Grafton Street at night

On a walk home from breakfast with friends this weekend, I found myself walking up Grafton Street. Grafton Street is a street in Dublin's City center, situated between Trinity College, the voluptuous Molly Malone statue and St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. Here you will find all of Dublin's best fashion shops, great cafés, one of the only McDonald's and street entertainers.\nAs I dodged my way through the crazy swarm of people and approached the top of the street, I heard the song "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson. Before I could laugh to myself, I saw it -- a man dressed in a leopard outfit jumping over fire while dancing to Michael Jackson. He probably had a good 70 people around him just watching to see what unfolded. Down the street in front of the store Brown Thomas, a similar scene was playing out with an electric string trio performing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons ." \nThis atmosphere of entertainment, food and people makes Grafton Street what it is. Everywhere you look, you are surrounded by people. The only time the street is empty is around 2:30 a.m., but even then you have the stragglers heading home from the late-night pubs and clubs. \nI'm convinced that one of the best places to spend a Saturday afternoon is tucked away in one of the many pubs in the Temple Bar area. Every other business you walk past is a pub, and there are wonderful smells wafting out of the cafés' doors. Hip, modern clothing and accessories are perched in the windows. \nLast week, my friend Sarah and I got out of class early, so we headed down to Temple Bar with no particular plan or prerogative. We paid nearly 10 euros (about $12.78) for drinks. Though it is an expensive city, it is no doubt an amazing one. It is so fabulous and fun to walk into a pub in the middle of the afternoon, grab a pint and just watch whatever sport is on the television -- whether it is rugby, hurling or (European) football. \nI am extremely jealous that you all have unlimited access to the World Series. We have to go to one particular pub called the Portabello and beg bartenders to put it on. Almost 50 Americans are crammed into the tiniest space with one television. Even then, the game doesn't start until 1 a.m, and we were ushered out of the bar by the fourth inning. But, hey, I guess beggars can't be choosers. \nThe nightlife in Dublin is one of its own. I have met more interesting people here in a month and a half than I have in my entire life. Well, I have met some genuinely interesting people at Indiana, but it's not every day you mingle with four Danish lads who are prepared to show you the time of your life. \nI do miss Bloomington more than I thought I would, though. I guess it's all relative. I am fully aware that it is an amazing experience in an amazing place, but maybe it is the people around you who really step it up that final notch. \nAnd on that note, I'm going to go enjoy the frothy brew that keeps so many of the Irish happy. Happy Halloween!