I've started this without title, because I'm not sure what its going to turn into. I have a few things to report, or react to and I feel that I want more space than comments (7) and now there's (8) ooh, mark may have something to say. Its been a weird week, maybe it was St. Paddy's, maybe it was the Dalkey Play of Portia ...something or other, that I walked out on and went next door to have a pint of Smithwicks and attempt to learn the basics of cricket with Billy, who also marched out in protest but we each had our own reasons. Or maybe its because this week, was our first hand experience of snow in Ireland on a hike when really if you ask anyone they'll tell "it doesn't snow in Ireland, its too wet for that".
Anyway I was recently asked "So what do you like most about Dublin?" at lunch after our hike. I'll admit I stammered a bit, I don't like those types of questions, did you like Dublin Castle, more than St Patricks Cathedral? Uh I like them both and for different reasons. And now I realize now that my answer after a pause and an uhh...questioning intonation "the people?" could be taken several ways. I felt pretty sheepish right after saying "uhhh the people?" but I think that I've really stepped into the role of a resident and not a tourist. And that was such a tourist question. Granted if I am a resident, I'm not much of one because I still couldn't tell you where or what direction you could find the area of temple bar on St. Paddy's even thought there may have been somewhere near a quarter million people one block up and one block right of where we stood. Anyhow for those that didn't know I had two close friends come visit Jon and James, and we had a great time with Katy and Myles and Niall and others appearing in an out for a drink over the whole weekend. So while I may not have answered the best part of Dublin, question as well as I would have hoped, it doesn't change my answer. To put it in Katy speak there are 2 or 3 reasons why I didn't name something more specific. The first reason is: if I think back at all the traveling I've done, the countries I've liked the most are the ones that I've really enjoyed the attitudes and lifestyles of those that live there. Number two: (is it just me or can you hear Katy talking this way) I can appreciate a good Castle and little bit of art history or architecture, especially at the time that I'm seeing it. Will I remember in 3 weeks after seeing it if it was the Romans or the Canadians that influenced the stonework outside the entrance, chances are yes! now thats a really bad example, but it still argues my point (damn even that last bit sounds a bit like Katy). My 3rd point really isn't a point, but I said 3 at the beginning so my point is this: after swearing to go on a detox and officially jump on the wagon from St Paddy's a little walk in the cold with Katy, the cousins, and their inquisitive friend Shane (he asked the Dublin question), I was convinced 14 hours later "cah'man down and we'll have uhs a cup'l a hawt wiskees"and to weigh in on whether Jameson (according to Myles and Shane) was superior to Bushmills (Niall), after a cold walk. Its the times like these, or going to the theatre with Marina and laughing so hard at how bad I thought it was. Anyway its these times just catching up with the cousins, and Billy, or Ann, and Liz. When Katy and I can sit and laugh with them which is probably why I couldn't come up with the name of a church or a ....


By the way Shane asked where we would like to go and when we said we were excited about Romania. "Ah nice, byewtifal kountry...people are shit."