its Tuesday, yeah?

No new photos from me today. I was pretty focused on getting from here to there and back again, and not much else.

I spent the morning calling folks in Cork, out on the Beara Peninsula and at the bus company making final arrangements for my journey west tomorrow. I’ll leave Dublin fairly early, will have a whirlwind meeting with some Mulsim leaders in Cork in between my rail and bus connection in that city, and then will head to Castletownbere where I’ll be met by the director of the Dzogchen Beara Buddhist retreat, where I’ll stay Wednesday and Thursday nights.

I’m actually quite pleased that this trip has worked out, as I was keen on getting out west to visit this retreat center and find out more about their temple project, but it’s such a haul from Dublin that I wasn’t sure how I’d fit in my other meetings around it. Miraculously, it’s all come together in the first of my five weeks in Ireland. The meeting with the leaders in Cork is also joyfully serendipitous, considering that this was all arranged by someone who has never met me and to whom I don’t have a personal referral. I guess he just honestly wanted to help me meet with the right people to learn more about Islam in Ireland, and God bless him for it. I feel a bit guilty that I’ll be in and out of Cork so fast, but I hope to get back down there for a day or so later in my stay here, and might possibly enjoy a tour of the local mosque while I’m there as well.

So that was my morning. Phone calls, text messages, printer ink snafus, purchasing rail tickets online, all while sitting at a little metal desk in my bedroom.

Luas Metro Systems

I took LUAS (Dublin light rail) in and out of the city instead of the bus. I have to say I like it a lot better. Although it was nearly impossible to make out any of the images or text on the screen at the ticket machine (very washed out), the system reminds me somewhat of MAX in Portland. The trains seem faster and run more frequently, which is handy when it’s after dark and you’re on your own trying to get out of the city. It’s a bit more expensive than the bus, but not prohibitive.

I took the red line in to the Abbey Station just a block or so from the O’Connell Bridge and headed immediately south for my appointment at Holocaust Education Trust Ireland. Since I was running early, I strolled through Merrion Square and lingered on the grass for about 30 minutes or so reading and enjoying the sunshine. (Yeah, it’s raining in Washington, D.C., while we had patches of sunshine here in Dublin.

My key still sticks in the lock at the house. It does eventually get the door open, but it’s frustrating to keep trying it, hoping it will actually open the door and not leave me stranded on the street. Maybe I should have a count next time, but I’d guess it takes between 12 and 17 attempts before the key will turn and unlock the door.


(Creative Commons photo by digitalnoise / Davide Simonelli)

Posted in Ireland 2011.

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