Saturday

The Botanical Gardens

I went to the Dublin Botanical Gardens Saturday morning with Sarah, my roommate, and Meredith, who lives downstairs. You can see the two of them here in front of a huge tree in the park. There was a huge open grounds, with streams, trees, and ducks. There were also many greenhouses, including a palm house and oodles of amazing flowers. I experimented with one of the photos I took in the succulent house, as well.

I probably took about a hundred photos all told, but I won't make you suffer through all of them.

Grafton Street

We took the bus there and back, and stopped off at a little bakery on Grafton Street for lunch. I had this delicious quiche thing, but their tarts looked amazing. Walking up and down Grafton Street is amazing, there are tons of flower sellers on the streets, as well as protestors (I saw a huge group for Falun Gong), musicians (my favorite was a female accordianist who had a very young girl with her passing the hat), living statues (one man had painted himself copper green and found a sheet of the same color. He posed as the Statue of Liberty) etc.

The Jameson International Film Festival

I'm trying to volunteer for the Jameson International Film Festival and had a meeting to attend in the afternoon. I think the meeting was mostly to weed out unreliable people because it turned out to only be about 20 minutes long. Apparently they get about 300 volunteers each year but can only use about 150.

I did meet several people there: Julia, a French girl studying English, and two Brazilians: Raphael and Luciana. Raphael is also studying English, but Luciana is in Dublin working on her Ph.D. in genetics.

The Temple Bar Trad Festival

Raphael, Luciana and I decided to go to the Temple Bar Trad Festival afterwards and see if there were any free venues. Most of the concerts were priced at 20 euros -- which is a little pricey in my opinion. All of the music at the festival is traditional Irish musics -- lots of ballads and such.

We found the Temple Bar Pub, which has live music every day, for free, assuming you at least buy a drink. It was packed, but the four gentlemen playing were amazing. They finished their set with one of my favorites: "The Wild Rover."

I've been a wild rover for many's the year
I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's No, Nay, never,
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No never no more

I went in to an alehouse I used to frequent
And I told the landlady me money was spent
I asked her for credit, she answered me nay
Such a customer as you I can have any day

And it's No, Nay, never,
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No never no more

I took up from my pocket, ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight
She says "I have whiskeys and wines of the best
And the words that you told me were only in jest"

And it's No, Nay, never,
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No never no more

I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
And, when they've caressed me as oft times before
I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's No, Nay, never,
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No never no more