Monthly Archives: February 2011

Wine by Candlelight

Posted on February 28, 2011 by emilyeneurope

I love having dinner here every time we go!

In honor of February, the month of love, I think it’s time to update the “Nightlife” section with my favorite restaurant in Dublin. How does a piece on my favorite retaurant have anything to do with love? This tapas restaurant was one of the first Matt and I went to during my stay last March (almost a year ago!), and then for my last birthday. It’s romantic setting, generously-filled glasses of wine, and delicious tapas-style cuisine, makes it my go-to place now when I want to dress up and go on a date with Matt.

When you enter The Port House, you immediately feel like your walking down into a Spanish wine cellar and your presence there should be special and secret. The ambience is dark, with candles providing the only source of light. Most of the tables are set around the perimeter against benches that are built into the stone wall. The setting is intimate and I fell in love just moments upon entering. Recently, a new location was opened up right around the corner at the Dundrum Town Centre, but the wait is always so long, and I don’t yet know how it compares to the City Centre location. I’m guessing it’s just as great since we can never seem to get in!

As for the food and wine: yum, yum, yum! They serve traditional Spanish tapas and an array of wines, ports, and sherries. If you order a wine by the glass, there are two sizes, and they generously fill the larger size (I’m assuming the smaller glass, as well ;-) ). Some of my favorite dishes have included: foie gras sliders; croquetas jamon (croquettes filled with ham and a creamy cheese); a mini sirloin steak marinated in garlic; paella, of course; and deep fried potato cubes topped with smashed fried eggs. The first time I tried the delicious fried potato cubes, I popped one of the fried eggs right off of the little plate and onto the floor! Don’t worry, I gently swept it under the bench…

Now, I didn’t think that I’d ever be able to go to The Port House with anyone other than Matt, but it’s just too good to squander. I have to take my parents when they come, as well as my friends visiting in the summer (you know who you are!). I also envision a fantastic girl’s night with my gals in Dublin at this restaurant, because finger foods and copious amounts of wine can’t hurt a girly gathering, right?! In the meantime, savor your last moments of February and think of that one place you love to go with, well, your lover!

 

Wine and tapas in a candlelit setting.

Categories: Nightlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Brooklyn

Posted on February 25, 2011 by emilyeneurope

It feels like ages since I’ve done a book review. For those of you who check in for “book club” only, the absence of reviews isn’t for lack of reading. Luckily, I have just the thing to recommend today, and ironically, it was passed to me through a real, live book club get-together here in Dublin.  The girls and I met at my apartment at the end of January for our now monthly gathering to enjoy some food, wine, and intelligent (at least at the beginning of the night ;-) ) book discussions.

Brooklyn a novel

Brooklyn, by Colm Tóibín, was passed on to me during our evening of fun. I read most of it within the week that I received it and finished it on the plane to Milan. Set in the 1950s, the story follows a young woman from Ireland as she travels across the ocean to Brooklyn, where she starts a new life of her own. The main character, Eilis Lacey, has lived in a small Irish town her whole life, yet cannot find a job, despite her bookkeeping skills. Her sister, the more confidant and charismatic of the two, arranges a meeting with a priest named Father Flood. Father Flood sets Eilis up with a job on a department store floor, in an Irish neighborhood in Brooklyn. The story follows Eilis as she leaves her mother and sister behind, creates a home for herself in Brooklyn, and falls in love with a man named Tony. The twist? Devastating news from back home sends Eilis back to Ireland, where she begins to question her life in America.

I found Brooklyn to be an engaging and beautifully-written story, especially since I’ve moved the opposite way – America to Ireland. I also love the time period of the story. 50s bathing suits are discussed and in one specific scene an embarrassed Eilis tries American bathing suits on one by one. Oh to be a part of a period when modest one-pieces were the style! I also enjoyed the description of her trip over by boat. Imagine spending 7 days on a ship crossing an ocean – and Eilis’ first experience is during a storm. Her relationships with her house mates are entertaining and the days spent as she falls in love with Tony are some of the best pieces of writing.

