When Friends Get Stranded

There is something to be said for making friends in random places, especially when you're stuck. Dear friend and fellow Fordham sailor Amanda Tooker had a flight out of Dublin back home to Alicante last Thursday, but in the wake of the airport closures could not get out until today. Sounds like a hardship, but seriously, can you think of somewhere better to be stranded for a week? Sunny weather, good friends to look after you, and an abundance of pubs to pass the time away. I capitalized on a day without classes and Amanda's ambition to take in some Irish culture with a visit to the Jameson Distillery yesterday afternoon. We figured Mr. Joe Sunfish himself would get a kick out of it, so we took the Fordham Sailing burgee along. In true Jesuit fashion, so well instructed in our semesters at Fordham, we gladly volunteered to partake in the whiskey tasting part of the distillery tour. Task: sample a measure each of Jameson, Scotch Whiskey, and Jack Daniels... compare and contrast, then pick your favorite. Obviously, you'd be a fool to pick anything other than Jameson as there is a clear sense of bias in the building. Three shots back and another round of drinks for the loyal taste testers... a worthy way to spend an afternoon stranded in Dublin. Dad, in honor of your favorite way to enjoy the good stuff, I had my Jameson on the rocks. Feeling the warmth of the sun and the liquor, we rounded out the afternoon with a pint at the Hairy Lemon. However, the day is not complete without a word of thanks to the study abroad office here at UCD for putting on a lovely farewell dinner and providing more wine than was good for any of us dumb Americans. Enough said on that topic. In other news, the planned security measures on campus for UCD Ball on Friday should be interesting. Stay tuned for that. Cheers.

Eyjafjallajokull... Sigur Ros or a Volcano?

We live in strange times; those of which have been recently marked with a multitude of random acts of mother nature. A volcanic eruption on a glacier in Iceland seems no closer than an earthquake in Asia, but this time I am feeling the effects. The eruption on Eyjafjallajokull Glacier is old news now, but this narrative would not be complete without it's mention. I will admit I was rather down about my trip to Scotland this weekend getting scrubbed in the wake of this ash cloud phenomenon, but far more grateful I am not to be stuck in another country with no way to get home. At the very least, it has renewed by interest in Icelandic natives Sigus Ros. Seriously, stop hating on Iceland and pop one of their gorgeous records on. The papers play things up quite a bit, but I've already heard a few first hand horror stories. Will airspace really open this week? And even if it does, how long will it take to sort this airline industry disaster out? The EU seems fragile enough, never mind this happening. The despair at cancellation past on Thursday evening, I told myself then and there I had to get out of Dublin and do something interesting this weekend in spite of "the weather." Feeling spontaneous, Brenna, Erin, and myself booked a hostel in Cork and B&B in Waterford for Friday and Saturday evening's and decided to make a trip of it. Low stress, beautiful weather, and good conversation. I couldn't ask for a better weekend to get away and clear the head. I'll elaborate more on Cork and Waterford shortly as well as post a few choice photographs. Back in the real world, I find it hard to even type these words: it's the last week of classes at UCD. Eleven weeks down, one week to go. Brilliant, terrifying, you name it. No doubt it will all keep me busy. Stranded friends spending a few extra days in Dublin, UCD Ball, a few more assignments, and, if the world gets back in order, Barcelona on Saturday. Strange times, but beautiful times. Stay tuned.

Cheers.

Pages, Well Worn

I apologize for the infrequency of posts as of late. The means of expressing the images and feelings simply ebb and flow in various forms. I recent days I have gone back to the trusted pen and paper, mainly out of fear for losing honesty. I will, however, remain committed to what I have started, namely a written and visual record of this unreal experience that has become day to day life. Looking for inspiration, this evening I picked up my well worn and loved, but lately neglected copy of the James Joyce classic that is Portrait of the Artist. For the hundredth time I read the words of Stephen Dedalus on the back cover:
"I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using my defense the only arms I allow myself to use – silence, exile, and cunning."
I'm not sure how many times I have reread this brilliant novel, but every time I do I cannot help but be moved by its honesty and genius. All things have a way of coming full circle. Cheers.

