Kind regards

So I've been posting mainly about our vacations and not so much about our normal day to day life.  We are settling nicely into our life in Ireland.  I was walking home from work today and I felt very blissful looking at my beautiful surroundings.  The weather has been getting colder and the days get dark at 5 pm now.  The weather is around 30 - 45 degrees F, which is quite a change to what I was used to in Florida.  I had been watching people around me on my way to work to see if they were wearing mittens  and finally just gave in because my hands were always freezing.  I have also started collecting scarves and I really enjoy wearing them, something I didn't get to do much in Florida! I'm starting to think I like colder weather as opposed to hot weather.  My tune might change as I get further into winter though - my Irish colleagues are always telling me to wait until winter every time I say the weather isn't too bad.  I have learned that you just agree whenever the Irish complain about the weather.

Our apartment has storage heaters in the living room and hallway, below is a picture of a storage heater that looks like ours.  We had quite a time trying to figure out how to use it.  The dials are missing in one of them so it was definitely a guessing game as to where we were setting the dials.  We finally got them to work but not quite to the level we need, so its still trial and error.  Supposedly its a cost effective way of heating your house.  Thankfully we do have double pane windows so it could be a lot colder in here.



















Work is getting busier and I'm surprised that it has already been 3 months.  I do feel like I am starting to know more people at work and it is less lonely. I definitely needed to give it time.  I made friends with another American in my company, her husband and her are doing something similar to Michael and I.  Its been refreshing to find someone else who understands and who I can vent to.

I wonder if I will start saying Irish phrases by the time I go back to the US.  I feel like it is inevitable.  I have started to sign my emails with "Kind Regards" since everyone over here signs it that way.  My "Thank you" at the end didn't seem as nice as Kind Regards.  Haha.
Other phrases that are popular are:
"I suppose"- usually in front of a sentence
"your man" - in regards to anyone that you know, might be related to, know about, ie. "Your man
                      Obama was in Nevada the other day."
"craic" - I don't think I could ever really pull this one off without smirking.  Irish like to ask "Any
               craic?" or say some place, even was "Good craic" when talking about good atmosphere or
              fun times
"Thanks a million" - they say that a lot
"Grand" - they will usually say that when you ask them how they are or to say, That's fine or that's great.

I've noticed I say "Is that OK?" after I ask someone to do something or give them instructions, people say that a lot too or they will ask "Are you happy with that?"  I always think, what would happen if I said, No, I'm not.  I haven't been brave enough for that.

New words I have learned from Connor's creche:

"Ladybird" - ladybug
"Mini beasts" - insects (how cute!!!!)

OK, well, enough of the language lessons.

I wonder who our next President will be. The absentee voting was very painless.  My Irish colleagues are so well informed of the President election that it puts me to shame.  They definitely keep up with American politics and news more than I think the regular American does.

Until next time!

Venice

I am writing this post from our hotel room in Venice Italy. We flew from Dublin to Milan early yesterday morning and took a train directly to Venice. There was a bus we took from the Milan airport to the train station for €5. The train ride took around 3 hours. Unfortunately it was a grey rainy day when we arrived and continued even as we arrived in Venice.

When we came out of the train station we were right in front of a canal. You can definitely tell you are in Venice. We walked from the train station to our hotel which was a 10 minute walk. While the canals and numerous bridges are pretty romantic, they are not the most convenient if you are travelling with a stroller.
Our hotel is in the Jewish ghetto. It was very affordable so we weren't quite sure what it would be like but it did get great reviews on trip advisor. We were not disappointed, we got a free upgrade and the room was like a palace. There is an entryway and then a door that leads into the bedroom and sitting area. The bathroom is huge and modern with a jacuzzi bathtub and separate rain shower. We also have the canal view with numerous windows. Obviously you can tell I could go on and on about our hotel. It's really awesome.

Our first night we just walked around and saw St Marco Square at night. It rained pretty hard so we ducked into a somewhat overpriced restaurant for an ok meal. I'm not sure if it was the rain, the numerous tourist stores or the shabby service at the restaurant but I didnt really feel the magic of Venice. It felt commercialised and a tiny bit sleazy.

