Land of Leprechauns and Me

Well I was trying to check in for my flight tomorrow but that’s not work so I guess blogging it is.
The one problem with the sweet pod life is that unfortunately there are other people in the room with you, a fact that I would’ve preferred to not be reminded of at 4:30 this morning but what can you do. Luckily I managed to go back to sleep but when I was once again reminded at 8 o clock no such luck.
Reading the Matthew Perry autobiography as I have been has given me a craving to watch Friends, but seeing as HBO are greedy bastards that removed their subscription from Canal+, I had to make do with New Girl. Thankfully as always New Girl is hilarious and managed to scratch that Friends itch until it was time for me to get up.
I got ready and went downstairs for a delicious hash brown, croissant and Greek yoghurt cereal breakfast, really proving how internationally taste buds are. After breakfast it was of the National Leprechaun Museum (or as I called it the national Allegra museum)
This was actually a very interesting place and different from both what I expected and typical museums (which was to be honest what I had expected). I would highly recommend to all those who find themselves in Dublin with an interest in folklore.
And from there it was a casual meander and serious exploration of what feels like every bookstore Dublin has to offer. I must have visited at least half a dozen of them, which my dwindling funds will confirm. The joys of being back in an anglophonic country (I was just informed by autocorrect that anglophonic is not in fact a word so let it join my myriad of other spelling mistakes). While books here are only really a euro or two cheaper than in France, second hand quality English books do exist, and those bring hearty smiles to my unimpressed visage.
A quick pitstop was made at a cafe upstairs one of these bookshops where I had a delicious carrot cake and cappuccino and felt like my grandparents. They definitely got things right when it came to cafe orders.
A second pitstop was made to the Lego store to stamp the Quentleberry’s Lego passport (yes that is a thing) where I learnt that apparently the actual passport itself is out of stock across Europe until August. Who would’ve known it was such a big thing. Definitely not yours truly that’s for sure.
Then on to more bookstores with a quick visit to St Stephans Green which was a very nice park and the tourism office where I purchased (for free) a very nice map, which is something Gina does and I must say I do like having a physical map where I can check things off of. Of course I am Gen Z so I still almost exclusively used Google but it’s the effort that counts.
Yet another one of these bookstores had a little cafe where I had an absolutely scrumptious (shout out Ruby) cheese and caramelised onion toastie. The french can sit on their high horse and proclaim gastronomical superiority until the cows come home, but nothing they make will ever beat a good old toasted sandwich.
Then I made my way to the Iveagh gardens which is an even nicer park. I sat there and chilled, reading my book in the comfortable Irish sun until I saw what every park dwelling reader dreads to see; a splash of water on the page.
Within the less than five minute walk it took me to get to the nearest Tescos it was pissing it down and I was soaked. This torrential downpour continued for around half an hour and I was in a Tesco express. Ergo I got very well acquainted with the layout of the place to the point they could have hired me and I wouldn’t have needed to be told where things go. I was even asked by the cashier when I checked out if I loved shopping to which I simply replied “it was raining and I don’t have an umbrella”.
Seeing all the English snacks (Ribena, cheddar, salt and vinegar crisps…) made me nostalgic which mum very quickly squashed by making a commentary on obesity in the UK. I should’ve have reminded her that I was not in the UK but my high had been effectively cut short.
I then began the 20 minute trek to the Stella cinema where I was once again to watch the new F1 movie which is a banger of film. All the adrenaline of a good Mission Impossible although unfortunately sans Tom Cruise.
I must say there are times when modern advancement feels like an inaccurate term and that is certainly the case when it comes to cinemas. The Stella Cinema is a preserved old cinema and never in my life have I enjoyed a seance so utterly. There were ushers who ushered us to our seats, cosy lamps on little tables next to our chairs, and poofs for us to rest our feet on. I regret the day some man (for it was certainly a man) decided that fitting a maximum of people into a room was more important than those people’s comfort.
On my way home after that joyful experience my faith in humanity was restored. The bus fare was 2 euros and it had to be paid in coins. I unfortunately only had 1.40 on me. So this absolutely lovely woman who was standing behind me just up and gave me the remaining sixty. It is honestly such a pleasure to be reminded that not all people are selfish dickheads.
The bus went by speedily and silently seeing as all buses in Dublin are electric a fact that only adds to my love of this city.
Overjoyed to return to my pod and the pod life, I attempted my check in only to be thwarted as previously mentioned. But nevertheless I shall persevere and hopefully by the time some of you are reading this I will be checked in and ready to leave this city, which I will certainly be visiting again.Читать далее