5 eating habits I've picked up in Ireland (and 5 that aren't going to happen)

When in Rome do as the Romans do. 

That centuries old phrase never gets old and it's been one of my mottos since moving to Ireland. Not just because I feel that integrating to the local life is important, but because I've found that what Romans do here is usually great fun.

Via rte.ie

On this occasion, I'll focus on food and drink, and I'll share five habits that I didn't have in Venezuela and that are part of my everyday now, and five that I can't just get.

So, let's start with the adopted ones:

1. Ordering take away: I used to think that take away was just for pizza, and if I wanted to get chinese food, sushi or whatever, it was a waste of occasion to eat it home, as I like the idea of dressing up and going to a place, eating in and not having to clean up or worry about anything. However, that amount of places here especialized in take away foods (with no tables, just a counter), made me change my mind. Besides, on colder days, you still want to eat something different (by that I mean cooked by somebody else), but you're already in PJ mood.

2. Go to the pub: In Venezuela, most people that go out for drinks do so in places with loud music and dance floors. The idea of a place where you just sit and have a pint is relatively unusual (perhaps recently a few places are introducing it but if there is no loudness and dancing, the mainstream public is not really in). And yes, there are bars in Venezuela but either they are the 5 Star Hotel ultra fancy/expensive ones, or the shady ones where things can end up Dothraki wedding style. Not my thing. Is it too much to ask for a nice, clean place where you can sit and have a chat with friends over a couple of beers, with some decent food and feel safe? Not in Dublin, where there are hundreds of places like that. Nice.

Via glenmcclure.com

3. Online grocery shopping: Best thing ever. Don't get me wrong, I love grocery shopping, but in the last few years before moving, shopping in Venezuelan supermarkets became sad and scary (shortages, military control, absurdly long queues, etc). This still breaks my heart, but back to topic: the fact that I can get all the food I want with minimal effort is amazing, and even if I go in person from time to time, if I'm having a very busy week, I just buy my food online and it's here the next day. 

4. Having darker beers and/or craft beers: In Venezuela, we drink mostly lagers and it's ok. Under the tropical sun at 30 degrees you wouldn't feel like ordering the back stuff anyway. But here, the amount of options made me realize that these light golden beers are not really the ones I like the most. Now I usually get a red ale or pale ale. Cheers!.

5. Eating ice cream in the winter: The first time someone sugested we get gelato while walking on Grafton Street during a cold winter day I was puzzled. I thought they were joking. But you know what, who cares, there's heating everywhere and it's a great treat to hold while Christmas window shopping (did I mention that Christmas here starts in early September? Which I LOVE).

Runners up: Sandwich for lunch, eating scones, going to discount supermarkets, eating cheddar cheese, boil in the bag rice, using teapots.

But I won't lie, not everything has been so catchy for me, and there are a few things that I still find odd, or just plain unpleasant.

1. Having chips or chicken with pizza: chips with pizza? really? Besides it being a carbs overdose, just doesn't make any sense. Nor I understand the point of adding chicken as a topping to pizza. For me, it ruins it. Sorry not sorry.

Via glutenfreeadventuresandme.co.uk

2. Ordering fried chicken in an "Italian" takeaway: The one thing that I just don't get about takeaways (which as I stated in the first part of the post, I love) is how so many places advertise as "Italian" and they are actually a mix of pizza, kebabs, chinese and fish and chips. Mamma mia, WTF! I used to look for risotto or lasagna on their menus unkowingly of the situation, but now I see that if I want real Italian food, I better go out or make it myself.

3. Drinking energy drinks and sports drinks without doing sports: I see them in the bus, in shops on the streets... Seems like everyone likes to drink these drinks instead of plain water. Now that I think about it, I don't see many people drinking just plain water. I don't like energy drinks, and I just don't see myself adapting this habit.

4. Breakfast rolls: This bomb ussually include the ingredients of a traditional Irish breakfast (which is awesome), but all squeezed together in a half baguette (which is just too much). I'm not a vegetarian, but there is something about a roll filled with rashers, black pudding, bacon, sausage and butter that doesn't feel right to me.

5. Brunch at 2pm: Brunch is a word that combines "breakfast" and "lunch", so logic would dictate that is done between those hours (I like it around 10 or 11 am). But noooooooo, not in here. Not even the restaurants are ready for brunch in the morning (most open at noon). So if you have it at lunch time, then why is it called brunch? Is just lunch. Just luch. Really. 

Runners up: crisps sandwiches, tomato soup, rocky roads (and many candy-covered traybakes), 

Are there any eating habits you've adopted after moving to a new country? 

Here are some other affordable places to let in Dublin...

