Hi everyone!

Well, I have made it to Ireland and am still alive. My furniture has arrived, and I”m slowly getting unpacked. I’m enjoying life here, and am laughing at the fact that it seems that every other day I’m getting soaked going to or from work. It’s amusing from the “well, it’s Ireland – what the heck did I expect” perspective. I’m looking into getting a proper pair of Wellingtons (aka wellies – aka galoshes) and a good waterproof jacket so that I am at least partly dry in between each of the walks to/from work and home. Hopefully I’ll find one I like, that fits, and that isn’t too expensive very soon.

On other notes, I did get a little brief visit with my great aunt last weekend – she was in town for the start of 14 day tour. She’s doing quite well, and she took a few photographs of us while we were out to dinner in the city. On the bad side, I took a ton of photographs of the trip over ( 20 hours of driving, then some 57 hours on the ferry in 4 days as I went to Ireland, back to France to return the car, then back to Ireland again) and also of my first trip to the Guinness factory, and some initial shots of Dublin – only to promptly lose my camera. I’m not sure, but I think I left it in the back of a cab after seeing my Aunt – and am trying now desperately to retrieve it (or at least the card out of it) as futile a chance as it may be.

I do, however, have a new smart phone – which takes pictures and video and does 10,000 other things I haven’t figured out yet. It’s not a great camera, but I suppose it’ll be ok for the moment – until I get my big one unpacked and find the tripods among the multitude of boxes that still remain. So, without further adieu – here’s a few pictures from the park that is 3 blocks from my apartment – complete with large green spaces, plenty of trees, and a pond. Riddick is very happy with the park – and all the doggies he gets to meet in there. (Is it just me, or are Irish doggies more friendly than German ones?)

Anyhow, more on how I’m settling in and hopefully photos of the apartment soon – once I’m done unpacking.