"Dublin's Fair City (2): Sundayness"

Dun Laoghaire Harbour:

Trying to take a picture of the little rainbow below the clouds. As it was still rather cold, I thought this would be better than going to dive for the treasure that is said to be at the end of each rainbow. Well, as the picture didn't work out the way I wanted it to, I might as well have gone into the sea to check what's out there - apart from the seals we saw.


Dun Laoghaire Food Market:

A very nice place to visit on a Sunday morning after a long Saturday night Erasmus party in town, in what already feels like spring in that city. You can have lentil-soup in coffee-mugs and some really nice self-made woolen socks there, as well as a sample of various different world-food specialities, such as Italian antipasti or Caribbean spinach pie, or some organic fruits and veg from the area. And in the end you can walk back to campus along the shore. A shore path that actually reminded me of a walk I used to go for close to Lake Kemnade in the Ruhr area in western Germany. A random act of landscape pattern recognition on my part, I assume.

"Dublin's Fair City (1)"

1. Temple Bar, to C., and all the others:

Ahh, Dublin.

A lovely town. It is very crowded these days, an awful lot of students (mostly UCD and Trinity, I guess) are running around town enjoying their student life as much as possible in between essays and classes and jobs. Also there happened to be a rugby game against the Scotsmen this weekend, so there were hundreds of men in tights - well, skirts actually - walking down the main streets and hanging out in the pub to celebrate victory and loss. They don't only wear skirts, they also wear huge knifes inside their socks - part of the tradition, I was taught whilst having a pint of Stella in the pub. Learning by participative observing, very effective method in social sciences.

2. the lido in Blackrock, Dublin:


Even if there are a lot of things to see and do in the centre of Dublin, I also got to know Blackrock a little better. It was well tempting to go swimming there, as you can probably guess from seeing the picture above. A true holiday oasis, better than any five star pool in the Caribbean ...

3. Molly Malone, to my old English teacher, as this song used to be a legend in his class:


1. In Dublin's fair city,
Where girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she pushed her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!

Chorus
Alive, alive oh! alive, alive oh!
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!

2. Now she was a fishmonger,
And sure twas no wonder,
For so were her mother and father before,
And they each wheeled their barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!
Chorus

3. She died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghost wheels her barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!
Chorus

"Airportness Again"

Luck wants it that I found a cheap flight to visit a friend in Dublin this weekend. I am just about to leave for the airport now. Dublin ... it's been ages since I have been there. Am very much looking forward to that.

:o)

"Corral Berlin Wuhlheide: On Trailers, Vans and Microcosms"

For about 17 years now, there is a trailer-park / corral existing inside a larger public park in the old East. Took a stroll there yesterday, and found myself in a different, yet pretty charming world. Pippi Longstocking would have loved it - and so did I.
Members of the so called "Institute of Vitality" were living there for quite a while, but only few of them are left now, according to the club's homepage.
Next door to each other are living punks, hippies, eco-freaks and what is so accurately designated in the self-description as "normal people". They have some laws to regulate their togetherness, reminding the visitor of the good old camp-site rules from boyscouts summer trips.
As it was a chilled Winter-Sunday, most people were inside, smoke coming from their little chimneys on the rooftops of the wagons. Inside the club's office, a member meeting was just being held. A meeting I didn't want to disturb yesterday, even though I intend on getting to know their way of life a little more in the future ... maybe some of them are up for a little chat one day.

I shall be back.

"Workload, Or: How To Spend A Good Saturday Morning In Anticipation"

Nothing better than hot coffee, nice breakfast, and enough time to do what you didn't manage to complete during the week ... .
Well, except a day off from work maybe. But that'll come soon, too, as the next trip to the anglophone area is already planned as well. This time I will go for the shamrock busters, yay!

But before that, ABOVE ...

[Googlage] "Obama Says"

Obama says wins demonstrate campaign's viability.

Obama says despite shortcomings of Bush administration, impeachment is not acceptable.

Obama says Clinton would be a step back.

Clinton Is New to Nafta Criticism, Obama Says.

Kennedy Endorsement Of Obama Says Something, Just Not What You Think.

