Dublin

Earlier this week, I went to Dublin with some friends for my birthday and more importantly, St. Patrick's Day (24 is just old). First off, it was extremely nice to be in a country where the language didn't sound like everyone had a chest cold. Dublin seemed a lot like what I remember of Boston, not exactly picturesque but still cool. The weather was great, sunny and warm, relatively warm but I'll take it. I also enjoyed the food, much more than in Holland. It was basically sausage, potatoes, sausage, repeat for 3 days and I loved every minute of it.

As for the big holiday, I thought it would be best to list the day's events chronologically, although the order is probably off.

• ordered the "full Irish breakfast" which should have been called "you might not make it to 25"
• went to the St. Patrick's Day Festival parade, I heard someone say they were expecting about a half a million people and I believe it. The parade was impressive, as parades go, but it went on a little long so we left after about an hour.
• commenced pub tour of Dublin
• was called gay by a 7 year old after I declined to put down my Irish flag after he told me it was illegal to carry if I was not from Ireland
• went to St. Patrick's Cathedral, bigger than the NYC version, but less impressive
• met a former Stanford football player, discussed coaching differences of Walt Harris and Jim Harbaugh
• got lost, began search for friends
• met some Auburn girls, ended search for friends
• got in an argument with a Miami fan who didn't like the word 'irrelevant'
• found friends, ate more sausage

All in all, a great day.

Wednesday, we were able to do some quality sightseeing which culminated with a tour of the Guinness brewery. Now back in Leiden, its exam-cramming time with all 4 next week. Not good.


O'Connell Street - the main drag


Not sure what this is


Waiting for the parade


St. Stephen's Green

Finally

Hello all, I apologize for the long post drought. I hope that you mananged to find wildly amusing entertainment elsewhere for the past two weeks. Nothing too mindblowing has happened over here but I'll share a few things. I've taken a few day trips, to the Hague and Delft. The Parliament buildings and embassies made the Hague a worthwhile stop plus being a fairly large metropolitan city, was a nice change of pace to being in Leiden. Delft is another university town that is comparable in size to Leiden but I would say is a little nicer. There was a three-day costume party that was just ending when we were there so throughout the city there were students with smeared face paint, stumbling around, mumbling incoherent Dutch (more incoherent than normal). It was kind of like sightseeing during Dawn of the Dead.

Other random notes:
Yesterday, I went to get a much-needed haircut but bailed when I saw the gelled-up mullet atrocity that the "barber" was sporting. Eighties nightclub owner, I do not want to be.
In the last two days, I've snapped a hand brake cable and gotten a flat tire on my bike. I'm praying that thing makes it a few more weeks.
It's much warmer here now with temperatures near 50 during the day. The wind has gotten intense and it still rains alot, but I no longer have to wear layers to bed.
I'm basically finished with classes after today and exams are rapidly approaching. Yikes.