This week an ad in Daft.ie went viral. It offered a house for rent in Dublin for 450 euros a month. "would suit a small professional", it said... Barbie sized, they meant, because it was a doll house.

After that, I started finding some similar parodies in Facebook and other social media and no wonder why: renting a room (renting in general) in this lovely city is expensive.

So, here's a short selection of famous small rooms, and how they would feature in a local "To Let" ad... The places might be fantasy, but the prices are the real deal.

1. Donnybrook. Room to Rent - €200 Weekly

Cozzy room in a large house, bills not included. Will suit a young professional or student. Close to a part of the house that has a window (sunlight not included).

2. Kilmainham. Room to Rent - €450 Monthly
Friendly hard-working lizard is renting a double room in the top floor of the house. Will suit a human couple after a bite or two of shrinking mushroom.

3. Inchicore. Bedroom to share - €300 Monthly
Lovely one bed cottage, walking distance to city centre. I'm looking to share my room with a nice, quiet student. No toilet in-house, but lots of parks nearby.

4. Phibsborough, Dublin 7. Barrel to Rent - €450 Monthly

Conveniently located, within walking distance to City Centre (you can even wear it as you go), and with an independent entrance, this place will suit a young professional or student.

We do not accept rent allowance.

5. Naas. Gingerbread bedroom to Rent - €350 Monthly
Freshly baked, beautifully decorated. We are offering a double bedroom in this elegant purpose-built gingerbread house. Will suit a gingerbread man or couple. Tasting recommended.

6. Smithfield. Box to Rent - €650 Monthly
I'm looking for a non-smoker, quiet flatmate to share my box, located in a very creative area of the city, ideal for a creative or artistic person (that has a full time job please). No pets allowed, all bills included. 

7. Ranelagh. Hole in a Peach to Rent - €125 Weekly

Just 2 min. walk to the LUAS, near cafes, restaurants and supermarkets (the peach is actually in a dumpster shared by several trendy places). 

8. Tallaght. Bed in room to Rent - €200 Monthly [BER G, so no electricity after 10 am]
Lovely student accomodation within commuting distance to Dublin, parking space and plenty of local amenities nearby. We are looking for a 9th person to share a septuple room. 
No allergic people please.  

9. Parnell Street. Studio apartment to Share - €500 Monthly
Cozy, modern flat just 1 min. walk from the Spire. Strictly no-smokers.

10. Bray. single room to Rent  - €300 Monthly
Hi guys, I'm leaving my flat next week. It's located by the beachside, a total must see. Beautiful scenic views and eco-friendly design. You'll love it.

No hermit crabs were harmed in the making of this post.

10 Times in which Dublin was just like Barquisimeto

It might sound a bit out there, but there are a few things here in Dublin that some how remind me a lot to Barquisimeto, the capital city of a county ("estado") in the west of Venezuela called "Lara". I lived in Barquisimeto for around five years (basically life there shaped my childhood), and in Dublin now for a bit more than a year, long enough to realize a few things about the city's personality.

Via (left pic) estampas.com (right pic) de.wikipedia.org

So, here are ten times in which Dublin was just like Barquisimeto...

Via (left pic) elimpulso.com (right pic) nationalcraftsfair.ie

1. The love for crafts: When you are in Barquisimeto, going to a craft market is a must, especially during craft fairs. People love to get hand made stuff for the house or to give as presents, whether it's knitted stuff, wood carved stuff, little paintings, pottery, etc. This enthusiasm for the local craft is very strong in Dublin as well, and they even take it here to the next level, with many lovely shops in many parts of the city selling hand made items.

Via (left pic) estampas.com (right pic) tripadvisor.ie

2. The country taste: In both cities, dairy farms are not far from the centre and farming is a very important and influential business. This makes for posh hotels and restaurants with a very rural aesthetic, and a preference for a style a little rough around the edges. It's not uncommon for locals to go to nearby rural towns during the weekend, and the idea of a countryside holiday in a nice farm with artisan food is very trendy and valued in both cities.

3. The amount of funeral houses: I have been lucky enough to visit a few cities and just in these two have I've seen so many funeral houses on the streets. They look just like any other shop, with their sign on the door and next to your local bakery or florist. I know that (at least according to Hollywood), Irish funerals are a big deal, and the same goes for the people in Barquisimeto.

Via (left pic) funerarias.com.ve (right pic) staffordsfunerals.com

4. The graveyard as a normal part of the neighbourhood: Continuing in the same line, it is not uncommon for a graveyard in these two cities to be part of the community landscape, but, unlike other places where it's situated far from the people's houses and has a distant and lonely feel, both in Dublin and Barquisimeto, graveyards feel somehow more normal, more like a quiet place that's part of the neighbourhood. 

