A Titanic Exhibit

No grand epiphanies, no random thoughts for today. I will spare you the torture. Nothing eventful happened at the school today. I have been assigned to go through countless Facebook pictures so that Colum can put together a slide show for the study abroad students. I love to stalk on FB as much as the next guy, but two days and fours hours in a row (which if you are like me and mathematically challenged) makes eight hours of photo scouting. If you are unfamiliar with FB (and if you are introduce yourself, because you're clearly not from this planet), these kids can tag each each other, making this project a bit redundant and a waste of my abilities. Nah, I am up to the task. I am here to learn. At least I have something to do. I have yet to share my grand ideas to Colum on the projects he would like to launch. And that would be an American grand, because an Irish grand means so, so or okay. I suppose an American grand is the equivalent of an Irish brilliant. So, therefore my brilliant ideas. If you would like more Irish lingo hit me up. Colum relinquished me from my task a few minutes before three. After some, "can I do anything else for you" and "are you sure" comments, I headed out the door and dashed toward the 69 bus route stop. I was going to see the Titanic Artifact Exhibition.

I literally made it to the bus stop as the doors were closing--cue the sarcasm-- much to the excitement of the driver who was lit up with sunshine. I was in such a rush to make that 3:05 bus that I sat down before I realized that I was on a bus headed to, well somewhere that I had no idea where. Truth be told I was freaking out a little and I sat straight up searching for something that sound remotely familiar from my research of the map. You are suppose to let the driver know when you want to, and here is the tricky part, stop BEFORE the actual stop. After what was almost a hour, I knew I was almost there and I got up to timidly ask if it was time. I don't know if it was or not, but he stopped and I got off right in front of the Citywest Hotel, right where the exhibit was taking place. I almost fainted--I had made it. I them began the long walk up the hotel's driveway, this place was swank so most people: a. drive there b. take a taxi or c. hop on a tour bus. Imagine my further relief when the Titanic Exhibit sign presented itself.

Since the exhibit is only in Dublin until Saturday, I knew all the nervousness getting there would be totally worth it--and it was. The ticket was fairly reasonable (18 euro) and upon entering, you received a replica of what the tickets looked like in 1912. What was even cooler was that each person was given the identity of an actual passenger on the Titanic and at the conclusion of the tour you find out if you survived. I was Mrs. Edward Candee (Helen Churchill Hungerford) a 53 year-old female traveling alone (I know you're getting chills). She was heading back to Washington D.C. after traveling through Europe doing research for her lasted book, "Tapestry". She was going home to attend to her son whom she found out had been injured in an auto accident. Mrs. Candee was a 1st Class passenger who was described as a practical and freethinking woman, she had written several books-- one titled, "How a Woman May Earn a Living" which gave women advice on how to get along without a man to support them. I know, she could have been me in a past life. I could only be so lucky.  Since the Titanic made it's maiden voyage on April 10, which is also know as my birthday, I have perked up when I hear stories about it. Think about when you hear your birthdate in random conversation or on TV, radio, etc. You tend to pay a little more attention. I believe in fate, destiny, reason; weather it presents itself with a bang or seems meaningless. Just remember, there is no reality only perception and we have the ability to alter our perception. So my perception is that events that are signigicant around the date of birth are personally interesting and important.

The exhibit was really amazing and well done. Many of the artifacts were well preserved and I was in awe at how much glassware survived. But I suppose that although there was a considerable amount of chaos, objects falling in water tends to be a peaceful event. It was moving as the exhibit showed pictures and told about the lives of some that perished that day. What I am still in awe over, was the steerage exhibit. There was a model of what a 3rd class accommodation would have looked liked. As you pass by it, it is explained how passengers would have been treated and what they would have experienced. Third class passengers would have heard the sound of the engine and felt the ocean move the entire time, therefore as you walked through you heard the sounds of what the engine would have sounded like in one of those rooms--AND then you felt the ocean under your feet. I am not kidding. The floor moved under your feet as if you were on a ship. Amazing. Even though no pictures were allowed, they had a piece of the ship you were allowed to touch. Touched it. There was also a recreated iceberg--touched that too. I am so glad that I went. It moved me to tears, but you would probably be hard pressed to find someone that would not be moved. They took a picture of me in at the beginning and I was unable to find out where to get it. So, Robert we may have to trek out there to see if we can get my picture!

I guess you are wondering if I survived? I did. I was actually really relieved that Mrs. Candee was able to make it to her son's side. I plan on poking around her life a little bit.

And obviously, I made it back on the bus as well. I was a little worried since the bus was fifteen minutes late, but I always knew I could call a cab. But 3 Euro as opposed to 30 Euro to get from point A to B is a no brainier. If that bus would have been 30 minutes late, then I would panic.

This week is flying by. I can't wait to kiss that stone. Because it means one of two things, my gift of gab will be multiplied (ask Rob, I call myself a Wizard with Words) and that Rob will be on a plane the next Saturday. Whoop!

P.S. I was so proud of myself for tackling the City Bus that I treated myself to pasta and chocolate for dinner.

Long Walk to the Hotel

Oh Thank G**, I have the right place

Yep, 100% Sure

Creeping up the Stairs

My contraband