Observations

Observations and things we'll have to get used to:

• We are overall overwhelmed with getting to know the city.  We don't know where we're going or what the different areas are or what's nice and what's not and we feel like we have to get to know it really quickly to figure out where to live.  But don't know how to do that.  
• Drew and I are also total foodies, love going out for food and drinks, but we literally don't know any restaurants or pubs to go to.  Sure, they are everywhere, but we are cheap bastards right now and don't want to risk eating at a bad place and wasting our time and money!  
• We've been walking everywhere, which we really like, but should probably figure out public transportation.
• So far, we gauge the temperature in the morning and try to layer and figure out the temp by the time we get somewhere, get mid-day, etc.  By the time we get ANYWHERE we are sweating profusely (potentially because we walk so fast) because of the humidity, or the weather, or sun, or rain, or WHATEVER the reason - we are sweating so much.  Not sure how to dress or how to gauge what to wear.
• Along those same lines, the weather changes hourly.  Literally.  You know the expression "Don't like the weather in Texas?  Wait a day!"  In Dublin, it should be "Wait an hour!"  The weather literally changes every hour.  Our first day here it rained, was cold, then warmed up, got humid, the sun came out, the rain poured again, the sun came back out, it was cold, it was warm, and then it was cold again. Tuesday rained pretty much ALL DAY.  Wednesday was the most beautiful day we've seen here.  (All 3 days of it - but I'm listening to the Dubliners here people!).  It literally changes so much it's unbelieavable.  We now know never to leave the house without an umbrella and a light jacket.  You'll need both at some point during the day.
• Our initial thought was that the people weren't as nice as we'd heard.  But I think I'd like to recant that statement because our cab drivers and other waiters, bartenders, and the like have been incredibly nice.  Super helpful and caring and outgoing.  The guy at the Customs counter barked out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN IRELAND!?" and we said we/he was here to work.  He demanded our papers and gruffly told us to report to the immigration place within a month's time or we'd be in SERIOUS TROUBLE.  Yikes.  But the other people have more than made up for it.
• As far as the city goes, we really don't know what to think.  We think we're really going to like it here.  I think I personally was envisioning a more "European" city, with a more European feel, and this isn't necessarily it.  I don't even know what that means or what the definition of a "European" city is.  Some parts are very old and cute and quaint and some are very modern, which I do like.  But overall I think we're going to like it here - cute neighborhoods and residential areas and apartments and bars and restaurants and a good old part of town that DOES feel touristy with the cobblestone streets - sounds good to me.  I'll TAKE IT!