Fantonim.com

Day two of entertaining our first visitor – leaving the house at shortly after 3 pm. She surely slept a long time! #

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Only in Ireland can this pass. The Irish Times article “Industry appeals for State help to save pubs” discusses the campaign to “save the Irish pub” in the light of almost 5,000 job losses in the industry this year was launched yesterday by the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI).

The federation, which represents publicans outside Dublin, said scores of public houses in rural areas had closed since the start of this year, and more would follow. Calling on the Government to immediately implement a five-point plan – and desist from measures such as a reduction in the legal alcohol limit for drivers – the federation also released new research showing the poor state of the industry.

The call to Government, headed “Recommendations to save the Irish pub” includes:

An undertaking that current blood alcohol levels permissible for drivers be maintained and not further reduced.

But the VFI said the proposal to lower the general limit “will have no effect on road fatalities and is likely to lead to further pub closures and job losses in rural areas”.

OMG!!!

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Okay, so we have been accused by some that because we are antisocial we just merely moved to Dublin Ontario and told everyone we were leaving the country. Au contraire, Bubble Boy, we are indeed in Ireland, Ireland.

Here’s the proof:

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The Spire of Dublin, officially titled the Monument of Light

Probably the first major monument that we encountered in our midnight walk on the first day was the infamous Dublin Spire. It is not a historical goodie, per se, rather a monument to… well, no one knows. The Spire actually has many names – “The Stiletto in the Ghetto”, “The Skewer in the Sewer”, “The Height of Folly”, “Bertie’s Erection”, “The Stick in the Sick”, “The Spire in the Mire”, “The Poker near Croker”, “The Nail in the Pale”, but among us we lovingly call it “The Stiffy by the Liffey” [pronounced Liffy].

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Okay so we were wrong, Dublin does have a huge shopping centre. Getting lost in it now. Still no decent computer store #

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Sitting on the beach in Barcelona with D&K discussing twitter… Of all things! They are calling me a square now… #

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Visited nude beach and Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres in one day – don´t know which one I prefer better. Not enough nudity in the museum.. # @Igorpunck yes there are, but they frown upon you if you don't remove yours! Peer pressure of sorts #

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A brief visit to the doctor – 80 Euro

Prescription medication – 6.95 Euro

Travel Insurance that covers the above – $30

In and out of the hospital and the pharmacy in 10 minutes – Priceless!

So I got a little scratch on the leg, which got inflamed either because of the salty waters or the sunscreen and decided to go to the doctor while in Figueres. The tourist information people directed us to two places we could visit – a public hospital and a private clinic. The private clinic happened to be closer so I limped for it.

A totally non-English speaking receptionist (we, English speaking tourists get so cocky expecting everything to be in English and everyone to speak it. I almost threw a hissy fit when I couldn´t find any newspapers in English in a store in a town with population of 130, exluding the tourists) understood my jesticulations towards my leg and requests for a doctor.

The doctor, who we saw literally after 3 minutes of waiting, was indeed English speaking and wrote me a prescription for some drugs in two minutes. 3 minutes walk to the pharmacy, 2 minutes waiting for the sales personnel to appear and here I am, fully medicated.

Question arises – why can´t we have the same in Canada? Yes, I have not accounted for the under-privileged who cannot afford neither the private care nor the insurance that covers it, but wouldn´t it be nice to have treatment when you want it, pronto?!

P.S. Mom, I´m okay, it´s just a scratch.

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@hesistation from the limited chatter that I am exposed to here I presume you are Miss Hesi, CFA!!! Congrats!!! You deserve it! # I want to retire in Spain – get a yacht, be exposed to relaxed people, warm weather and tops optional on the beaches! #

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Sipping sangrias on the shores of Mediterranean – wishing the whole crowd was here. Note to crowd for the future!!! #

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