Same Mission, Different Setting

As you are bustling about chasing down Christmas deals and looking for last minute must-haves consider this. So is everyone here. But here, when shoppers flood a mall it has a whole different look to it.

The pubs have outdoor tables great for viewing. And it's a grand place to sit and watch the street musicians come and go and the stream of shoppers drift by. It's really like a river of people and it's easy to get caught up in the current and swept along. Actually it is much easier to go with the flow than to try and cross sometimes.

This past week I was downtown on two different occasions. One was more of a sipping and watching outing. The other was to get some things done. And it was amazing to see the variety of people strolling through on the different days. One day brought a guy I've learned everyone calls Wolfhound Guy. I'm sure he has a name but no one knew what it was. He has a giant Irish Wolfhound named Rover everyone recognizes and yet that's really all they know about him. And that same day there was a quaint little wooden wagon pulled by a Burro and an older gentleman had cages of singing canaries and three little dogs with him. He was playing a tin whistle and enjoying the sunshine. And not far away break dancers were revving up the shoppers to stop and watch their antics and toss in a few coins.

The second trip was one that featured a lot of school choirs singing along the street, a brass quartet blaring Christmas carols and a bag piper. I thinks it's wonderful to see such diversity within a three block trek.

And while we have a lot of the same types of acts at Christmas in the malls in the U.S. I have to say the outside cobblestone setting just seems magical for donkeys and Wolfhounds alike.