Yet, the end of the book was not my cup of tea. I found myself angry with the choices Eilis was making, and then even angrier with her final decision. In fact, I had a hard time understanding how a woman who had the courage to travel to a foreign country, so far from her family and the life she finds so comfortable, could be so weak at times. Her vulnerability could have been an acceptable, possibly even endearing, quality; however, I found myself frustrated. She is constantly pushed around and told what to do, and the one time she makes a strong decision, it’s not for herself. For a novel that is clearly a character study, I was a bit confused. And that may have been Tóibín’s intention.

Nevertheless, Brooklyn was a lovely story, and even with its faults, I was immersed in the story the whole way through. I would definitely recommend this novel, especially if you are in the mood for a character study with beautiful imagery. Worth the book club exchange, I’ll be handing this worthy read to another at my next gathering.

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You’ve Got to Know When to Hold’em

Posted on February 23, 2011 by emilyeneurope

Chili Cook Off

After our fantastic trip to Switzerland, Matt and I returned to the busiest week OF OUR LIVES (a friend at work recently told me I speak in hyperboles; he might be right). Matt had taken 2 days off from work and had much to catch up on, while I needed to acquire a visa in less then 6 days! I only learned that a volunteer visa was available for me in Ireland a day before leaving on our trip, so when we returned, it was do-or-die time. As in, I would be deported from the country had I not been successful. Obviously, as you read this, you know that I was successful, because here I am in our apartment in Dublin, completely a legal entity in the country…WHEW!

With my possible deportation worries out of the way, Matt and I were able to focus on preparing for the event of the year: the AWCD Chili Cook-Off & Poker Tournament. We’d been in the works of planning this charity event for awhile, and the time finally came. We hosted the event at the Rockfield Lounge in Dundrum – the pub located just at the front of our complex. Attendees would either be able to take the LUAS (tram) right to the pub, or use the LUAS Park and Ride parking garage. Convenient and easy, it was the ideal location. 7 women in the American Women’s Club entered a chili into the competition, which occurred for about 3 hours of the night. At the same time, 4 Full Tilt poker tables were set up with 10 players at each, including a few women in Club wanting to test their hand at Texas Hold’em.

Chili Cook Off

One winner of the evening - our Chili Cook-Off extraordinaire!

The chili cook-off and tournament was set up to benefit our charity, the ISPCC (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). Chili entries cost 10 euros to the charity, and our winner received a donated basket of American food. What American gal living in Ireland wouldn’t want a humongous basket of American foods they can’t get easily? As for anyone who wanted a taste, it was free to sample all of the chilis, but donation buckets sat along the table. A separate set of poker chips sat in a bowl and were used to vote by placing a chip in the glass next to your favorite chili. Our Philanthropic Chair made corn-bread muffins to accompany the chilis, and just about everyone that came by threw some sort of donation into a bucket. While all of the chilis were superb, including a classic Cincinnati Skyline Chili, Christina (our very own Christinabelle jewelry designer) won the top prize with her scrumptious dish.

Chili Cook Off

Matt explaining the rules of the tournament.

The poker tournament set-up was a great concept, and run fantastically by my brilliant boyfriend. :-) The buy-in was 20 euros to play, with unlimited 20 euro re-buys in the first hour, and an opportunity to add-on another 20 euro worth of chips at the end of the first hour. At the end of the night, 50% of the money in the pot went to the ISPCC, and the other 50% went into the prize pool to be split accordingly between the top finishers. When the tournament started, I felt a rush of pride. The sound of the chips, the women whooping when they won a hand, the laughter at each table – it was a rush. All the while, people continued to taste chili, grab drinks, and socialize. It was a new type of event for the Club, and I could tell the women and their husbands were really enjoying themselves.

Chili Cook Off

Mmmmmmmm chili!!!

Now, not every event goes off without a hitch. We had a few rowdy locals playing poker that eventually needed to be “encouraged” to leave, but other than that, everyone had a fantastic time and the main goal was always at the forefront of our minds. Though I was running around most of the evening making sure everything went perfectly, it was a fantastic event. Women were saying how glad they were to come, even if it was just because they met someone new. A couple of our gals made it to the final rounds of the tournament (represent!) and all of the chili was devoured. The bonus – we raised a great sum for the ISPCC!

