Beautiful Day

This goes out to all those who're afraid of the weather in Ireland. Today, like actually most days recently, was terrific, with only few small white clouds in the sky, long stretches of beautiful sunshine and mild temperatures. Spring finally seems to have arrived and palpably changes people's moods. Dubliners flock to the streets. There is cheerful chatter everywhere, and ice cream, sunglasses and Latte Macciatos. I came back myself from St. Stephen's Green an hour ago, where I had enjoyed the sun and the last 50 pages of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children. (An nice read, for that matter.) In terms of literature, my next "project" will be Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace which, in the light of my speed at the moment, should keep me busy for a few months. But I'm getting off the track ...

Thus back to Dublin where I've been trying to catch up on a few sights that I haven't had a chance to visit so far. Such as the famous Chester Beatty Library (see below) which boasts an impressive collection of ancient religious manuscripts from the Qu'uran, the Bible and the Torah, texts and other exhibits from Hinduism and Buddhism, and much more.



The Library is housed on the premises of Dublin Castle, the seat of the former Irish viceroys, which I happened to visit today. The site from which the English Crown was for centuries ruling Ireland had seen a military fortress as early as during the Viking and subsequent Norman conquests. Just as an aside, did you know where Earl Grey tea got its name from? Take a close look at the inscription beneath the portrait below, which also shows one of those Irish viceroys, and you'll know.



Last Saturday saw my second training for the summer job. Susanne, an experienced German tour guide, took us "trainees" around the city centre and later south to the Wicklow Mountains. Everyone of us got the chance to practise with the microphone on the bus. On the way back we had a short visit to the Powerscourt Estate, particularly the magnificent Gardens, which give an idea of 18th century Anglo-Irish aristocracy. Funnily enough the Wingfield family who lived there maintained a "pet cemetery" with actual gravestones and rather curious epitaphs. But see for yourselves below ...



As regards the tour guide job I am getting really excited about it, and a bit nervous, too. Not that I have any doubts about my ability to show German tourists around the country. Far from it. Yet there's quite a lot prepare before my first tour will set off on May 30th: Irish and Dublin history, sights, culture, language, economic and political facts, anecdotes ... after all, I'd like to make a good and competent impression when I welcome my first group in a bit more than a month. As I hoped before, however, I'm in fact learning very much about this country through my daily preparations. Fortunately I'll only have to sit one single exam in four weeks and therefore have plenty of time to get ready and, as I said earlier, further explore Dublin for myself. (Speaking of inside tips, check out the Queen of Tarts on Dame Street should you ever make it to Dublin. The name speaks for itself: it's a tiny bistro/café that serves home-made tarts in all different guises and flavours. Today, for example, I had tomatoes, goat cheese and herbs. Simply delicious!)



Meanwhile I've booked my flights for the summer. After 10 months my Dublin/Ireland adventure will finally come to an end on July 7th. After relaxing a bit at home I shall pack again and head off to New York four days later, on July 11th, where I'll be staying roughly eight weeks until September 3rd. This summer promises simulataneously to be demanding and busy, entertaining and exciting. I can't wait.

As always I've added to my Dublin album and also uploaded some pictures of Powerscourt Gardens, if you're inclined to take a look.

Otherwise I hope you're also having such lovely weather, wherever you are.

Chris

Paddy's Day

Wow, it's almost been a month since Paddy's Day but I just haven't had the time to update the blog recently. What's more, St. Patrick's Day was much less exciting than I'd expected it to be. Which, however, was also due to the fact that I had to go straight back to my essays after we watched the parade and the "All Ireland Club Finals" in Gaelic Football and hurling afterwards in Croke Park. The latter event was quite interesting, though, as it was the first time I went to the stadium to watch Irish sports. Nevertheless, given that there were only some 30.000 people (in a stadium that fits some 80.000), no alcohol was sold and it became increasingly cold over the afternoon, I really didn't mind going home to have a hot cup of tea soon after. As you can see, Paddy's Day (at least in Dublin) was not the greatest thing I've ever experienced. Anyway. In a sense, the little girl on the first picture below was by far the cutest I saw on that day. For more pictures, check out http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/christoph.truebenbach/StPatrickSDay.



