lookwhatic

5/23/11 - Tales from Ireland

Ireland has given me the chance to explore centuries year old castles, enjoy nightlife with the locals in picturesque cities, kiss a stone for luck, and see natural wonders like the Cliffs of Moher & Ring of Kerry. As I sit here reflecting on this journey, I realize that amidst the hustle & bustle of being in transit, I haven’t given myself time to process the grandeur of these experiences. As a kid, I dreamed about destinations like this, but never thought I’d be here as I am now.

Tonight, I decided to give myself some alone time in the hotel lobby so that I could relax and contemplate everything. The hotel has a modern feel and the lobby adjoins a restaurant/bar area. The lobby area seemed surprisingly busy for a Monday night, with a variance of young & old people of different nationalities.

As I sat there, I overheard two local guys behind me mention the word photography. I turned and asked, “I couldn’t help but overhearing, did you say photography is your profession?” Bingo, slam-dunk; sha-zam. Here I was, sitting amongst two professional product photographers. I conversed with them about the type of work they do, what the industry is like in Ireland, and their recommendations for places to visit before I leave. What were the chances of meeting two local guys with such similar interests?! This random occurrence ranks among my top experiences here in Ireland.

This just goes to show you that opportunities await all around us. We all hold the key to unlocking great conversation with people if we have the courage to open it.