 

Chili Cook Off

Serious poker playing happening here.

Chili Cook Off

Me and Karen, our Philanthropic Chair! Love her!

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ice Cold Paradise

Posted on February 21, 2011 by emilyeneurope
St. Moritz White Turf Horse Races

Our first cheers of the horse races! This is the tent Matt and I chose to sit beside in between the races.

After an extremely busy week, including a charity event hosted by me and Matt (which will be blogged about in the future), I am ready to go on about our trip to Switzerland. I left you after our day spent in Milan, preparing for a good night’s sleep, getting ready to hop on the train to make our way to St. Moritz.

On day 2, Matt and I made our way to the train station rather early. Since the overall trip to St. Moritz would take about 5 hours, we wanted to catch the early train. The first leg of our ride took us through northern Italy to the city of Tirano, where we would switch to a Swiss train. We were a bit surprised by the nature of the towns at the base of the mountains in northern Italy; they were a bit run-down and unlike what we expected. However, the minute we crossed into Switzerland, the scenery changed drastically. Sleepy little Swiss towns were at just about every stop as we made our way up the Alps. And I literally mean UP the Alps. The train wound around the side of the mountains, going through tunnels, slowly working towards the top. At one point, we could see our original departure point in the valley below from our track on the mountain. Once at the top, we cut through the snow-capped peaks – this was truly an incredible sight. Snow surrounded us and at each stop we noticed skiers, or para-skiers, in the distance or just below. Once through, we encountered more and more cross-country skiers on snow paths the closer we got to St. Moritz.

St. Moritz White Turf Horse Races

One of the many beautiful views as we rode through the Alps!

Our arrival to the city was so exciting! We departed the train right next to the lake at the bottom of the town and hiked up through the village to our hotel. After dropping off our bags, we went exploring in the town, and eventually settled in at a wine bar for a pre-dinner drink. For dinner, we went in search of fondue, and found it at a hopping bar/restaurant. This is where we learned something important about Switzerland – it is so obnoxiously expensive. We were baulking at the ridiculous prices! For example, our vat of melted cheese and basket of bread cost 32 Swiss franks a person!!! At another point, when removing cash from an ATM, the minimum amount offered for a withdrawal was 100 franks; the maximum – 1,000! We were dying laughing. After the shock of dinner wore off, we moved to an outdoor bar where local ski instructors seemed to be gathering for a few beers before bed.

St. Moritz White Turf Horse Races

The horses take off on the first race on ice.

And now for the main event…the St. Moritz White Turf Horse Racing on Ice!!! We awoke on Sunday to bright, clear skies, fairly frigid weather, and high anticipation for the event. We bundled up in our ski gear and made our way down to the frozen lake. That was one of the coolest things about this event – the whole thing occurs on a frozen lake at the bottom the mountains and village. The horses are fit with special shoes for the event, which seemed to work, as there was no visible slipping and sliding. We previously purchased seats in the grandstand, but followed the protocol of the masses for each event: find a seat at an outdoor tent; order a bottle of champagne; bet on your horse for the upcoming event; go to your seat for the race, and then make your way back to your table where your champagne is still sitting on ice, waiting for you. We did this all day and had a blast! We people-watched, because some pretty swanky people decked out head-to-toe in fur come out for the event. We took turns getting bratwursts. We flipped through the program, trying to come up with our picks for each race. Only once did I feel cold, so I put on the extra socks that we packed.

St. Moritz White Turf Horse Races

Heading out to the frozen lake!

As for the races themselves, they were like nothing I’ve ever seen. There were a few regular “flat” races, but they also had two other specialities: Trotting and Skikjöring. In the Trotting race, the riders sit behind the horse in a “chariot” inspired contraption. The horses don’t full out run; they trot as fast as they can while the riders whip them from behind. Truly hysterical! In the classic White Turf Skikjöring race, the riders are on skis behind the horse, holding onto reins and being pulled at incredible speeds. Of course, we placed a win bet on each race, and we actually ended positive on the day!

