So Long and Thanks for all the Fish

Okay, so I'm sad. Sad as anything. This morning saw me do two of the hardest things I've had to do in my life thus far. See Elaine off at the airport and attempt not to cry on the way home. Screw mooting in front of Superior Court judges, flying half way around the world on my own, living in a foreign country all by myself, and hunting for a job while overseas. You try holding back the tears on the way home from the airport after saying good bye to someone who means alot to you, knowing you won't see them again for a couple of months, and even then it's not guaranteed. I survived though.

But in order to find some peace for the day, I'm writing this whole thing up. Partly because I need some release, and partly because you need some updates. So, let it begin.

The World would be a better place with more puppeteers. It's a simple solution to everything. I'll explain. Dublin was awesome, and I had a freaking amazing time. It was a great way to wind down from exams and the conclusion of my University studies. Meeting up with Jo was also a sweet little pre-Christmas treat. But before we get to Dublin, there's the farewell party for the exchange programme. It was a blast. Some people had more to drink than others, and others just, well. I can remember the whole night, Elaine, however, has some patchy memories, and some people on the exchange were just slaughtered beyond reason. Luckily, there's photos.

Anyways. Still wondering about the puppeteer I see. Well, on the first morning we were there, we decided to see some sights early. And after walking through the main city area, we hit a little busker scene. Two guys standing there, one with a guitar, and one with a puppet. It was the best street performance I have ever seen in my life. This guy brought the puppet to life, and so many people stopped along the way to watch. Never have I seen a busker's hat get so full of money so quickly. These guys were top-notch.

Apart from the street performances, we also saw alot of Dublin history: the Dublin Castle, St Stephen's Green, the Chester Beatty Museum, Kilmainham Goal, Temple Bar, the Guiness Storehouse, Jameson Old Distillery, and so much more. The place is so full of history. Sadly, a fair portion of it is linked to unrest and violence. Nonetheless, it's an amazing city that has a huge amount of vibrance.

Three things about Dublin I liked best were: firstly, the Chester Beatty Museum. This is the collection of Sir Chester Beatty, a US businessman who became the first honourary Irish citizen. It's free of charge, and has an amazing collection of Asian, Persian, Arabic, and other Indo-Pacific relics and treasures. I highly recommend it.

The second thing I liked the most was the Kilmainham Goal. This was the prison where political prisoners were kept after each political uprising. It also featured in the films In the Name of the Father, The Italian Job, Michael Collins, and some more. The tour there is dirt cheap (like €2.10) and is a fantastic tour. Well worth the trek out of the city centre.

The third thing I liked, was a little restaurant called Monty's of Kathmandu. I have never eaten better Indo-Asian in my life before. Just go. Seriously. But a booking would be a wise idea, it gets packed really easily.

As for now. Well, I'm kind of on my lonesome again. A little heart broken, but it's something that Elaine and I are definitely going to try out. My flatmate is being really nice, she's worried about me and has ordered me to go out today and find things to do.

And that I should do. I have things to attempt today, such as closing my bank account and getting shopping sorted out. Germans celebrate Christmas on the 24th, so I want to get in my grocery shopping before the huge rush.