"The only one who could ever reach me, was the son of a preacher man...!"

Today's most notable event was my visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest and most magnificent church in Ireland. Located in the southern portion of the Viking/Medieval District, St. Patrick's is known for its impressive facade and decadent interior. What was intended to be another jaunt in the name of enthusiastic tourism quickly became an adventure all its own.


When we arrived at St. Patrick's, I immediately found myself impressed by its appearance. I had to stand pretty far away to get the entire structure in one camera shot. It's surrounded by a small park and a beautiful graveyard, not to mention a number of people, tourists and Dublin natives alike. The outside of the church demanded respect and awe, as the details within the architecture completely encompassed the entire building. (Side note: I've been on a mad hunt for flying buttresses. If you don't know what they are, look them up. They're my favorite, and St. Patrick's satisfied my bizarre craving for that particular aspect of architecture.) When we finally found the entrance, I couldn't help but be slightly put off by the 5 euro entrance fee. After all, I just wanted to snap a zillion photos. So instead of digging into my purse for that amount, I succumbed to my cheap demeanor and elected to be a little... sly. I waited around for about 20 minutes on the sidewalk outside the entrance, and when the (free) church service started, I made my move.


Make no mistake, I did not decide to stay for the service just to get my pictures, though it was undoubtedly the best perk. The music coming from the organ and the choir were phenomenal, and the sermon was my favorite kind: relatable and brief. Feeling slightly guilty for my itch to photograph anything and everything, I donated 50 cents during the collection. As soon as the service concluded, I started snapping like a madwoman, but it seemed as though no number of pictures could account for the incredible beauty of the cathedral. Surrounded by stained glass windows composed of pieces the size of my fingernails and a sense of antiquity profound enough to rival any history textbook, I decided the 50 cents and 90 minutes of my time were well worth it. I left St. Patrick's Cathedral with a full memory card and a contented heart. Not to mention, I've been humming "Son of a Preacher Man" to myself all day, much to the chagrin of my comrades.

"In Dublin's fair city where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone...!"

Greetings from Dublin!

I've been here for four full days now and I must say, I feel as though I have found a place I couldn't have even dreamed of before coming here. Dublin is a fascinating, fast-paced city with pieces of history on almost every street to juxtapose the year 2010. After sticking with my group for the first couple days to avoid feeling lost, I now feel comfortable enough to venture out on my own, and the rewards of that independence have been substantial. Yesterday I walked along the River Liffey, which flows right through the middle of Dublin. A number of bridges run over the water, and the further you walk down, the more modern the bridges appear. I started by crossing a bridge that has been here since 1880, and eventually ended up on the Samuel Beckett Bridge, which just opened this year and bears a striking resemblance to the symbol of the Irish government and Guinness beer, a harp. Now I understand that bridges are not exactly enthralling, but my point is that Dublin is full of old and new. Elderly gentlemen sit and eat lunch in front of pubs while the younger crowd, clad in the latest trends that accommodate the rain and wind, passes by in a rush. Today I visited the Black Church, a humble old monument that quietly stands on a piece of land surrounded by streets that carry whirring buses and beeping motorcycles.

Hostel life has been an adventure all its own. Living with five other people in what I'm estimating is an 8' by 15' space has taught me to be patient and very quiet when I go to bed at night, as I am certainly the night owl of the group. I already wonder if it will be odd to sleep in a room by myself when I return home, so I'm actually enjoying the excessive company for now. The comfort that comes from sitting at a big wooden table with your friends for breakfast in the morning and that pre-bedtime calm time at night has become invaluable to me.

After what has already been a full week, I find myself wondering what Dublin has yet to show me. Tomorrow I plan to revisit the Viking/Medieval area and Grafton Street, my favorite places so far.