Dublin

Only 1,5 weeks from my weekend trip to Dublin and I am already posting about that! I haven't been to Tipperary yet, so this is just about Dublin.

So, as I wrote in my previous post, I took a bus to Dublin, very affordable ticket and the busses are pretty good. I rented a room on Airbnb, stayed with a lovely couple and the room also included breakfast. On Friday I just went for dinner (in a Mediterranean restaurant) and a drink in Temple Bar, and went to sleep early. During the week I get up at 5.50 so partying on Friday really is not an option. On Saturday I took a Hop on hop off bus tour, it took over 2 hours. The weather was not so great but it is what it is! My plan was to visit 3 places in Dublin; Trinity college (I was going there but the line was just too freaking long), Christchurch (too lazy to go in, just took pics from outside) and Temple Bar (at least that I visited). There was a trio playing Irish music at the bar, and it was full of people singing along, it was really a great atmosphere!

All Saturday I was just walking around, Dublin is not that big so you can walk to most places. Had some lovely food, and actually went to sleep early also on Saturday. Had nice chat with the host couple, who also offered me a drink :). On Sunday I just continued walking around a bit before taking the bus back to Limerick. I really did nothing exciting in Dublin, just basic sightseeing and wandering around!

Here's the pics of Dublin. As you can see, the sun did not shine much…

Wait... Could I park here on Tuesdays after 18?

Otherwise everything is fine here! I went to see room in the city centre for long term rent, and I decided to take it. I am moving in the end of September and I am very excited about that. It will be over 5 km to work and that might sometimes be a bit of a problem, but I am prepared for that. Next weekend I will visit Galway, so my next post will be about Galway. I also have 5 days off during xmas and probably going somewhere in Spain then, most likely Valencia or Mallorca.

Last Sunday was the biggest sport day of the year in Ireland; Hurling All-Ireland! That ia the national championship final, and hurling is a big sport here (also rugby). Limerick was in the final, against Galway. Last week before the final this city was going crazy! Flags everywhere, and I really mean EVERYWHERE, and supporting signs etc. The last time Limerick has won 45 years ago. The match was very tight, my landlady called it the heart attack match. I don't know anything about hurling, but I believe Limerick was already ahead, then Galway came really close and in the end Limerick won by one point. I just heard my landlady screaming to tv, that was funny :D. So the city got even crazier and the city center was full of people celebrating. I saw a headline on a local newspaper “the famine is over”, and on Monday at homecoming there was estimated almost 90000 people. Now, considering that the city has population of 94000 that is quite a lot! Well, the larger area has about 194000 people but still 90000 showing up at homecoming is amazing. And I also heard that the hurling players are not getting paid at all, none of them are professional hurlers, they have full time jobs as teachers and engineers and what ever.

That's it for now, tomorrow I have been here a month! :)

Cliffs of Moher

Progress, it’s only been 10 days since my day trip to Cliffs of Moher! I told a friend I was going there, and his reply was “try to post the pics sooner than in a month this time”. :D

Cliffs of Moher… the number one tourist attraction in Ireland. At least that is what their brochure says, and because it is printed somewhere it has to be true. Seriously, I think this time it actually is true. I chose organised day tour from Paddywagon, but you can also take a regular bus there. The tour cost 25 € and you get a lot for your money. The bus departed at 9 from Arthur’s Quay in Limerick, or it was supposed to but it was 1h 15 mins late. The bus was totally full so it is a popular tour of course. The driver spoke almost non-stop, a funny guy named John, and gave a lot of information but also a bit too much of his own, sometimes even political, opinions.

Once again I noticed I really don't like people. When we were on our way to the cliffs and the guide was talking about the area and the history etc, almost everyone around me was sleeping. One even had headphones on and listened to her own music or something. Why on earth you pay for a guided tour when you don't want to hear the guide (or see the places on the way)? Beats me… We had 1,5 hours at the Cliffs, unfortunately the weather was typical Irish (cool, cloudy, rainy) but luckily it rained just a little bit. I walked around the cliffs and also checked the Visitor centre.

Here’s pics of the cliffs

We had a very clear time, 13.00, when to be back at the bus. Shouldn’t be too hard, right? Wrong! 52 people were waiting for 4 who just didn’t care to keep everyone waiting for them. And they just laughed when they got there, 15-20 mins late. The driver told them off, I would have just left at 13.03 or so… That is just so fucking rude!!! I can be selfish too, and I am, but not when it affects negatively on other people. Wankers.

Well, we had lunch at Doolin, I had lovely salmon, and because of those wankers (see above) we had a bit shorter time for that. Again, clear time when to get back. And who came in last, a couple of minutes late? The main wanker himself, who was the last to arrive at the cliffs too, just walking and minding his own business, having a cigarette. Me and the lady sitting next just couldn’t believe it. We also stopped at the mini cliffs, I think it was in Burren. At least the driver told us they are called mini cliffs. I have to say that those impressed more than the actual cliffs! I have seen cliffs before (Cabo da Roca, Australian coast) but I have never seen rocks like in mini cliffs. Unfortunately we stopped there only for about 15 mins, I really want to go hiking there!

Pics of Doolin (just one) and mini cliffs

The last stop was Bunratty Castle, it is quite close to Limerick. We didn’t have time to go in, just to take some pics outside. Have to visit that castle one day!

