Blackjack For History Buffs

Marino Casino           

The first time I saw it, I remember thinking ‘why is that there?’ and pondering how out of place it looked. Marino Casino is the definition of juxtaposition. When it was first built in the 1700s, I’m sure its location made a lot of sense. There wasn’t much else around, and the Earl of Charlemont was sure to have people staring (his ultimate goal). The thing about it now is that it’s currently overtaken by the modern (and less attractive) world. Most tourists don’t know that this place exists, or they might think it’s an actual casino. Nope, there is no gambling going on here. The name is derived from Italian, meaning ‘small house by the sea’.

I was lucky enough to be shown this by my native Dublin boyfriend, who is aware of my nerdy love of history. He’s from the North side, where the Casino is located, and most people around there are pretty much used to its presence. I had no idea it was there. I’m glad I’ve discovered it, though, and can share it with you! The history of the place is very interesting and the tour is cheap. The Casino Marino has a lot of tricks up its sleeves, so it’s very much worth your $$. Check out its website for more exact details: http://www.fairview-marino.com/marino-casino. After that…GO VISIT!

     - Jen

*** Sorry guys, this photo isn’t my property either. I got it off Google. Left my camera charger in Co. Kerry, so that has made taking pictures a little difficult!

Favorite Foodies: Dublin Edition

I hate being so Dublin focused, but it’s a bit difficult not to be when this is where I spend a majority of my time. So, I want to make a favourite foods list, but of course it’s only dealing with Dublin establishments. I apologize to the rest of Ireland. If you want to see more places added you’re going to have to message me. Now, I’m going to preface by saying that there might be better food out there, but this is what I’m capable of eating on my small budget. Deal with it!

•  Mes Amis: It’s small and right on Middle Abby Street (D1). Don’t let the name throw you off, they don’t serve French food. They pretty much have everything you’d want on a normal day, and it tastes really good too. My suggestion: make sure to get the cappuccino with a shot of hazelnut. Best coffee you’ll have in Ireland.  It’s nice to be able to afford that! Oh yea, and they have the best Irish breakfast in town.
• Queen of Tarts: There are two locations, but the largest is on Cows Lane, Dame Street (D2). Wow. That’s all I can say about the cakes here. My personal favorite is the Queen Victoria Sponge Cake, but you can’t go wrong with any of them… not even the scones. My roommate (French…so you know she knows what’s up) showed me this delicious place. It has the feeling of a cosy cottage, sans creepy cat lady. They don’t just have cakes. The regular food is fantastic too.  Wear your stretchy pants!
•  Bewley’s: It’s right on Grafton Street. Now this isn’t necessarily the cheapest place, but they do have a €15 set evening menu. It changes throughout the year, but you always get 3 courses. The food here is good, and I’ve been tempted by the feta salad a time or two! The atmosphere is nice and it’s a great place to catch up with your friends. It’s kind of become my go-to hangout joint.
• Voila: This joint hangs out at 14 Lower Baggot Street. Don’t ask me if their food is good, because I honestly have no idea. They are always packed, though, when I drop by. The reason I’m listing this place is because they have a great coffee +scone deal.  You get a coffee of your choosing and any scone (to go) for just €3.00. They are really big, yummy scones and the coffee is good. I often drop in and grab this deal on the run. NOM!
•  SuperValu: You might laugh at this, but it’s the honest truth. The food isn’t the healthiest and the atmosphere isn’t great, but man is it cheap! You can get a gigantic chicken roll and a coke for only €3.00. It tastes good too. I’m partial to their Cajun chicken wrap, but it isn’t as good as the chicken roll deal. If you’re busy or just poor… this is the place for you! They’re located all over Ireland too. Score!
• Yum Thai: This is place is where you want to go for affordable noodles! It’s right off Grafton, on Duke Street (D2). There isn’t really anywhere to sit, so you might just want to take it to go. Pop in and you can get most dishes for €5.00. They give you SO much that it’ll last 2 meals. I’ve only had the Pad Thai, but I hear the curry is great.

