Molly Bloom’s Day
I’m back from Ireland with stories to tell. What a wonderful country! The dress I made for Bloomsday was a hit and wasn’t too mangled in the travels. Stuffing the arms full of paper and the body of the dress with my shawl did the trick.
We started the day at the James Joyce Center, where foreign dignitaries and members of various literary societies read passages from Ulysses. I was interviewed by a reporter for the Irish Times who was doing a story on the festivities.
Next we headed to Davy Byrnes’ Pub, where Leopold has lunch in the book (”Mr Bloom ate his stripes of sandwich, fresh clean bread, with relish of disgust, pungent mustard, the feety savour of green cheese. Sips of his wine soothed his palate.”) The gorgonzola sandwich was actually delightful (hold the mustard, thanks) and went well with the Guinness we drank in place of the storied Burgundy. One of the servers said the pub had sold 500 of the cheese sandwiches that day.
Plenty of people at the pub wore period costume. One group held court in the back room singing old songs. Up front people took turns reading passages over the bar’s intercom system. There were men in waistcoasts (what we call vests) and women in Edwardian day clothes — big hats and blouses belted into layers of skirts. One Dubliner commented on my costume, “Loverly dress — bit posh idn’t it?”
And so went this Molly’s first Bloomsday. The real Molly Bloom wore bed clothes — she stayed in bed all day. But a nightgown wouldn’t have been as fun to make.
Welcome home! And I say, faaar better that you come off a bit too posh than be, gulp, another American waddling around the Old Countries in knee high socks, cargo shorts, and a NASCAR hoody, wondering aloud why every one talks so funny. You’re the kind of ambassador our embarrassing people should have more of. Now, may I borrow your scissors, to snip that dangling preposition?
Travelogue: Ireland…
Ireland was superb. I had trouble picking a photo for this entry because there was gorgeousness everywhere. It was a toss-up between this pic and one with a castle in the background. I chose this photo (taken at the……
The pics are great! It looks like a fabulous trip. I want to see more pics and hear stories!! Are you gonna be in class this week? Wanna do lunch when life calms down a bit for you? Let me know when you have time
2007: The Year In Awesome…
Moxie! After pining for years (seriously, I was starting to sound like one of those women who desperately wants a baby but can’t get knocked up) we finally got the green-light from our landlords and found a sweet puppy at……
2007: The Year In Awesome…
Moxie! After pining for years (seriously, I was starting to sound like one of those women who desperately wants a baby but can’t get knocked up) we finally got the green-light from our landlords and found a sweet puppy……
[...] was a spectacular trip. What a magical [...]