Rocky Road to Dublin (Part 1: Friday)

This previous weekend, all of the students from my study abroad program and I went on a trip to Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland. Maybe you've heard of it? You know... Biggest Irish city? Home of James Joyce? Yeah that Dublin. Is there any other?

Anyways, we all left Belfast on the 2:00pm train on Friday afternoon. Riding the train in Ireland is always a spectacular experience: watching the countryside go by out of the train windows really drives home Ireland's reputation for scenic beauty. Plenty of rolling green fields, quaint country houses, surreal and sublime seashores, and, of course, plenty of sheep. Beautiful stuff.

We got in to Dublin at about 4:00pm, and had a couple of hours to wander about the city before going to dinner. A couple friends and I crossed over the River Liffey on one of the many bridges (not the famous Ha' Penny bridge, but we'll get there eventually) and spent about an hour or so exploring the Temple Bar area. Pretty awesome place! A little too touristy, perhaps, but there was definitely plenty to see. Street performers were all over the place: people plucking away on guitars and fiddles, fire-eaters/swingers, pipers, accordian-players, and drummers. It was sort of like a big party out in the street. Which, I guess, is basically exactly what it was supposed to be. Anyway...

We had dinner at a chain place called Apache Pizza. Yeah, yeah, I know... the Apache Indians have nothing to do with pizza. Don't ask questions; just read the Ten Indian Commandments, enjoy your pizza, and everything will be OK...

After dinner, our study abroad program was kind enough to pay for us all to attend a play at the Gaiety Theatre, a musical by Willy Russell called Blood Brothers. A nature-vs.-nurture tale of twins seperated at birth who go on to become best friends - "blood brothers" - and then, eventually, enemies, the musical was a great way for me to experience an Irish theatrical event. And I actually thought it was pretty good. Not the best musical I'd ever seen, but not as bad as the rest of the study abroad students made it out to be; although, yes, the constant references to Marilyn Monroe and the creepy Dr.-Seuss-meets-Mephistopheles narrator certainly warrant some jokes. Personally, I wouldn't have minded if Russell had pulled a Stephen Sondheim and capped the narrator mid-play....

Well, as soon as the play was over it was off to the pubs for most people. I went for a bit, to a pub down the street from the (real) Temple Bar, but it was packed full - reminded me a bit of being in the mosh pit at that Megadeth concert I went to a few years back. Without the thrashing, of course. Anyway, I didn't stick around for too long. Which is just as well: a couple of the more adventurous (sic: foolish) folks spent over $50 on alcohol, so it couldn't have ended too well. Alright, I'm going to head off to the gym in a few minutes, but expect posts on Saturday and Sunday following shortly.

And I leave you with a song: here's two links - one by the Dublin City Workingman's Band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6459e8evb4A) and one by the Orthodox Celts (oddly enough, this band is from Belgrade; just thought you might find that interesting; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDTlQ9xgtGk).

The Rocky Road to Dublin (Irish Traditional)
In the merry month of June from me home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam so nearly broken hearted,
Saluted Father dear, kissed me darling mother,
Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother,

Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born,
Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins;
In a brand new pair of brogues to rattle o'er the bogs
And frighten all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin,

(Chorus):
One two three four five,
Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, Whack fol la de dah!

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight next morning bright and early
Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinking;
That's a Paddy's cure whenever he's on drinking

See the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me darlin' style, 'twould set your heart a bubblin'
Asked me was I hired, wages I required
Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin,

(Chorus)

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it be a pity
To be soon deprived a view of that fine city.
Decided to take a stroll, all among the quality;
Me bundle it was stole, all in a neat locality.

Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind,
No bundle could I find upon me stick a wobblin'
Enquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin,

(Chorus)

From there I got away, me spirits never falling,
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing.
The Captain at me roared, said that no room had he;
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy.

Down among the pigs, played some funny rigs,
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling;
When off to Holyhead wished meself was dead,
Or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin,

(Chorus)

The boys of Liverpool, when we were safely landed,
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it.
Blood began to boil, temper I was losing;
Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusing.

"Hurrah me soul!" says I, let the shillelagh fly.
Some Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobble in,
With a loud "hurray!" joined in the fray.
Soon we cleared the way on the rocky road to Dublin,

(Chorus)