Via (left pic) tierradegracia.net (right pic) youtube.com

5. The power of music: Venezuelans give to Barquisimeto the nickname of "The Music Capital of the Country", and even though Dublin is already a capital city, the fact is that they both value live music very highly. People expect to hear live music at many occasions, and a remarkably high number of people know how to play an instrument or at least sing decently. And also, even though they both are busy modern cities, they hold folk music in a very especial place, and people actually enjoy listening to it and playing it. Fun fact, Sambil Barquisimeto, a very popular shopping centre, won some major architecture awards and it's in the shape of a cuatro (Venezuelan ukelele-like national instrument).

Via (left pic) es.wikipedia.org (right pic) irelandluxurytours.com

6. The multitudinary religious festival: Both cities gather hundreds of thousands of people once a year for a world-famous religious festival. In Barquisimeto, the day is January 14 and the protagonist is "La Divina Pastora", celebrated with a procession that has counted two million people; in Dublin the day is March 17 and the honoured is Saint Patrick, with a parade that's said to be the national holiday celebrated in more countries around the world (while Dublin's festival counted around 500 thousand people, NYC's had around two million last year).

Via (left pic) laraconsabor.blogspot.es (right pic) foodwallpaper.info

7. The obsession with traditional breakfasts: While Irish breakfast beats Venezuelan breakfast in popularity, if both were competing to determine the one that's a biggest deal to locals, it would be a tie. Barquisimetans love to have the full traditional breakfast on a Sunday, whether at home, or offered in many restaurants like "Desayuno Criollo" (creole breakfast). In both cases, it's as heavy as a lunch and then some more.

8. Big city with village vibes: Even tough they both are big cities (Barquisimeto with around one million people and Dublin with over 500 thousand), sometimes it feels like everyone knows each other and you keep bumping into people you know everywhere (I can't imagine this happening in New York, and certainly almost never in Caracas). In fact, sometimes news travel as fast as in a small town, and someone's last name is still a common way to do a mind check to search for common acquaintances (are you related to the whatever's of x-town? oh! He's my cousin's cousin!). Besides this, people actually go to city parks and squares and despite heavy traffic and busy schedules, you don't feel as stressed or rushed as in other cities.

Via (left pic) taringa.net (right pic) architecture.about.com

9. The Spire and El Obelisco: There's nothing like a tall and thin uninhabited building in the middle of city centre to say "this area is important". Dubliners have the shiny Spire, Barquisimetans have El Obelisco.

10. The people's charisma: Being fun and thinking fast are parts of both cultures. In both cities, it seems like people always have the perfect expression for something, and they're often charged with a strong sense of humour. Both Dubliners and Barquisimetans LOVE stuff that rhymes, and are quick to say a quirky exclamation when surprised or feel like someone's trying to fool them. Both are known for their distinct accent (which stands out even among people from the same country) and for making witty remarks.

Well, that's it. I don't know if it's just me, but I really believe that these two cities have a lot in common. 

Have you been in both? I would love to hear your thoughts on this over the comments!

A to Z list of stuff to do or see in Dublin (most of them free or under a tenner)

I love making lists, but I'm not sure the world needs another Top 10 stuff to see in Dublin (maybe it does), so I will do an A to Z list instead... These are places or activities that I like, and most of them are either free or under a tenner.

A is for Avoca, this beautiful shop/cafe/bookstore is like a black hole for me. If I go near it, it just absorbs me and makes me go in, to see all the beautiful stuff. It doesn't matter that 99% of the times I buy nothing, I consider visiting it fun in its own merit.

Via avoca.com

B is for Botanic Gardens, this one is for free and it's better during summer. You can learn about the plants, or simply relax under them.

C is for Candem Street, with lots of restaurants, pubs and shops together, from the fanciest to the very affordable ones (although most of them are somewhere in between).

Via snipview.com

D is for Dicey's, with pints at half price on Sundays, don't be surprised for super long queues to get in. The place is big and looks nice, and because of their promos, it's always full so arrive early.

Via twitter.com/diceysgarden

E is for Etsy Ireland: This is not a place, but a group of crafters that sell their stuff on Etsy.com. If you are into Irish craft and design, this is a great crew to contact, as they might be selling something you like, and there's always a good feeling about supporting local crafts.

Via etsyireland.blogspot.ie

F is for Fusion Sundays: A market with international food, music, art and lots of stuff to see and buy, stands with things from many different countries.

Via facebook.com/fusionsundaysmarket

G is for Grafton Street: The street with the fancy shops, whether actual shopping or just windows shopping, a walk in Grafton is always a good time (especially if the weather is nice). Expect live music in the street.

