Our early arrival in Dublin was accompanied by the chilling rain splashing on our red raincoats. We were told to get used to this, because it is a normal weather condition for Ireland. Luckily, the next day dawned dry and bright and so we were able to do our “line tests”, which everyone had been anticipating with great trepidation. During this challenge, first mate Richard placed cloth over each student's head to cover our eyes, and then we were asked to identify over 100 lines used to adjust the positions of sails during our daily handling maneuvers on board. Everyone did well, and were congratulated by getting off of our ship to discover Dublin.

In the city, there were so many possibilities to explore… this allowed everybody to do different things, and then come together to share our stories at the end of the day. Some of us traveled to surrounding areas by train, wandered around the city, went shopping, or visited the Guinness factory. After this first day of shore leave, everyone felt pleased and exhausted. Although in the beginning we may have thought that we would get more sleep in port, we already realized in the Azores that this idea wasn't true at all. Rather the opposite, but none of us seem to mind. On our way back for curfew, we were welcomed home by Concordia’s majestic masts from where she lay docked along the delightful harbor of Dublin’s River Liffey. Being allowed to go aloft at night was a unique experience that some of us will never forget. Most had to force themselves to come back down, fascinated by the view over the brightly illuminated city. The next day, a walking tour around Trinity College was scheduled. The tour guide was a funny man, who made it really easy and interesting for us to listen to the most important points of the history of Ireland.

For our second port program, everyone went to a farm just outside of Dublin to take part in traditional activities. We started the day with a vibrant Irish Dance, jolting the last sleepy people wide awake. Surrounded by laughing and happy faces, we learned three different progressions, At the end, we were able to dance all of them in a row. While learning how to play an Irish drum, everybody was able to express their talents for carrying the rhythms of Irish music. Then we went outside to herd pigs. Our task was to guide them from the pen where they were suckling their mother into a big meadow, through an alleyway of two pins attached in the ground that had been garnished with colored rubber boots. Standing aside to take pictures while other people shared in this special activity was as funny as taking part in the 'pig hunt'. Our group ran around the whole meadow, doing a great job. Working together as the crew we learned to be at sea.

After that, we were all impressed to watch three little dogs doing the best job at rounding up a herd of sheep that any one of us has ever seen. Although we tried to keep them penned in our human circle, most of us were too scared to hold them in when they tried to escape. Warmed up by a delicious potato soup with our own baked bread and coffee or tea, everyone was ready to try to play Hurling. Our equipment included a kind of a wood racket and a baseball. Sadly we didn't really have the time to get into this sport, but everyone had the chance to try some basics.

Excitement arose when we heard that it was now time for our highlight of the day…. all of us changed clothing quickly to prepare. Each of us climbed into the hay trailer, awaiting the big event everyone was looking forward to. The ride to the peat bog was filled with singing and a really good atmosphere. Upon arriving, we first had to survive an adventure walk- and then came the mud hole. After just a few minutes, most of us were as dirtier than we have ever been in our lives before. Enjoying the moment and the feeling of the cold mud between your toes, we threw mud at each other, jumped in or on our friends, and some of us got homemade facials or hair treatments too. Our ride back to the farm was full of contentment and happy faces- but they soon changed when we tried to get the mud off.

Our last full day in Dublin arrived quickly- relaxing and doing the things we miss about being on land was great, and it was fun to experience the city and all of its beauty. Although we really enjoyed our time in port, most of us were really excited to go back to sea and enjoy the indescribable feeling of being surrounded by water and our lovely crew.