Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Continuing Day One

We started off the city with a drive through the city where we saw many different things including Fitz William Square where we were able to view homes from the1780's. In the 18th Century Dublin was a Georgian city and they were a wealthy people. Dublin itself was built between the Grand Canal and Royal Canal.  Fitz William Square has wide streets and the wealthy lived here, and often were only here during the Dublin Season from February through St. Patrick's Day.  The season ended with a ball held at the castle. The houses here still have coal covers and some still have boot scrappers that date back to the 1800's.
This door was restored with the arched glass above the door to what was typical in the 1880s.
This is one of the coal shoot covers.  It would make a cook quilt pattern.
The first room behind the door was usually the study, and further back was the dinning room.  The upper floors were living areas with bedrooms above those. The rooms with the smaller windows on top were where the children slept. These homes were long and narrow with long narrow garden behind, and at the very back was an area for the horses.


This is not a parking lot this  is part of the street in front of the building. Our bus is parked across the street from this building out of the picture, but behind the cars you see here.
Across from this row of houses, which today are primarily rented out for two years nine months by attorneys and other business offices, is Fitz William Park. It is a private park which is open only to private owners.

We went by the National Maternity Hospital which was built in 1830.  It is off Marion Square which is a park open to the public as are most of the green squares in Dublin.  We also passed the National Gallery of Art, Sir William Wilde's Home, the Parliament House, Steven's Green, The Mansion House, and St.Anne's Church on our way to Trinity College.  All National Museums are open to the public free of charge like our Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C.

We entered Trinity College from Nassau Street which I am told is the most dangerous street in Dublin.

 Wow! Talk about an over dose of history and being right up my alley.  It was wonderful and the art work in The Book of Kells is incredible.
When we arrived at Trinity College we first entered Fellow's Square where an Alexander Calder sculpture is prominently displayed. Now I do not know about you, but when the guide asked us what we thought it was I was way off in the wrong direction.  What do you think this is?

Cactus Provisoire (1967) welded steel

 I do not think it looks like a cactus, more like a fish of some kind, but then artist have some wild imaginations.  I do like his work though, even if I do not always understand it.

 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Ireland Day One

After flying over seven hours we landed in Dublin. It was a beautiful day, and I was in Ireland, what could make a day better? The airport is 16 kilometers north of the city of Dublin. The city itself is horseshoe shaped and built along the banks of the River Liffey and Dublin Bay.


The first thing I noticed was that the signs were in Gaelic (Irish) and English. Most of Ireland speaks English, though the official language of the country is Gaelic. Most people in Ireland learn English at a young age. English names are often corrupted versions of the Gaelic names. The difference is that the Irish names have meaning. Kill or Cill means church or cell, and dates back to the days when monasteries were spread all over Ireland.

Dun meaning for or fortification came fro the times when Ireland was invaded. Towns that began with this name were built around forts.

Balli or Ballya means the town of the castle. Those are many towns that were built around castles.

The River Liffey is horseshoe shaped and runs roughly 8- miles from the mountains down to the sea. Dublin is in the area of the Liffey Valley.

Dublin has many parks within the city limits, and many are small roughly, one block square, but Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in Europe. It is 1,063 acres of park land, two times the size of Central Park in New York City. It is with in walking distance of the city center. There are two residents who live in the park, the President of Ireland and the American Ambassador.

The American Ambassador has such a place of honor because of America's support of Ireland in its fight for independence.

As we drove into the city we passed by the Guinness Store house which we will tour while here.   I got a kick out of this sign that we drove past which said "Guinness for Strength"
Dublin has a light rail system as part of its public transportation system.  I love the look of the train. I would love to have one like this in Anchorage.

We were dropped off at our hotel and had time to clean up and relax for a but before setting off on our city tour, which included a stop to see the Book of Kells. More next time.....

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Grand Canyon

Of all the places we visited this summer, the most breath taking was the Grand Canyon, and Grand does not begin to describe it. It is a gift to us from God., and is the most beautiful place I have ever been. There is what I call Alaska beautiful, but the Grand Canyon is a different kind of beautiful. It is beyond words, and gave me chills and goosebumps. Even just thinking back to standing on the edge of the canyon looking out I still get chills and feel in awe that such a beautiful place exists
.

We hiked down into to canyon in several places, and around every curve the views were more beautiful that the last. The colors of the canyon were some I have never seen before. Some of the plants that grow there are ones that I have never seen before, others looked more beautiful than because of the setting.


 I loved the sunset which we watched from one of the canyon. It was beyond words, I cannot even begin to describe the sight or the emotions I felt while standing there observing the sunset. The colors were brighter, yet softer and seemed to caress the canyon walls, painting a picture that was unlike anything I had seen before. Paintings depicting sunset in the canyon do not even come close to showing the true beauty of it. Even photographs cannot capture the real colors, though they come closer than any painting I have seen. The colors are pure, their rich, and alive. To truly understand you have to experience it.

The same can be said of the sunrise which I also witnessed. We awoke at 4 AM and stumbled in the dark to catch the shuttle to Hopi Point, along with a family of four and two young ladies.
It was so peaceful at that hour. Everyone went their own way, so it was as if I was alone on the edge of the canyon watching the sun rise. Tom went off a different direction that I did to watch and photograph the sunrise. I sat quietly watching to start, and took a few pictures, but mostly I was in awe.
I was numb overwhelmed with feelings of joy and awe. It was very spiritual for me. I felt closer to God that I have ever felt. It was a very emotional experience for me.

I was sad the day we left the canyon, I felt like I was leaving the place where my heart belonged. It was a place of such spiritual prescence, and comfort. Even with all the frowds of people it was very peaceful and calming. I felt that I was at peace in the canyon.

Tom and I did have some fun with a few pictures.
One last longing look at the canyon before departing..........

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