So I know it's been a while, but I've been gone. Easter break has been the past two weeks, allowing me a fair bit of traveling. I began my break with a visit from Lena (down from Sweden). We spent the majority of St.Patrick's Day in Dublin. Due to its proximity to Easter and Holy Week the holiday itself was moved and its status as a day of obligation was removed for the year. I wasn't in church for the moved date, and I don't think a whole lot of other people were, either. While its date was moved, it was still celebrated on the 17th - though celebrations began the previous Friday. It was quite similar to celebrations in the US, but in a way also similar to the 4th of July in the US. Green and orange were everywhere, various "Irish" costumes were worn, and everyone celebrated. Lena and I went to the parade (where she proved to me that to be small is definitely a disadvantage) and spent the morning about the city. In true Ireland fashion (not being insulting, it's just what I've found to be the case more often than at home) the parade started late. Half an hour late. The weather was absolutely gorgeous though, so it wasn't at all unpleasant to be out in. I'm completely convinced that side of the island is always sunny. It always is when I visit. Below I've included an RTÉ clip (from YouTube) of the parade:
