|
|
Our last night in Dublin, Oct 30, we went to the Samhain Haunted Forest walk in Marlay Park.
The walk thru the park was just over a kilometer (tho we we walked considerably further to get there since we somehow took the wrong bus). The route is wired with speakers with spooky sounds and there are several vignettes with live actors, but it’s not a jump out and scare you type thing. It was “not scary at all” to the obviously scared Jacob, who wouldn’t even stand next to a skeleton to have his picture taken. He kicked it instead. Nicholas was a little frightened. Neither understood why they weren’t giving out candy. By the end of the week, they were both pretty tired; you can really see it in these pictures.
M O R E P H O T O S
From Dublin Haunted Forest. Shot October 30, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
26
Viewing images
1-16
of
26
One of the great many things about Europe is the amount of public art—statues, fountains and murals are everywhere. Even our neighboring Vlodrop, NL, with a population under 3000, has sculptures along the roadway. (They’re people sitting or raising an arm as if looking to catch a ride. I have pictures…somewhere.)
Dublin is no different. This is certainly not the best of what Dublin has to offer; just what we saw on our walks in the city. A lot of it was Guinness related, including these horrible, horrible renditions of classic Guinness ads. In the Temple Bar area, there is an art alley that promises a gallery of Irish icons—playwrights, poets, actors, musicians, athletes. I didn’t walk down it; it was more like urinal alley. It’s considerably less stinky to browse online here (use “Icon Walk” dropdown menu at the top).
M O R E P H O T O S
From Dublin Street Art. Shot Oct 25-30, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
34
Viewing images
1-16
of
34
Some pictures from two of Dublin’s most famous churches: Christ Church Cathedral and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
Christ Church Cathedral was founded in 1028. The church has a long history which I won’t even attempt to summarize (lazy). Read it here. Among the more interesting things: There is a mummified cat and rat and a crypt that you can rent for weddings (weird) and other events. There is also a coffee shop in the crypt. It’s not free to enter, which is a little strange to me considering that Dublin’s national museums are free (and arguably a better place to have a divine experience).
M O R E P H O T O S
From Christ Church Cathedral. Shot October 25, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
23
Viewing images
1-16
of
23
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was founded in 1191. It is the largest church in Ireland. And really hard to get the whole of it in a picture. Read about it here (still lazy). The cathedral was actually closed this day. They host a lot of graduations, so if going it’s best to check the web site to make sure they’ll be open.
M O R E P H O T O S
From Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Shot October 29, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
21
Viewing images
1-16
of
21
Our last day in Ireland I walked around Trinity College and Dublin Castle. Trinity College was founded in 1592. How lucky to be a student here today. And how lucky for me to go there by myself while Matt and the kids watched TV at the apartment (ha ha). I had intended to walk thru their library since I read about the floor-to-ceiling walls of old books in The Long Room (oldest volumes in the country), but it was closed. Probably should have checked the opening hours. It’s not like an American university where they’re open until midnight; Trinity’s library closes at 4:30 or 5 p.m.
If the library closes at 5, what excuse do students give their parents? If you were at a party, what do say when you can’t say, “I was at the library, Mom.”?
M O R E P H O T O S
From Trinity College. Shot October 30, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
21
Viewing images
1-16
of
21
So Dublin Castle, not really a castle. What it is/was is the seat of government when the British ruled Ireland (until 1922). There was once a Danish Viking fortress here (in the 930s), Norman fortification (1170s) and later an English castle, but all that is left today are archeological relics and the Record Tower—the turret-like structure which dates to 1228 (from the English castle). Most of the rest of the complex is from the 18th century.
The complex has served a multitude of functions: royal residence, army barracks, parliament, courts (note the statue of Justice; she is not blind). It’s survived fire and civil war. Today Dublin Castle is primarily a tourist attraction, but still used as a conference center, for the presidential inauguration and other official functions, state dinners and that sort of thing.
There’s this weird brightly colored section constructed to look like a castle, a rebuilt part of what is/was the State Apartments. Not sure what to make of it; it just looks odd. There is a long, dry, 17-chapter history on the castle web site. But the best way to get a feel for the place is with this interactive map (mouse over the yellow dots).
