(The Rock of Cashel: The Romanesque Chapel Where Brian Boru was Crowned)
Now, you’re probably thinking: “Wow another castle”. Well, you’re completely wrong. It is actually a monastic church, that looks like a castle. In many ways it did act as a fortress. The Catholic Church at the time was rich and powerful, and the bishops would build grand architecture. Even though it looks awful today and I would rather be in one of those graves than live there, it is actually a truly beautiful building. The bishops were inspired by roman architecture which is why you see the curved arches. Then in the gothic style, they would create long narrow windows to let in light. If you had thought that it was a castle, you would not be completely wrong. The churches would be surrounded with walls and towers for defense. They had to be wary of the invading enemies. It was a beautiful place like most spots in Ireland, and there is a great view of the country side surrounding it in all directions. However, it is a neat place to take a look around for maybe thirty minutes (pro tip: if you get bored in fifteen minutes, like me, you can watch a video reciting the buildings history).
(Church of the Sacred Heart in Donneybrook Dublin)
So after many weeks of being a spiritual degenerate (or a degenerate in general), I went back to church, a nice church (unlike the ugly one in the first picture). I went to mass at 5:30 p.m., and it was a liberating experience to go back. The service was quick but beautiful. Their choir sung songs I had never heard before at a mass in America, and it was a unique look into being Catholic in a different culture. However, I still felt a sense of unity. The unity between me and the thirty five old people (kidding). The church was very empty for being so large, and I wondered how it was able to stay open. Churches have been closing all across the West, and as Catholicism struggles, churches empty. I prayed the Church would be able to stay open, and God answered me. He reminded me of all the insanely rich houses that I walked by for forty minutes that surrounded the building. After thinking about the rows of houses with ten cars each, I realized the Church would probably be fine. Probably.
Here is a fox. The fox let me walk up to fifteen feet away from it. Was the fox dumb? What if I was trying to make a fur hat? That was a joke but its actually cold here so I might change my mind (that was a joke too). Although this was the first time I had seen the beautiful animal, apparently, they are everywhere at UCD. My co-intern, Anna, who recently graduated (congratulations to her), told me they were everywhere. They were used to people, and they had become very bold. I saw the fox while walking to the beach, and I realized how large UCD really was. I wish I had the ability to explore the campus, but I am lazy. The beach was a good excuse though. The beach was one of the ugliest I have ever seen in my life, and I live in Connecticut. However, it was charming and peaceful with some sandy sections and conch shells. Something about the salty air and digging my toes in the sand makes me really happy. I was told I was an idiot by my Irish co workers for going there because there is a nicer beach a five minute walk away. My words to them if I had a pair would be get a Chic-Fil-A before throwing shade. Instead I laughed like a chicken along with them.
The saving grace was food. I mean, it always is. I got a crepe from this place called Cloud-Nine. I had their ice cream in a bubble waffle on a separate occasion which was superb. This crepe flopped at the top, like a lot. When I think of a crepe, it is supposed to be really thin but spongey. This one, as Cassidy put it, “was like a tortilla with chocolate in it”. I got an oreo crepe with nutella. The issue was the oreo became soft and it was hard to really enjoy the oreo in it. I mostly tasted nutella. I would not recommend getting a crepe there, but maybe some of the other flavors would be better. However, its sugar, bread, and pure carbohydrates. I became fatter that day, and I loved it. Crepe gets an objective 5.5/10. It is an 8/10 because I like sugary foods like a normal person. Stay tuned for the next food review.