Easter in Áth Cliath

This one is for all the parents and relatives out there. Call me a traditionalist, but I cannot imagine Easter without family. Maybe it is all those years of Easter routines, the Good Friday services, the Sunday morning masses, or the colored eggs and kielbasa mom always cooks up after Church. Good news for me; my parents saw it the same way and decided to spend the holiday in Dublin. My parents, younger brother Dan, and grandma flew in on Saturday morning and I met the gang at their hotel in Ballsbridge. For the most part I have not felt homesick over the past few months, but it was damn good to see everyone. After a bit of downtime, we headed out to fulfill priority number one: a good meal and a Guinness at the Hairy Lemon, the last stop on our trip to Ireland back in 2006. I spent the rest of the day as semi tour guide, attempting to demonstrate that I know a thing or two about the sights and happenings of the city I've been living in for three months. We had a good run throughout most of the afternoon, and even made it down to UCD to see my pad, but it was not long until the jet lag started to set in and those nice hotel beds came calling. A relatively early dinner and bed was well deserved. Sunday dawned beautifully in Dublin as we gathered at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook for mass at 9:30. Even Ardi couldn't help but come out to see what all the fuss was about. After mass we headed up to city centre to meet Una, a relative of ours from Cavan, and caught part of the parade and memorial service for the 1916 Easter Rising. The day was dedicated to family, great food, and equally good conversation in a variety of eating and drinking establishments around Dublin. On the wishes of grandma, on Monday we ventured down to Wexford to discover some family history. Our destination was a church in Castlebridge, a small town with a one pub and a convenience store a mile up the road from the town of Wexford. My great grandfather (grandma's dad) was baptized in the church and she wanted to show us the baptismal records. Given that it was a holiday, I was not surprised when we found no one home at the rectory. The church, however, was open and gorgeous inside. We could not find the records, but at least we found the spot, arguably the spot where it all (or at least part in my case) of it began. I think a Wexford GAA jersey is in my near future. It was quite literally blowing a gale in Wexford but we still spent a bit of time meandering around the town. The bus back to Dublin was packed with UCD students, an unfortunate reminder that I had work to get done that evening for the coming academic week. Following a beer with the family at the hotel, I left them to their own devices to go for dinner in city centre and headed back to normal life for a few days. They are headed out to Galway until Thursday evening, as we did not get up that way the last time around. Dan is spending two nights with me at the end of the week when they get back and I have a great day lined up for Friday. As always time is flying by, but I guess we make the most of it. Cheers.

Dockside in Wexford

additional photos

The World We Know

When Ace Enders released a self titled solo album under the name I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business in 2004, I honestly thought that a follow up was impossible. I Can Make Make A Mess would stand in time as a record of epic proportions, fifteen songs full of depth and introspection that I had a hard time putting down. The record was distinctly Ace, but in way different from any previous Early November release. With the breakup of the Early November in 2007, I wondered what would come next for a musician and songwriter who had been such a part of my formative years in developing a love for music. The answer came temporarily with the Ace Enders and a Million Different People project, though Ace has now returned to the I Can Make A Mess name. The World We Know was released on March 23rd and is rumored to be the first of three releases over the next year. In my mind, the album marks a return to the basics, with a heavy dependence on Ace's acoustic influences I've come to love. Understanding a bit of the history surrounding the Early November helps appreciate the tracks a bit more, but in general if you want an honest and down to earth record give this one a spin. Check out I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business on myspace.

Gleann Dá Locha

A brief walk outside is all it takes to realize that spring is upon us in Ireland. Fully recovered from spring break travels and a brief battle with some unknown sickness, the weather this weekend gave me all the more reason to get out and do things. As Belfast proved a few weeks back, one of the perks of these study abroad programs is the occasional free day trip. On Saturday I joined in on the Study Abroad Office day trip down to Glendalough, which is an hour or so southwest of Dublin in County Wicklow. Gleann Dá Locha, or the Glen of Two Lakes, is famous for its 6th century monastic settlement. This once thriving settlement was a center of Catholicism in the early middle ages and is complete with many traditionally Irish symbols, including a circular tower and many Celtic crosses. While I will skip the majority of the boring history lesson, I will say that from a religious perspective the significance of the sight made it worth the trip. The area around Glendalough is also known for its two lakes, upper and lower. You probably could have guessed that one. The woodlands around the lakes are crisscrossed with footpaths and make for excellent hiking. Following a short introduction about a few of the remains within the settlement, our guide took us for a hike into the valley to check out the lakes and take in a bit of nature. Personally, getting out of the city was a much needed and refreshing change of pace. Clean air and sunshine are rather conducive to clearing the mind. All told, a worthwhile day trip in my opinion.

