We got in on time even though the plane left an hour late. We picked up our bags and caught a cab to the hotel, the Best Western Royal Dublin– it was less than 20 Euros to get from the airport to the hotel. The room wasn’t ready so we went to the bar and ate brunch. By then, the room was ready, so we showered and got going. Remember, people drive on the left side of the road here!

Its great to be reminded - this is painted at many intersections

There are plenty of trash cans around – they are all decorated and look very cool!

A trash can in Dublin

While walking, we came upon the Remembrance Memorial – its dedicated to all those that died for Irish independence.

The Remembrance Memorial

We went to the Dublin Writer’s Museum. It was interesting – mostly books and texts about the major authors from Ireland.

The ticket for the Writer's Museum (front)

The ticket for the Writer's Museum (back)

Next door is the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. The collection is fairly interesting including a few Corots and Corbets and a few Barbizon painters. The high point is Francis Bacon’s studio, which was donated to the gallery and moved into an installation including a short video interview with the artist.

The ticket to Francis Bacon's Studio (front)

The ticket to Francis Bacon's Studio (back)

One of the unfinished Bacon paintings at the studio

And an image of Francis Bacon's studio - and you think my desk is a mess

This is a must-see when in Dublin.

I used the men’s room and found an old ceramic trough toilet:

A trough urinal in Dublin

Then we took a cab to Trinity College’s Old Library to see the Book of Kells – actually, they have four books rotating out of eight on display at any one time open to a different page each day. The exhibit was okay – it was mostly text with a few example items on display; many of the displays were empty. On the way out of the Book of Kells exhibit is the Long Room – this is the main library, and attempts to include a sample of every book published in Ireland – they had to raise the roof, literally, a number of years ago to increase the shelf space – its very impressive inside.

The front facade of the Old Library

Don't know who this is but he must have had fun last night

Some art in front of a very old facade at the Old Library

A picture of the library from a pamphlet

We walked around the Temple Bar area – if you want a tattoo or a piercing in a private spot, here’s where you can get it! We ate at a nice Italian restaraunt, Osteria Romana. We had a full meal, including pasta (Atkins can wait!). There was a cool facade across the street from the restaraunt; we also found my namesake store in the Temple Bar area….

An interesting facade (and Aviva of course!)

It's my nickname!

While walking back to the hotel, we crossed the Liffey River, which disects the city.

The view of the Liffey River north from a pedestrian bridge

The veiw south of the Liffey from the same bridge

We walked back to the hotel – this is definately a walking city with lots of pedestrian streets (closed to traffic). The change to the Euro has increased the price of most things, food especially – its pretty expensive to eat well in Dublin!

I’ve almost finished Serendipities.

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