After a jam-packed day of excitement and fun, Matt and I went back to the local outdoor bar for a celebratory drink. We had successfully crossed off White Turf from Matt’s bucket list, and had a great time doing it! For dinner, we went to the most popular hotel in the city, grabbed a table by the window overlooking the mountains, and enjoyed a nice meal while the sun set. And I must remind you, that the weekend was our anniversary! I couldn’t have imagined celebrating it in such a fantastic and romantic way with anyone but Matt!

 

St. Moritz White Turf

At the outdoor bar following the races.

St. Moritz White Turf Horse Races

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Pizza! Pizza!

Posted on February 16, 2011 by emilyeneurope

Matt loves horse racing more than anyone I know, and thanks to him, I find it entertaining and exciting now. It’s also a good thing he loves horse racing so much, otherwise I would have never gone to the St. Moritz White Turf horse races. But I’ll have to get to that later, because we did so much on this trip leading up to the actual event!

Pretty impressive huh?!

Matt planned this Valentine’s Day and Anniversary trip awhile ago, because White Turf is on his bucket list of races he wants to see. I’ve mentioned this in past posts, so I’ll spare you the details. The agenda started with a trip to Milan, Italy. Matt chose this route because airline prices were cheaper flying into Milan, and then we’d get to take a train ride through the Alps to get to St. Moritz. We landed in Milan early Friday morning, checked into our hotel, dropped off our bags, and set out into the city to see the sights. We went to the Piazza del Duomo first, because we wanted to see the Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Duomo of Milan, or the Milan Cathedral, was absolutely stunning. The gothic architecture rivals anything I’ve ever seen in person or in photographs. Inside, Matt joked that it has it’s own atmosphere, because haze and smoke from the candles rested far above our heads in the gigantic ceiling.

From the Cathedral we grabbed lunch on the square. We split a bottle of celebratory champagne (the first of many in the weekend, ;-) ) and the biggest pizza I’ve ever seen. I thought everything was bigger in Texas, but apparently I was wrong! Imagine one slice of Sabarro’s Pizza – you know, the food court kind – and multiply it by ten. That was our pizza and like true Americans, we finished most of it!

Yes, that entire yummy pizza was for just me and Matt!

We then happened to stumble across the Castello Sforzesco and then strolled through the adjacent park. People were playing frisbee, walking their dogs, and riding bikes. The weather was nice, so we didn’t rush; we took in the view of the Peace Arch, and then slowly made our way back to the hotel. We grabbed a taxi there, because we were headed out to the Santa Maria delle Grazie to see The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

That was truly something to remember. Our guide took us through a series of sealed rooms to get to the painting, supplying historical facts along the way. The sealed chambers made it so that the humidity or weather outside the refectory wouldn’t make it’s way in, which would speed up the degeneration process of the painting. We learned that only about 20% of the original painting remains, and that in WWII, the church was bombed, leaving only the wall with The Last Supper, and the opposite wall with The Crucifixion, painted by Donato Montorfano. Our guide explained who each character in the painting was supposed to represent, and why da Vinci placed them in that specific position or action. She explained the lighting in the painting and how it was supposed to compliment the lighting in the room. Unfortunately, with only 15 minutes to view the painting, we were left with only a minute or two to admire The Crucifixion. When we left the room, we were shown a smaller replica of The Last Supper, and our guide pointed out the differences between the original painting and the restorations. It’s truly amazing how much of the painting is actually gone, but you can still admire what Leonardo da Vinci accomplished.

The popular tourist square where you can find the Duomo, tons of shopping, and pigeons galore!!

