St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! - Or should I say 'week'... Over here the celebrations started in London at the beginning of the week, and peaked/finished on Sunday with the end of the festivities, including a parade, which flew straight from the Dublin parade, to perform in central London, this year.

The weather was a bit iffy - sun and rain, sun and rain... I made Russ get up early so we wouldn't miss any of the festivities. We started our browsing in Covent Garden with the Irish food markets. When I think of Irish food, I'm afraid all that comes to mind is Irish stew...and unfortunately that was almost as original as it got. Though in fairness there was actually plenty of food from Ireland. I especially liked the fruity soda bread!! And cheeses... mmm cheeses... We ended up buying an ordinary, non-Irish dark rye soy loaf - not really keeping up with the spirit of things I'm afraid...

Next stop was Leicester Square, we found ourselves more interested in the hundreds of people lining up to get into one of the theatres there, for what I thought was the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, but was in all likeliness something far more exciting!! We had arrived a bit early, and were only just setting up the stage in the Square for all the 'jiggers' to come. I couldn't seem to talk Russ around to trying his hand at some Irish jigging!

Our final stop, the third and main site of the St. Patrick's Day festivities, was Trafalgar Square. They had bars and a stage set up in the Square, which was fast filling up with fellow eager St. Pat's celebrators. The fountains were even coloured green. Here was where I tried my first Guinness. And I'm very sorry to say I really didn't like it!! I tried!! I really did, but it was so bitter - an acquired taste, I know, but not for me. We stood watching the stage filled with Irish bands, and two excited Irish Elvis', and then were treated to some river-dancers. Haha, I have to say it's one thing I just can't take seriously!! All I can think of when I see them is Sharon from Kath & Kim - you'll know exactly what I mean if you've seen it (which is a MUST!!). The best part, which actually took me by surprise, was Directors. The best band to come out of Ireland recently - a pop-rock quartet. They looked all of about 12 (years old). But I found myself getting right into them!! Definitely one to watch out for.

My main goal for the day was to watch the parade. I LOVE parades!! Seems to be something I'll never grow out of!! We waited and waited, and finally it arrived. Haha it was one of the shittest parades I've ever seen!! The most impressive part by far was the very first display - which wasn't even a display. Just a guy walking an Irish wolfhound. It was an amazing, menacing looking dog. But apparently just a big souk! The deal breaker for leaving was when it finally got really dark then all of a sudden belted down with with hail and snow!! Crazy after this last week of nothing but sunshine and warmth!!

So that's what St. Pat's Day in London has to offer... Perhaps next time we'd be better off going to the real thing... Though was still a fun, geeky tourist adventure!! :o)