Dublin the Musical
Every time I leave Cork for Dublin all the people at the train station look at me with great pity in their eyes, as if to say "Bye now, sorry you have to be going back there, back to Dublin, the worst place in the world".
Well, I used to hate Dublin too, although I can't really remember why now. It's an unremarkable city with no distinguishing landmarks and a lot of shit pubs*, yeah, but that's not a reason to hate it. I think it's because when I arrived I was "in a relationship", I suppose, and I never bothered trying to have any fun, and then later because I was "coming out of a relationship", I suppose, and I hated everything except country music and cheese-on-toast.
But I actually quite like Dublin these days. Maybe I even love Dublin these days. I was so elated to be back that when I stepped off the train I threw down my backpack and broke into a spontaneous dance. Because, despite enjoying looking down on people who like musicals, secretly I have always wished that one day life will be less like life and more like a scene from West Side Story. One day I am going to step down off that train and fifty people are going to leap and sing around me, magically knowing all the words, while I spin through Heuston station flashing my knickers at the ticket-man because that's how happy I am to be back in Dublin after all these months.
*I mean the pubs are shit compared to pubs in other parts of Ireland, not that the pubs are shit compared to pubs in, say, Wales. That would be ridick.
27 comments:
You drunk yet?
them days are gone
Praises be, the wanderer is safely returned!
Haha, thanks. Maybe we can meet up this time.
Liking Dublin kind of snuck up on me too. Although to be honest the main thing holding me here is my Unlimited card.
I like Dublin only for my friends that happen to live in it and who happen to originate outside of the city.
It's great for tourists etc, but generally I find Dublin people to be very unfriendly.
I think it's the other way round – it sucks for tourists but it's great to live here. I find Dubliners extremely likeable. At least, the ones I like are, anyway.
The ticket man hopes for that day, too.
Yeah, do something for the ticket guy, they have a tough time of it.
Yay! I'm just glad you're back in the country. So we can be texty.
I managed to blog again. The little troll is still sleeping off her vaccinations with the aid of Calpol. I seem to have lost my sense of humour though. Perhaps the surgeon took it with all the other stuff.
Hi Annie,
Hope all is well. :)
Which do you like better?
Dublin or Rejkavik?
Gaye
Hey lady. I suppose I like Reykjavik better because I like small places. But there's no work for me there anymore so those days are gone, hey. Which do you like better, Dublin or Oz?
Truck: we can only be texty if you REPLY!
Paschal, thanks for the link. "I make holes" = I like.
I first visited Dublin in around 85 when I adored all things picaresque and was amazed to find such a place so close to home. But when I came back to live here permanently in 93, I just fell in love with it all over again, including the pubs and the dubs.
Still, horses for courses, I suppose.
I love Dublin, though I'm a native. And I hate Dublin bashing, simply because it's the capital city, it's not our fault you know!
Surprised at your 'unremarkable landmarks' comment Annie. I know we don't have an Eiffel Tower but we do have Christchurch Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, Dublin Castle, the GPO even the Spire which I personally love particularly on a clear day...oh and the Ha'penny Bridge! Quintessential Dublin with a great story and history behind it. I'm biased though I guess!
I do think Dublin people can be unfriendly though, sometimes that's true - though maybe it's because the rest of the country slag us off all the time? Just a thought!
I left a meme on your doorstep. Do it if you feel like it or are running low on blogsperation.
Happy Friday!
Sarah
Hey Karen. I guess I mean sweeping and dramatic cinematic distinguishing features, not interesting places that are of actual historic importance. I know, I'm so shallow.
And yeah, I love the Spire too. AND the GPO. I remember looking for it one day and asking some security dude if he knew where it was because I needed to post a letter. He laughed and pointed across the road at it and I was like "THAT'S the post office? I thought it was, like, the National History Museum or something."
"sweeping and dramatic cinematic distinguishing features"
Try the Bay with the tide fully out, from Merrion Gates, at the magic hour.
or
The sweep of the city from Ticknock, at dusk, with the lights coming on.
You can take me there, Conan. We'll bring a picnic.
Tough question Miss Little Pinch, I liked Dublin, but I really really reeaally like being back in Sydney.
Aw, Annie, lovely post and sentiment.
Welcoooomee Baaack!
I like Dublin - every time I go I think, "I should come here more often."
I enjoy looking down on people that like musicals too! What does Dublin smell like to you? Just curious as I've never been.
My friend Jane once had a dog called Liffey because it stank like Dublin's river. That's what Dublin smells like: a big old stinky river dog that you keep on feeding and petting anyway because that's how you roll.
Dublin I love from all angles, with a gentle raging passion - so I mostly stay quiet about it.
It's a pity there aren't the equivalent of photographs for smells (wouldn't that be cool - smellagraphs?) or I'd suggest you check out how much the Liffey really smelled, 30 and more years ago. It's positively drinkable these days, though I grant you a murky dark olive green drink with a hint of sea gull.
あなたの精神年齢を占ってみよう！当サイトは、みんなの「精神年齢度」をチェックする性格診断のサイトです。精神年齢度には、期待以上の意外な結果があるかも？？興味がある方はぜひどうぞ
今まで同い年や年下としか付き合ったことなくて疲れてしまいました…優しくリードしてくれるような大人の男性に憧れます。 ayu-cha@docomo.ne.jpよかったらメールしてみてください。
I've always wanted to visit Ireland and stay either at a friend's apartment in Cork or find cheap Dublin hotels where I could stay.
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