With a very early morning train scheduled the next day, Matt and I had a quick dinner, and then turned in fairly early. We didn’t want to miss a minute of the spectacular views of the Alps. And to be quite honest, we weren’t as impressed by Milan as we thought we would be. Obviously, we had a great time, but unless you’re prepared for it, you’ll find yourself surprised by the industrial nature of the city. Milan is not what you expect Italian cities to look like; it’s fairly dirty, hazy, and brings in so many tourists that it’s hard to find one of those quaint Italian restaurants or an area where someone isn’t trying to sell you something on the street. Yet, I’m happy to say I’ve been to Milan and it was a fantastic stop on our way out to Switzerland!

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The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Posted on February 10, 2011 by emilyeneurope

I am no longer a morning person. This realization came this week, as Matt and I have been trying to get up earlier and earlier to condition our bodies for our trip this weekend (more on that in a minute). I don’t think I’ve ever really been keen on waking up in the wee hours of the morning. Just ask my Mom, who used to wake me up before school. But when I was teaching, my body became used to rolling out of bed before the sun even spread it’s first little rays of light. Now, if it’s still dark, I just want to bury my head under the covers. Today, our early morning conditioning exercise culminated in a 7:30 alarm, which is pathetic for me to even admit was difficult. I guess I’ll just have to claim “night owl” as my routine of choice.

This readjustment to our sleep pattern is due to the early mornings we’ll be experiencing on our trip this weekend. Tomorrow morning we leave for Milan, and our flight time is 7:30 in the morning. Saturday morning we catch a 7 or 8 a.m. train to St. Moritz, Switzerland. Monday morning, we catch another train at around the same time out to Zurich. Why all the travel, you ask? We are celebrating our anniversary, as well as Valentine’s Day, in Italy and Switzerland! My fabulous, most generous and loving boyfriend planned this trip for two reasons: 1. As I mentioned above, to celebrate the two occasions; 2. To check an item off of his bucket list – the annual St. Moritz White Turf Horse Races. 

The St. Moritz White Turf Horse Race is an annual event held on the large, frozen lake in the city. It happens across a couple of weekends, and is supposed to be one of the most exciting and entertaining spectacles. Matt’s been wanting to do this for a long time, and we are oh so lucky enough to be given this opportunity now. It’s going to be absolutely freezing, but well worth extra layers and early mornings. I am almost the most excited about the train rides, since we’ll travel through the Alps, a sight I am thrilled to see! I will be sure to blog about the travels with many pictures when we get home.

On a side note, Valentine’s Day holds a special meaning for myself and Matt, since that is the day we went on our very first date. :-) Matt took me to the firing range to shoot some guns, we grabbed Jake’s Hamburgers for lunch, and then went out that night with friends for drinks. While it’ll be extremely difficult to top a unique first date like that (and I must add effective – it led to a second!), I can’t believe I’m going to get to spend such a wonderful weekend with my love, in such a romantic way. I am so very blessed.

Categories: Musings, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black and Gold

Posted on February 8, 2011 by emilyeneurope

My special edition Superbowl Terrible Towel!

The Superbowl has come and gone, and the Packers get to claim the title. I really had no preference, as I’m a die-hard Colts fan, yet that didn’t make the game any less exciting. Everything about watching the Superbowl made me feel so American in this foreign land, and that’s a nice thing to feel! I loved the commercials in between, because advertising over here just does not compare to advertisements back home. Of course, the Superbowl doesn’t happen without a blunder or two, so I found it highly amusing that Christina Aguilera messed up the words to the National Anthem (hey, it’s a hard song). Most of all, I loved sitting in a large room with a ton of Americans, cheering, groaning, and reacting to the great sport of American football!

Matt and I went to the American Embassy for the game this year, which was a huge treat. I secured the invite through connections with the American Women’s Club, so we had a group of friends to watch the game with. :-) The American Ambassadors here in Dublin are the Rooneys, the owners of the Steelers, which made the showing even more special. Even though they were at the game in Arlington, we were given special edition Superbowl Terrible Towels. I wore gold and black, because I had to show my loyalty to the great hosts for the evening. The Marines set up a cash bar, with the proceeds going to their charity, and hot dogs, Doritos, and pizza were set out. The Superbowl wouldn’t have been complete without American junk food and beer!

