First Full Day in Dublin

Today marks my first full day in Ireland. I didn’t sleep very well and I don’t know if that’s due to the time change, being in a new location, or just a head that wouldn’t stop spinning with all that is ahead of me. As has occurred in the past, the first day for the new faculty member is a day set aside for the lead faculty member to give a tour of the area around the flat and this section of Dublin. Today was by foot and tomorrow, the first day we go out to the schools, will be by bus. First we went to the visitor’s center which is in a wonderful restored old church. I bought a large book that has maps of the entire city. I will need that to take notes for the various bus routes to all the different schools that our students are teaching in. That will be my life saver for the last few weeks of this trip and also for next year when I will be the lead and need to navigate the city myself, and then train a new trail faculty member. We also bought a weekly bus pass at the visitor’s center and priced some of the Irish souvenirs. When we left there we walked a few more blocks to Trinity College. You could pay a student 10 Euros for a half hour tour but we just wandered through the campus so I could see it. I will go back later to explore the library and also the Book of Kells. I did buy a Trinity hoodie sweatshirt, which was on my list of things I wanted. I hadn’t anticipated making any purchases so early in the trip but John, the kind Irishman who arranges all our weekend travels, scored me a ticket for a football (soccer) game on Wednesday night. It’s a big one at Croke Park Stadium between Ireland and Poland. Three of our student teachers will be attending as well. I will need the hoodie to stay warm!

From there we walked up Nassau Street and popped into a number of wonderful little stores that sold everything from Waterford Crystal to local pottery to jewelry of all sorts. Some stores had a little café or coffee shop upstairs or down and if not, there were plenty others to choose from along the way. After Nassau Street we ventured up Grafton Street. This is a pedestrian only brick street with shops and stores, including McDonalds, Subway and Foot Locker among the American ones we passed. We had lunch at a spot along this street. At the end of Grafton Street was a park that I will save for another day (perhaps a rain free day, as it was drizzling today) and a big mall called St. Stephens. I'm learning all of the key landmarks for future reference.

Last night we walked a few blocks to the Liffey, which is a river that separates Dublin. From there we ventured to the Temple Bar area and to some side streets that I did not explore in my initial walk up Lord Edwards (with changes to Dames) Street. (If you recall, yesterday I didn't know the name of the street, so I am learning!) After our excursion today, coupled with my two walks yesterday, and tips to get my bearings based on some wonderful landmarks, I am getting a feel for the area. Keep in mind, I am so directionally challenged I sometimes get lost in my own backyard! But I do believe, after only a day, I could make it to the visitors center, post office, grocery store, ATM and a pharmacy. I will never go hungry as there are so many wonderful options of ethic and local foods of all sorts on every corner.

It’s truly a wonderful city. At least what I have seen of it thus far. I feel very safe and the people are very helpful, friendly and welcoming. They are also very fast. No one seems to stroll, they walk quickly and with a purpose. I think I need to pick up the pace if I am to fit in with the locals.