Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

September 10, 2009

We arrived and the flight was bumpy on the way down. Turbulents. Big surprise. It started raining almost immediately and I’m pretty sure I squealed, and said something adorable retarded like, “OMG, it’s REAL Irish rain!”

The weather here really is horrendous. It’s so windy and drizzly and even when it’s sunny out there’s rain coming down hard. But, nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped Ireland for being my favorite place we’ve visited so far. There is such a distinctive culture here — the way that people act and how things are done — I love it. People in Switzerland were really, really nice. People in Germany were not really nice, but were generally awesome. People in Ireland are simultaneously really nice and generally awesome. I don’t know how they do it.

And I have never seen such a drinking culture. Sure, people in Chile drink a lot. Germans ride a bike with one hand and a beer in another. But the Irish LIVE in the pubs. I mentioned to our Couchsurfing hosts how we went to a pub and it must’ve been a really popular one because it was packed — on a Sunday night — of people making a dinner out of bar food. She said that most pubs are like that because the Irish go about their daily lives in the pub. Everything is reason for celebration, and of course what does celebration mean if not a trip to the pub? We saw little babies in the pubs with their parents, and what seemed like entire towns packed into one place to watch some kind of championship (some weird sport that looks like field hocky but with bigger sticks?). And it seemed like everyone always orders a nice dark glass of Guiness.

There’s an overwhelming spirit of positivity that pervades in everyone we’ve met so far. People are eager to offer assistance in any way you need it — just ask someone if they know where a pay phone is, they’ll probably offer you their cell. And everyone comments on the weather but it’s almost always followed up either with a comment that the sun is supposed to shine tomorrow or some kind of joke.

That being said, the women dress like prostitutes. During the day the general uniform is leggings with some kind of short skirt, or maybe just pajamas and Uggs or some other kind of clunky boots — I like their casual style. But when these ladies go out in the evening, the lady of the night clothes comes out with them. I’m talking tiny little mini dresses with giant platform heels. Our first night in Dublin was a Saturday and we went to a pub for a Couchsurfing meet up — I was transported back to my co-ed days when we all shopped for the shortest, shiniest skirts and highest heels we could find in order to club hop. It’s kind of hilarious to see grown Irish women in this style mostly because it’s FREEZING out and they wear so little clothes. And because they look like prostitutes.

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8 Comments

Hahaha! Love it. I have a few friends in and from Ireland, and can't wait to go myself. But I'll have to tell my friends what you thought of the Dublin girls out on the town.
Classic!
I'm glad you liked it, I really want to go even more… And not just for the girls

Comment by William Bay — September 11, 2009 @ 12:33 am

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So great to read your impressions. I love Ireland, however, Dublin is not my favorite part. I love the Eastern Coast and I'm looking forward to exploring other cities like Cork and Galway on future visits (maybe next year). Have you tried Bulmers yet? Best cider ever! And there is absolutely nothing like Guinness from the source.

Oh, and I hear ya about the drinking. Holy crap they can put it away. My husband works with several Irish guys and I have honestly never seen anything like it. Livers of steel.

Comment by lori1329 — September 11, 2009 @ 4:03 am

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Hey Kyle! I've been reading your blog for a while – I love your stories, but I'm not much of a commenter (I know people like me are probably annoying!) Anyway, I live in Chile, but am from Ireland – I'm so pleased you made it there on your trip to Europe! And that you liked it so much. The sport you saw on the TV is called hurling. You made me miss Sunday nights in the pub, but made me grateful for the fact that Chileans wear significantly more clothes when they hit the town on a Saturday night Enjoy the rest of your trip! Joanna x

Comment by joannachile — September 11, 2009 @ 5:47 am

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It's interesting to me that a lot of these comments could also be made about England. The pub is often a real center of social life…sure, plenty of drinking goes on, but it's also where you catch up with friends and have a meal. At the pub we go to, for example, we have “our seats” (even though my dad travels a lot) as do all of the regulars, and the owner never asks my dad what he wants to drink, he just has it ready as soon as we walk in the door. It's a nice feeling to have that community, something I really appreciate about life there.

As far as how the girls dress…also unfortunately true in England. In London in December it was below freezing, and there were girls wearing mini-dresses. I understand the desire to look sexy, but at least put a coat on before you literally freeze to death waiting for a cab!

Comment by emilyinchile — September 11, 2009 @ 9:00 am

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I so want that breakfast. Right. Now.

Comment by Ritamae39 — September 12, 2009 @ 7:29 am

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Maybe Ireland just has lots of prostitutes

Comment by PastaQueen — September 14, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

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What is really fascinating here is seeing how the toys follow the trends of their specific periods, with dollsâ€™ clothes mimicking fashions, and toy trains switzerland clothing following the technological advancement from steam onwards.

Comment by AnnaKSimon — September 22, 2009 @ 3:17 am

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What is really fascinating here is seeing how the toys follow the trends of their specific periods, with dollsâ€™ clothes mimicking fashions, and toy trains switzerland clothing following the technological advancement from steam onwards.

Comment by AnnaKSimon — September 22, 2009 @ 10:17 am

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