M O R E P H O T O S
From Dublin Castle. Shot October 30, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
48
Viewing images
1-16
of
48
This was probably Nicholas’ favorite thing we did in Ireland. (He still has the building map and likes to point out how you go up thru it. He often sits on my lap and reads as I type. Recently I typed “I guess” which he insisted said “I Guinness.”)
Weird, I know, since he’s 3. But no surprise there. It was pretty freaking cool. The building is beautiful in and of itself (built 1902, first multi-storey steel-framed building in Britain). The view from a top, looking over St James’ Gate at the Gravity Bar, is worth the admission price alone. Then there’s the beer. I don’t care about the whole “craft beer revolution; Guinness is too corporate blah, blah, blah.” Guinness is what every small, independent brewery aspires to be. Going from the entrepreneurial days of Arthur Guinness to the global brand powerhouse it is today—there’s something quite admirable in that. I’ll always sit for a pint of Guinness. It’s not what I’m drinking as I type this, but that’s not really relevant is it?
Guinness Storehouse is the Disneyland of beer. Ingredients, the brewing process, history of the brewery, ancient equipment, advertising artifacts. Old mash tons, barrels, bottles, and the harp. It’s pretty hard not to like this place. Welcome:
The self-guided tour is interesting both to those unfamiliar with the brewing process (here’s your crash course) and those who experience it firsthand in our kitchen/backyard/basement. There are facts and quotes from Arthur Guinness throughout the place, but the one I like best was in the advertising section. Written by a doctor, it reads:
“I often prescribe Guinness and for the following reasons in chief. A bottle of Guinness put in front of say, a dispirited health-greedy convalescent has a wonderfully auto-suggestive cheer-producing effect. It looks potent and jolly and when consumed it acts as a stomachic and whip to the appetite. It makes the patient feel better and eat better and think cheerfully.”
Roger that. Guinness was also given to people who had just given blood and prescribed to nursing mothers and those recovering from illness. To think all we get today is a cookie, a pat on the back and antibiotics.
With your ticket you get one pint, redeemable either at the Gravity Bar or at the pour your own pint bar on the floor below. We chose the latter and are hereby officially certified to pour the perfect pint (at least that’s what the certificate says).
The only downside: the Gravity Bar, not a cash bar. You can only redeem your ticket for a free pint. Understandably, this keeps people cycling thru and keeps it from getting too packed on busy days, but I would have liked another pint up there. IMO, they’re sitting on a goldmine. If I was Guinness, I’d enable cash transactions or build a similar bar (cash only, no tickets). They’d make a killing.
There are also several restaurants inside, but we didn’t eat at any. Did pick up some recipe cards. Going to make this Guinness chocolate mousse or the truffles some time. Recipes are also on their web site.
M O R E P H O T O S
From Guinness. Shot October 27, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
61
Viewing images
1-16
of
61
M O R E P H O T O S
From Guinness Gravity Bar. Shot October 27, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
24
Viewing images
1-16
of
24
The Jameson distillery is no longer in use; it’s now more of a museum on the history/process of making Irish whiskey. In the front (public space), there’s a bar, restaurant, gift shop and a glass floor where you can see where barrels were once stored.
The tour takes you thru the back rooms. It’s guided tour with a short film. Everyone gets a free drink at the end, but if you’re one of a lucky few, you get to sample several whiskeys (scotch, American, 25 year old, etc) and guess which is which. They ask for volunteers at the end of the film. Knowing this, Matt’s hand shot up. The tour guide made eye contact. We thought for sure that meant he’d be selected. Nope. She handed the batons to a bunch of other (older) people, including a gentleman so large he could barely walk from one room to the next on the tour—probably their target customer. (Personally, I’d be afraid to serve a bunch of alcohol to someone like that, unless I had a crash cart nearby, but that’s just me.) So that was disappointing.
The tour was good, probably better if you are whiskey connoisseur, which I’m not. Interesting to see the old equipment, but the set up scenes are pretty cheesy. Even more so when you use a flash to illuminate all the things you’re not supposed to see. Like this.
Do love those chandeliers in the bar. Especially in front of a gilded mirror and those weathered brick walls. Note to self: get those things. All of them.
M O R E P H O T O S
From Jameson Distillery. Shot October 28, 2011. Dublin, Ireland
Viewing images
1-16
of
38
Viewing images
1-16
of
38
|
|
|
