We boarded the bus this morning at 9:00 and took a bus tour throughout downtown Dublin. We saw from the bus several green spaces they have in town. One was over 1,700 acres and is where there President lives. We saw the Guinness beer plant and St. Patrick’s cathedral but were unable to go inside it.
We stopped at Trinity College at 11:00 for a walk around and lunch. We went to see the Book of Kells at noon and then had some more free time until 1:00.
The Book of Kells is a manuscript and Celtic Gospel book in Latin containing the four Gospels of the New Testament. It is believed to have been created c. 800 AD.
Getting to the Book of Kells was a big, narrow room full of information about what the Book of Kells is all about and how they came into being. Unfortunately for me, the room was jam packed and was over crowded. I just wanted to get to the Book of Kells and then get out of there.
They keep the Book of Kells in a darken room in a glass surround display. I took a peak at it and left. I needed to get away from people.
I went out to the streets and walked them for a bit. I went in some beautiful knit ware shops. I was very tempted to buy a sweater but decided to wait. I’m sure there will be lots of opportunities for that later on this trip and if not, I have two free days in Dublin on the back end of the trip that I can go back and get it then.
We had a rare, blue sky sunny morning for our bus tour. We did drive into rain while on our three hour trip to Galway this afternoon but when we got to Galway the rain stopped and it was clear again. The temperature in Galway was 58 for the high today and 55 when we got here. It feels like fall to me. The leaves in the parks were beginning to turn. It is raining again now. It seems to rain, clear off, rain, clear off all day long.
We stopped at the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas. We were very lucky as the organist was playing while we were touring the church. Very beautiful music and a very beautiful cathedral.
We got dropped off at our hotel for the next two nights and got checked into the room. The grounds of the hotel are incredible filled with glorious flower beds. We aren’t close to any shops so will stay close to the hotel tonight.
We have a group dinner at 6:30 tonight but I’m not sure if I will go down for it or not. I’m not very hungry and I am peopled out for the day. Last night I went to the dinner but only stayed for the soup and then left early.
The bus for this part of the trip has 44 people on it counting the driver and guide. Last leg of the trip only had 24. It feels crowded and a bit loud to me. There are several couples that came with a group of friends or family and they converse back and forth across the way on the bus. The guide played Irish music this afternoon which was fun for the first tune or two but got old quick.
Our potty stop was at a rest area, similar to the KS Turnpike rest areas. There was a McDonald’s so I got some chicken tenders. They were good and service was good. I did have to use the self-service kiosk to order. I haven’t gotten any local money yet – everywhere takes my credit card. I tap it and go. Easy! Meals are usually about $20 – $30 US. I haven’t purchased souvenirs yet. Just haven’t seen anything that called to me.
Tomorrow we are going to visit the Kylemore Abbey in the heart of the Connemara National Park. We will get several hours there to explore it and have lunch. We get to come back to the same hotel tomorrow night.
When I got to the room, I did my laundry using the bathtub. About half of the hotels I have stayed in have had bathtubs so was grateful this one had one. As rainy as it is here, I hope my clothes will be dry by Wednesday morning. I can always use the hair dryer on them if needed.
The Irish countryside so far isn’t what I had kinda expected. It looks like England so far. Lots of sheep and more cattle than England, although their fields of cattle only have 10 – 20 head instead of the hundreds I am used to seeing. It is very green due to all the rain they get.
Grateful we were able to go inside the cathedral this afternoon – my soul needed that respite today, grateful for another safe travel day, and grateful for this chance to see Ireland.