Friday, July 9, 2010

Missin' June

The word on the street is that May and June were the best months we'll see in Cork this year. And fine they were, lots of sunshine and hardly any rain to speak of. July is unfolding a little differently: the past three days have seen constant rain, heavy at times. But most of the time it's what some here call "swirling rain," precipitation that's almost lighter than air. The droplets don't really fall according the laws of gravity. Instead they swirl around on invisible air currents, enabling them to find you no matter where you're hiding. Under an umbrella, in a doorway, under an awning...you get wet.

The precipitation only adds to the fun when I'm pacing around the city streets looking for help-wanted signs. No luck thus far (by now it's a familiar story on this page). Nowadays there are even less opportunities than the winter and spring, mostly because college is out for the summer and the part-time market is clogged with university students.

So I remain on the hunt in Cork, but part of my attention is now on the American scene once again. Sadly, in a couple of short months we'll be leaving Munster. Recently I have been spending more time scanning the classifieds in the States––do me a favor and don't ask me what I'm going to be doing. Let's just say that I'm keeping my options open.

A Corkonian friend of ours recently referred to his joblessness as being "funemployed". It seems I have uncritically adopted this philosophy: we have wave after wave of visitors staying with us throughout the summer, and a lack of an income isn't stopping me from pubbing with them and taking trips out west. It might be the epitome of financial irresponsibility, but what about this whole experience hasn't been?

When my cousin Nick was with us last week, we took a road trip to the Beara Peninsula in West Cork for a couple of days. The scenery might well be incomparable as far as Ireland goes:

Katherine and I near the old mining village of Allihies

On Dursey Island, accessible only by cable car, we found dramatic scenery––here Dursey Head extends out toward a small island called "The Calf".

There was also a castle ruin called Martello Tower.

Sea cliffs on Dursey provide stiff competition for the Cliffs of Moher.

Naturally, sheep were ubiquitous on the trip.

My sister is our next guest, arriving next week. We liked what we saw in West Cork so much we are planning a second excursion. Hopefully the weather cooperates.

***
Since I'm in Europe, it seems appropriate for a couple of words on the World Cup. I have been following the tournament as closely as one can without a telly. While we were in Allihies we caught the Uruguay-Ghana quaterfinals match; incredible! The most exciting match I've seen. Anyway, we're down to two teams. Spain and Holland. Interesting historical rivalry, Spain being the former oppressor of the Low Countries. As much as my heart wants the Dutch to pull off an upset, my brain tells me that Spain should win. Therefore I'll go with the Iberians, 3-1.