FRIDAY //
Friday I checked into my hostel, Abigails hostel, in the Temple Bar area. I spent some time walking around, and by early evening it already seemed busy, with both Irish and foreign visitors hopping from bar to bar. It did look fun, but I had already bought tickets for a contemporary dance performance at a nearby local theatre. It ended up being a really cool experience, very focused on the body, particularly the heartbeat. The dancers let their rising pulse dictate the tempo of the performance, giving it a really interesting, improv element. I went home to bed after, tired from the week, traveling, and walking around the city.
SATURDAY//
I really enjoyed my solo trip to Malaga, so I felt more confident before embarking on this trip to Dublin by myself. Ireland has always held a mystical, spiritual quality in my mind. Fields that stay green all year round, huge cliffs carved from fierce winds and strong waves, and an elusive sun that casts a gorgeous light across all of it, if you're lucky. Thankfully, I found a small share of that luck here in Ireland, as I had scheduled my trip to the Cliffs of Moher on a perfect day. At the recommendation of a friend, I had originally planned to take public transport to the cliffs rather than a guided bus tour, but a bit of research revealed that the buses to the cliffs were not running due to labour strikes. Undeterred, I decided to go ahead a book a trip with "Darby O'Gill's" Tour Company. It ended up being a great decision-- the bus pick up was easy, I was able to visit some site in addition to the cliffs, and I made a friend! Rosita sat next to me on the bus. She told me she was from the Southern, East coast of Italy, but studying in Dublin learn English. We met again while walking alone the cliffs, and decided to hike together, sometimes talking, but mostly staying silent. It was nice. She also offered to take pictures of me on the cliffs, which was really nice-- I have lots of pictures of the things I've seen, but not as many with myself in them.
Near the end of our allotted time at the cliffs, we parted ways. I had enjoyed Rosita's company, but I think we both wanted a bit of time to ourselves. I sat in the grass and watched the movement of the waves and the stillness of the cliffs.
In the afternoon we went on a boat ride to see the cliffs from below. The motion of the waves nearly rocked me to sleep, but I stayed awake for the sights.
We only had a few minutes at Burren National Park to appreciate the rocky, almost lunar landscape. Over 300 million years ago, glaciers moved across the surface of the land, stripping it of all vegetation and nutrient rich soil. Only rock remains, though green grass and the oceans waves creep along the edges and try to fill the stony crags.
I stayed awake for most of the 3 hour long bus ride back to Dublin, watching the sheep and cows with thick hair, a winter coat.
SUNDAY//
First to St. Patrick's Cathedral. Famous, and good to see, but I was underwhelmed. The nicest part to me, was the chapel behind the alter, in pale whites and greys. I felt crowded, so I went to the park instead, until the clanging of the church bells encouraged me to walk on.
I found St. Stephen's park. It reminded me of Ørstedparken a bit, for the lake and the swans, but different for the cherry blossoms and seagulls sitting like ducks in the pond. I had never seen seagulls so quiet.
The National Museum houses European art from the 19th and 20th century. It was a small collection, but included an impressive number of female artists. I enjoyed it, even though most of the exhibitions were closed due to renovations and rotations.
In the museum store I bought a book called "Chromophilia." It was too expensive, but I felt I wouldn't stop wondering about the book, so I bought it anyway. I read it in a different park, nearby some jugglers playing in the flower beds-- red tulips and yellow daffodils. My phone died, so I had to find my way back to the hostel by maps and instinct. I am thankful for my good sense of direction.
I took a nap while my phone charged, and awoke to rain. I was disappointed, but it also felt right, somehow, for Dublin to be rainy. The sunshine yesterday almost felt like a fluke.
Dublin reminds me a bit of Boston, architecturally and for the way it is laid out. Which makes a lot of sense, actually. I think I would like to return, but I did prefer the natural beauty of the countryside to the bustle of the city. At times I felt overwhelmed, though not unsafe. Just small, and unanchored, I suppose, but I've always been able to find again my bearings.
Tomorrow I will go to Trinity College Library before heading home. It will be nice to see my friends again-- I am glad now to have people who I miss, and who have missed me.