Dubious in Dublin (the return of Oz!)

Do You Know That Feeling

When your world just works? I am aghast that I've just come back from Dublin with no trip-ups whatsoever. For a girl who's always forgetting her passport, leaving her iPod on the plane, f***ing up dates, packing inappropriately, etc, this is a near miracle. When these miracles happen though, you just know - this is the best place for me to be right here and now.

The Story Begins

My Australian friend, Takito (aka +tkrizanec), told me he'd be in Dublin for one or two nights in September, and I (like I often do), said, "Wow! Maybe I can come visit you while you're there! We'll see what my schedule's like." If you don't remember/know who Takito is...

This Guy.

Well, it happened. I was able to arrange my college schedule so that I had Thursday and Friday off, and I packed a rainproof and set off for Dublin. Takito and Danita Josephina (his girlfriend and my good friend) were going to arrive late on Thursday, so I had the first day all to myself. Now this could've turned into a photo album of scenic landscapes and brick shopfronts, but no. No, I've learned that a) I'm not at all a good photographer and b) I need evidence that I had been to Dublin! I ensued to create an album idea "Dubious in Dublin" - and set off on my solo-selfie-adventure! 

(I chose the word Dubious, simply because it began with the same three letters as Dublin. I do not intend to demean Dublin in any way, because I loved it very much, even though most of my faces say, "what the -- ?!?!")

Friendly Friendly Friendly!

Other than my really aloof, curt TSA officer at the airport, all Dubliners were exceptionally friendly. I hop on a bus and the driver offers to call out when I've reached my destination. I walk around Griffiths Park, sharing smiles with passerbys as they spy me taking ridiculous selfies. In the Botanic Gardens, every single adult that I passed exchanged a "hello", and I was very, very pleased.

What is this?! The River Tolka in the Beautiful Griffiths Park? ... Meh.

Some Sort of Hanging Tree?

Dunno How I Feel About This.

Traipsing through the Botanic Gardens

Being alone in the Botanic Gardens proved easy. I am a woman of wild imagination, so I made my own friends. 

The Stump Taught Me this Handshake

Coke Flowers in the Wild!

Guys, I've Been There, this is a fake. Nonplussed.

There are definitely many more photographs! I had plenty of fun taking them and won't bore you with the whole lot. Maybe I'll post them on fb later, but I'll leave you with this.

Woo! Rhododendrons!

More Like Rhodo-dead-drons!

Glasnevin Cemetery 

I then proceeded to the Glasnevin Cemetery, which adjoins the Gardens. I couldn't really be Dubious in there because... I just felt like all the corpses would roll in the graves at any ounce of disrespect. The cemetery was vast, varying, bleak and altogether the most interesting I'd been to. It was incredible to pass really old gravestones, but I was chilled to the bone when I passed a man who died on the 9th of August and his wife died on the 25th of April (the birthdays of me and +David Horton). Moreover I saw graves with fresh flowers and "June, July, August 2014" sketched on them, making me pale. I thought of friends as I passed O'Briens, Coffeys, Dobsons, McCabes, and many more.

The City

My AirBnb host was really kind and encouraging, telling me about Dublin's vast history and where to visit. Rather than pointing me in the direction of Temple Bar, the touristy part of town, she told me about Brooke St, where many poor women (who's husbands were off at the pub) would try to get by, selling fruits. The tradition continued as internationals moved into Dublin and settled in this poor region, expanding the fruit stalls to Chinese supermarkets and Bargain shops. I was so grateful I wasn't getting "the usual" when going through Dublin. I hate mainstream touristy things.

That being said, I decided to sign up for a "Traditional Irish Experience" where I learned to play the Bodhràn and dance three different Ceilidhs (pronounced "Kaylee"). I figured since I was alone, I should try and make friends, yes? I spoke to some of the people there, but it was filled with high school students and their teachers. On my way home, however, I was stopped by a man who recognised me from the plane! He was sweet enough to walk me home and offered to meet the next day.

Hehehe, I'm such a looker.

Takito&DanitaBaby

There is nothing that can possibly describe seeing these two. No words can encompass how happy I was. 

I guess that's the best, simplest way to put it:  happy! 

We laughed as we posed for photos, talked about stupid things and fell into our old habits with absolute ease. I told them I'd probably be patting them on the arms throughout the day to test their true existence. I just couldn't believe it! Even though Takito was reserved because he had lost his camera the night before, we were quickly laughing and chatting about our experiences in Europe. Best of all, Takito and Danita Josephina cottoned on to the "Dubious in Dublin" idea with wholehearted dedication. We spent the day laughing at ourselves and the evening laughing at the photos of ourselves while eating burritos in our hostel room.

This is the life. It really, really is.

We visited the Dublin Castle where some Bagpipers from Seattle, Washington were performing. We visited the Book of Kells at Trinity College. We walked to the St. Patrick's Cathedral and listened to some harp at Christ Church Cathedral. We sat at a really posh restaurant with a set menu and just talked and relaxed our legs, aching from the day's journey.

The only photo I have of us is in the crypt of Christ Church, where the lighting (which was really interesting in person) completely ruined any chance of it being a good photo. Not to worry! Danita and Takito took many a photo and I hope you'll peruse them and laugh alongside us.

Here's to the adventure where this...

Became this...

Mwah!