My gorgeous sis Priyanga made a visit to sunny Dublin last weekend. More about that later, but here’s a sneak peak. A street style photographer caught up with her just outside the Pygmalion. You can check out more pics on her and other fashionistas on InObsession.
Reality exceeded my expectations, Cork was wonderful!
In short, it was a weekend full of great conversations; tasty Irish food and home baked bread and scones; music, song and guitar; something as random as a caravan-get-together(!!!!); wine and more good food; Lovely Irish people with a genuine interest of getting to know the Swedish girl; sleeping till late; lots and lots of rain; waterbottles and fires to warm cold feet; laughter; and a lot of motherly care from Mrs O’Donovan (she sent with homemade jam and coleslaw!) and she always said “Love” or “Darling” with here warm and cheerful Irish accent, which melted my heart!
A great weekend! Thank you O’Donovan’s!
Outside the roads were floded, but inside a fire and an Irish meal made of smoked Bacon, cabbage and praties (potatoes) was waiting for us. It was delicious!
We sat down by the fire with a bottle of red wine, and got to know each other. After a while Tony, Mr O’Donovan, picked up the guitarr and entertained us with his music. Short after Fiona joined in by playing the fluit and sang. Oh Lord, she has a beautiful voice. Listening to the two of them singing and playing old Irish songs, was magical. Get goosebumps just thinking about it.
Tony let us wish songs. I wished for Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan I got.
We talked for hours, about life here in Dublin, in Sweden. About school, politics, music. And about Irish history in particular.
The strategic geographical location of Ireland has made the country an important pawn of the great powers. During centuries, the Irish people have have been so miss-treated, but have been fighting for their right to live.
Tony and Fiona sang many old Irish songs from The Famine, while Margret told me about the dark ages when the British Empire was starving the people to death. Only 170 years ago, in the 1840’s, the Famine took 6 million people. Actually more people than there is in Ireland today.
They sang “The Praties they grow small”, a song from that time.
They insisted on me playing something swedish. Played a short tune by Kent.
At 3,30 am, I was tucked in with 6 blankets and two water bottles.On Saturday we went out to Kinsale, and had a great walk to an old fort. Yet again they could tell about ages when the English, Spanish and Americans fought for Ireland. Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs, so I don’t have any photos from that.
There’s no question who deserves the mark on this. And that’s what I love about this country and its people. There’s no fuss, nothing is very complicated or to structured. If you want to do something, just ask and someone will undoubtedly say yes. However, in Sweden people are often tied up in something very important. Schedule’s all set and people often hang out in their groups and rarely leave it for a beer with someone else. OK, I might have over-exaggerated a bit, but it is not far from the truth.
Sweden vs. Ireland
1-1
Anywho.. Over to yesterday’s excuse for a party:
TWELVE PUBS OF CHRISTMAS The last couple of weeks Dublin been INVADED of people dressed in sweaters that, well, lets just say that Mark Darcy’s mother would be proud. People dressing in awful, yet charming, Rudolph-sweaters. Santa hats. Reindeers antlers. Christmas tree lightning in their hair. On their shirts. On their shoes. Business people. Students. Old people. Young people. Hip people.
In Ireland, they have put a christmas-twist on their usual pub crawl, by dressing up like a christmas tree and then visiting 12 pubs on a strict schedule! And it was busy, every pub was crammed with happy people! Of course,I had to try it out!Quite satisfied with the result! Was invited to join sweet Fiona, her sister Teresa and friends.
Irish people are the most relaxed, easy going people, but when it comes to 12 Pubs of christmas, it gets serious. Look at the schedule they emailed everyone, love it!
Got to try out a bunch of cool pubs, found my favorite one so far: the pub with no name. Cool atmosphere, cool music, gorgeous people
As you can see, the results of photoing is as good as the number of pubs you’ve visited. Hmm..
Previous weekend I fell even more in love with this place and I was re-boosted with new energy! Why?
Had the perfect excuse to take a break from the finals, got a visit from Sweden! Not only did I not spend a single minute thinking of school, but I got also to experience Dublin again!
We spent the weekend by eating and drinking. Walked. Ate great seafood. B&B. Showed my Dublin. Pubs. Watched Dublin girls try to walk in high heals. Laughed. Ate and drank some more. Lazy mornings. Full Irish breakfasts. Sunday market. Visit to Howth. Drank with fishermen. Stunning coastal walk.
Simply a great weekend!
Lussebulle, all the way from Sweden!
Love great presentation – the menues inside book of Hemingway
Hey!
I’m so thrilled, and actually a bit surprised, when looking at the stats and seeing that so many are visiting my blog every so often. And therefor also a bit ashamed for being so inactive… Sorry!
