We have already seen so much that I don't think I have room to describe it all! First thing--the weather is beautiful, sunny and cool. Our bellman thanked us for bringing it! I actually worked up a sheen (that is a lady's term for sweat!) on our 2 hour walking tour. We are in a great location, right in the middle of great historic sites, interesting statues, 2 lovely parks, the historical and natural museums, a great art museum, Trinity College, government buildings, and Grafton Street, a walking only shopping area. Now I can't wait to get out and explore some more at our leisure (but Phil is still sleeping!)
I guess I should start with our hotel, the Shelbourne. The Shelbourne is a history lesson in itself, founded in 1824 by combining 3 houses on St. Stephen's Green, a beautiful park, with 2 more houses added to the site within the next 24 years. The Shelbourne was the place that the drafting of the Irish Constitution in 1922 took place. International dignitaries visiting the Shelbourne included: James Cagney, Maureen O'Hara, John Wayne (eat your heart out Jeremy!), Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rock Hudson, Burl Ives, Orsen Welles, Robert Taylor, and Rita Hayworth. Now, some of you youngsters reading this may not know some or all of these folks. Just don't tell me--makes me feel old!
Outside the Shelbourne
Our walking tour gave us a brief lesson on Georgian architecture! I'll post a picture if it turned out good enough. The Georgian buildings were built from 1700-1820's while Ireland was under the English Rule of the King Georges. All building have 4 stories and a basement. The first floor was the Reception Rooms. The 2nd floor was the Ladies' Drawing Room, with longer windows so she could sit at the window and watch for arriving guests. Some ladies would change clothes 4 times a day. I bet they did not do their own laundry! Our guide also pointed out that these ladies sitting in windows were NOT like the ladies sitting in windows in Amsterdam! If you don't know what that is about, ask me later! The 3rd floor was the family bedrooms, and the 4th floor was for the governesses. The servants lived in the basement. I absolutely love the architecture here. The home owners are not allowed to change even 1 brick on their homes, the Irish are so committed to preserving their architectural heritage. You get such a feeling of grandeur, ancestry, and history!
Georgian Architecture:
Also note that each door is painted a different color. That is so the drunken Irish husbands can find their way home to the correct house after spending the evening at the nearest pub. And pubs there are....we could stay here a year, visit a different one every day, and still not begin to see all of them!
We also visited briefly Merrion Square, one of Dublin's largest Georgian squares (park). The vegetation is lush, but our guide did not know the name of most of the plants...wonder if I dare try to smuggle any home! We saw the only colored monument in Europe, a statue of the Irish poet and playwrite, Oscar Wilde. If you don't know his story, google him! Very interesting! He also has some really great quotes, one of which is: "I can resist everything but temptation". Colorful character!
Oscar Wilde Statue in Merrion Square
Tomorrow we travel north to tour County Meath. We'll see the Newgrange Megalithic tomb, Hill of Tara, and visit a small Irish village. By then I'll have my good camera unpacked. Today's pics are not the best! sorry!
Me and Molly Malone:Dublin's Anthem♪ In Dublin's fair city
Where girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on
Sweet Molly Malone♫
aka: The Tart with the Cart
The Dish with the Fish
The Trollop with the Scallops
The Flirt in the Skirt
With that, this Flirt in a Skirt will sign off till tomorrow from the beautiful Emerald Isle!....d
Hello, this is an anonymous post by Eddie Martin. LOL! Thanks, for doing this. it is like we are there.
ReplyDeleteEddie