Dublin blues

Being in Dublin for "so long" - I am really not used to it! Have been feeling a bit blue lately, but this shall pass in no time ;) I'll dive in my pile of chocolates, have some ice cream and that will hopefully do the trick :) Can't wait for NYC.

Home sweet home

Back in Franceland for a few days, it's been a month almost that I have not been in Dublin, and I am liking it a lot - wonder why I am paying for this appartment of mine though? :)

Spend time with my family (much needed these days), walk in the woods and around the water with my parents, pick up a clown-dressed-up nephew from school, read him a bed-time story, hold him in my arms, eat good food and good wine for a few days. Smiles smiles smiles smiles smiles:)

Fall is here!

My favorite season of all :) The million different colors, leaves dancing with the wind, the first chills, and knowing that Christmas is just around the corner...I can't think of a better time of the year!

Crepe party :)

Anke and I had a little crepe party before she left :) Oh look at her mastering that crepe throwing! :) :P Such mad skillz!

Night out at the pub

On Saturday night we went out to one of the pub in the Temple bar area - my fav part of town-, a blast :D Anke broke her record and drank 1/2 a pint :) Not bad Anke ;) I am SO proud of you! We did some nice sing alongs too...oh glad it was only the two of us. I'll do another "American Pie" with you anytime!!!!

Anke visiting!

My friend Anke, who studied with me at the University of Arizona and a big salsa friend of mine, came to Dublin this weekend to visit me :) Luckily she came during the first and only weekend without rain this summer!!! Lucky her :) Of course she keeps telling me that she is the one who brought the sunshine :P uh uh. We went around the city, had nice dinners, chilled at home, walk around through temple bar and went to the farmer's market......and got yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum Butler's hot chocolate! :D We are ALL about food! The Dublin castle where currently has a great sand statue exhibit in the courtyard. The theme: Irish writers. Very impressive! My favorite piece was Gulliver's travels'..I was just surprised that they manage to keep them up given all the rain of these past few days :)

We also went to Church to have a pint of Guinness.....well, let me explain for those of you who are starting to wonder :D The place I call the Church - I say, I call because it's not it's real name- is an old Church that was reconverted in a nice bar//loundge. One of my fav han outs here, and they often have nice music to add to the atmosphere. Those Irish, let me tell you....they really can't hold their drinking :)

The US frogs in Dublin

My two bugs came and visited me with their parents in July. That was fun! :) Nico got so big again! And it had only been a month since the last time I saw him. Here is another classic of Cal and myself :P

Long time gone!

I know, I know, don't tell me (I can hear Stephie complaining from where I am!) it's been a while since I posted on my blog! It's been a busy past month folks!! And I had to find an apartement...and I've been traveling some more...and a Leprechaun that jumped out of a Guinness stole my computer...ok, I have no more lausy excuses for not writting. BUT I promise never to do it again. Almost never. Not often at least. :D

Alright, so it's true that I had to find my apartment! And I did! You don't even know how challenging it is to find a decent place in Dublin. Housing is outrageously expensive - when I talk to my sister who is currently renting a 3 bedroom house for about 450 euros a months....makes me want to cry. Anyway, I really though I'd end up finding a nice bridge to live under - woudln't have you liked this, Anke :D I would have prepared you a NICE bed right by the river :)

But in the end I ended up finding something. Of course I am paying way too much for it, but I was starting to get a bit desperate - and I must say I really like this one. A lot of light - really important when you live in a country that is covered by clouds 99% of the year and a nice homy feeling to it, I think :) Oh, and did I mention it is in the "ethnic" part of town so I have like 15 Chinese and Korean BBQ restaurant in the streets around. Ha ha. That should be good times ;)

I live in the city center, if you guys come visit me you can easily take the bus from the airport and it will drop you off only a couple streets away from mine. My place is technically "North of the Liffey - North of the River" as they say here - so my friends make fun of me: people here like to make the distinction between the "South" and the "North" (the North supposedly being a bit more dodgy)...yeah my ethnic neighborhood :)

Enjoy the pics!

We're raising him well :D

...that is, the European way :)

Taking a picture of your nephew in front of the Guinness storehouse = Priceless! :D Look at that smile too :)

The Dublin DMO gang!

Here's a pic at work. From left to right: Chris, Nives, MIke (our manager)Eleonore and Niek.

St. Stephen's Green

What a gorgeous day in Dublin! I was even able to wear my tank top without getting cold, what about that, eh? Yes, call it a miracle if you want to :) I went to the city centy, to the big mall right downtown - its inside is really nice, see the picture below- , and also spent quite some time just vegging and drawing in St. Stephen Green's park. There were people EVERYWHERE. A few concert bands played, so I stayed for a while to listen to them. And it was funny to hear them play all the classis - the India Jones and James Bond Soundtracks, etc-....tunes that I played once upon a time, when I used to be in those bands! Seems like a million years aways!

Almost a week in Ireland and...

.... I HAVE MANAGED TO NOT GET RUN OVER BY A CAR :D Woohhooo go me! ....although uhm uhm, if it wasn't for my coworkers Chris and Eleonore last night...ha ha good times. Hopefully I'll survive my time in Ireland :)

Yesterday we went to a market that's pretty close to work with a big group of MS coworkers (picture 1). It was great, we all bought fresh food for lunch and sat down in the sun. A rare thing in Ireland :) One thing to say: I don't think I've met a single Irish person so far - unless the cab drivers count :) French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, American people......but no Irish! I had been warned that Dublin is quite an international city, but I still though I would meet some locals. I am gonna have to go Irish people hunting!

Last night we went out with a few of my co-workers and friends, Chris (Belgian), Eleonore, Nives and Marcus (all German) - picture 2, except for Marcus is missing. We went to this bar called Diceys Garden, a really nice place with a big open patio in the back - another rare thing in the area. It is after the bar that the "i-almost-got-run-over-by-a-car" episode happened, go figure why ;)

Getting lost in Dublin, lovely:)

Tonight I went for a walk in the street of Dublin, and was just wonderful to get lost in them and enjoy the last few hours of the days in these old street, with all the different musicians at every other street corner playing traditional Irish music or Flamenco music :)





Dublin's city center - taking the Luas, it takes me about 15 minutes to get there




















Grafton Street, in the City Center












The Irish Flag :)














Oh I am going to be hanging out at this place quite a bit :) Butler's Chocolate Cafe yummmm :D

First day at work

Today was my first day at work. Overall really good, got to spend some quality time with my coworkers - a good group of people, should be interesting ;) Grrrr people keep telling me that I have an accent.....do they realize that they are the ones with the accent??? eh eh eh. Geeze wherever I go seems like I am going to loose at that game: a French accent in the US, an American accent in Ireland....and even an American accent when I speak French. Soon I'll probably be adding a Belgian accent to the lot since I'll be spending so much time there :) oooh good times!

Alright, so one thing that is just WEIRD about the Dublin office: NOBODY has trash cans! And when I mean nobody.....I mean nobody!....The only trash can I found on our floor was the one in the kitchen :S I guess Irish peoople are really serious about not protecting the environment, they decided not to trash :D mmmmm I really have to figure this one out.

Other than that, I've got a nice place, and on top of it is right accross from work, so I can't complain! If you want the address, -as well as I my new cell phone number- send me an email or leave a comment and I'll make sure to send it over ;)

The Dublin Office