Decked out in my black and gold - black jeans, black blazer, gold shirt, tan shoes, and golden hair! ;-)

Seeing the Embassy is definitely something I’m glad I got to do. On the outside, one wonders what it must look like. The entire building is round in shape, with beautiful courtyards surrounding. Getting in is hard, but that is to be expected. Once in, you enter an atrium called the “rotunda.” Balconies are provided for the offices on the 3 floors, and they face the center of the structure where there is a huge projector screen and couches. The building was built in the 60s and the style is really reminiscent of that decade. To get a glimpse of the outside of the Embassy and read more information about the structure itself, check out their website.

Our friends ended up leaving towards the end of the 3rd, so Matt and I finished the game down at the Rockfield with a bunch of his work buddies. We were up until the wee hours of the morning, but the sacrifice was well worth it. We were lucky enough to be special guests at the American Embassy for an evening, we managed to catch the full game and it’s commercials, and we were surrounded by Americans all night!

Categories: Game Day, Nightlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sweet Tooth

Posted on February 5, 2011 by emilyeneurope

I have a new hobby that really peaks my interest, but is terrible for my waistline. That’s right – I’ve started baking. I never thought I could be a decent baker. For one, I don’t particularly swoon over sweets. On date night, I’d rather order an appetizer than dessert. Secondly, I love that when I cook I can add random spices that sound good, or just kind of “eye things up” as my Mom has always done. Because of this, I was sure that I would screw up everything I try to bake, since it is an exact science.

I started with a lemon cake from Ina Garten’s cookbook, Barefoot Contessa at Home. I’d been wanting to take a step into the unknown for awhile, and her recipe seemed easy. It was a lazy Sunday, and Matt and I were just taking it easy, so I figured it was a better time than ever. Plus, if I were to choose a dessert or sweet to eat, anything lemon always sounds good. Made with yogurt instead of butter, it is a healthier alternative and oh so good! The finished product was a success and it was just the jumpstart I needed to get this hobby off the ground. I was proud enough of my creation, that I brought it along to Suas for my co-workers to enjoy. Luckily for me, they did; luckily for me and Matt, we were then spared the calorie consumption!

Mmmm, carrot cake cupcakes! And they look so nice on our festive platter.

Since then, I’ve made Peanut Butter Bars that the girls devoured at my book club (this time leftovers went to Matt’s co-workers), and just today I attempted Carrot Cake Cupcakes with a Cream Cheese Icing. Matt and I spent the morning and early afternoon in City Centre shopping for gear for our trip next weekend, and eating lunch at the most delicious American-inspired restaurant (more on that in another post). After walking around in steady rain for the majority of the day, I thought it’d be nice to go home, try to bake something new, and relax with Matt and a good book. I chose carrot cake cupcakes, because carrot cake is by far my favorite of all desserts. After a quick stop by the grocery store for the essentials, followed by time spent in the kitchen, I successfully completed my third baking dish…and they are good! I even got a high five from Matt. :-)

Now, I know I’m bound to try something that doesn’t end up coming out quite right, but that’s okay. The fun itself has been trying at all. And I can’t take all of the credit either – most of it should go to Ina Garten for her fabulous recipes. All you really have to do is follow them precisely. And to those of you who find yourself bored on a rainy or snowy day, try baking! For now, I’ll enjoy my new, yummy creations for a bit longer before pawning them off on others!

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My New Nemesis

Posted on February 2, 2011 by emilyeneurope

I once enlightened my family and friends back home about the trials of living abroad, especially when it comes to transportation. I told of roundabouts, which I’ve gotten a bit used to and look at with less disdain now. I lamented on my toll booth “walk of shame” to pay the attendant, thanks to my left-side driving car. From there I discussed parking garages, where I experience the same problem obtaining a ticket through the window of the passenger seat almost every day. And now, I will talk about gas stations.