I went back to Sweden for my dissertation, as I mentioned and ended up staying there for a little more than two weeks. The first week was dedicated to the dissertation:
making the presentation, the actual presentation for the school, the presentation for the whole company we’d been writing about(!), getting feedback and then graduation. It has been a hard amount of work, as most of you’ve heard me nag about from time to time. After getting great feedback from the company’s employees, Country Manager and the CEO it just made it all so worth it! And the frosting on the cake: we got awarded for writing the best report in the class!
Now, after graduating from my undergrad, I can finally focus 100% on the masters and my life here in Dublin!
I was suposed to study a lot more (I have 7 reports to hand in the upcoming 5 weeks…), but, when arriving to Sweden I realized I’ve lived with a somewhat stressful pase. Therefor, I spent my second week just relaxing, meeting friends, eating great food. Sleeping!
Here you have another cascade of pictures from the last days. Click on one of them to enlarge.
Started my Sweden-trip with Brunch made by Hannahs oh so wonderful boyfriend Lars.
Lars, I really hope you know how much we appreciated it!
Entry code “My year of birth”. So typically of Fredrik 🙂
Pre Presentation of the dissertation: Dancing to “Don’t stop me now”
Post Presentation: well deserved celebration
Even more celebration
Saturday walk around Djurgården with Henrik
Lunch at Vigårda with Henrik. Their Lamb burger is delicious!
Visited my Godson and his mother and little sister.
Most Random I’ve ever seen! Among the cufflinks picturing the flags of Scandinavia, UK and that States, see what I found!
Sri Lanka represent!
Did some shopping with the guys
Spent one cozy evening with mamma, drinking Irish coffee and watching romcoms
Instagram-fever! It is simply fun to watch others trying to capture the perfect picture 🙂
I got to meet Linas, one of my oldest friends, first born! Let me present little Ellen
The day of graduation! Here I just received my diploma for my undergrad.
Here me and Martin got diplomas for being class representatives
Best of that day: My group got awarded for writing the best report!
Myself and Henrik
Me and the group. We were awarded with a diploma, a scholarship and a magnum bottle of champagne 🙂
Happy happy!
Myself and Anna
Martin and his lovely family
Graduation party!
Graduation party @ Undici
So pretty!
Korean dinner at Kimchi with baby sister Pri and Malin
Korean dinner with baby sister Pri and Malin
Another nice walk in Stockholm
We found the most fascinating leaves! Looked like snow from far.
Asian “Beef tartar triologi” in the making. Hands down the best tartar I’ve ever eaten!
Asian “Beef tartar triologi” – done!
Asian “Beef tartar triologi” – done!
Asian “Beef tartar triologi” – done!
Asian “Beef tartar triologi” – done!
You’ll have to try it yourself! I’ll get back with a recipe!
My cute Godson had decorated the front porch with Irelands flag, so that I would feel at home. How cute was that?
Had a lovely dinner at Matkultur in Stockholm. This quirky, cute little restaurant with great food and fun decorations. Try it!
More about the dissertation. Here you see me while crying my eyes out because we’d just received major appraisals from the examinator
Here’s my sweet little sister!
Korean dinner with baby sister Pri and Malin. This course is namned Bibimbab (stir the rice) and is yummy, you have to try it.
For every minute, of every day I fall more and more in love with this country, this city and its people. This weekend, my fourth in Dublin, made it a whole lot better as well!
Firstly, the sun has been shining almost all the time, yeay! Started the weekend with a three hour walk on Friday afternoon after school. Went down south of city centre; along the canal and further down to Rahtmines (it’s impossible to not love the names here).
View from DBS at George Street
This is how my street look like further down the road. Aungier/Camden Street
Very important!
The canal
Treated myself with a cappucino in the sun!
Later in the evening I was invited to a release party in Christchurch with my new friend Rosa. Rosa lived in my flat before me, that’s how we met.
The venue was pretty cool, and I must say the place was crammed with gorgeous people – a real Hipsters Paradise!
The location was called South Studios which apparently is a like a hub for artsy people. The party was for a fashion magazine, which Rosa’s written for (she’s a freelancing journalist). They projected the coming issue on the wall, it looked nice.
Later, we ended up at a birthday party in Rathmines. The hostess was an artist; i.e. there was a lot of artsy people there as well! The place was nice, however I do question some of the installations there. But it is as they say; It’s in the eyes of the beholder.
Art?
Met a new friend at the party, Javier Saez. A wonderful, warm hearted person!
On Saturday I took the train to Killester. Wanted to visit S:t Anne’s Park so I draged along Pedro from my class.
Gaelic Football at S:t Anne’s Park
There was an impressive rose garden which I really hope to see in blom next year!
Had a pre party with Pri before meeting up with Fiona and her friends from collage. Love Skype! Love Pri!
Today I treated myself by sleeping till late and then went to the National Museum of Ireland! Saw an exhibition about when the Vikings entering Ireland. I went by myself, and I must say I really enjoyed that. To just walk alone with my own thoughts. A great Sunday contemplating time! ALso, it’s actually for free, and they have a lot of different exhibitions in the city so this might be a permanent Sunday activity for me!
