Away for the Holidays -- Dublin, London, and Berlin Travels

London

Temple Bar, Dublin

Christmas Market, Dublin

The London Tube

Big Ben and the London Eye

Notting Hill, London

London Christmas Market

The Underground @ Night, London

WICKED!!!

London

Accordion player in London

My first ever Kebap in Berlin

Fiona, Matilda, and Me on NYE

Matilda and Fiona <3

Berlin

One could say I have been overthinking this post. What to share, what to keep for my own private recollection? The conclusion is, it's not that deep, lol :) I had to remind myself that the current purpose of this blog is to have a space of personal documentation of the experiences I'm collecting while allowing me to be creative, and to share these stories with the people who care to read about them.

So, I'll start by updating you on where I've been. When my volunteer position in Scotland finished at the end of October, I made my way back to the motherland, Miss Ireland herself. On November 1st, I arrived at Jampa Ling Buddhist Meditation Centre in County Cavan for my next work exchange. The role involved general housekeeping and cleaning tasks, which eventually expanded into organizing the Centre's gift shop stock and also helping out in the kitchen. The original plan was to stay for one month, but I ended up staying for three, only leaving four days ago. A separate post is to come about my time there, sit tight.

The Centre closed for two weeks over Christmas time, which is where this story begins. I conjured up a plan to spend the holidays and my birthday staying in hostels, where I figured other international travelers would be hanging out this time of year. I was very correct about this assumption.

Dublin was stop number one. Adjusting from a very quiet and remote location to a bustling city filled with scurrying crowds was a bit of a culture shock . There was another layer of transition added; the two previous months I was learning about the unsustainable satisfaction of the material world, and then I was drowning in the most consumerism heavy time of year. Not to say Christmas is bad haha, it was just like I was shot out of a cannon into a polar opposite world than what I became accustomed to. Good thing I am a malleable person!!!

I walked around a Christmas Market my first evening in Dublin, which was a wholesome little activity. After doing so, I had an urge to socialize. This led me to putting on some makeup and finding a pub to locate myself in.

There is genuinely nothing quite like the ambiance of Guinness-stenched air inhabited with the jolly Irish folk as they revel in the simple pleasure of some live music. I had an amazing evening as I chatted to some local middle aged Irish men, and danced with some Welsh.

Throughout this series of events, there were many drinks bought for me, and I cannot say no to such things. Having not consumed alcohol for months, my body did indeed reject this alien substance once I got back to my room. Unfortunately all of my bodily fluids were ejected into the toilet to conclude the evening. I was reminded of the very important lesson of moderation. Still, I have no regrets.

Next stop - London! The travel day was a bit hazy due to my aforementioned overconsumption, but I made it. I did forget my purse on the airplane but then it made its way back to me, so don't you worry.

Ah London London London. The cultural adjustment period from Dublin carried over to London. Being in an another exceptionally stimulating city, my wee brain was still a little overwhelmed. Yet, I quickly adjusted. For the first couple of nights I was craving some excitement, but it was not an easy feat, as my hostel roommates didn't show much interest in being social. Thus, I had to be very brave and go down to the basement, where all the activities were held, by myself. I was so nervous haha. But being alone led me to meeting my new friend Josh who is the bartender -- shout out Josh -- and some other cool people from Australia, South Korea, and Switzerland who I ended up hanging out with for a few nights.

Spending Christmas and my birthday in a hostel was extremely enriching. There was no shortage of festivities or jolly spirits. No one ever asked WHY you weren't home for Christmas -- there was a mutual understanding that everyone was exploring the world with a shared interest of meeting new people and seeing new places.

My birthday was quite eventful, which is not typically the case. I spent the morning walking around Notting Hill, then I saw the musical Wicked at the Apollo Theatre. IT WAS SO GOOD!!!! I cried periodically throughout the show out of pure admiration for the talent in that production. Afterwards, I went back to the hostel, sang karaoke there with my new mates, and then we all went to a techno club. It was so so fun.

I had the perfect end to my holiday extravaganza by staying with my two friends, Matilda and Fiona, in Berlin for New Years. I met these lovely Germans in September at my first work exchange in Ireland, and it was so comforting to see them again. They greeted me at the airport exit with flowers in hand -- setting the standard high for future romantic partners. Allowing me to be a brainless non-German speaker, these angels ordered my food for me and talked to any important officials while I stood in the back like a toddler following around their mom. If I appreciate anything in life, it is being taken care of.

Speaking of being taken care of, Matilda was cheffing it up every morning while Fiona and I slept in too late to detail. Matilda would wake us up with phrases such as “Good morning my little biscuits, can I interest you in some breakfast?” I could not help but spend the first moments of consciousness with a smile spreading across my face. That sums up how the remaining days of my little trip felt; warm, uplifting, and nurturing.

So there you have it! That was more or less (definitely less) what I did over the holiday season. I truly hope that all of you are doing well, and that 2025 effortlessly brings you all of your deepest wishes and aspirations. :)

Goodbye for now.

Love,

Molly <3