Learning How to Pronounce Sláinte

 The end of our trip is in sight and the students are sad and inexplicably sleepy. Well, maybe not inexplicably. We suspect that they're now going out every night, which has resulted in complaints about how far they live from the city. It's hard to summon much sympathy. The most I can muster is a lukewarm, "That sounds hard." Day 19 I'll admit that I'm sorta quietly obsessed with Mellon's, the bodega down the block. The place is hopping from 7:00 a.m. until they close around 3:00 p.m. All day long there is a constant stream of people in and out of there buying coffees, basic supplies (like tea and sugar), flake 99s, and enormous sandwiches. The woman who runs the place is cheerful and chatty and knows everyone by name. I just want to hang out there and have her know my name too.   Before we left to meet the students on Friday morning, I convinced Tim that the best plan for the day would be to get breakfast at Mellon's and then to head out to the Marino...

 The last five days have flown by. We've settled into our lives here for the time being and have found our routines in between and around new adventures and delights. I think I might finally be on the other side of the Irish Flu. My eye got better and then relapsed. I'm back on the drops, but my sexy Kathleen Turner voice is gone, so that's something? We have a week left and still so much to see and do! Day 14 Sunday began with an incredible breakfast at The Press Cafe  with Peyton, Tim, and Clara. Then, Peyton and I took the bus out to Stillorgan for a delightful lunch at my friend Eleanor's. We've stayed with Eleanor during past visits to Dublin and visiting her always feels a little like going home. The day was bittersweet though because it was Peyton's last day in Dublin--there are cats and gardens and work waiting for him, but our apartment is a little empty without out him. For his send off meal we went to the chipper down the street and got some farewell ...