Flight over and day in Dublin

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Flight from Dulles to Dublin was good--great attendants, good food, little turbulence. Sat on the tarmac about 45 minutes before takeoff but otherwise uneventful. Aer Lingus did a great job. Got our stamp and our luggage!

We had a Dublin Pass for the day which included bus into the city for which Mike was very grateful, especially after seeing the construction mess in Center City.

About 4 million people in Ireland and over a quarter of them live in Dublin. Large, old, crowded city. Thousand year old streets and buildings are rarely even or wide and don't have elevators.

Found our way to Trinity College, where we had reservations to stay the night, stored our luggage and set out to discover Dublin. Took us a few tries to get off campus as it's a gated walled campus and the city construction has a couple of them blocked but we made it onto Nassau Street and even across it without getting splattered by a bus car or bike. Someone has very thoughtfully painted "LOOK LEFT" or right with arrows on the ground for the tourists. Had my first scone, fresh out of the oven, raspberry, and Mike had a bit of Irish breakfast.

Back on campus, we stopped in to see how early we should get in line for our 11:00 Book of Kells tour and the girl said it was slow, why not head in now and the ticket's good all day!! So we went in and wandered through the exhibit. At the end, we went up the stairs to the Long Room which is magnificent! Gorgeous wood but I was busy trying to understand how things were organized, without much luck.

Hopped on the Hop On Hop Off bus and rode the full circuit, taking pictures and notes. Hopped back off at Trinity and had lunch at an Italian restaurant and wine bar up the street. Hit the spot!

Checked in and almost died getting to our room on the 3rd floor which is really on the 4th floor. Got a nap which helped a lot. Hopped back on the Hop On Hop Off and hopped off at St. Patrick's Cathedral which was just gorgeous, of course. As we were leaving, the boys choir began practicing so we stayed a bit longer just listening. Wandered towards Temple Bar, stopped at the Bull & Castle for what turned out to be excellent bar food--charcuterie and Spanish olives. The wander through Temple Bar was a bit like Bourbon Street with music and people celebrating. Quite a number of "hen parties"--it was a Friday night in June.

Sun stays up till 10 but I think we were sound asleep by 8:30, if we made it that late!!

Tomorrow--train to Cork, rent a car, try to go to the English Market, and drive to Bansha Castle.

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Photos

Mike on OConnell Bridge
Off the bus--now where? we eventually found our way to Trinity College but, because of road construction and lack of street signs, it was touch and go at first!

First Scone
raspberry, fresh out of the oven, with jam.
ended up being my favorite of the trip. Could be any reason--fresh and warm, real raspberries, long night flight etc

The Long Room
The Old Library at Trinity College, the best part of the Book of Kells tour, to Sue's mind.

Harp that is the model for the national symbol
Brian Borou's century old harp.

the Long Room
Wow!!

Butleriana
More about the Butlers later!

Dublin GPO
During the Easter Rising of 1916, the General Post Office (GPO) was the headquarters of the Irish Volunteers. On Easter Monday of 1916, armed groups of the Irish Volunteers and the Citizen Army, commanded by Padraig Pearse and James Connolly, took over the GPO where they proclaimed the Irish Republic.

Guinness Storehouse
we did not get back there to visit although I understand the top floor provides great views of Dublin.

HandM
for the girls!