pictures of Cheers.

Digital Tonic is a free to attend monthly networking night for digital media professionals in Ireland which is similar to UK�s Buy Our Own Beer Night. The aim of the Digital Tonic Networking Night is to give the digita�

More info: http://www.quovadislive.com/digital-tonic-ireland-at-bar-with-no-name-on-wed-15-jun-2011-b9c9.html

I know that face from somewhere by Shane Connaughton on Flickr.

Dublin 50 years apart

Write it whatever way you want to by Shane Connaughton on Flickr.

Strolling around Temple Bar.�

Shortly after this, Emily and I were kidnapped by three foreign men and taken to a salsa-dancing club. We managed to escape but while leggin� it it down Grafton Street we were then stopped and interviewed on live radio about ugly men.�

Weirdest day in a while�

untitled by ??? on Flickr.

untitled by ??? on Flickr.

I�ll be lying if I said I was looking forward to this day.

I love my family and friends. I love my hometown. But I must admit - Dublin worked her charms on me. And she was effective.

I�m not ready to leave yet!

It�s like wanting to hit the snooze button when the alarm goes off for school or work. �Please. Just five more minutes?� (Or five more days, in this instance?)

It�s not easy for me to describe my time in Ireland. It wasn�t a vacation, but it didn�t feel like work. (In case you�re not in the know, it was for work.) It didn�t feel like much of a vacation, either. (But it wasn�t supposed to be that way. Yo, I didn�t slack off!)�

It just felt right.

I had my routine: Wake up, get ready, spend a day at the office. After work, I either went back to the hotel and unwound, did some shopping (and bought beyond my suitcase�s capacity�oops), or visited a pub to enjoy some live music while kicking back a pint (or glass�) of cider.

Looking back, I didn�t do very much sightseeing. Last Monday was the only time I allowed myself to do that. I saw plenty that day. (You can even read about it. And see the photos!) Was there more I wanted to see? Absolutely.�

However, that�s not necessarily a negative, given that I had experiences that left an indelible mark on my memory.

Touristy things can be fun to do. I try and seek out such things as much as I can. But there�s nothing quite like being in a tiny pub, surrounded by a group of people who are your friends, even if it�s just for the night.�

I may not have had the chance to see the castles or that Blarney Stone, but I experienced Dublin at its truest. At its best.

Having a coworker who is engaged to a musician seldom makes for a boring evening; through them, I was able to be a part of their world for a week. And it�s almost never-ending. There was nothing quite like being surrounded by musicians playing traditional Irish music and everyone singing, dancing, drinking, and simply enjoying the moment.�

I was sharing these thoughts with another coworker of mine, and when it comes to doing as the locals do - as opposed to sticking to strictly-tourist destinations - she put it best: �When you do that, it feels like you�ve been�somewhere.�

I can say, with pride, that I have been to Dublin.

�

Special Thanks Time!

Again, I want to thank my company for affording me this opportunity, and always taking care of me (and the lot of us). When it comes to my career, I have it quite swell.

I�d also like to thank my coworker, Katherine, and her fiancee, Anthony, for being excellent hosts. They�ve introduced me to the real Dublin, and I�m more than grateful for their kindness. (And I�m happy my slow drinking amuses you!)

To the Irish staff at my company, it was a pleasure meeting each of you in person. I certainly owe you all a postcard from Philadelphia. (And I hope I appear less scary to you now.)

Dublin, you welcomed me with open arms. To every person with whom I even shared the smallest conversation, I appreciate your kindness. I admire your carefree attitude. I wish I could take that back home with me. (Well, I can certainly try�maybe I can squeeze it into my carry-on bag.)

To the rest of Ireland, sorry we didn�t have a chance to meet. Perhaps next time (and I�m almost certain there will be, as I want to start planning a vacation NOW), we can finally become acquainted. (Belfast, you know I want in on your hockey team.)

Finally, for all of you who read this blog: I apologize for such sparse content on this trip. Still, I hope you were able to take even one thing from it. (Even if that thing is, �That girl be crazy.�) I love blogging about my experiences because it�s the next best thing to smuggling each of you on the airplane and taking you with me.

With that, I end this chapter of my travels. Where in the world will I be next? Lessee, I�ve done Japan and Ireland this year alone. (That�s big, people.) I�ll go on a limb and say these things happen in threes. How does a September trip to Puerto Rico sound?