I'm at home in Germany this weekend, after I didn't have time for a visit over Easter. Now that all the essays I've been working on over the past few weeks are finished and handed in, though, I'm enjoying a relaxed couple of days with my family. After all, this is my last visit at home before early July as I'll be starting with my summer job in Ireland just after my last exam in Trinity in late May. Before, there'll be one more visit by Veronika, a friend from Germany. I'm very much looking forward to seeing her again, also because we might venture out for yet another road trip along the West Coast, probably heading towards Donegal.

I'll leave it at this for the moment. By the way, whoever is reading this and might know someone who's got a room to let in New York, please do let me know as I'm still looking for affordable accommodation from mid-July to the end of August.

Take it easy

Chris

Dublin, Galway, Connemara, Mayo

Saturday night. It's late, and I'm tired after working all day on a politics essay: "What influences voters' behaviour in elections for the European Parliament?" ... which is actually interesting, as I found after reading through numerous studies on the issue. Either way, simply don't expect great prose tonight.

Essays ... that's what I'll be concerned with until the end of the month. It's the second week of Easter break in college, however, it doesn't really feel thus because, for some reason, all my essay deadlines seem to be clustered around March 31st, which is keeping me busy. Nevertheless, it would be exaggerated to claim that studying is all I'm doing these days.

For one thing, there'll be St. Patrick's Day on Monday which I'm looking forward to, although Irish friends have been advising to stay at home rather than struggling in the massive crowds that are expected to witness the famous parade as it marches through the city centre. My flatmate Jojo, his girlfriend, two more friends and I are still trying to get tickets for the "All Ireland Club Finals" in Gaelic football and hurling, which take place in Croke Park just after the parade. I've wanted to watch both a hurling and a football match ever since I arrived last year, and it would be great if that works out on Paddy's Day.

Last week saw my brother come over for a one-week visit. After spending some pleasant days in Dublin, exploring further cultural sights such as the National Gallery, we set off for yet another road trip along the West Coast. Starting in Galway, where we had much fun with a few American girls in a pub, we headed north, cruising along the rugged coast of Connemara und furter on into County Mayo before eventually making our way back to Dublin. Although the rain just didn't want to cease, we had a great time on the road, and I was once more awestruck by Ireland's beautiful scenery. Nick left on Thursday, abruptly ending my short holidy and directing my focus to voters' behaviour (see above) instead.

I'll leave you here with a few impressions of our trip. As always, more pictures are available online: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/christoph.truebenbach/NicksBesuchTripNachGalway

Take care,

Chris

On a fantastic roadtrip ...

Saturday night. I’m relaxing, taking it easy after yesterday’s party. Rather spontaneously, I had joined Rachael, a Canadian friend, who was invited to an “ugly jumper” party, that is, a party where everyone was supposed to show up in oldfashioned or otherwise ridiculous clothing. The atmosphere was great, and I stayed much longer than I had intended to.

College is and will be quite demanding during the next few weeks as I will be writing several essays in history, politics and English all of which will be due some time sooner or later in March. But let me for now indulge a bit longer in reminiscences of the last few weeks and fill you in on my most recent travels …

Sarah, a friend of mine who’s currently studying in Nottingham, visited me last weekend. We rent a car and explored the Irish south-western coast on what would turn out to be a fantastic road trip. Both the stunning Healy Pass on rugged Beara Peninsula in West Cork and the beautiful scenery along the Ring of Kerry deeply impressed and time and again prompted us to pull over, leave the car by the roadside (virtually deserted at this time of the year) and take in the magnificent landscape. Over the entire weekend, not a single raindrop was falling, and the morning sun in a clear blue sky was the first we saw when we woke up in the town of Kenmare on early Sunday morning and set off for the second day of our trip. Wonderful weekend. Should you be interested in any of my photos (and I uploaded quite a few tonight), I’d suggest you take a look at the Beara Peninsula & Ring of Kerry album.



When Sarah left on Monday, I had just enough time to prepare for my next visitors: my parents came over just for two days in order to catch a glimpse of the Irish capital where their eldest son is having so much fun these days. Given the limited space for sightseeing, we were accordingly busy on Wednesday, learning how the “black gold” is brewed in the Guinness Storehouse and what the 1916 Easter Rising was all about in the famous Kilmainham Jail, just around the corner from where I had lived until a few days earlier.



