I sleep in late this morning, with no set plans for the day. I peek out of my bedroom window and see that the tulips and card I left for my neighbor Irene have been collected. For breakfast, I toaste up another hot cross bun to have with my coffee then make a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich — a treat I usually save for just the weekends.
As I’m finishing up my late breakfast, my friend CJ texts to see if I’m up for a long walk to Phoenix Park. Sure! Despite pessimistic forecasts, the weather remains bright and clear, with highs in mid 50s F / low 10s C. I head out around 1:30pm, dressed in jeans, a short sleeved shirt and a light sweatshirt (which I end up taking off most of the time).
Along the way, we stop by a restaurant called Wuff that has a convenient walk-up window for ordering food and drinks to go from its brunch menu. We each get a refreshing prosecco cocktail with lime and mint in the lidded plastic to-go cups that have become ubiquitous in Dublin during lockdown. Not far away is a small park along the Croppies Acre area on the northside riverfront of the Liffey. The park has a fountain featuring a modern sculpture of a woman, which the locals have nicknamed the “floozy in a jacuzzi,” according to CJ.
A wall mural speaking out about women’s safety (with people’s personal stories added in small print):
Once we’ve finished our libations, we continue to Phoenix Park. The gardens on the eastern tip of the park are awash with brightly coloured tulips, other spring flowers, and blossoming trees. We sit for awhile at an area near a small tea room in the park, where we get chai lattes and sausage rolls for a snack.
We walk back towards city centre through the Stoneybatter and Smithfield neighbourhoods. By the time I’m back home, I’ve clocked in 11,000+ steps, more than making up for my day of staying at home all yesterday. Hanging from my door is a plastic bag with some Cadbury chocolate Easter eggs and a card from my neighbor Irene.
A friend in San Francisco is undergoing shoulder surgery tomorrow as a result of a severe car accident, so I catch up with him over a video call for awhile. This evening for a late Easter dinner I’m making some lamb steaks, rosemary potatoes, and a broccoli/feta casserole; I’ll share photos later if it all turns out OK.
Until next time…
