We DID figure out that if we got our sticker and left the boat immediately instead of waiting until we were told to do it we might get a better seat on the bus. At least 20 people had that idea before us. Next time we will camp overnight in the theater.
We lucked out with, Amanda, friendly, informative and in possession of free maps. She told us that of the 3 ½ million in the Republic of Ireland, 1 ½ million live in Dublin. Of the 32 counties in Ireland only 6 belong to Northern Ireland, the rest to the Republic. I remember stories of fighting between Catholics and Protestants in those far away days of my youth. It seemed strange at the time that two religions that I thought were similar could be so at odds.
Blessed with another rare (according to Amanda) sunny rain-free day, we got a quick tour of Dublin on our way to Dublin Castle. The Lithey River is a centerpiece in Dublin resulting in numerous interesting bridges. If I can ever figure out how to get the pictures to the internet cost effectively I may be able to illustrate.
The beauty and the curse of a cruise is that you get a taste of everything and a banquet of nothing. I always find myself wanting more - time, knowledge, and understanding. But that may just be me..
Our tour guide at Dublin Castle was fair, red haired and well spoken, as to be expected in Ireland. Dublin Castle was once used for the royalty of England; after independence for visiting dignitaries like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, “but not at the same time” she hastened to add.
The Throne room, unused since Ireland became independent, had a massive red chair for King George IV (maybe) who stood over 6 feet, weighing around 300 pounds. The room itself was all about ego and power with a huge mirror in front of the throne chair so he could see himself on the throne.
Queen Elizabeth visited in 2011. It was the first time England royalty had come to Ireland since independence. The speech she gave, which our guide said was gracious and political, can be found by googling it on the internet.
She explained the current government in the room that had pictures of handsome young men. They had started a rebellion called the Easter Rising (hereinafter ER). It only lasted a week. The men/boys from varying walks of life were tried and sentenced to death. One had been injured and his execution was delayed because the law says an injured man cannot be executed. However, his leg developed gangrene so to prevent him from escaping the death penalty they strapped him to a chair and shot him.
The over-the-top behavior of the government caused a shift in opinion. People who were apathetic at best before ER about independence were outraged about the injustice and took up their cause.
It was a sad story. It was also sad that the man who brokered the deal with England for Ireland’s independence was shot by his own people because he gave up 6 counties. Forget that he got 32, achieved independence and peace. Sad that Catholics were required to get permission from the church before attending Trinity College until 1966. Sad that following their independence the new protestant country treated the Catholics as badly as they had been treated. Human nature stinks sometimes. The good news is that people and governments can and do change.
Kings and Queens (and a majority of their subjects) believe they have a divine right to their position, somehow chosen by God for that position. That idea has always been strange to me. Countries like ours believe that the people have a right to choose their own “royalty” and to fire them.
We toured the dungeon under one of the walls; not a place I would want to hang out. The river ran through it. It was damp, dark and nasty. Terry and I grabbed a cup of coffee at the café and boarded the bus for Trinity College.
The Book of Kells is named after the place where it was created, a monastery in Kells, County Meath, Ireland. The monks in 800 AD created as a work of art carefully transcribing and illustrating the gospels. Trinity College Library which houses thousands of books keeps the real Book under glass and turn it to a different page every day, one illustration, one text. There was much to read and not much time. I could easily have spent the entire day here. Lacking that, I bought the guidebooks.
Recovering our backpack from our tour we boarded a HOHO bus for an overview of Dublin and ended with a visit to Blarney Inn. Terry indulged in a Guinness or two and fish and chips. I opted for cappuccino and Irish stew. Purchasing a few postcards with the few remaining Euros in our pockets we boarded the shuttle for home.
I used the postcards decorate. There is an empty table, sort of, in the entry way that needs something. Really it needs a vase with some flowers, but lacking that I made a display of the brochure and post cards we bought.
Also put my Blarney pictures on the bookcase which contains 3 or 4 blank shelves that need books or knick knacks or groceries or…something. I really didn’t think I was going to have to decorate this suite.
We’ve seen four ports and NOW they are starting enrichment lectures. Today’s was on Faroe Islands. The bad news is he says we are going to be cold…something about mittens, winter coats and boots. Like who bought that along? NOT ME.
The good news is that he has never been there and everything he told us could be found in Wikipedia, so maybe he’s wrong. It does seem like if they are going to have enrichment lectures they would find an expert, but maybe finding an expert on a country nobody goes to is tough.
I somehow forgot all about the enrichment lecture at 10:15 PM…can you believe that?? Who goes to enrichment lectures at 10 at night? On The Voyage of Apollo no less. Is that just not a strange topic for that time of night? They must have forgotten ¾ of the potential audience will be sleeping by then.
I DID remember to go to the sail away party at 11. There must have been 10 people shivering on the top deck as they picked up their chicken wings and hot dog rolls. The staff outnumbered them 2 to 1. A band was playing but no one was dancing. I did notice a young crowd gathering in the Solarium and since no passenger is young I think that must have been the singers and dancers. Well at least they will have some fun tonight.
I have been told that our departure had to coincide with high tide which is why we arrived so early and left so late. It may be true. Which is how I am feeling about a lot of the facts and figures thrown my way these days.
Tomorrow is a sea day, thank the Lord. I need a break from nonstop eating, busing and sightseeing. My brain, which already cannot remember much, has reached its limit.
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