Dublin

Dublin City has definitely turned into a bustling, cosmopolitan capital city from the impoverished, grey place it used to be. Walking on the street I hear snippets of language from all over the world. There are bagel shops (I can't attest to the quality), and cafes are numerous. The coffee isn't even too bad, I can get a decaf latte without any problems but I miss the excellent quality of the coffee so prevalent in Mineapolis.

The architecture here is stunningly beautiful, Georgian houses and impressive public buildings from the Four Courts (our High Court) to Trinity University. There are also many shops that cater to tourists in the inner city and you can't swing a cat without hitting an American on holiday.

I'm getting a great deal of exercise (for my standards) since I have a bit of a walk to and from the bus stops. I have to admit I'm sort of enjoying the stroll in the morning. I'm sure that enjoyment will be somewhat dampened by the onset of the rainy season though I have now purchased an umbrella. I plan to explore the city as much as possible during my lunch breaks in the next couple of weeks as I don't know for how much longer I will be working in the thick of things.