 - Jen

Listen to ‘Summer In Dublin’ by Bagatelle

It’s official. I’m moving back to South Carolina in two weeks. It’s a weird thing to be leaving Ireland after so many months of living here.  On the one hand, I’m excited because I get to see my family and friends back in the States. On the other hand, I’m sad because I’ll miss my friends here who have become like family. I’ve moved around a lot in the past few years, though, so I’ve learned how to detach and reattach myself to people/places. I’m pretty good at it. I’m also good at the whole long distance thing. Are those skills I can list on my resume?

Anyways, this isn’t the end of mine and Ireland’s relationship. Our story is still in the making, because I’ll be back again for a few weeks in August. I’m moving to London for Grad School in September, so I’ve decided to ease into that by hanging out in Dublin for a few weeks beforehand. I think I’m probably naturally more of a ‘London Girl’ than I am a ‘Dublin Girl’, but I will miss this little, big city! It’s dirty as anything and there are some weird people (as with all urban areas), but it has its own charm; There’s charm in its retro façade and radioactive river.

I’ll miss the homeless man, who take such good care of his dog and rabbit that he’s become somewhat of a local legend. I’ll miss the free entertainment I get by watching the inhabitants of Summerhill Parade (my neighbourhood of hard knocks) on my walks home. I’ll miss the semi-ridiculous and fully ridiculous clothes that some Dublin girls wear. I’ll really miss the Dubliner’s good humor and propensity towards fun. I might not be a Dublin girl at heart, but I’d be proud if I was! This ‘dirty old town’ grows on you when you’re least expecting it. The best parts are the hidden bits that Dublin will show if you’re willing to let your guard down. 

- Jen

Jennifer’s Activity Hot Spots Part 1

Follow these tips and you might have a few Euros left over for Guinness: 

Now, I know what it’s like to not have a lot of money. Even if you do have money to spend, when you are here you might want to save that money for traveling. So, you probably want to know a few things to do around town for relatively cheap or even…FREE! We can’t all afford to go the Guinness Storehouse multiple times (but you should really go at least once. It’s pretty awesome). Thus being said, I’ve started to compile a list of places I’ve come across that offer cheap amusement. Here’s part 1 for you: 

1. Chester Beatty Library: History and art lovers will find this library very amusing, indeed. It’s free to the public (always) and often has breath-taking exhibitions. The Silk Road Café also offers delicious food, and a nice place to read your book. Hey, I’m not the only one who thinks this place is great: “Chester Beatty’s library has been described as the finest collection of manuscripts and books made by a private collector in the 20th century.” Not too shabby, eh? Check out the website for more information: http://www.cbl.ie/

2. Marsh’s Library: I figured I’d continue the whole library trend. This hidden jewel of Dublin is cheap…we’re talking €2.50 (€1.50 for students) cheap! If you like the smell of old mahogany and leather bound books, then this is the place for you! Marsh’s Library, built in 1701 by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, was the first public library in Ireland.  Besides the residential collection, there is always a themed exhibition to check out: http://www.marshlibrary.ie/

3. The Hugh Lane Gallery: This place is pretty cool if you’re into the whole art scene. There are tons of paintings by Irish artists and other European greats. The best part about it is getting a chance to see Sir Francis Bacon’s real studio (what a slob!). Oh yea…and it’s pretty great that it’s ALWAYS FREE!!! Make sure you check out the gift shop on your way out. There are always events, concerts, etc. going on: http://www.hughlane.ie/

4. Trinity College: It’s the country’s oldest University and quite a pretty one at that. You can spend a good deal of time wandering around the campus and looking at the building facades. It’s just a hop and a skip away from Grafton Street, so take some time out to explore (P.S. it’s free to roam). If you feel like dropping €9.00, then you can see the Book of Kells and Trinity’s gorgeous library. If you can’t afford that, then at least visit the Book of Kells’ gift shop. Now, that’s a nice place! http://www.tcd.ie/ (as seen below)