Obama Says He’s NOT Ga…er, Muslim.

Obama Says What?!?!?

Obama says we can aspire to something greater.

Obama says SC win turns a page.

Obama says democratic voters passionate.

Obama says no one should be forced to sign up for insurance.

Obama says he might send troops to Pakistan.

Obama says change is coming.

Obama says no.

Obama says GOP will have dirt on Clinton.

Obama says he'd be better agains McCain.

Obama says stronger than McCain on climate change.

Obama says it was a turn, not a snub.

Obama says he'd consider Arnold for his cabinet.

Obama says there is nothing more to add.

Obama says Edwards is inconsistent.

Obama says he can unite U.S. more effectively than Clinton.

Obama says take the California low carbon fuel standard nationwide.

Obama says Clintons are twisting his words.

02/12/2008, around noon

[Googlage] "Clinton Says"

Hillary Clinton says she changed position on ethanol because transportation cost is no longer a factor.

Hillary Clinton says she can control her husband.

Hillary Says She Would Support Filibuster Of Intel Committee's Telecom Immunity Bill.

Hillary Clinton says she supports 'apparent' IAF action in Syria.

Hillary Clinton Says Derogatory Comments Reporter Made About Chelsea Are Part Of 'A Troubling Pattern'.

Hillary Clinton says she'd give up some powers.

Hillary Clinton says Republicans want 8 more years of Bush.

Hillary Clinton says Kerry's comment was inappropriate.

Hillary Clinton Says She Is 'Most Innocent' on Campaign Trail.

Hillary Clinton says she, not her husband, would make the decisions.

Who cares what Hillary Clinton says?

Hillary Clinton says Bush `begging' for oil in Middle East.

Hillary Clinton says the rumors about her being a lesbian are not true.

Hillary Clinton Says She Wouldn't Have Voted For Iraq War.

Hillary Clinton Says Bye-Bye to Indicted Trial Lawyer.

Hillary Clinton says "not yet" to releasing tax returns.

Hillary Clinton says Iraq tactics are working, we are just years too late.

Hillary Clinton says lobbyists represent real Americans.

Hillary Clinton says she didn’t fully appreciate the depth of the subprime mortgage crisis until she walked door-to-door in a Las Vegas neighborhood.

Hillary Clinton says President Bush's time has been "embarrassing".

Hillary Clinton says Barack Obama is no leader.

Hillary Clinton says internet news needs rethink.

Hillary Clinton says she no longer shares Wal-Mart's anti-union views and believes that labor unions "have been essential to our nation's success."

Hillary Clinton says using Barack Obama's middle name was meant as a compliment.

02/12/2008, around noon

"Short Trip To Provenance - On A Personal Note, Homie"

Took the beloved luxury of being able to master my own time for a short trip to the Ruhr area: still Germany's finest, I'd say - well, in the West, that is ... .
As I was driving home tonight - by car, a necessary survival tool most people are depending on in this region - I was following my old ritual of singing along as loud as I can to my all time favourite tunes whilst drifting away in some quiet good regional memories, both old and recent ones.
After a while (nothing more meditative than being on wheels with good music and landscape passing by), I got into questioning whether letting go of some places you lived in is actually good or bad. In a way, everyone who moves has to let go of the old to cherish the new, most people would say. And part of me agrees.
Then again, when it comes down to it, I never let go of any of the places I laid my head and called home (home number one, two, three, four, etx.). Especially this area still feels like home, almost like my current home number one. But also the other homes I had so far - England and NYC - apparently stay what they were to me, exactly like this red splash on the German map.
I kept asking myself why during that ride.
The answer was short and simple: I liked them all. And I still like them.
I still got some good people there, too, which strongly contributes to the liking-part of the last sentences. Seeing them again every once in a while shows me that I got a life there. And even if I don't get to some of these places again in the foreseeable future, it also feels like I am still living there in a way. All of these places made me grow and I carry them around with me throughout my days.

Quite a lucky tree who has roots that nurture him spread all over the world, I would say.

Well, that really seems to hit the spot ;o).

"Equilibrium"

Harz mountains, central Germany.

"Up From The Groundfloor"

One.
Two.
Three.
Four.