Oct18

The EPIC museum – Irish emigration

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Sunday, 12-Jan-2025

As the New Year kicks off, it felt rather right to start off with a glimpse back into the past.

Andrea and I had both been meaning to visit the Irish Emigration museum, a spot very demurely named EPIC, for a while… so now felt like a perfect time to take an afternoon and walk through some of Ireland’s history.

I can happily report that it’s a very worthwhile museum – There wasn’t too much that I hadn’t known before, but there were lots of little connections that it helped me make, and a whole host of good stories and personalization that helped make the story a bit more real, if that makes sense. I felt it was similar to the Nordic Museum that I saw in Stockholm, where the style of explaining history through the voice of those who actually lived it worked wonders for my understanding of life back in the further reaches of Nordic history.

We walked, we learned, and we appreciated the excellent curation and design of the museum. Light-up books, a passport full of stamps, everything was well done and synchronous. It flowed, and I definitely look forward to going back with friends and family as they visit.

Oct16

A foggy Dublin evening

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Sunday, 12-Jan-2025


Walking home after a shindig with friends, the Dublin fog rolled in.

I mean, serious fog. We’re not talking some cutesy fog. We’re talking thick, slightly stinky, impenetrable pea soup fog. We’re talking the type of fog where monsters live, and where portals to the feywilds open up in dark alleys and doors that don’t exist during the day.

This was FOG. And no, this photo isn’t edited or blurry. This was what we saw from the 7th floor.


We made it back to the apartment, safe and sound and without having to bargain with any ethereal creatures to keep hold of our souls. Andrea and I poured ourselves glasses of whiskey, and watched as the world unfolded and escaped from the tendrils of fog below.

I don’t mind living in Dublin. I really don’t mind it one bit.

Oct14

A new year’s hike in Bray

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Thursday, 02-Jan-2025

On New Year’s Eve, we made plans to go hiking.

Because clearly, making plans to go hiking is best accomplished while slightly tipsy on good wine and great cheer.

Frankly… I can’t disagree with that, as sarcastic as it may sound. I mean, how many of my adventures during my time with the Northeastern Outdoors club were planned out during a house party? More than I can probably remember, I’d be confident in guessing.

The day came, we met up at the train station (slightly bleary eyed, but awake none-the-less), and Andrea, two friends, a dog, and myself headed South toward the seaside town of Bray. Our goal for the day was an easy seaside hike – Bray Head, a small peninsula / hill jutting out into the Irish Sea. I’d brought snacks, jackets, my camera and my drone… and I was exceptionally excited to be getting out for a legitimate hike to kick the new year off… even if it was a bit of a touristy option.

Pictures show just how gorgeous the Irish coastline is.

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Rolling greenery, beautiful seas, and stoic trees soaking in the intermittent sunshine. Irish cows silhouetted against the horizon. A puppy, frolicking in the mud puddle.

…

Yeah. It was a very good start to 2025. I’ve got a good feeling about this year.