Walking, walking and more walking. It was like a summer day today. Weather perfect even though in some of my pictures it looks a bit cloudy.
Tag: #IrishWhiskeyMuseum
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Off to my walking tour. Stopping to smell the roses. And, of course, get coffee. We met at the spire at 11AM, General Post Office was across the street. Known as “the Liberator” for successfully campaigning for the right of Irish Catholics to become Members of Parliament, Daniel O’Connell is celebrated by the O’Connell Monument on the street which bears his name. O’Connell himself stands surrounded by a frieze of figures depicting elements of Irish society. Immediately underneath O’Connell is the Maid of Erin, symbolizing Ireland, who is pointing at the liberator and holding in her other hand the Act of Emancipation, while her former shackles lie broken at her feet. The River Liffey is the river that flows through the center of Dublin. Wax Museum. Didn’t go in, but couldn’t resist a picture of the wicked witch of the west, batman, dracula and superman. Passed this museum on our walking tour. Entering Temple Bar area. The Temple Bar is a public house located in the Temple Bar area of Dublin. Standing at the corner of Temple Lane South, the first pub on the site was reputedly licensed in the early 19th century. Some say that it was named after a family with the last name Temple. However, it is more likely that Temple Bar was named after the Temple district in London. Ireland was under British rule at the time and it makes sense that there was a desire in Dublin to imitate a prestigious London neighborhood. One of two medieval cathedrals within a stone’s throw of each other, Christ Church Cathedral dates back to Dublin’s Viking times. Founded by the flamboyantly named King Sigtrygg Silkbeard, the cathedral is in what in the Middle Ages was the heart of Dublin – Dublin center has since moved eastwards. Dublin Castle is a former motte-and-bailey castle and current Irish government complex and conference center. It was chosen for its position at the highest point of central Dublin. Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle. A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch. I never knew that. Irish Whiskey Museum. Irish coffee in the making. With my Irish coffee. Please excuse my appearance–it is now about 3PM and I have been walking since 10:30AM. Plotting my whiskey distillery tours with Mike in Galway. Reservation tomorrow evening, The Pig’s Ear. Thank you Cathy (pickleball peep) for the tip. Kept forgetting to post, I’m in the Bono room. : ) I’ve been streaming U2 music. And, of course, Van Morrison. I’m hoping to see Irish singer songwriter, Sioban, in Galway with Mike. -
Pictures from yesterday and today. The weather has been GREAT! Walking everywhere.
The Shelbourne. We are in a terrific location. The Shelbourne loves JFK. JFK’s close family ties to Ireland made him particularly beloved in this country. The Shelbourne was honored to welcome JFK and Jackie as guests, both before and after his election.
Ok, so if you want coffee without Irish Whiskey, Irish cream liqueur or Baileys Irish Cream, seems like Italian coffee is popular and the way to go. This is my go-to spot. We are looking for Love Supreme, highly recommended–their beans, are imported from Sweden’s Koppi Fine Coffee Roasters. 
I am directly across the street from Saint Stephen’s Green Park. 
My entrance to the park. 
Famine. Memorial at St. Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin captures the history and tragedy of the Irish Famine, also known as Ireland’s Great Hunger. Between 1845 and 1851 approximately one million Irish people died of starvation and disease and millions more fled Ireland in search of a better life. 
Daffodils in full bloom in the park. 
James Joyce memorial in the park. 
Just outside the park. I had the Baileys Bliss on the far left. YUM! 
Saint Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. No time to go in. Darn. 
Trinity College and the Old Library. The Book of Kells is a masterpiece of medieval art―a brilliantly decorated version of the four Gospels with full-page depictions of Christ, the Virgin and the Evangelists as well as a wealth of smaller decorative paintings. 
The Old Library. The Long Room. 
Christ holding a Gospel book (folio 32v). I am pretty sure this is the page I saw. Found this on the internet. I was lucky to get to see a beautiful image. I’m sure all the pages are great, but this was so vibrant! No photos allowed. 
It’s green week at Trinity College (and maybe all of Dublin). 
Pink Restaurant. My picture doesn’t do it justice. 
Bought a ticket. Going this evening. But first a late lunch/dinner. 
Open Clare Island Oak Smoked Salmon with smashed avocado, crusty sourdough bread and overnight tomatoes. Pinot Noir. All absolutely delicious!! I had never heard of overnight tomatoes. I’m going to try this at home. 
Dessert. Shelbourne Gateaux of the day–carrot. Out of this world delicious! 
After I ate about 1/3 of this amazing dessert, I had to push it aside before I finished it completely and licked the plate! Crazy good. 
Hope to go here tomorrow + the Guinness Storehouse and I am going on a walking tour at 11AM. So many places,
so little time. ; )
Dream to Travel from NCM 