After the big Treasure Hunt, we were in the mood for some food and some sitting. Luckily, Dublin on a Saturday afternoon is full of places for food and sitting, especially on a big holiday weekend.
Follow the jump for the full photo gallery and the play-by-play.
We tried our very best to do St. Patrick's Day in Dublin right. By doing it right we meant to do as much as we could physically handle. Dublin, it turns out, throws quite a shindig for Paddy's Day, and while we weren't able to do everything, we were able to turn it into a fun-filled, memory-packed 72 hours. Come with us on a little photo essay of our big weekend.
Today, March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick himself is Ireland's patron saint, and is forever tied to Ireland in the collective consciousness of the rest of the world. How many Americans put on their green top hats and leprechaun shirts around St. Paddy's Day? McDonald's serves its famous Shamrock Shake worldwide to celebrate the coming of Spring.
Dublin is attempting to make Paddy's Day less of the great booze-up it has been in the past, and more of an artistic and cultural event. Some here praise the idea, not appreciating the reputation or the mess that comes with Dublin turning into a wild melee of foreign tourists, broken glass, and stout-colored vomit. Others are vocally opposed to the changes, appreciating the money that comes along with the melee, glass, and vomit.
Just what will we do and see on our first St. Patrick's Day like in Dublin? Well, we are finding that out as you read this... Assuming you are reading this on the day it is posted. Stay tuned to this channel for the stories and photos of our St. Patrick's Day 2014 in Dublin.
Last week, we followed Master Higgins in the final chapter of the journey through Adventure Island 3. We took on the aliens, rescued our (way-too-young-looking) girlfriend and watched as the alien mothership crashed into the sea. Master Higgins has many other adventures to explore, three more on NES and more on SNES and beyond.
We won't take those on just yet. We'll move on to a different long-running NES series next week.
For now, I re-recorded World 1 of AI3 for a cleaner, sharper, and higher-quality complete playthrough.
If you care to compare, here is a repost of my almost year old first attempt at a video game video, made all those months and miles ago.
Finally, I've compiled the videos of World 1-8 into a YouTube playlist for your enjoyment. It feels good to wrap up a game like this one, that I enjoyed so much as a youngster. Many more videos to come.
The Six Nations rugby tournament comes to an end this weekend. Ireland stands at three wins, one loss going into a Round 5 matchup with France this weekend. We have had fun following Ireland's trek through this yearly ritual uniting these rugby-loving Western European countries. With all the other efforts to unite previously disagreeing countries with economic and trade regulations, unification of currency, and central European government, sports may just be the real cultural connecter these countries need.
When Ireland played England, our neighborhood pub was full of sports fans, mostly supporting Ireland. None of them (that we could tell) had any real ill will towards the English fans or players. They did want to see Ireland, the former captured colony and political little brother smack the pants off those American-Negro-Spiritual-singing English, but only on the field of play- not the field of battle.
VAT House Welcomes Scotland
"...But They Will Never Take... OUR IN-GOAL AREA!"
The event also gives the UK's current member nations a chance to represent themselves independently on an international stage. Scotland has an important referendum approaching to officially leave the UK, but for now, they are competing as their own national team and their own national identity. Many people outside of Europe assume Scotland is its own independent entity, not politically joined with England. European readers, especially those in the British Isles might not believe it, but the UK/England/Great Britain situation is quite confusing to those on the American side of the Atlantic. We can make neither heads nor tails of it.
"Wait, you mean Scotland is its own country, but it's part of the UK, but isn't the UK a country? Aren't they all just England, anyway? And what is Great Britain? That's also England, right? So is Scotland like a state of the UK? No? Hmm..."
At least in the Six Nations tourney, we get to see each of these countries representing their national heritage and pride distinct from the rest of the UK.
And speaking of often forgotten UK members, look at Wales getting into the mix. If so many Americans think Scotland is its own political entity, at least as many would have never heard of Wales or assumed it to be a region of England... like Cornwall... or Stonehenge... or London. Who knew that Wales has its own distinct cultural history and language, dating back much farther than the modern United Kingdom? Until recently, I had only a vague idea of Welsh history, and still have much to learn.
VAT House Welcomes Wales
For more facetious, sarcastic, and mostly well-meaning ranting about England, see every other page of this blog.
VAT House Welcomes England
De Continent, Ain't Just a River in Egypt!
How about The Continent? Ireland took on and handily defeated Italy last weekend, and will hope to kick off St. Patrick's Day with a win over France this weekend. The inclusion of these two Continental European countries gives this great event even more linguistic and cultural diversity. Who has had more historical Western European squabbles and disparaging jokes at each other's expense than England and France? Heck, some of our favorite jabs are Anglo/Franco or Franco/Anglo jokes. Particular favorites are the French calling the English Les Rosbifs for the English love of bland meat and potatoes, and the English calling condoms French Letters for the loose morals of the French insulting the puritanical sensibilities of the English.
Wouldn't it be great if the English brought roast beef to throw onto the field if they defeated the French? Maybe the French could bring armfuls of... never mind.
VAT House Welcomes Italy
Way to Go, All Six Nations
Whatever the outcome of Ireland's matchup this weekend, a serious "well done" to all six nations for showing real unity and partnership on a continent that needs it. When all the political blathering is over, we get to enjoy some of the most entertaining, friendly, and fair athletic competition there is to be found.
...And when I use matchup, that would be short for match, which is what an individual sporting event is called here. A game is the name of the sport, a match is one playing of the sport. Got all that?
