What's the craic

It was quite hard to take any decent pictures. Backs of heads all over the place.

First off, I didn't know there was a Maynooth parade as well. And it runs from the river down to main street and off to Tesco. That means it's in the way of the two bus stops in town. So, I took the train. And the train is awesome. If Connolly station wasn't in the middle of fucking nowhere Dublin, I'd be happy to take it all the time even though it is about 50 cents more expensive. I think I could get at student rate though. I felt rushed so I didn't ask.

I didn't know exactly where Connolly station was when I got on the train, and I thought I was going to Pearse station anyway because that's what my ticket said. I just asked for one into Dublin and that's what she gave me. But anyways, I get out of the station and have no idea where to do. You can't see the spire or the factory or the docklands and certainly not the river. I just started walking and picked the wrong way of course. It wasn't that bad though. I only went a few blocks before I started seeing signs for Croke Park (the proud, most famous pitch in Ireland) and realising I was off course.

I was meanderin my way through the narrow streets and got into step with this man carrying a ladder. Ahead of him was this kid whose face was entirely painted green and this older kid telling him to stop following him, so I figured they were brothers. I didn't even think to question why this guy was carrying a ladder 'cause older men carrying ladders are more common than you would think here.

I pretty much just stumbled out onto O'Connell street, and even then didn't really recognise it until I saw the spire, and I was so turned around by the masses I thought I was on the other side of it. They completely close off one side of the road and put up bleachers and fences on one side of the middle walkway with all the statues and the spire and some benches. That's what the ladders are for. They set them up either to climb on things like lamp posts, bus stop structures, statues, and street signs, or to just stand on them themselves to see over people. The open side of O'Connell was packed with people too--tourists arguing about where they should go because there's no way they'll see anything here, men selling Irish flags and whistles for 2 quid each, a huge line out the door of McDonald's, tons and tons of drunk lads screaming at everyone.

The parade route went down O'Connell over the bridge to Westmoreland street which is where the bus to Maynooth picks up and my favorite "modern" pub is. It's another one of the broad streets so half of it was unused. The fences turned the corner onto College Green street with Trinity college on the left and some government buildings on the right--about five lads all sharing one street lamp to hang off of. Still too packed to see anything all. Keeps going onto Dame street. All the way down Dame street past Temple Bar district, past Dublin castle, past the Olympia Theatre, and then right in front of the only Mexican restaurant in town, some space to breath. Getting there was typical. People smashed together like a concert pit and only one single-file stream of people going in and out and there's always that bitch prodding you in the back like you're not trying your damndest to escape the claustrophobia as well. There was one woman that was really pissing me off. The mothers with strollers going through clipping your heels were one thing, but this bitch kept her hand on the small of my back the whole way. I pushed her off a few times but it was like when you're with someone and trying not to loose them so you grab onto their hood or hold their hand or something. Well, I don't know, quit touching me.

The parade itself was pretty cool. It's been a long time since I've been on the footpath side of a parade. I thought it was longer though. They got started an hour late (not surprised in the least) and it was around and hour and a half long. Mostly marching bands. It was really crazy to me because I'd played a lot of the songs--Thriller, National Emblem, this one I really can't remember the name but it's been bothering me ever since. The floats were weird. I didn't understand any of them. I don't know if you're supposed to though, or if they are just supposed to be a spectacle. Oh yeah the first thing to go by was a group of bagpipes. I thought that was weird. Bagpipes are so Scottish. I thought there was going to be more "traditional Irish" stuff like dancing and accordions but it was all pretty modern. I guess that makes sense too though since it's televised internationally and all that.

The coolest part was right after the parade. The end of Dame street is up on this little hill, so from where I was right when you walk out into the street you can see all the way down to the corner of College Green street and it was just flooded with people. Green hats and face paint and Irish flags. It was cool. I walked past The Temple Bar to see how crazy it would be and crazy it was indeed. The narrow streets were just as intense as the broad ones.

Grafton street didn't seem any worse than normal--it's always been the busiest street when I've been to town. There were a few old men holding up signs and all they said was "Jesus". I guess they were going with simplicity to get people's attention. Lots of drunk singing/chanting down there though.

St. Stephen's green was a trip. The Garda were checking bags at the entrance and I walked around to the other, less hectic entrance and on the way there were two ambulances on the footpath. I didn't see any people though and there was no Garda around and it was pretty calm so I just kept walking and didn't think more of it until a little ways down there was this puddle of blood under the park fence. That threw me off a bit. I'd never really seen something like that.

Inside the park were all the tourists and children being stupid. Okay they weren't all being stupid, just a few. The park is really pretty though. I hung out there for a while and wrote a bit until these kids came up and got in my space and I left. I couldn't help thinking that in a few years I may have to spend every day with junior high kids. Could be awful.

So I think everyone knows by now I'm not the biggest of partiers. I ended up back to Maynooth on the early side after two pints and called it good. It took forever to get back to the train station too. People at the stations in Dublin are much nicer than people with equivalent jobs in the states or anywhere else I've been. I must have looked lost cause this man asked me where I was headed. I was on the wrong platform and he set me straight, but he didn't tell me like I was stupid or like I was putting him out or something. I appreciate polite people.

The only thing mentionable about today was that I was craving pizza the entire day. So I went and got some for dinner. The end.