Dear Nan,
Oh my goodness, what a night…I’m on the bus now, so everything worked out, but I could not sleep AT ALL. The bed in the hostel was less like a mattress, and more like a brick wrapped in tissue…I don’t even know how to describe the flat sandbag of a pillow- But I felt safe and warm at least, and the other 3 bunkmates didn’t snore, so that’s nice!
I am SO looking forward to a shower, and fresh clothes, I’ve been wearing these since I left the States on Monday, today being Thursday. There was a shower in the hostel room, but I didn’t have a towel.
All in all, I’m still delighted I had the experience, something that sounded so cool to me when I was younger-
All part of my healing— to do things I couldn’t before…
The landscape out the window is getting more interesting, more trees, more hills, more lush, and because we’re on smaller roads, not the highway, it’s all closer and passing by more slowly…
~~
In “my” bed at Wies’ place, a type of hostel too, but MUCH better! I’m happy with my room, a long rectangle shape with a window at one end overlooking the Main Street of Ballydehob / Beál an Dá Cháb. One of the walls is covered in a zigzag design of wooden slats, very 70’s, with a built-in bookshelf filled with old books, from my initial scouring, all written by men.
Anyways! Nana! I made it here and it’s wonderful!
I went to Working Artists Studios / W.A.S. first, met the owners Marie & Paul and their son Dubhaltach (pronounced Dultah). They gave me a tour-
What a special place!
My studio is on the 3rd floor, along with another residency studio and two bathrooms. On the 2nd floor are Marie & Paul’s art studios, plus a kitchen. The first floor is a spacious gallery with large storefront windows. In the basement is a printmaking studio with a giant printing press. Outside in the back is Tailor’s Hall, which used to be where tailors of the village worked, and is now a performance space. Behind that is Dubhaltach’s sculpture / metalworking studio.
So much going on, and they are all lovely people!
I was brought two buildings down, introduced to Wies and given a tour of my lodgings. After putting down my things in my (also 3rd floor) bedroom, I walked to the health food market, ate a quiche with side salad, mint tea and bought a few groceries. Then back to my lodging for a hot bath + scrub, and a long nap.
Took my art making supplies to my studio, set up my desk, and met my residency neighbors, Carolin & Nikolas from Germany, artistic collaborators and a couple. They invited me to the pub, we had pints of Beamish stout and small glasses of Power whiskey with a drop of water in them. Great, easy conversation, laughing, kindness, and an unexpected comfort. They will have a car next week and offered so many things…
I’m too tired to write eloquently about anything else, it’s 3am…