Category Archives: June 9

A Day in Dublin

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Friday morning, we discussed three texts from Dubliners which I really enjoyed. Our discussion focused on how the stories correlated with each other, and everyone had some really interesting points to bring up. However, the events following were a bit more exciting than class our discussion. Maddy, Karson and I ventured into the city for some shopping. Walking through the streets of Dublin, I really began feeling like I knew the city and what it meant to the people in Joyce’s stories. Later that night, we went to a pub crawl that exposed us to some of the landmarks mentioned throughout Irish literature. It was really interesting to see these places in real life because it gave me something real to relate the stories to. The fact that the bar Davy Byrnes was written about so much in so many pieces of literature made the experience so much better. Aside from the literary element of the pub crawl, the pub part was pretty great as well. I wasn’t really sure what to expect in the first place, but my expectations were definitely exceeded! Each pub was so different and unique, and the people were fun to meet and speak with as well. Everyone I have come in contact with has been incredibly kind and helpful so far, and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. As we explore Dublin and visit the places we are reading about, I gain a continually better understanding of what it meant, and what it now means to be a Dubliner.

Incredible Food, Incredible day

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Today was an amazing day. Today I really felt like I got to experience Dublin. This picture is of my dinner that I had at Sprouts before the Literary Pub Crawl. This day was especially special because for one it did not rain. The class this morning I found particularly intriguing because we were talking about animal ethics behind the Natural History Museum. As a vegan, I am pretty knowledgable about animal ethics and animal rights. I almost found this concept to be a “place” for me. Even though a discussion topic is not a physical being I find it interesting that even something such as a concept can be a place for me. It becomes a place when it’s something I can relate to and something I feel I connect on an extremely deep level. This picture ties into this as this is the best vegan meal I’ve had since I’ve been here. The pub crawl afterwards was really fun, as I had odd encounters with every bar tender. I really felt like I got the whole Dublin City experience like the boys in Dubliners. I think the difference between my experiences and theirs comes down to the fact that I am older than them and more mature, so I did not end up having this unrealistic magical views, and I also already live in the city. Today was an exceptionally good day, I did a lot of shopping, drank a lot of good beer, and ate the most amazing food.

A Day Full of Adventures!

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Today was such an amazing day. We started the day by studying James Joyce’s work on “Dubliners”. One of  the stories I enjoyed the most was “An Encounter” . I was able to identify with the narrator’s  adventurous spirit and his strong desire to explore the city, so after class my peers and I decided to head to  Grafton street to explore on our own. Fortunately, our experience was much pleasant that the ones the characters had. We encountered really friendly and talented people that make it easier for us to embrace the Irish culture.

Grafton Street is probably  one the most  beautiful and popular streets in Dublin, if not the most popular one. It’s filled with a comprehensive selection of clothing stores, coffee shops , and of course pubs. When we were walking in Grafton Street, my heart filled with joy. It was then , when I realized that I  was really in Dublin, Ireland. The architecture of this place was very European and classic. One of the things that  I found very interesting and  cool is the fact that almost every store had an Irish flag in display. I think that is such an amazing thing to see how this community has manage to create such a strong sense of national identity, and how positive the outcome of this has been. People take such a pride of their origins , and of their country and I think this has definitely has helped to shaped their character. This is someway similar to the theory presented by Cresswell on Environmental Determinism.

Now that I’ve purchased a raincoat… I can embrace Dublin and its rain!

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As you can see in the photo above, I’m beginning to embrace the rain that has shown itself multiple times this journey (and I’m sure will continue to). And while this photo is a bit silly, I think it develops our answer to the question a bunch of us asked on the first day of class: when does a place become yours? While Dublin is not by any means my place, my becoming familiar with it (slowly buts surely) and not being surprised by its habits, I think, is bringing me closer to becoming one with this place.

Growing up in a tourist area, living near New York City and along the busy Jersey Shore, I became used to the presence of tourists in my places. Their influence is critical to these places, whether their effects are negative or positive. Tourism dictates the economy and infrastructure of a place. From what we’ve seen of Dublin, I’ve noticed the influence we–as tourists–have had on this place. Take the literary pub tour: the effort to preserve an authentic Ireland and memorialize Ireland’s most impressive names is, in part, for its people, but appears to mostly be constructed and maintained for tourists.

However, tourism may perpetuate the Dubliner’s idleness that was described in the texts we read this morning, begging the question: what is the effect of Dubliners having a major part of its economy dependent on its history being encapsulated? I’m hopeful to see examples of history being written for Dublin. What will tour guides be saying about Dublin 50 years from now about 2017 Dublin?

“Embrace me!”

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After starting off the day with a lovely discussion of three stories from Dubliners by James Joyce, ending it with the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl really topped off a wonderful day. While it was (obviously) great to grab a drink and hang out with everyone, I really loved our two excellent hosts and actors. Their scenes – my favorite being the opening one from Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett – were absolutely mesmerizing to watch and I couldn’t have wished for anyone better to host the evening. The quotes and quips from and about Ulysses almost made me want to read the rest of it – almost. I loved how the pub crawl connected to many of the things we have been or will be discussing, even including the films we watched back at GSU. This crawl really exceeded my expectations.

In terms of the pubs, I loved them all – especially the one pictured above, O’Neill’s. Though I wasn’t in there long – hot and stuffy and busy on a Friday night – I absolutely adored it for its Victorian feel. I could tell that if it were not as busy, I could spend quite a bit of time in there – likely requesting to eat and drink in the Writer’s Room. Once again, of course, these pubs got me thinking about place – what have these pubs meant to other people? Did certain writers always sit in the exact same seats? How did the bartenders feel about being there? I’m excited for the Musical Pub Crawl we’ll be going on later in the trip to get another side of the pub life in Dublin.