5. The National Museums of Ireland: There are quite a few and they’re all FREE. Find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Ireland and the Irish. It’s a blast from the past, and a really interesting one at that. Take a look at these museums when you first arrive, so you can get an understanding of the country you just moved to. It’ll make your other travels around Ireland a lot more meaningful. http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx

Busking For Dummies

The Art of Busking- this is something that Ireland knows a lot about. It’s prevalent in Dublin and a lifestyle in Galway. The greats like Bono, Van Morrison and Glen Hansard all started off busking around these streets. Occasionally they come back for impromptu performances, but catching those is simply luck of the draw; Bono & Co. performed this past Christmas on Grafton Street (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2078394/Bono-surprises-shoppers-busking-streets-Dublin.html). If you want to get a cinematic idea of what busking is like in Ireland, just pop ‘Once’ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907657/) into your DVD player. It’s also now a multi-Tony award winning musical…who’d of thought?!

I took my own dive into the world of street performing this past week, as my friend Jessica and I busked near Henry Street during our lunch break. Now, I’m not going to compare us to the likes of Bono or Glen, but I have to say that I’m pretty proud of our performance! We both have musical backgrounds, so that made things a bit easier and helped with the jitters. Thankfully, the Irish are used to street musicians and are generally very kind to them. Though they might not always give you money, they’ll rarely give you any trouble. If anything…they’ll give you some great stories!

Jess and I only stayed out for about 20 minutes, but we managed to collect €5.00 and a flying lantern. That’s right, this Irish man (claiming to be ‘The King of Ireland’ aka. very drunk/homeless [?]) didn’t have any change but gave us his Chinese lantern and some words of wisdom: ‘Don’t set it off in the wind. Mmhm you sing to my soul…’ Erm, thanks? Well barely coherent or not, it is pretty nice to have a flying lantern and a little recognition. There might not be fame in Jess or my near futures, but there could definitely be some more busking. It’s a great away to scratch our musical itch and make some bus fare. I say it’s a win-win!

- Jen

Malahide, Co.Dublin

Since Ireland has forgotten that it’s actually summer, and the rain is pouring down outside, I have decided to post something that I wrote about a month ago. This was when the weather was perfect and all I wanted to do was be outside…

I’ve been living in Dublin for about 9 months now, and I still haven’t seen all there is to see. The weather is gorgeous this week, so I decided to set off to the outskirts of the city. It’s refreshing to get away from the dust and grime of a city. You can instantly tell the difference in air quality. Take a deep breath! And look…there isn’t much trash on the ground! Hallelujah!

I wanted to see the castle in Malahide (http://www.enjoymalahide.com/), but unfortunately it is closed until June. The solemn faces of tourists wandering away from the direction of the castle were a dead giveaway. I’ll just have to save that for another day. Luckily, the castle rests in the middle of a lush park. There are forested pathways and green fields to prance around. For anyone who knows me, you know that I definitely pranced around. After the park, I headed to the center of town. As with most Irish towns, it wasn’t more than a few intersecting streets, but all of it was very classy. It’s obvious that this is one of the more affluent areas in Dublin. Another give away was all the yachts in the harbor. Being the less affluent girl that I am, I resigned myself to window shopping.

There are really nice/yummy restaurants to eat at and cafes to take a break in. If it’s a beautiful day, you might want to spend most your time outside. SuperValu or EuroSpar are fast ways to get cheap/good food on the go. Drop into one of those and then take off! Saunter down to the marina or stretch out on the grass. There are also beaches…yes beaches! So, don’t waste your time sitting around your house and watching television. There is an entire world out there, and Malahide should be on your list. 

- Jen

P.S. the aren’t my photos and I hold no copyrights to them. 

Social Cues and The Fish Hook.

