Am listening to Radio Rnag, Irish radio so, don’t have a clue what they are talking about, but do like the music. And the host, John Spillane. I think he’s funny, even if I don’t understand a single word of what he is saying.
My mum visited Ireland for the very first time last week. Up to me now to write about it. It was definitely a great week. An eye opener as well. For both my mum and me. It was the first time ever we spend a week together, just the two of us. Think we both discovered things about each other, we were not aware of before. At least, I did.
Both mum and I were quite busy the week before she arrived, so the journey wasn’t prepared in detail. The general idea was to spend one night in Dublin, three in Cork and two in Killarney. And so we did.
I took the bus to Dublin on Friday morning. I definitely wanted to pick my mum up at the airport. Watched ‘Love Actually’ the week before and was therefore prepared for an emotional reunion like they do it in the movie. But went for a Cappuccino in the bar first, to get my nerves under control. Had still about fifteen minutes left, when I discovered my mums plane had already landed. Got a small panic attack, because I absolutely wanted to see my mum set foot on Irish soil for the first time. Rushed to the big automatic sandblasted sliding doors and as she didn’t appear in the next ten minutes I was really convinced I missed her. Waited another ten minutes, next to a nervy young fellow with a bouquet of roses waiting for a more romantic reunion, when my mum finally appeared. It was emotional indeed. My dad would call it “Hove’s way”(that’s the small town my mum comes from, not that different from the place my dad comes from, but nevertheless such a big issue).
It was quite late, so we immediately took the Airlink Bus to town. We were going to spend our first night in Dublin, in a hostel. Ashfield House was expensive. The room wasn’t impressive at all. Had to share it with two other women. Was a bit worried about that. But there was no need for it, as my mum didn’t snore at all….that night. Dublin was busy, very busy. We went for a quick bite in a nice, not too expensive restaurant in Talbot Street. Wanted to show her Temple Bar. I know Temple Bar is not really Irish, especially not at this time of the year. No surprise so, my mum remarked that everyone was speaking Spanish. But it was a great experience anyway. We had some pints there and got plenty of opportunity to admire Irish dress code, or the lack for it. I am already used to it, but I think my mum’s first evening out in Ireland was a bit of a culture shock. And don’t understand me wrong, it’s not as if my mum is an old fashioned, conservative housemother. My mum definitely knows what fashion is about (that’s her job after all) and she definitely knows as well how to deal with the pints. We did stay till last order and went back to Ashfield House for our first night of the holiday.
I visited Dublin a couple of times before, but never went to Kilmainham Jail so that’s where we went the next morning. After nearly three weeks without rain it was raining that Saturday. I am living in Ireland for almost six months now and so far I never met any Belgians. But it was like my mum brought half of the country with her last week. First on my way to Dublin on the bus, in front of me a Flemish girl with her mother (a “midlife crisis one”, wearing a K-way, too short and definitely too tight cycling pants and sports shoes). And five minutes after the tour in the Jail started, I suddenly realised we were actually surrounded by Belgian, Flemish speaking people. We managed to end up in a group of “Anders Reizen”, one of those organisations in Flemish-speaking Belgium, organizing “alternative holidays”. The tour itself was really interesting. James, our guide was all right looking, and definitely knew what he was talking about. It was a bit less clear for us, as we got so much information in such a short period. Did buy a History of Ireland today at Waterstones. Just give me another month and I know everything about the Easter Uprising and Irish Independence. After all, as a Master in Contemporary History, that’s exactly what people expect of me, isn’t it?
The rest of the day, we just wandered around. We went window shopping in the expensive shops of Dublin and had a tea with scone in Bewley’s, at Grafton Street. Around five we returned back to Ashfield House to pick up our luggage and took the bus down to Cork. Was prepared for a five hour long sleep, leaning against my mums shoulder, but reality turned out differently. Bus was very crowded and so we couldn’t sit next to each other. Didn’t even had a window seat. The trip was hell. The smell of fast food, candies, coffee. Some hyperactive child, crying nearly all the time in front of us. Great was my relief when around half ten we finally arrived at Parnell Place. Rain was lashing down, my mum was having some pain in her hip so we took the taxi home. Had another cup of tea and straight to bed after that. Just can’t understand one of my housemates is taking that bus nearly every weekend to see her boyfriend in Glendalough.
I love living in Cork. I had two days now to convince my mum of the city’s charms. She already gave in after an hour. My mum loooooved Cork. Despite the rain lashing down the whole Sunday. In the morning we went to the exhibition of Sebastião Salgado, named Exodus. Very impressive. One of the people working at the gallery lived in Antwerp himself for a couple of months. He loved shopping in the “Nationale Straat”. Definitely explained why this guy was dressed like three times more trendy than the average Irish guy in Cork. Even his glasses were special (I have a big issue with glasses since I live in Ireland. You who already met me, know I have a pair of black ones myself and for some reason Irish people always have to make remarks about them. Am getting really tired of it.) After the exhibition we went for a quick lunch and after that to The Old Oak, to watch the hurling match. Cork playing in the quarter finals of the All Ireland. There through. Go Cork, go Cork. Think my mum did like it. The atmosphere etc. The friendliness as well. Waterford jerseys sitting next to Cork jerseys without fighting. Back home we enjoyed a healthy salad and got dressed for a night out in Cork. Showed my mum The Lobby (R.I.P.), the legendary live music venue, closed down yesterday night and Sin E, for some great traditional sessions. Night before I slept in one of my housemates room (she was in Plymouth, for a real military ball), but as she was back had to sleep in the living room that night. On an airbed. My mum upstairs in my room. Plan for the next morning was The English Market and some shopping in the morning and maybe Cobh in the afternoon.
To be continued......have a great week
Saskia
I am aware of the fact that I didn't update my blog for the last month. Not that nothing happened last month...no, September was actually great.
