to join us. The music was great, two violins, a flute, a vocalist, a dancer, and uilleann pipes - so cool. Musicians talked about their instruments, history and culture around them, and so on. A lovely evening. Got a pint at O'Neills, and headed for home.

Tuesday after class we had a film, The Wind That Shakes The Barley. After that, some itnernet time doing journals and updates, then home for dinner. Our family put a TV/DVD player in our room, so we have some entertainment if we want it. We've watched some Mythbusters, soccer and King of Queens up there so far. The announcer on Mythbusters sounds Australian/Irish here. Good stuff. Later we came back to campus for more internet, then met up with the group at the Autobahn for . . . a pint.

Today (Wednesday) we had a good discussion in class, watched Dancing at Lughnasa, then internet time including setting up our trip to Cork this weekend - we'll have everyone but Winnie along for this trip, so it should be good. We've booked 9 of the 10 beds in our room at the hostel. Originally hadn't planned to go, but realized that I'd regret not going more than it was worth. Also, successfully set up transfer ability from my HSBC to my TCF bank account, so in a few days a good chunk of cash should be available to me again, which will make me feel better about things. I'm not in dire straights or anything, but the fact that I am still unable to access the money I was planning to use for this trip (HSBC) from an ATM means that my other account has to bear the brunt of my activities, so this transfer will put me more at ease. Anyway, went home for dinner and a shower, then came back for the internet. Planning to head home fairly soon I suspect and call it a relaxed night - first day since I hit Europe without some form of alcohol - I may faint! Must remember tomorrow to . . . have a pint.