Week 6 in Dingle
These past few weeks have been flying by for me. Each morning I wake up around 7 AM and help Aisling prepare and serve breakfast to our guests and then help check them out (not in that way...get your head out of the gutter!). We usually spent the rest of the morning cleaning, chatting and organizing for upcoming reservations. The routine has been wonderful after so many months away from one, and this experience has given me great insight into the many perks and challenges of running a bed and breakfast. Just what I was hoping for in terms of a HelpX exchange.
Last week, I sat down for a few minutes and reviewed everything I had done over the past month. A few solo outings and local adventures, a great weekend in Cork with my cousin Patrick, and a moderate attempt at getting back into an exercise routine were a few of the "events" I noted from my June. I spent rainy afternoons Googling the basics of web design and coding for this blog, countless hours catching up with friends from home, and so much reading that Aisling was worried that I was a hermit.I'm proud of the way my blog has developed over the past few weeks, but had wanted to get "all of it" put together much quicker than I anticipated (or maybe just quicker than I was willing to work?) Either way, I have been learning loads (thanks, Google!) and have enjoyed the learning process. I'm hoping that when I draft up my July monthly recap I can link to more hard evidence of those hours of effort...
As for my local assimilation in Dingle, I had a few "firsts" this past week. I officially recognized people at the grocery store as neighbors, and even made my very first non-HelpX related friend! Celebrate the little milestones, right?Additionally, three Georgia Tech friends were in Ireland and stopping by Dingle, and I met up with them for an evening of debauchery and catching up. It was great to see familiar faces and also a great reminder of all of the fun facts I had accumulated over my time here. That night was the inspiration behind my '7 Irish Facts From June' post - check it out!
Though Dingle is quite small, there is always something going on. Every Friday morning, there is the Dingle Farmer's Market and when the weather is nice it's a perfect place to taste test Irish classics and a few gourmet treats - my favorites were the fresh scones and delicious artisanal cheeses from the various vendors.
If I turn right at the end of our driveway, then after a short drive I'm met with the endless pubs, shops, breweries, cafes and live music of Dingle. Turning left, I have breathtaking landscapes, endless pastures, my very own brewery (well, every time I stop by I have the place to myself - same thing!), and a secluded beach within walking distance. With the array of options depending on my mood, boredom is far from an option for me here.
Landing in Dingle for the summer has been a fantastic choice for me after 17 months on the road. I can relax and enjoy the much needed silence and tranquility after quite a loud year and a half, yet I am just a short ride from places teeming with live evening entertainment, weekly events, adorable boutiques, and endless fresh pints. For me in this moment of my travels, this fits just right!
Outside of my daily HelpX jobs around the B&B, I've been working my way through My Irish Bucket List. Some progress has been slow, but steady. I've almost mastered the counties and am busy reading Dubliners and Ulysses - Joyce's works are certainly not quick reads, but incredibly rewarding and stimulating for me (I think because I have free time and silence in excess at this point of my life).
Excitedly, I've begun making my reservations for the Irish Redhead Convention, even though it's still 6 weeks away. I spent a few minutes checking out the event's online shop and am already planning to buy at least one shirt! Other exciting upcoming plans I have to look forward to include the upcoming Dingle Horse Races the second weekend of August, Damian coming to visit me in Dingle (and maybe a day trip together to Killarney?), and I recently learned of the Irish Craft Beer Festival in Dublin, also in August. My cousin Ellen is visiting Galway in the next few weeks, and I'm hoping to get up that way to share at least an afternoon and a pint with her. I'm busy peer-pressuring a few additional familiar faces to visit before I pack my bags in early September. Suffice to say, I need to knock out those Joyce books this month - I think my head will be spinning far too often in August to even attempt to pick them up, let alone get through many pages!
It's been a great first month, and although the weather has been touch and go, I've loved my time here so far. If anyone has suggestions for day trips from Dingle or questions about the area or Ireland in general, let me know and I can add them to my July To-Do list.
