Dublin 31.10.12 - Halloween!

I went and saw St. Patrick's Cathedral today. It's really beautiful.

After the Cathedral I went to the Wax museum. It's nowhere near Madame Tussauds, but they had some cool characters on display, and they had a small Chamber of Horrors, perfect for Halloween.

I bumped into a Norwegian girl while I was wandering around Dublin, she had also been in my tour group at Trinity, small world. She was travelling alone as well so we spent the day together walking around doing some window shopping, and some book shopping. Books are not a good idea to buy when you're on holiday... They weight too much. But how can you not buy books when you're in a big book store with loads of books on sale?

Dublin 30.10.12

When I walked out this morning I had planned to just wander around for a bit before going to see the Book of Kells, but when I got to the crossing outside Trinity College there was one girl pushing another girl in a wheelchair, the girl pushing only had one good arm and so she asked me to push the wheelchair for her. I thought she meant just across the street and agreed but it turned out she wanted me to push it all the way to where they were going. I didn't have anywhere else I needed to do so of course I helped, I got to see a part of Trinity College that I guess most tourists doesn't see, it's a lot bigger than what I though. I had no idea where I was when we got to where they needed to be, but at least I remembered my way back.

The Book of Kells was good. It's really impressive, the amount of detail to the work, and how well its kept in all these years. However, to be honest I was more impressed by the Old Library. I wasn't allowed to take pictures of either, but if you're ever in Dublin you HAVE TO go see the library. It's just like a library should be, bark but open and spacious and smelling of old books, I would love to just sit in there with a good book to read.

I bought a ticket on a hop-on hop-off bus. The guide on the bus I took didn't use the pre-recorded track but was talking himself. He was really knowledgeable and funny, so it was really good that his microphone was good as well.

I hopped off the bus at Kilmainham Gaol. They only did guided tours, which was good as it would have been very easy to get lost in there. The guide knew a lot but it sounded like she was reading off a script, maybe she was new or it was just her way of remembering all the information, because let's be honest, guides have to remember quite a lot!

Dublin 29.10.12

I had just started going for a walk around Dublin today when suddenly I noticed a BIG group of people running through the streets, apparently the marathon was on. Some people were dressed up and everything, it was fun to watch. The marathon did make it difficult to cross the street sometimes though.

I had a great walk through the city. I saw the GPO, the Dublin needle, which didn't really show up very well on the picture because of the overcast sky, the garden of Remembrance and the Ha'penny bridge (so called because you had to pay half a penny to cross back in the day). I also saw the Tart with the cart, also known as Molly Malone, something that resulted in me having the song in my head for the next 3 days!

Does anybody know why those padlocks are there? Seems like it's kind of like carving your names into a tree...

After I had been to Merrion Square park and seen the statue of Oscar Wilde I caught the end of the marathon, or rather the beginning of the end, the first few people were crossing the finish line. I wasn't really paying attention until I noticed a guy in a wheelchair. Apparently the disabled people get to start a bit earlier than the rest but I still think it was really impressive that he was amongst the top 20, I think he was amongst the top 20 anyway, like I said I wasn't really paying attention, but I hadn't seen that many people get in  before him.

Trinity College has some of the most beautiful old buildings in Dublin, I got a tour by a guy studying history who knew a lot, we were only taken around a small part of the campus but I learnt a lot and the guide was really knowledgeable, it was almost so I didn't want the tour to end because it was all so interesting, it almost seemed like the guide didn't quite want it to end either, he seemed like there was much more he wanted to tell us. I also bought a ticket for the Book of Kells, but I had to run and meet my friend so I saved the ticket for tomorrow.

When I was in Yulara I met an Irish Girl who I met up with again today. It was really nice to see her again, I hope that since we both live in Europe we can meet up every now and again. IG and I went to the Old Jameson Distillery. I've never been a big fan of whiskey, but I tried it with Ginger Ale, Sprite and Cranberry Juice (not all at the same time of course) and with the first two it was actually quite nice. At Jameson they only did guided tours, it was cool to learn about their history, although they showed a ridiculous movie at the start of the tour, it was funny just because of how bad it was.

After Jameson IG and I went to Temple Bar to a traditional Irish pub where they were playing live traditional Irish music. It was the best ambiance I've ever had in a pub, it was really crowded but not claustrophobic, everybody was just chilling and having a good time.

The Mystery of Mercy Close

The Mystery of Mercy Close
By: Marian Keyes

Outer back cover: Helen Walsh doesn't believe in fear - it's just a thing invented by men to get all the money and good jobs - and yet she is sinking. Her work as a private investigator has dried up, her flat has been repossessed and now some old demons have resurfaces.
Not least in the form of her charming but dodgy ex-boyfriend Jay Parker, who shows up with a missing-persons case. Money is tight - so tight, Helen's had to move back in with her elderly parents - and Jay is awash with cash. The missing person is Wayne Diffney, the "Wacky One" from boy band Laddz. He's vanished from his house in Mercy Close and it's vital that he's found - Laddz have a sell-out comeback gig in five days' time.
Things ended messily with Jay. And she's never going back there. Besides, she has a new boyfriend now, the very sexy detective Artie Devlin, and it's all going well, even though his ex-wife isn't quite "ex" enough and his teenage son hates her. But the reappearance of Jay is stirring up all kinds of stuff she thought she'd left behind.
Playing by her own rules, Helen is drawn into a dark and glamorous world, where her worst enemy is her own head and where increasingly the only person she feels connected to is Wayne, a man she's never even met.

