The Winding Stair Overlooking the Ha'penny Bridge
Today is my last full day here in Dublin. I’m a bit sad to leave tomorrow, but not heartbroken. It’s given me energy and a bit of peace of mind being here. It’s really exciting to be “going for your dreams.” Life can be stressful, but goodness gracious, there is indeed so much to look forward to. A lot of things are hard (publishing a book, building a company, making ends meet, creating a lasting mark on the world…), but it can be fun, exciting, joyful, and good to simply be going for them. Putting in a strong effort. This simple optimism is missing from my life on a day to day basis, quite often. And it’s something that was essential in my life when I was in uni, and especially when I lived in Dublin 9 years ago. I’ll have to find a way to remember this. To make it mine, daily, again.
Yesterday, I had a “day of decadence,” I think I’ll call it. Got up quite late, went to The Winding Stair, an old independent bookstore that has a cafe above it. Well, it’s been completely redone, and the cafe is a gourmet restaurant in the best liberal Irish tradition — local fare, local ingredients, organic produce, imaginative yet wholesome menu — and just a lovely bright room, lots of wood, overlooking the Liffey right at the Ha’penny bridge. I ate lamb liver, streaky bacon, mustard mash, and whiskey sauce, with an interesting amber beer from Italy I’d not had before. Really lovely. Liver was more cooked than I liked, but still a good meal. Very warm, smart, attentive staff. I’m so glad I went back there. In college, I used to hang out there a bit. The cafe then was “literary themed” which I do kind of miss in the place now. You could get sandwiches named after famous books, and I was quite looking forward to a “Watership Down,” or an “Anna Karenina,” or something like that. Lamb’s liver was more than fine, of course, but it would be fun if they’d included more books in the decor, and added back some of the whimsical which made the place so special before.
I then rushed up to one of the main cinemas in town off of Parnell Square, and I saw the much praised Slumdog Millionaire. It was fun to see a film in the middle of the day. It was a feel-good experience. Nice story. Having just been in India, I actually wasn’t too keen on “being back there” so soon. But everyone’s been raving… Thing is, as good as it was, it wasn’t anything to write home about for me. It was fun, it was romantic, it was a nice glimpse into India. But it doesn’t seem like Oscar calibre to me. It was average-good. A box office hit, sure. Nice color, nice young people, hard work triumphing, a deserving youth. But I don’t think I saw any stellar performances. We shall see…
Then, I went to Kilkenny, not the place, but the design shop on Nassau Street. There is a jewelry designer I am absolutely smitten with, and I was told I might be able to find his stuff at this shop. Sure enough, a whole case of Alan Ardiff. His works move! They do! It’s like gorgeous clockwork in miniature hanging on your neck. Ducks bob on water, stars rotate, doors open…it’s amazing. And so very pretty. All silver, all cute, and so unique. Problem was, I didn’t have a spare 200 Euro. I think I’ll have to create a list of birthday requests for my family…it’s cheeky, but I would really love to have one of those pieces. It’s art. And it would make my day. Here is one of my favorites, called, “Follow Your Star.”
Follow Your Star
I then dashed over to The Market Bar on Fade Street where I met some old friends from Trinity. Such fun. Munching on tapas (well, I got a cheese and meat platter and they barely ever pecked!), drinking wine, and catching up with such good people. One is a filmaker who I pray will make it big. The other a director and arts administrator who basically runs the Dublin theatre Festival. A great evening.
And now, now, now, I must get offline, get dressed, and get out of the house! I’m going to another wine tasting extravaganza with the lovely S, this time at the Guinness storerooms. Hurrah! I love Dublin. Should I find a way to move back? Should I find a way to export my friends to be near me? Start an Israeli-Irish winery? Perhaps, perhaps? Ah life. It’s good right now. We’ll see about tomorrow when I have to be on a 6 am flight out of here…
Life After 30 