Day Twenty-Four - 4/10/2012 - Cork

     Started this morning off with porridge acquired from the English market.  This particular brand of porridge is organic, coming from a specific region in Ireland that ships it worldwide.  The stall manager excitedly told us that, while we could buy it here for €2, it would sell for much more than that in New York.  The porridge was very creamy, and sweet, but that could have been from the milk used to make it.  With stomachs full of porridge, Meng and I ventured out to the Garda Headquarters on Anglesea Street to try to clear ourselves with immigration.  The rather long walk took us along the Lee towards the port, to Anglesea Street, the main street of government buildings.  We passed City Hall, the Courthouse, a fire station (featuring a vintage fire truck, again, parked without explanation), and finally the Garda Building.  Like most governmental functions, there was a lot of waiting in line and wondering if you had filled things out correctly.  There was still a sort of efficiency about things that I hadn't experienced previously which made the whole visit a degree less frustrating.  Miraculously, I had been given clearance at the airport, and managed to avoid the registration process thanks to a stamp in my passport.  Meng was not as lucky, and was turned away for not having an extremely simple form of her intent to register.
     On the way home, we stopped at Dunnes for an onion, but resumed our quite unsuccessful quest to find cookie dough.  We found cookie mix, brownie mix, muffin mix, baked cookies, baked brownies, baked muffins, cream puffs, danishes, and a host of other desserts, but no cookie dough.  Back at home,  I brought up the matter with Kathy, an Irish girl living in my building.  She told me that she had never seen cookie dough for sale, but recommended the cookie mix.  We had an informative talk about some of the more interesting places to see in Ireland.
     For lunch, we made some of the sausages we got from the English Market with diced peppers and caramelized onions on a seeded wheat bun.  That afternoon, it was time to head to the Western Gateway Building for a computer science class, Introduction to Multimedia Authoring Systems.  This was the first class meeting, as computer science students had an orientation last week.  I had never taken a class taught in a room full of computers, but we will see how it progresses.  Meng and I were amused as the professor called roll, at the number of names starting with "C", and the equally expansive list of "O'-" names.  After class, I finally mailed in the form to request my ballot to vote.  Meng asked who I voted for, and after explaining that I had merely requested my ballot, she exclaimed, "No wonder there's such low voter turnout!"
     We stopped briefly at Serendipity for some coffee after Meng got the required missing form.  As I sat and people-watched from the windowed balcony, Meng checked over her paperwork for immigration.  I finally picked up one of the loyalty cards from Serendipity and the cashier, who recognized me, gave me extra stamps.  We returned to the immigration for the second time, as they opened later exclusive for UCC students.  Meng got her Garda card, and proudly displayed it to me.
     We took a different route home, passing through South Mall, walking very close to Melina's apartment.  We stopped by an art shop on Oliver Plunkett Street, which had some things on sale.  I got a "beer fund" piggy bank shaped like a can.  Meng got a set of candles, and small opaque stain glass scene of a lighthouse.  After the art shop, we stopped by the Penney's down the street to get some working out clothes in light of endeavors to exercise.
     Later that night, Melina and Andrew wanted to meet up at The Oliver Plunkett to hear Elly O'Keefe play.  She had a very good voice, and performed some original work and a few covers.  Later, we headed to Crane Lane, where Dave Hope was playing as part of the Cork Folk Festival.  His was one of the rare, free acts.  For a Thursday night, there was a good turnout, and some mild dancing.  All in all, a very nice evening, and Crane Lane was much more enjoyable when it wasn't so packed that you couldn't move.