European Trip Day 3: Out and about in Dublin

Out and about in Dublin

A huge day today! We packed quite a lot into just one day in Dublin and we are all pretty tired and footsore after walking more than ten kilometres around town on cobbled streets.

Our appartment at Five Lamps Suites is only about a kilometre's walk from town, so we set off after breakfast around 0830, armed with a paper map and Google Maps as back-up.

We crossed the River Liffey and stopped on the bridge to admire the splendid views of the Customs House on the riverside.

Quick photo stop on the way into town

Looks like an eternal flame encased in a glass tube.
Not clear in this pic but the metal cage was adorned with
lots of  padlocks .

Customs House in the background, used in TV's Foyles War

No idea who they are!

From there we headed towards St Patrick's Cathedral, passing through Temple Bar district on the way. The place reeked of beer and the streets were littered with cigarette buts, bottle tops, gum and broken glass trodden into the cobbled paving.

Merchants Market, rebuilt in late 1800s after a fire.
The sign said it opened as 9 am. Hah!
We were and there at 9:05 and it was dead as a doornail!

We really liked the very cute Ha'ppeny Bridge and all the lovely old pubs which all seemed to have luscious hanging flower baskets all over the outside walls.

The Ha'penny Bridge, cast iron dating from 1816.
It's rather elegant for its simplicity.

Mercahnts Market with flowers. 
There were quite a lot of window boxes in various places.

The Temple Bar area is apparently the city's
centre of night life and tourist trap.
Wotalota Guinness!

More flowers, some in boxes, some stood round a pole

Did we say there were flowers?

Blooming roses

We found the Cathedral and had a good look around the outside, including some of the graves of famous people outside, but opted not to go in.

The Cathedral gardens were sunken, and in one wall were plaques
commemorating Ireland's literary giants, many many of them.

From there we went on to Dublin Castle and had a cuppa and cake in the castle tearooms before taking the one hour guided tour. Both the young women who were our guides were very enthusiastic and knowledgable and it's certainly worth doing the tour. Most of the castle was burned to the ground in 1684 and has been rebuilt and modernised. One tower and the foundations of another remain. 

Approaches to the Castle - yep, it's largely brick 

Modern, austere tea room with rather good coffee

A courtyard with the de-consecrated chapel in the background

They even took us down to see the archeological dig under the old castle walls and what remains of the moat.

Foundations of the one remaining stone corner
tower after the  fire of 1684

Our guide top left. Enthusiastic, informed and
wonderfully clear vouce that carried well.

The private chapel attached to the castle was very ornate and lovely and the internal rooms very beautifully decorated too.

After the chapel we were moved onto Saint Patrick's Hall and the State Apartments. They date back largely to the 1700s and are suitably ornate, though perhaps restrained compared to elsewhere.

Moving on a bit. Chandelier in the room which 
hosts presidential inaugurations (St Patrick's Hall)

Taking a breather

Staircase up to the state apartments - apparently traipsed in the
past by debutantes on their way to being presented to the Viceroy  

  Here are a selection of photos of the State Apartments and some of St Patrick's Hall:

The Gift Shop.  There's always a gift shop.

After having Done The Castle we walked - or staggered, it was proving to be a long day - on towards Trinity College. We passed the statue to Molly Malone on the way there. Great photo op!

Nick, what are you upto?

So, Jan forgives you!

This looked very much like a Victorian or Edwardian pillar box - the crown was still discernable under layers paint.

The bank whereat John drew cash. Exciting!

A Royal Bank building turned restaurant

That Malone girl lurking in the background again

Now, as we saying, we joined the crowds at Trinity College. We amost went in to see the book of Kells as a sign said there was no charge and no queing. They fibbed. There was both (we think the no queue, no charge applied to the gift shop. Er ... ok). We reckoned we could make do with a look at the extensive grounds there instead.

Turn right here for the Book of Kells that
we didn't actually go to see.

There were some curious sights
:

Sphere Within Sphere outside the Berkely Library

It's a sculpture in bronze by Arnaldo Pomodoro (which John translates as Arnie Tomato - look it up!) and really is, well, curious. It's not unique though, Wikipedia notes that he has done versions of the piece in at least 16 (sixteen) places. Clearly a nice little earner!

Oak trees that reminded John of baobabs

After Trinity College Nick was side tracked by an antique shop. So the girls rested, Barb with her feet up on her new walking stick/stool:

Oh, and Magnums made an appearance

Its's not every day a boat full of Vikings
turns up at the traffic lights ...

... but this is Dublin!

We were very keen to explore the Emigration Museum, aka the Epic Centre. We'd heard you could do some family tree research there too, for an addition to the already steep entry fee. We actually really enjoyed the self-guided tour. You go from room to room watching videos or being involved in interactive displays and in each room you get your fake passport stamped. All good fun! 

If you're ever visiting Dublin we'd definitely recommend this tour.

Barb is not very good at folding her arms. 
Jan was clearly a good little girl!

The displays were very imaginative and engaging:

It was all too much for Isla who nearly drowned
her exhaustion and herself in coffee.

Ah, the Corrigans!

Outside the Epic Centre.  Can you tell?

We walked home slowly (actually it was very slowly), feeling quite exhausted after the day's exertions. Barb was on her second lot of panadol by lunchtime and was very glad of the walking stick with tri-pod seat built in that John got for her before coming away (I have my moments).  It turned out to double up well as a foot stool.  What good value!