View of the Round Tower

Sunday was also a great day to get out and soak in some sunshine. I know I've talked about riding up to Phoenix Park for the better part of two months, so this time I can finally say I've accomplished my goal. With the remains of a vicious hangover quickly fading, Ardi and I hit the road and made our way up past St. Stephens, around St. Patrick's Cathedral, across the Liffey and into the park. We were far from alone in our desire to enjoy the weather, evident in the masses roaming around the park and the various athletic events taking place. Sunny skies, a bit of soccer and good conversation; can't ask for anything more on a Sunday. After a solid ride I'm starting to think that maybe I can handle a bike tour after all. Looking ahead, Monday means family dinner night and hopefully booking our revisions break trip. At the moment it looks like we're heading to the Canary Islands, but we shall see. And yes, I promise I will get to mass during Holy Week.

Photos from Glendalough

Photos and Reflections

It is often long after a moment is passed that its meaning comes to light, if it ever does at all. I find that seeing so much in such a short time has its tendency for pitfalls; things simply start to blur. The statues, the bridges, the nights spent in bars. Except for the moments. In the week since I have returned from my trek around Europe, this is how I have come to make sense of it all. I promise that when the demands of life subside a bit and I can properly describe the little details I will. Until then, I want to leave you with a few thoughts from "spring break". That is an odd term for me really, since I am almost positive the first thing most think of is a cold Corona on an island beach. Regardless, as you know our trip covered five cities in three countries, none of which I had ever previously visited. Of these, Paris and Rome seem to stick out in my mind. I was surprised how much I enjoyed Paris, as it was not on the top of my priority list of things to visit. There are an overwhelming number of things to see in Paris, as there are in most cities. However, that is not what stood out to me. If I had to pin it down, the afternoon we spent wandering along the Seine River without a proper destination in mind was most enjoyable, as was the late night spent in the streets of the Bastille area looking for a bar. Moving onto Venice, what they say is true: there is nothing like getting lost in Venice. I have no idea how far we walked in single file through the cities maze of little streets and canals but I cannot complain; it was simply breathtaking. I can hardly forget the snow that greeted us in the early morning when we arrived in Florence, or the kindness of the women at the hostel who let us check in early and sleep for a few hours. Though I admit I suffered through my semester of Art History last fall, the knowledge came full circle when we visited the Galleria dell'Accademia to see the works of Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Donatello, among others. Professor Meadows-Rogers, I hope I made you proud. Next stop on our whirlwind tour, in the words of Phoenix, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome. I've been told you cannot discover it all in a life time, and all I had were two days. The Vatican and the Colosseum were stunning, though both were honestly not as impressive as I had imagined in my mind. Again, to pick a moment, sitting on the Spanish Steps on Friday morning watching the world go by. The hectic scramble to the airport that ensued in the wake of the transit strike also made for a good story, though not as lovely as the Rome skyline in the early morning sun. Compared to the relative warmth and beauty of the Italian peninsula, Prague was a bit of a shock. It was certainly the most foreign feeling place we visited, in my mind anyways. The sun stayed away most of the weekend and left the city with a gloomy and oppressive feeling. I do not think I ever felt truly comfortable. Regardless, the architecture was stunning and gave off that Eastern European vibe. After a week of intense sight seeing it was nice to kick back and enjoy our time in Prague without any pressure to go out and see things. Was it the highlight of my trip? No, but you cannot put a price on time spent with good friends. You can try and try to see it all, but at the end of the day who you are with is just as important. There is so much to take away from this trip and so much more I want to see, but if I discovered anything significant it was that feeling I had when I stepped off the plane again in Dublin Airport: it was good to be home. Sure, over the previous ten days I had visited a few of the most historic places in the world, but I was overwhelmed with a sense of how much I love this Island. I guess it is safe to say I picked the right place to study, and there has got to be something in that. To get right back in the swing of things, we had a day to rest before St. Patrick's day and I think you can take a guess what happened next. I'll save that for another day. As always I keep counting my blessings and forging ahead. We are small pieces in an ever changing, yet ever beautiful world. Cheers.

Window shot, Prague Castle

Hey...It Just Feels Better

After 12 days, 5 cities, 4 flights, 2 trains, and more stairs climbed and delicious food consumed than I can recall, I'm back where I belong in the beautiful land of shamrocks and green. I promise I will attempt to describe all I have seen over the course of this trip but in the end all that really makes sense are the photographs and the memories of moments and happenings along the way more than any monument or statue ever could. Photos are finally up; see the link below. Look for an in depth look at some of the amazing cities I visited and a few words on places we stayed and other useful information over the next day or two. I always said I wanted this blog to be a place where you can learn something useful, so I will attempt to stick to that idea. There is much to come. Cheers.

Photographs
Spring Break: Paris, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Prague