Dublin

No trip is ever without its challenges.  Everything was going SO well until we got to Dublin.  First of all, the driver is seated on the right of the car and you actually drive on the left side of the road........adjustments number 1 & 2!  Honestly, we had no idea how difficult this would be when traveling on roads that are VERY SMALL! 

 

Dublin is like a small New York City and San Francisco combined.  There are cars, people, taxis, strollers, buses, one way streets, no street signs that were visible and BIKES everywhere.  I would never ride a bike in this city (actually, I'm a little nervous for our bike tour).  DANGEROUS!! 

 

By the time we got to Dublin, we had been traveling for 15 hours with very little sleep.  You know how it is when you travel internationally, you are just exhausted. Well, I think we drove around Dublin for 2 MORE HOURS looking for our Hotel.  Yes - remember that song, "Will it go Round in Circles," by Billy Preston?  That was our theme song and it wasn't a pretty one!  Good thing we've been married 31+ years and have a great understanding of our relationship- patience was a virtue!  TIP #1 - It's very important to NOT get derailed relationally on the 1st day of your trip.

 

I know what you're thinking, "Why didn't you just stop and ask someone for directions?"  Well, that was nearly impossible!  There was nowhere to stop or pull over!!!  We finally turned down some remote street and asked ANITA (the nearest pedestrian) for help.  Gotta LOVE the Irish!!  She hopped in our car and directed us to our hotel, personally!  Needles to say, our car has been parked and we have been walking everywhere!!  Thank You, LORD, for Anita!!

 

Our Hotel in Dublin - Buswell's Hotel

Walking in the Temple Bar Area

Porterhouse Pub was mentioned as one of the top 10 Pubs to visit in Dublin.  It was awesome.....a little young....I think our kids would have REALLY enjoyed it!!

 

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Today has been the BEST!  We went to bed last night (Dublin time) at 9:30 and we were woken up this morning (with a call from our Dublin travel agent) at 11:10am.  I guess you could say we were TIRED!  I didn't even know Mitch could sleep more than 6 hours at a time. HA HA!

 

We had a few places on our list to visit and we made it to all but 1.  We'll save that last one for tomorrow!  We began at Trinity College.  Here we had the amazing privilege of viewing the Book of Kells.

Here we are in line.  The weather was perfect today.....a cool 60 and sunshine mixed with clouds.

 

Book of Kells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created in a Columban monastery in either Britain or Ireland or may have had contributions from various Columban institutions from both Britain and Ireland. It is believed to have been created ca. 800 AD. The text of the Gospels is largely drawn from the Vulgate, although it also includes several passages drawn from the earlier versions of the Bible known as the Vetus Latina. It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure.

 

This is NOT a good picture, but photos were not allowed.  At least you get the idea!!

 

Some photos of the Library at Trinity College

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this self-tour, it was off to Christ Church Cathedral.  On the way, we snapped a picture of The Dublin Castle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ Church Cathedral (or, more formally, The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity) is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland.  It is situated in Dublin, Ireland, and is the elder of the capital city's two medieval cathedrals, the other being St Patrick's Cathedral.

 

It was a short walk to St. Patrick's Cathedral from there. 

 

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, also known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin, or in the Irish language as Ard Eaglais Naomh Pádraig, founded in 1191, is the largest church in Ireland and one of Dublin's two Church of Ireland cathedrals. It has a 43-metre (140 feet) spire.^[1] Christ Church, the other cathedral, is the diocesan cathedral of the diocese of Dublin and Glendalough.

This church was very beautiful!  However, Mitch was VERY upset that the gift shop was actually inside the church in the foyer .....he said that was in poor taste and completely irreverent.  I agreed!

 

About a mile down the road was the Guinness Storehouse.  One can't visit Dublin without seeing this goldmine!  It reminded me of Disneyland....all the people and the lines.....unbelievable!

Irish Dancing at Guinness

 



 

Our final place to visit was the Brazen Head - Ireland's oldest Pub.  I had traditional Irish Stew and Mitch had some awesome fish & chips.  Everything about this pub was fantastic!

Lastly, a few sights on the way back to the hotel.

Good Night!!