And the pics of the castle, or not actually pics OF the castle but from the castle area :)

Work has started well, and I am getting to know some of my colleagues. The biggest issue has been the damn bank account! First I thought I got it, then the bank messed up, or they just didn’t bother to send forward the necessary documents, or to call me even after their customer service left three urgent call backs. Why bother… the Irish way you know. Now I think again I have a bank account but can’t be sure until I actually have access to it! Luckily the company was flexible and helpful, and paid my first salary to my Portuguese bank account. I still had money so it was not urgent because of that, but the principle of the bank not doing what they were supposed to do, and therefore caused me not getting paid in time (I was paid only one day later).

Last Thursday I went to a classical concert to St. Mary’s cathedral with a couple of colleagues. They were going, and invited me to go with them. Omg it was beautiful! I am always amazed about what some people can do with instruments. I enjoyed it so much and plan to go to many more concerts while I’m here! By the way, I have almost been hit by a car about 10 times. Totally not my fault, bloody Irish just all drive on the wrong side of the road. Despite of that, I have found Irish people very friendly and helpful, very chatty (those of you who know me are laughing right now) too.

Last weekend, right after work, I took a bus to Dublin and stayed there for two nights just to see the capital of my new country of residence! Dublin Coach drives there about every 30 mins, and the return ticket is 20 € if you buy it online. Or 25? Sorry, too lazy to check. So, my next post, hopefully soon, will be about Dublin. Next weekend, if the weather is ok and it so often here is (sarcasm), I will do a day trip to Tipperary and add those photos to the post of Dublin. Knowing myself, I do not publish the post of Dublin this week :D.

Visiting Finland - Arriving to Limerick

I left Finland already two weeks ago, but I have just been busy (read: slack)... But here it is, a post about visiting Finland and first impression on Limerick, Ireland.

Visiting Finland was definitely a weird feeling. At the same time everything was very familiar, and very new. I can’t describe it any better. It was nice to see family and friends, I actually got to meet more people than I thought. My brother was also in Finland at the same time, I also met my dad, and some relatives from Australia were also visiting, and it was so nice to meet them too. I met my nephews and nieces, except one nephew, met one cousin too and one friend, played with the dog, also got to go to a summer cottage by the lake, with real wooden sauna. One of the best feelings in the world is to have a real wooden sauna, then go swimming to the lake, and have new potatoes and smoked fish for dinner <3. Absolutely gorgeous. The weather was also amazing, about 30 degrees the whole time, it was raining only one evening for a little while. Of course exactly at that time I was at a terrace having a drink with a friend :D. I stayed the whole time at my sister’s place, because otherwise I would’ve been just going around from place to place and I just wanted to relax.

Here’s some pictures of Finland

The dog of course first, isn’t she cute?

Then after 10 days it was time to leave again… next destination Limerick! I flew to Dublin, with Norwegian, direct flight is about 3 hours. The flight was about one hour late because of a thunderstorm, there was also a lot of lightning, so the ground staff was not allowed to work outside, and no flights were able to take off for a while. Luckily I had 2 hours at the airport, so the delay was ok for me. I took the bus to Limerick, it took 3,5 hours so it was a VERY long day. I stayed first at bed & breakfast, and the owner picked me up from the bus stop. She also drove me to work on my first day, gave me a box of cookies to my room to have with tea, drove me to my new place when I moved, served breakfast the time I wanted and what I wanted. She even poured the orange juice for me! The loveliest person on this planet.

On my first weekend I explored the city, just walked around the city centre, and here are some pics from Limerick.

This cemetery was amazing! Almost every grave had more text on the stone than just a name and the dates.

Thumbs up for this one!

This is the bed and breakfast where I stayed for 10 days getting spoiled :). And the second pic is the view from my window.

My work has started well, still naturally I have a lot to learn but I will get there… I found a nice room to rent on a weekly rent, about 30 mins walk to work, and this is available until mid December. By then I have to look for a more permanent place. Or as permanent as something can be for me 😂. The paperwork has taken some more effort than planned, due to some regulatory changes. To get PPSN (Personal Public Service Number, mandatory to get), all you needed before was a letter from employer stating your address. But starting from Tuesday last week (I was there of course on Wednesday), you also need a proof of address, such as utility bill. How can anyone who has just moved to a country, have already a utility bill? What if you stay in a hotel? Who even has paper bills anymore? Many online bills don’t even have an address. I got the b&b’s internet bill, and wrote there by hand confirmation that I am residing in this address, and that was enough proof of my address. Don't ask me how does that prove anything when the utility bill doesn’t have to be on the applicant’s name… But I got my PPSN and Public Service Card!

Opening a bank account then… sheesh! The company recommended Bank of Ireland, so that’s where I went. And they need a proof of address, but the same proof was not good enough for them, they need something on your name. That’s what they told me in their branch in the city centre. Then I went to another branch (same bank), and they said a letter from employer is ok. So I got that letter and went to that branch again, and they accepted it. Now I am waiting for my IBAN so I could get paid. It would be nice to get paid for working you know. Bureaucracy is always a pain in the ass, but this is what I have chosen so these things just need to get done!

I have so many places here in Ireland I want to visit, it is great that I have all weekends off so I can start planning on my weekend trips! Already booked a day trip for tomorrow, to Cliffs of Moher. Hope the weather is ok to take great pics! My next post will be about that, and we’ll see if I do another day trip on Sunday as well. I will, again, try to publish that post a bit sooner. No promises though ☺.