getting better all the time
Well, things were a bit scheizer for awhile. I was staying at the Galway International Youth Hostel -- a boarding school just outside the city centre used as a hostel during summer months. The place was quite big and impersonal. I met a few people, but everyone was in and out, usually for a night, maybe two, and there really wasn't a strong atmosphere of communication or cohesion. A place to sleep and wash up, and an industrial size kitchen and cafeteria to cook and eat in. Well, the place closed its doors to travellers on Sunday, as it is opening for school soon, so I found a new place to live, going with the cheapest one on the list. Moving to the Salmon Weir Hostel has proved to be the best decision I've made yet on this trip. The place is warm and friendly; much smaller, but much more like a home, and for 10 euros a night I get a bed (in a room with 11 others,) a kitchen complete with cd/casette player, a living room always abuzz with activity friendliness and guitar playing, (on the two free-use guitars,) and some great people. I was getting pretty lonely, spending my days wandering by myself, and most nights (excepting a couple) finding entertainment on my own. This, compounded with my frustrations in my job search and worries about finding a place to live, was really getting me down. Nothin like some good interaction and chatter to pick ya back up again.
Last night was pretty great. Contrary to what I've just been talking about, I went out by myself, but it was by choice and not by depressing necessity! I went to watch a local Capoeira (brazilian martial art/dance) class that operates twice a week. I've seen the activity before -- at CWRU Springfests, and out on Santa Monica beach in Cali -- but I wanted to check out what they were doing here before deciding to participate. Next class is Thursday, and I'll be making a damn fool of myself.
After that, I went on to the Roisin Dubh, a pub where four groups/artists were performing under the Ruby Sessions tour. The first three were original and semi interesting, but the last group, Rodrigo y Gabriela were actually talented (and extraoridinarily, at that,) and blew me away. Rodrigo and Gabriela are mexican guitarists, joined on a few tunes by a violinist and percussionist. Their souls were in the music and their fingers on fire. I am not good with words, so I will not attempt a review. Much of the crowd enjoyed the first three performers, who had something to say, and were sometimes witty, sometimes callous, sometimes spiteful. I did not particularly care for them. I, like anyone, enjoy musics that echo my calms and ambitions and frustrations and loves and worries. And it's ok to not dig something that others say is good. But I especially enjoy talent and sincere soulfulness in music, and no one could argue that Rodrigo y Gabriela lacked either of these in any degree. I don't know if its possible that their recordings can nearly capture a picture of their live performance, but they have a few mp3's on their page for downloading. I can't access them because I've hijacked a library catalogue computer at the University College of Galway, so I can't speak for their quality. I'm out.