A day in Dublin

After a difficult night's sleep, Bill and I finally got a few good hours before heading down to a fabulous and delicious breakfast buffet.  We had checked online and this morning the status of our missing luggage had transitioned to "in process for delivery" so we avoided the need for shopping and headed downtown via cab to the National Museum of Archeology.

This is a free museum and is chock full of interesting artifacts.  Many were discovered and preserved by being buried in the peat bogs.  Of particular interest were several bog people, mummified bodies they discovered.  The bodies were tastefully displayed along with information that could be determined using sophisticated testing methodologies.

Next up, find a pharmacy.  Bill seems to always get a head cold when we travel and without our luggage he was defenseless against his sneezing and nose blowing.  We found one, and discovered that different cold medicines are available here.  We got Sudafed, but the non drowsy kind only.  Not the nighttime variety we can get at home - he said only in the US.

Next, a cab again with a much more talkative driver to drop us off at the main Post Office to get international stamps for post cards.  The post office was HUGE and had various windows for different things, like paying bills.  Found the stamps window and asked about the need for basically an air mail sticker which I had read conflicting information on the need for.  He said you don't really need them now, because all mail to the US is via air, but people still use them as an interesting item of yore.  So... I got some to go on our cards.  The post office was called the GPO!  General Post Office... not the Government Printing Office - my place of employment for 32 years....

Next we figured out how to use the laus (tram) to get back to our hotel.  We got off and attempted a visit to the Guinness factory but... couldn't figure out how to get into the darn thing!  At this point Bill said to me "are you beginning to lose interest in this?" which was my cue he was, so we bailed and went back to the hotel.  No sooner had we returned to the room than we got a phone call that our luggage had arrived!  I've never been happier to see luggage in my life!!

Next up, out initial meeting with our tour guide, our group, and an overview of Dublin with a local guide, Ena.  Our prime destination was Trinity College, where we viewed the Book of Kells, a famous book containing the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John produced in 1840 by Monks.  It was beautiful, but no photography.  Upstairs there is the library which was also gorgeous, but I've not figured out how to turn off my flash and couldn't do so under pressure so no photos.  I did get some photos on the grounds of Trinity College.  Conferring of degrees had been happening.  

  

I love pretty bridges and got some shots of a couple as we drove thru town in the bus.

These bridges (and many others) cross over the River Liffey that runs right thru the middle of Dublin.    Also grabbed some pictures of some of the famous doors of Dublin.  

Please excuse the lack of centering on this, the most photographed of Dublin doors... remember I was on a moving bus!  (and my editing schools are nill)  Or maybe it was a creative shot?  No, no editing skills...

A pretty pub - there were many of these brightly colored and flower decorated pubs and store fronts.

We also went into Phoenix Park, a large enclosed park behind our hotel.  Saw a TON of deer, they roam freely in the park.  

Later we met our group to discuss our tour, and then Bill and I went to a pub for dinner and invited another couple to join us.  They were from San Jose, and they were Chinese.  It turned out that our waitress was Chinese as well, and their home towns were very close to each other!  They exchanged pleasantries in Chinese... at least we HOPE that's what they were doing and NOT talking about their terrible dinner companions!   Dinner was at Nancy's Hands and was very good!

  Tomorrow - on to Waterford!