Via wikipedia.org

H is for Henry Street: The street with less-fancy-than-Grafton-but-still-great shops. They are not so far from each other so a good shopping day in city center can easily cover both.

Via flickr.com

I is for the Irish Museum of Modern Art: You don't have to understand it to enjoy it (although I'm sure it helps), the place is beautiful, free and always has something new. Besides the art itself, the garden is a great place to visit in its own merit, and it has a very nice and cozy cafe.

Via imma.ie

J is for Jack Russells: This is me cheating a little bit, but I had to say it. It is so common to see Jack Russell Terriers walking their humans around in Dublin, and as a Jack Russell Terrier lover, I can't help but smile every time I see one, which is very often.

These ones, especially, since they're in my pack

K is for Kildare Village, which is not really in Dublin, but it's only a one hour bus ride that costs a fiver and you will be in a large and lively outlet shopping centre full of famous brands. Many shops are still ridiculously expensive, but if you are patient and know how to search, you can find great outfits for decent prices.

Via kildarevillage.com

L is for Liffey Valley: One of the biggest shopping centres, it has everything a shopping centre should have (including a cinema).

Via manahanplanners.com

M is for Mongolian BBQ at lunch time, in Temple Bar: This place is great value for lunch, and very very tasty. For 5.90 euros you can fill a bowl with as much veggies as you can fit, and choose one protein (pork, chicken, fish, etc.), and they cook it there in front of you. You can also add lots of sauces and seasonings.

Via http://www.mongolianbbq.ie/

N is for National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History: Probably my favorite museum in Dublin. It's also free, as other National Museums, and the best part is the "rooms" where they have assembled different living areas (bedrooms, studios, living rooms) from different periods in history.

Via wikipedia.org

O is for Old Jameson Distillery: One of the best-sellers for tourists, and for a reason, you get to learn about Irish whiskey (and to try it of course), and the tour is fun.

Via jamesonwhiskey.com

P is for Phoenix Park: One of the biggest city parks in Europe, it's beautiful, pet-friendly, full of nature and if you are lucky, you might get to meet the deers that inhabit it.

Via dublin.ie

Q is for Queen of Tarts: One of my favourite cafes, there's two of them (oddly near to each other), but the best one is in Cow's Lane, D2. The pastries are great, the place is super cute.

Via http://www.queenoftarts.ie/

R is for Rugby: The sport that fills stadiums and pubs, it doesn't matter if you understand it or not, watching a big game with lots of people is a great experience and you'll feel the great and contagious energy of the fans! (eventually you can become one yourself!). Ah, and you can also dare to play it.

Via thegatheringireland.com

S is for St. Stephen's Green Park: The ultimate city centre picnic spot, with a little lake and ducks and swans and squirrels. On a sunny day you can see the smallest patch of grass covered by people that go there to enjoy the sun and relax.

Via http://www.irishcentral.com

T is for Trinity College: Recognized by its excellence, founded in 1592 and a key part of the student life in the country (even for people that don't study there), there's always an event, concert, party or exhibition worth attending.

Via trinitynews.ie

U is for Unlimited Card at Cineworld: It's not advertising if they don't pay me (maybe they should, wink wink). Paying a bit more than 20 euros a month for unlimited movies is the best. Besides, it's in the heart of City Centre so you can then walk to many places or take the last bus easily.

Via cineworld.ie

V is for Viking Splash Tour: known for giving me a mini heart attack every time they pass by the bus stop I'm in, this boat-car hybrid is full of people that look like they are having their BEST DAY EVER.

Via watersidehousehotel.ie

W is for Wicklow which, as Kildare, is not really Dublin, but you can get there with Dublin Bus. The number 145 leaves you in beautiful Bray, where you can walk by the beach and then go to one of many lovely restaurants, pubs and cafes.

Via bray.ie

X is for Xposé on TV3: Each day on TV3 at 6:00 pm. I'm not much of a TV watcher but this one surely got my eye as it's light, local and trendy. Some fun and girly TV with lots of local designers, brands and events.

Via tvrage.com

Z is for Zoo!: I'm so glad that the word "Zoo" starts with a "Z", this makes list-makers lives easier all across the globe. But anyway, Dublin Zoo deserves a mention not only for wining by forfeit the "Cool things to do that starts with a Z", but because it's a great place to visit (since 1831!), especially for families.

Via en.wikipedia.org

In a perfect world, this list would also rhyme, but at least I was lucky enough to find stuff that's nice and starts with the letter X, or Q. This only reinforces my idea that there are too many things to enjoy around Dublin... One year hasn't been enough to discover them all, but I will keep searching and sharing :D