Mood:
coolNow Playing: Academia and Antiquities
First a little addendum from last night's BLOG - a cute sign I happened to notice in the Raven's Head...something quaint the Irish used to sell in the olden days.
A charming retail practice in Dublin of olde. Well you might as well make money on it if you can!
And interesting, we didn't realize that matzoh balls were used in classic Irish stew. Apparently, it's so. But they call them knaid a lach which translates as "lake balls." Go know.
Lonnie enjoying Irish stew with knaid a lach.
Today (Saturday) was another beautiful day. Still no rain but for a minute or so mid-day. But the temperature is somewhat cooler and the wind somewhat stronger...the combination made for a somewhat unpleasant walking experience, but walk we must. Dublin is truly a walking city; it's compact and it's just the best way to get around. There are taxis (not cheap) and buses are plentiful (but the traffic is fierce and so they don't get far quickly) so walking is the way to go and that's what we've been doing. Oh yes, there are many, many bikes and not just for pleasure but lots of people commuting to and from work or shopping. I'm impressed and I didn't remember this from last time. It's just Europe I guess.
So we set out on this blustery day headed toward Trinity College. It was founded by Elizabeth I in 1592 and is a 42 acre oasis of peaceful calm in the middle of a bustling city. We want to take a look at the Book of Kells - four ancient illuminated gospels that are kept (and displayed, but only 2 pages at a time and turned daily to avoid damage from the light) in the college library. Since I saw them last time and since it costs $10 to enter, I wait outside while Lonnie enters.
The beautiful Trinity College campus.
Next we head to our walking tour for the day: the Liberties. That's the old part of Dublin (south of the Liffey and west from the college) and contains parts of the old city wall as well as two magnificent cathedrals: St. Patrick's and Christ Church as well as being the city's antique shops center.
On our way we pass through Temple Bar again and come across a street performer surrounded by uproarious laughter of a crowd that he has gathered around him. Of course, somehow he picks on me (I'm standing behind him taking pictures) and introduces me as his "manager".
Very funny ... except when he picked on Matt as his "manager".
First stop on our walking tour: Dublin Castle which represents some of the oldest architecture in the city. It was built between 1208 and 1220 and was the seat of British power for some seven centuries until the Irish took control of their own government in 1922. Because the European government was meeting there it was, unfortunately, closed to the public and we could only walk around outside.
There was a beautiful enclosed garden and it seems that the some parts of the castle have been painted in brilliant colors. The sun is low in the sky in the winter in Ireland. That makes for very striking "winter lighting" that seems to make everything look more brilliant to the eye.
A panoramic photo of Dublin Castle (with King Lonnie IV in the foreground.)
Detail of garden wall: Dublin Castle.
On the way out of the castle gate we came across a decrepit old building with a strange title decorating it's facade: "Sick & Indigent Roomkeepers Society. Founded A.D. 1790" We could only imagine who and what.
Looking for a few good men. Anybody interested?
The day was getting late and more blustery and it's Saturday and the antique stores on Francis Street that we wanted to hit were mostly closed. So were the two cathedrals (you've seen one, you've seen'em all). We walked around the Liberties section some more and then headed back to the hotel for a long nap. It's Temple Bar for dinner and drink for this, our last night in Dublin.
Tootleloo! - Matt
Charming but little row houses in the Liberties section of town.
Christ Church, one of the oldest and most beautiful in Dublin, dating to 1169 but closed to us today because we were too late..
St. Patrick's built in 1190. It's most famous dean was Jonathan Swift (Gulliver's Travels) who is entombed within. Here a view from a Liberties residential street. Work is being performed on the steeple.
Posted by Matthew
at 3:25 PM EST
Updated: Sunday, February 8, 2004 1:34 PM EST