Gas Stations

There are a few reasons gas stations make it onto the list of problems I have here in Ireland. First, they are far and few between. It can be so difficult finding a gas station, especially when you really need one. In America, you need only to travel a few exits on the highway before coming across a few oil-pumping machines. They are on nearly every corner, and sometimes, rival companies will plant themselves on all four corners of an intersection. How to choose?! Well, I wish I had that choice now. Back in November, I went down to the Seafield Golf and Spa resort on my birthday to get a massage and enjoy the amenities. On the way home, I noticed I was extremely low on gas. It was a 45 minute drive, and about 30 minutes into it I was having a panic attack. I cursed myself for not filling up before leaving and scanned the horizon desperately. Had there been a toll booth at any point in this drive, I would’ve lost it! But don’t worry, I filled up just in time – across the street from my apartment.

Another reason gas stations boggle my mind: there is no automatic pump switch. You know, the thing that locks in place so you can sit in the car, safe from the heat/cold, playing on your phone, while the tank fills up and then stops automatically once it’s full? Yeah, they don’t have those here. You must stand the entire time holding the pump, watching as the ridiculous price for gas in Ireland creeps towards €80 to fill your small car, shivering in the freezing cold.

Finally, gas stations only recently added the “pay at the pump” option. And there are still a few stations who haven’t. I have been standing in the frigid rain pumping away, only to have to then walk all the way into the station, wait in line, and pay my fee. Ugh! Yesterday, when I stuck my card into the machine outside, I smiled, because at least gas stations have taken one step in the right direction.

Now, I cannot grumble too much, because my fantastic boyfriend usually keeps the tank full and I rarely have to worry about filling up. Also, I don’t drive very often thanks to the fantastic public transportation system in this city. However, I’ve had my fair share of battles with the gas stations…

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

Busy as a Bee

Posted on February 1, 2011 by emilyeneurope

I have been a bad blogger. I’ve had every intention of writing for the past few days, and now I will finally give my faithful readers something to munch on. Just because I haven’t been blogging, it doesn’t mean that life has slowed down at all. In fact, it picked up, leaving me tired and wanting a foot rub at the end of each day. In this edition, I will give you a little snippet of a few of the activities I’ve been getting into.

Here, Desiree is telling us all stories of the house. Unfortunately, my flash was caught in the mirror, but just check out the beautiful room.

I recently attended a lunch at the historic Mahaffy House, thanks to my connections in the American Women’s Club. The Mahaffy House is the restored home of Oscar Wilde’s tutor, Sir John Mahaffy. When the fashionable area was abandoned, it became a brothel; then, in 1967, Dublin socialite, Desiree Shortt, bought it for 8,000 pounds. Since then she has restored a once dilapidated and run-down home into one of the most beautiful and desirable residences in Dublin. And who better to host our group and give us a tour than Desiree herself! She told us many entertaining stories of her time in the home while we waited with a glass of wine in her sitting room. We then enjoyed a divine lunch including a smoked salmon appetizer and a stuffed chicken with vegetables for our main. Desiree waltzed her way around the room, chatting with all of the women and making sure everything was perfect. It was.

Our table setup for lunch in the red room.

This past Friday I hosted a book club at my apartment for a group of girlfriends. I stumbled across this group of girls through a friend I made in the Women’s Club. She had been attending this book club for awhile with some friends and invited me to one at her home. After a wine-filled and fantastic evening, I had a new group of friends and wanted to host the next gathering. Now, we have no ordinary book club. Instead of choosing a book and then discussing it a month later, we all bring a book we’ve read and enjoyed, give a brief description, and then throw it in the pot for anyone to take home. On Friday, I put out a buffet of American-style food, since most of the gals are American and I wanted them to feel at home. :-) We had ranch dip, Hanky Panky’s, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, pasta salad, and more. These gatherings tend to turn into a gab fest, with only a brief mention of our books throughout the evening. However, I like it that way, because now book club has become the code phrase for “girl’s gathering” and I have fun every time!

Add to these events a short trip to the National Gallery of Ireland to check out a limited-time display of Rembrant, van Gogh, and Picasso, and you’ve got a girl who should be ready to take a break. However, it is the first of February and in less than 2 weeks I’ll be seeing Italy and Switzerland. I don’t think I’ll be taking much of a break for quite awhile, so I promise to be a better blogger!

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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