random thoughts

I haven't done anything since yesterday, but I know there is more to share. I spent the majority of yesterday asleep or in conversation with Dominique and Connor. There isn't a ton to do recreation wise at our apartments so I usually head over there and we sit and talk, which is really very nice. I'd say we have a learned a lot about each other in a very short period of time, but luckily we share a lot of opinions.

I think I am adjusting to the cold pretty well. I'm sitting at my computer by my open window and am only wearing shorts and a tshirt, but these rooms can get stuffy pretty easily. I've adjusted to the bed as well, but my neck is still a little sore from the pillows--- but I'm not in pain, so it's all good. I will probably go in town today, but I'm going to wear my tennis shoes because my feet are so very tired and will be sore once I begin walking again.

Everything is very expensive. Actually the numbers for prices are pretty much the same as in the states--- get a sandwich for 4-5 euros, but that means it's 6-7 dollars. A two euro coke is a three dollar coke.

Here are some more pictures: the building and the field of cricket players are at Trinity College (which I love!), the vine covered house is right outside of St. Stephen's Green which is a park in the middle of the city, and the statues are another monument to the famine located in St. Stephen's Green. The Green is SO pretty and it's located on my way to the LUAS, so I will walk through or by it every work day. I haven't walked around it yet, but I walked along one edge very shortly. It's much more private than Central Park in NYC because there are trees around the border and you can't see past them, so it almost feels like you aren't in a city. Of course there are a lot of people everywhere, but it's so pretty.

The LUAS is a sort of public transit--- it's not a bus and it's not a train, it's the kind where the rails run on the streets and separately from the streets. I don't know what to call it. Kind of similar to a trolley in some ways, but it's a train. Dublin also has the DART which is more similar to a subway, but it isn't underground. To get to work I walk to a bus stop, wait for the bus, ride the bus into town, get off the bus, walk to the LUAS, ride the LUAS, get off and walk to the Dundrum Towne Center. The buses take a long time to get throught the city--- I need to try out a few differen routes to see which is best. And I have to figure out how exactly to get back. It's easy to get to the LUAS, but riding a bus back into the city is confusing. The Irish are awful with directions. The city, of course, was not planned at all and the word for 'road' in Irish (it's called Irish, not Gaelic) is literally cow path, which makes sense. If you ask someone for directions they say "well you need to go back around and it will be on your left you can't miss it," but you can. It's okay though, I haven't gotten lost for an immeasurable amount of time or anything.

Theres a park nearby where we are staying-- I may go swinging now. Goodbye!