I told you that I’d address the following social questions when it comes to going out: What are the costs like? What should you wear? How do people dance in Ireland? Well, hopefully the following post will be a helpful mini-guide to your Irish social life:

• Costs in smaller towns (smaller than Dublin) are usually less than in bigger cities. That’s nothing new! It’s like that in most countries.
• Unfortunately, the cost of drink in Ireland is a good deal more expensive than back home. But, you can keep costs lower if you drink less out and more at home before going out!  Look for special deals around the city! (Check this out: http://www.onoffer.ie/offers/drink—food-promo.aspx)
• Irish girls wear exceptionally high heels when going out. You can try to immolate this, but your feet will probably fall off after 30 minutes. I advise you to go with some classy flats or sexy boots.
• Also, it’s a lot colder outside than the girls going out would like you to believe. They will be wearing little to nothing. I was shocked at all the bare skin and I’m American! That’s saying something. I usually wear a nice dress/top/skirt with a sweater or jacket over it. I know it’s annoying to hold on to (if you don’t pay to have it checked), but it’s worth it in the long run. Personal opinion!
• Dancing. Oh my, what’s a girl to say about dancing? Well it’s so different than in the States that you might be thrown off at first. There is none of the bumping and grinding that we’re so accustomed to at home. There is usually a nice size space left between boys and girls.  Also, you’ll probably see quite a bit of the old school, ‘Fish Hook’, etc. being thrown about. Just go with it and have fun! One great thing about dancing in Ireland is that no one takes it as seriously as they do in the States. Just relax and don’t be afraid to be silly!

-          Jen

Guest Blogger: Canadian Invades Northern Ireland

My friend and fellow WII girlie has taken the time to write about her travels to Belfast/Giant’s Causeway. Let’s see what Jess has to say: 

(P.S. that’s Jess and me in the middle)

At the end of January, two months into my adventure in Ireland, I signed up for a social event hosted by the Work in Ireland Program. Emma had organized a trip to Belfast to see a Giants game (she knew the Canadians in the group needed their hockey fix). One of the many fantastic reasons for participating in these socials is to enjoy the deals Emma manages to hook us up with. It’s much cheaper to travel in groups, I have learned. For 50 euro, we had return bus tickets and a block of seats at the game. Deadly.

My roommates and I packed wraps and snacks for the bus ride. On our way there we overtook the back end of the bus and spent the whole time joking and eating and making friends with a few other twenty-somethings taking a similar trip. Aaron, a born-and-bred Dubliner who joined us in the backseat, was astounded by the fact that in North America we eat a breakfast cereal called Lucky Charms. The most stereotypically Irish cereal is not, surprisingly, available in Ireland. Aaron couldn’t believe there were actually shamrocks and pots of gold in our cereal bowls!

We arrived to our hostel, got changed and headed back out to meet the rest of the crew for dinner (and pre-game beers). Got a good shot of the whole group!

The game was disappointing for the Belfast Giants, unfortunately, but there is nothing like sitting around an ice rink with friends, pints and… cheerleaders? I have to admit, this was the first time I’ve ever seen cheerleaders at a hockey game! After the game, the group split up as everyone wanted to explore a different part of the nightlife. Some friends and I decided to do a pub crawl of the oldest pubs in town. Needless to say, we met a lot of old men who don’t hold back from flirting with a few tourists!

The painful morning after was an early one, as we crowded onto the bus that would take us in and around Northern Ireland and up to the Giants Causeway, on the northeast coast. I got some breath-taking shots of the causeway, but definitely did not have enough time to thoroughly take it all in. For anyone travelling this way, please do me a favour and tour Northern Ireland. Then spend a few hours at the Giants Causeway and think of me. I got some of my favourite pictures so far on this trip, and keep trying to figure out a way to get back there!

Moral of the story? Go to the WII socials! At least a few. Before you get too busy and miss out on some would-be unforgettable experiences.

- Jess