This morning we woke up and saw that the canal was flooding some parts of the street in front of our windows. As we got dressed and went to breakfast (included) we noticed the water flooding the entire street. The hotel owner told us that 10am was the high tide. So the high tide coupled with the hard rain made the water flood the entire pedestrian street.
Since the water wouldn't go down until a few hours we hung out in our hotel room looking out at the people walking in the water on the street and the boats going by. It was quite fun. People had wellies on, trash bags on, thigh high fishing pants on, or rolled up their pants and went barefoot!
We finally went out after the water went down and took the water bus to San Marco Square. It was still rainy today but not as hard as yesterday. It is a beautiful area with the square, basilica and palazzo. We toured the palazzo and that took us a few hours. The palazzo is very ornate and definitely worth a look.
We had a meal and gelato in the square and then took some pictures of the basilica. We let Connor loose in the square and he went crazy chasing all the pigeons. The square was definitely his favourite part.
We walked around Venice after that and had dinner al fresco in a little square which was very pleasant. We walked back to the hotel and the streets were deserted and the many bridges and rivers were definitely romantic. Even if you are carrying a 1 1/2 year old on your hip.
Tomorrow we are having an early start and taking the train to Florence! We have been there before but always wanted to go back.
Here are some pictures from Venice:

Quick update

I've been really bad about updating my blog in the past few weeks - maybe the past month - so I'll write a short post.  It has definitely been a busy past few weeks and work has definitely been picking up. I thought it was going to be less work here than in the US but I was unfortunately very wrong.  I still need to write a post about our trip to Budapest, Hungary.  It was a lot of fun and great weather.  I also had a work management meeting in Limerick on a Friday and stayed overnight for the dinner and party.  The party went on until the wee hours of the morning which I have been told is a proper Irish party.  I got to know some of my Irish co-workers so that was a plus.  Darcy, one of my best friends, also visited me these past two weeks.  She wrote a guest blog post about her trip to Dublin.

The weather here has been getting colder and the days are now getting shorter.  I can't believe it is already mid October.  Time is passing by quickly.  We are staying in town this weekend, but next weekend we are going to Italy for the bank holiday.  It is the last bank holiday until next year.  We will fly into Milan and then take the train to Venice, stay there for a few days, and then take the train to Florence.  I can't wait!

We took Darcy on her weekend here to Powerscourt - the estate and waterfall.  We took the Dart train to Bray and then took a bus from Bray directly to Powerscourt.  The entrance fee is a little expensive but we were pretty impressed with the estate.  We took a taxi to the waterfall as it would have been a long walk and the roads are not meant for pedestrians.

Here are some pictures of Powerscourt:

In front of Powerscourt Estate & Darcy's finger

Darcy & I on a low hanging branch

Pepperpot Tower - modelled after the owner's pepper pot on his dining table - if only I had that much money

Killing Hollow??? That wasn't in the brochure!

In the Japanese Gardens

From across the pond

At the Powerscourt Waterfall

Connor & Michael

Connor at Bray Beach

Darcy's Dublin Experience

It had been rainy and cold in Philadelphia when I left for Dublin. The same weather was found here when I landed. Somehow it was different though. My attitude and spirits were much lighter and I looked forward to walking around in this drizzle. When Nina said that she and Michael and Baby Connor were going to move to Dublin, I thought "oh no! I won't be able to see Connor until he is well past his cute baby stage!" With that it became a goal of mine to visit as soon as possible. I had never been to Europe and Ireland is truly an easy transition for someone who does not know any other language except bits and pieces of Spanish and French. I see it as "dipping my toe" into Europe since it is only a 5 hour flight and I don't need a translator. If it weren't for having to pay in Euros, I would feel like I was still in the Irish section of Philadelphia that I frequent. Even though, everyone here is MUCH friendlier. Nina and Michael have been the best hosts, showering me with all their knowledge and brochures. I couldn't have wished for a better vacation.  :)

Between Two Bridges

A drizzly Day

Bright Ivy across from the Park

If I could only brave the bicycle route...

Where are All the Flowers? Merrion Square

On the Street Where You Live

Grafton Street at Night

An American Experience in Dublin (Captain America's)

Captain America's (Yummy Mozzarella Sticks)

Love the Architecture at Night

Approaching the Park

St. Stephen's Green

From Nina and Michael's Apartment

The little Streets of the Countryside

The Shoreline

Apparently, they are not friendly.

Something to See no matter what Direction

A Fairy Tale of Sorts

Cliffside, the sun was out.

Character

It is well lit, though my camera would have you believe otherwise!

When I came to Dublin, I wanted to meet a tall dark....beer.

Touring alone, a self portrait.

Artistry in Every Glass

If Paul Rudd likes it...

Then it is alright with Obama!

My Complimentary Pint. Yummy.

Gravity Bar View of Dublin with writing on the glass.

An Amazing setting

The Beautiful details in every building

I could see this from the Guinness Factory. Note to self: Look up rental prices.

Football and Tours

The Streets of Dublin. Near City Hall.