You know when you read a book you kind of "become" the main character? Well, I was kind of depressed while I read this book because the main character was depressed. I guess that means it was well written though. But it was a bit too depressing for my tastes, but that's just because I don't like feeling like that. It was very realistic.

My favourite character was Bella, Artie's daughter, she was so funny and sweet.

I loved the ending. I didn't see it coming but when it did it was like "of course!", which is actually what Jay said in the start of the book.

I really like reading about the Welsh family, in case you don't know; most of Marian Keyes' books is about them, and reading this made me want to read the other book again as I can't remember much of the other book any more.

This book is part of the What's in a Name Challenge as the topographical feature (road).

Dublin 28.10.12

I didn't really see that much on my first day in Dublin, although what I did see reminded me of most British towns. It's interesting to see the difference in old cities. Dublin is old, but it's nothing like Paris or Rome, its history is so different. I have to be honest, I was worried about walking around there on my own after dark.

I went to the Guinness Storehouse, well, I couldn't not go, it's Dublin!

I could smell the Guinness as I got closer to the Storehouse, apparently you can smell it from miles away in winter when the air is really crisp. It smells much better than it tastes!

The tour around the Storehouse was self-guided. It was really interesting to learn about the history of Guinness and how they make it.

Included in my ticket I could get a free pint of Guinness, I could either pull it myself or get it in the Gravity Bar at the end of the tour. I was tempted to pull one myself as I used to be able to make the shamrock back when I worked in the pub and it would be interesting to see if I could still do it after a few years... However if I pulled it myself I would have to drink it afterwards, whereas if I got it at the end of the tour I could get a soft drink instead... I REALLY don't like Guinness. It looks quite tasty with its thick head and dark ruby colour, but I tried some in the taste experience on the tour and I REALLY don't like it. So I went for the soft drink.

The Gravity Bar was nice. It was cool to get a bird's eye view of Dublin, it was quite busy though and everybody was sitting around the edges by the windows so I had to stand on my toes sometimes to be able to see the view. Apparently you can rent the Gravity Bar for events, I bet it would be great on a sunny day and clear night, but they would have to serve something else though!

I'm back!!

I always get in a bad mood when I get back to Norway after being abroad, probably because I don't actually want to live here. Still, I have to admit, it's kind of nice to be home and not have my things in my suitcase any more, even though this time it was only for 2 weeks. I actually came home on Friday because I figured I'd probably get a cold as soon as I was heading home and would need time to recover before going back to work. That's a bit sad, isn't it? But I was right, and it's nice to not have to call in sick at work as soon as I'm back from a two week holiday.

It's been a great two weeks, I've seen a lot and had a wonderful time catching up with friends.

I want to move back!!

I am seriously considering handing in my notice at work and moving back to the UK as soon as possible, I have even been offered to rent a room in a friend's house outside Manchester. But that would mean waiting a bit longer to go to the US, although if I wait my friend would get some more time to save up for it... Tempting... But I might have to spend all my savings waiting to find a job...

Anyway! I'm getting off topic. In the next few days there will be plenty of posts and pictures of what I've seen, as well as a few book reviews seeing as I read a lot when I travel.

The SCARY meme.

A special Halloween meme from Sunday Stealing. Join in the fun!

1. What do you think is the best costume for Halloween? I think there are so many great costumes. I love to see pictures of people that have really made an effort and actually look scary and not just girls dressed "trashy".
2. What would an alien think of humans if it came to Earth on Halloween? How would I know?
3. Who would you haunt? Not sure I would haunt anyone. I hope that when I die I don't have anything still holding my soul back.
4. Are you afraid of the dark? no, but when I've watched scary films I'm a little bit nervous about what might be hiding behind me where I can't see it.
5. Do you pass out candy or hide with the lights out? I pass out candy, Halloween isn't that big in Norway though and the one time I can remember passing out candy I remember I was shocked at how rude the kids were! Not even a thank you!
6. What scary movie do you like best? I used to love watching scary movies when I was younger, not so much now, I scare more easily. I like the ones that play on your psyche instead of just throwing heaps of blood on the camera.
7. If you had to wear a costume for a week, what would you be? Maybe someone out of a Jane Austen book, Elizabeth Bennet. Not scary, but I love the proper old, OLD, clothes!
8. What do you think of Ouija boards? Never tried one, but I think they look interesting and a great way to connect with the spirit world for those that can channel through one.
9. Have you ever told ghost stories around a fire? Not around a fire, but I used to write short ghost stories when I was younger and tell them to my cousins in a dark room. My aunt told me to stop because I scared them so much they couldn't sleep... *evil grin*
10. Trick? Or Treat? Treat!!
11. Have you ever been in a haunted house? A real one? I don't know, maybe. I've thought a house has been haunted many times but I can't remember even being in one that I have been told is haunted.
12. What would you do if you saw a ghost? I would probably be quite scared because it's not something I would expect to see.
13. Question 13, should we have skipped this and jumped to 14? ...Yes
14. Are you brave enough to walk into a grave yard after dark on Halloween? Sure, why not?
15. Do you like chocolate? What kind? I like Cadbury's Double Deckers, KitKats, and other chocolates that have something in them, plain milk chocolate can get a bit boring, but is nice on occation.
16. Who would look better in a clown costume? Obama or Romney? Don't really care.
17. Are you in the path of Frankenstorm? No.
18. Post a link to any other blog: A Spoonful of...