I think I will have to start with apologizing for the lack of updates; the past week I’ve had crazy much to do and way to little sleep.
I moved in to my flat last sunday. As I’ve told I live really central, which I enjoy a lot!
After living three years on my own, in a 67 sq.m I must say that moving in to a shared flat is different. Don’t get me wrong, the ladies are great, but having to adjust to three strangers and sharing the main areas, is somewhat a challenge. But also fun and an adventure in it self!
Other than that I’ve mainly been occupied with school. The masters studies is still quite easy, however, having to focus so much on the language makes it a bit more difficult. I really enjoy every single course but one of them stands out from the crowed, it has really taken me by surprise! This specific course was the one I’d looked the least forward to: Financial Analytics!
I had imagined it to be solely based on figures and numbers, not very exciting. Instead, it is the reverse! The lecturer is excellent in his pedagogic way, explaining everything, not from the Accountants perspective, but in the point of view of a business man, a sales manager, marketer, CEO etc. He mixes technical info with humour, present cases and examples, gives us time to contemplate. I had never thought Financial Analytics would become my favorite course!
What has been occupying most of my time is finishing my dissertation for IHM Business School, back in Sweden. I’m actually finishing my Undergraduate in the begining of November, until then I’ll be studying my undergrad and postgrad parallell. I’m writing the dissertation with four other people; fortunately, we’re on a good way. But, it isn’t over till it’s over, we still have a lot of finishing on the paper, an opponent report to write and two presentations needs to be done (one to be used for the board meeting and one for the company we’re writing it for).
But don’t worry, I AM enjoying my time here in Dublin and am making time for some social activities as well! Yesterday, for instance, Fiona, Hannah and I went for dinner, then Octoberfest and ended up in supercool Dame Lane. Unfortunately I dont have any pics to show, but it’s a narrow street full with pubs and clubs, where people buy their drinks and meet up out on the streets. We ended up spending many hours on the 4 Dame Lanes dance floor. Having danced in 7cm heals I was more than happy that Dame Lane is a cross-road to my street, only 400 m’s from home!
Here’s some pics from this week
Dinner at The Pygmalion with Hannah. If I remember it correctly we were celibrating our awesomness!
Dinner at Nandos with my flatmates and their friends!
Night out with classmates Shaz, Pedro and Hannah
One of the reasons I haven’t slept much lately is because of the late night Skype dates I’ve had. With this handsome fella for instance!
Pub in Temple Bar with Classmates Magnus, Pedro and Hannah
Not being in Sweden, doesn’t mean I cant have “Fredagsmys” (= “Friday cuddle” don’t have a better translation for it).
Sunday morning I took a long walk around town, in areas I’ve never seen.
Btw, autumn is here!
Finished the walk in beautiful Stephens Green
Saturday evening started with a Lovely Tapas dinner at The Market Bar with Fiona and Hannah. LOVED this place: good food, great interior and atmosphere!
Then we continued to the October festival in the IFSC district, the last day of fourteen. Have no idea why I thought this would be a nice picture, or why I didn’t take one of the actual October fest…
Banan and chocolate crêpes. Dorky picture, I know…
Walk across the Liffey with a view of the Financial district
Hi everyone!
These last days has been crazy; Me and Hannah running around town viewing flats, moving from place to place, searching for WiFi, good places to eat, watching Gaelic Football, drinking Guinness 🙂
Want to show you some pics from the last days, especially Howth, this lovely fisherman’s town; a peninsula only 40 minutes from Dublin. Don’t know if I’ve told you but we had to leave town over the weekend since EVERY room in this town was booked due to the Gaelic Football All Irish finale was held on Sunday.
Here it is (you can click on the pics to see the whole gallery)
Howth
Howth
Not seen on the picture is Peter from Canada, another guest of the B&B. Peter’s, an elderly, well traveled man and during the two hour breakfast we shared he told us so many amusing stories. And at the end he wished us a Happy new scholistic year! Cutest person ever!
Hortensia from the garden of Highfield Bed and Breakfast. Mamma, this is for you ❤
Ocean between Ireland and England
Howth
Howth coastline walk. Ocean towards England
The Curlie girls in Howth
Coastline walk in Howth
Howth coastline
Hannah along the coastline walk,
Beautiful view from coastline in Howth
Hannah’s enjoying a coffee break at Aqua, Howth.
Yummy Banoffee mini cupcake at Howth Sunday Market
At 3,30 am, I was tucked in with 6 blankets and two water bottles.On Saturday we went out to Kinsale, and had a great walk to an old fort. Yet again they could tell about ages when the English, Spanish and Americans fought for Ireland. Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs, so I don’t have any photos from that.
Tharanga 
