More Dublin and Home Again

Well, I'm back home again, after probably the fastest vacation I've ever taken in my life! I made the most of yesterday, though, getting up early and walking back into town from my suburban jail cell hotel room. I spent an hour or so walking around the Temple Bar area, which is Dublin's center of nightlife. It was quieter in the morning, but the St. Patrick's Day decorations were up and there were more than a few costumed revelers about.

Many of the main streets were already blocked off for the big parade and there were barricades everywhere. These parade marchers were fortifying themselves at the neighborhood coffee shop.

I walked to the River Liffey, which flows through the center of Dublin, so I could check out the views.

Then I met up with my stepsister Jennifer, her husband Tony and their friends Steve (yes, two Steves on this trip) and Karen. We had breakfast and went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, a 1,200-year-old illuminated manuscript of the Gospels of the New Testament that's held in the library.

Funny moment: We walked all the way to the college and were approaching the door when Jennifer said to Karen, "You have the tickets, right?" And Karen said, "No! YOU were going to get the tickets!" So we actually had no tickets at all -- but fortunately, even on St. Patrick's Day, we didn't have any problem buying them on the spot.

The "Book of Kells Experience," as it's known, was really more than it needed to be -- I'd have been happy just seeing the book and leaving it at that. But there's a museum with huge displays and multimedia stuff going on. Gotta keep the digital kiddies entertained, I guess.

We also walked through the library's legendary "Long Room," which used to be lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves of antique and historic books. Most of the books have been removed now for conservation, but the building was still beautiful. The busts along the sides are renowned Irish and British writers, until recently all male.

The college campus was quite impressive, too.

Afterwards we found a bar for a final pint of Guinness (in my case). I was worried about getting out of town, given the massive crowds and street closures for the parade, but the hotel reserved me a cab and by golly, that cab was waiting at the appointed place at the appointed time. I was amazed!

I saw these two as I made my way to my car, doing their best to spread a Christian message amid all the drunken revelry and commercialism. I told them I liked their signs: "Simple and direct!"

I had a couple of hours at the airport before my 5:50 p.m. flight took off -- but that was fine, as it gave me a chance to edit my photos and relax a bit. I had a good sunset view of Dublin as the plane took off and turned to the east. Those are the Wicklow Mountains in the distance, south of the city.

And I had a good view of London as we flew in about 50 minutes later. That's Battersea Park at lower right, with the curve of the Thames and the brightly lit Albert Bridge. The dark rectangle in the center is Hyde Park, and the dark patches above that are Regents Park and Hampstead Heath. I do love a window seat!

It was great to sleep in my own bed last night, and Olga seems happy to have me home. Dave said she was a nervous wreck the whole time I was gone! Such a dramatic dog.