I opened my eyes this morning, wondering why it was so dark. Turned out it was barely 4am and I was wide awake. This jet-lag is phenomenal. If only I could wake up this early every morning, I’d have plenty done by noon. I’m back from a great trip to Ireland, loved the country, not so much the weather. Since I love making ‘observation lists’, here is one in no particular order.
- There are many clocks, almost none of them show the correct time.
- House doors are one brighter than the other. All painted in primary bold colours. Loved the ‘peacock windows’ above the doors.
- Door knobs/handles are in the middle of the door. Lots of pretty door knockers.
- Sunrise is at 5am and sunset is at 10pm, which makes for one gorgeous light-filled day.
- Forecast always calls for RAIN, because it will rain at some point in the day
- Amazing produce, especially milk products and bread
- The whole country is green, no wonder with all that rain. Many fields with lots of cows, sheep, goats, and horses just outside the city borders.
- They have soft water, which is great for my hair, but it’s a bit hard to wash the soap off your hands
- Many pretty cast iron gates. Elaborate designs on the roofs and columns.
- Ireland is a country of tea drinkers. I fit right in.
- People consume a lot of bread with butter, and don’t shy away from desserts. Desserts are delicious and served in generous portions, just as the rest of the food.
- Beer is cheap, and GOOD. I even visited the Guinness factory.
- Stores and shops close early, and most people are home at a decent hour. The whole city goes ‘dead’ on a Sunday.
- Lots of kids and dogs.
- Umm… unusually high proportion of handsome men, with sexy Irish accents : )
- Everywhere you go has a long history. Museums are free, beautiful, and with great exhibits.
- Dublin has a nice and cozy feel of a small city.
- I liked the absence of skyscrapers.
- There is a church on every corner. Most of them look alike inside.
- Lots of green space, and…stone. Everything is made from stone.
Here is part one of the photo series. These were taken in the city of Drogheda where I stayed.
Loved that empty industrial building on the side of the river.
Is it me being Torontonian that I want to buy this building and convert it into lofts?
