Pigeons of Ireland...

Crows are the Pigeons of Cork.
I can't believe the amount of crows that are around the place. Not that it's a bad thing to be honest. Edgar Allen Poe's poems have a tendency to pop into my thoughts at times when walking by a group of crows though. Wonder why. =D

Speaking of which, it was Edgar Allen Poe's 200th anniversary on the 19th.

Went to Dublin for almost a week to spend time with Gaye and Mustafa. I rather enjoyed myself, went to the national museum, took random pictures of old buildings, went to a nearby pub. Even joined the sister in a bit of shopping (which is rare, considering I'm not much of a fan of shopping >.> It was rather fun to go with my sister though). Stopped by a park for a bit to take pictures on the way to the museum. Once we got to the museum, there was a huge section on paintings by dutch painters.

All in all my most favorites were:

Jacob Isaackszon van Ruisdael His painting Bentheim Castle is breathtaking. Might sound corny but it literally made my jaw drop. Gabriel Metsu His paints of Man Writing a Letter and Woman Reading a Letter hung on the wall side by side were amazing. Just the delicate touches of detail from the reflection on the mirror, detail of the paintings behind both figures, the light landing on their faces, her smile-his concentration. Willem Claesz Heda His still life paintings of Breakfast of Crab and Breakfast Table with Blackberry Pie up close even were amazing. I had an urge to just reach out and pour myself a glass, and maybe try a bit of the breakfast. Some of Gerrit Dou's paintings, and Caravaggio's Taking of Christ painting was rather incredible as well.

There were many others. Anyone visiting Dublin, I would recommend they go to the National Gallery of Ireland. The architecture of the building itself was very different as well.

I had a blast in Dublin, and can't wait to go back. There will be a film festival in Dublin that I would really like to attend. Learned that Neil Gaiman will be there as well on the 17th of Feb. He's the creator/writer of the Sandman DC comics, author of the book 'American Gods', and the new one called, 'The Graveyard Book'. I liked the essay he wrote about Edgar Allen Poe . I doubt I'll ever be that lucky, but who knows maybe I'll get to see him there. =D

We'll see what happens. There are friends that are getting back in touch with me, and I with them. I miss a lot of my friends around the world, everyone in a different country, city, town. Maybe I'll meet up with some of them this summer? ^_^ Heh, we'll see. I really hope that this year will go smoothly, and that classes will be alright. So many ideas, so many things I want to do this year. What's that quote again? Oh yeah,

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think,
all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read,
and all the friends I want to see."
-John Burroughs

One thing about Dublin, the pigeons there are the fattest one's I have ever seen.
Not Crows this time, I mean actual chubby Pigeons close to obesity.

-Ezgi