I say "lived" (and not live) because I eventually moved into my new room last week. Although I got along very well and had a good time with my former flatmates Anthony and Julien, I’m glad about this step as I’m much closer to college now, have more space, a double bed and even my own sink in the room, and enjoy Jojo’s company, who has become a good friend over the last few months. Anxious not to use the German language all the time, we decided to constantly speak English, which at first may have been a little strange but has worked out surprisingly well so far. My new address is

1 Richmond Row
Portobello, Dublin 8
Ireland

and letters, postcards as well as visitors are very welcome!

Further highlights in the last few weeks included very enjoyable trips to Glendalough in County Wickow with Lorna and her friends as well as to the lovely town of Kilkenny with the International Students Society. Again, feel free to check out the photos if you’re inclined.



In college, the Students Union is organising one themed week after the other: GREEN week, featuring various events revolving around the environment and climate change, was followed by SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness & Guidance) week, complete with free condoms and information on safer sex. Frankly, I find all this a little ridiculous, however, there seems to be great demand for such kind of information as becomes apparent from the numerous pro-condom advertisments in the toilets. With my own stock of condoms refilled, I am currently observing the election campaigns of the different candidates running for Student Union officers, although only half-heartedly as I don’t really care who will be holding thoses offices during the next academic year when I’ll be back home.

Speaking of the time of my return to Germany, an interesting summer job opportunity has materialised which is currently tempting me to prolong my stay in Ireland: working as a tour guide for German tourists during the summer months, after finishing my studies in Trinity and before leaving for New York. Provided that I accept the offer, I will participate in some training sessions in April and even accompany a week-long guided tour through the country in order to prepare for the job. Shipping curious tourists around the country will at the same time be intellectually demanding and physically exhausting, however, the training will enhance greatly my knowledge of Ireland, and the job promises to earn me the money I’ll desperately need in New York. I shall make up my mind within the next few days.

I suppose that’s it for today. In spite of my essays, I’m looking forward to my brother’s visit in early March and the festivities around St. Patrick’s Day afterwards. I’ll be spending a single weekend in Germany, from April 3rd to April 7th and hope to see some of you then.

Have a nice Sunday,

Chris

Cork & Kinsale

I'm ill. Sinus infection. For all those of you who don't know what that is: it's like a cold, except that the head feels like on the brink of explosion and you can't focus on anything. Antibiotics and painkillers. Lovely.

This is my first post in 2008. You may have noticed that I haven't felt like blogging lately. But that's ok. A Canadian friend of mine once said that life is made up of many phases with different priorities or desires: literature, sports, friends, love ... or blogging. Who knows, I might be entering a blogging phase, after all. Let's see.

In brief, Christmas, New Year's and skiing in Switzerland were most enjoyable. I had a wonderful time at home, which in retrospect seemed much shorter than I had thought it would be. The few days of skiing in Saas-Fee were particularly gorgeous, with plenty of snow, sunshine, only some -5 Celsius and a bunch of fun people.

Now I'm back, but travelling goes on. Last weekend saw me in Cork, further down in the south-east. It's a small (yet Ireland's third biggest) city, cramped with cafés and pubs and clubs and definitely worth a visit. Jojo, a German fellow, and I were staying at his Irish flatmate's house, going out in the evening and exploring the city centre during the day. On Saturday, we took the bus further on to Kinsale, a picturesque seaport town on the coast where we enjoyed delicious food, some beer and a fantastic nighttime view over the bay. Unfortunately, however, little sleep and much rain and wind turned my cold into a severe sinus infection. Well, it should pass in a few days. Here are some more pictures for all those of you who're interested.





College also started again. I have two new courses - "Introduction to Post-Colonial Fiction and Theory" and "America and the US: Literature and the Nation" - but it's too early to judge.

In order to cut this short, here's what else you ought to know:

- I'm single again, somewhat involuntarily, yet I'm over it and happy.

- It's raining a lot these days in Dublin ... which however shouldn't stop you from visiting me in this terrific city!

- I'm going to move out of my room and into another one which is not only more spacious and cheaper but also closer in the city centre.

But here comes the best ...

- I'll be spending some 8 weeks in New York in the summer, in an internship with the Permanent Mission of Germany at the United Nations!

I'll leave you here for now, with the resolution to update this blog a little more frequently in the future.

Take it easy,

Chris