25 August 2014

Whatever caught me at Loncon 3 still has a firm grip.  Mucus production seems to exceed liquid intake although I know that is not very probable.  That can be handled by several absorbent handkerchiefs.  What is worse are the spates of fatigue that keep me from operating at optimum.  I have plans to wander Dublin today and tour Belfast tomorrow.  Right now, all I can think of is napping.  

So, I take my example from cats and defer wandering for a few minutes (or more) of slumber.

The day started fine and I took a “Hop-on-hop-off” tour of the city.  I was delighted to refind the hostel at which the Los Alamos Rugby team stayed when we were in Dublin.  It is only half a block from Christ Church Cathedral (which, according to my map was built in 1036) on Lord Edward Street.  

I wandered the cathedral grounds and made friends with the girl who sells fish and chips, also made myself acceptable to the cathedral cat, Ginger.

There is an archaeological dig at the side of the 

Then on to Dublin Castle (1204).  It is quite nearby and I discovered some interesting parts which I had not seen last time I was here.  Of special beauty was the Garda Memorial Garden.  In the garden I saw the Beatty Library.  In one open square of the castle was a sand sculpture of Albert Einstein.  He was one of a bunch that had been there for a week.  The workers had already destroyed two or three, but Albert remained.  I took pictures of his “deconstruction.”

From there, I rode on the St. Patrick’s Cathedral (1192) and its accompanying park and garden.  I had a nice conversation with a priest there.  He was seeing to the concert entry gate.  He is quite proud of the fact that the Church of Ireland was the first of the Episcopal churches to confirm a woman bishop.  As I waited for the bus, it began to rain which seriously cut the photos I could take on the rest of the trip.

American Embassy

DART train








C lock on the Grand Canal













DKW tour of Dublin.  Viking hats are issued and de rigeur.

Dublin tourist information bureau used to be a church.


















St. Stephen's Park













Fiddling busker in pedestrian mall











Two French fuzzes giving hugs for free.


















Fruit stand and cafe in pedestrian mall.












Buskers on Grafton Street pedestrian mall.  
They are all live people....  except the dog.


















statue of harpist in Merrion Park.












Landscape in Merrion Park













Island willow in St. Stephen's Green

I give up.  This darned program has managed to make a fairly simple tool into a monster.  I'll post more later, but I am frustrated and still sick.


          I did get one of Kilmainham Gaol (by the way, gaol is pronounced jail.)  I left the tour bus at Nassau Street, near Trinity College and caught a number four bus back to Ballsbridge.  On my walk home, it started to rain seriously.  Thanks to my NASA cagool, my camera and I stayed reasonably dry, but I had, at that time, as much fun as I could stand so I went to my room and took a nap.

If the weather is reasonable tomorrow, I’ll take a train to Belfast.  If I read the fare correctly, it is only  €13.50 round trip.  That’s pretty reasonable considering that a bus ride is €2.35 and a taxi in the rain cost €4 for a 20 minute walk between the Double Tree and the Clyde’s Court hotels.

After the rain and wet plus the walking, I took a nap.  If the rain lets up, I’ll pick a restaurant in Ballsbridge for supper.  If it doesn’t, there’s a pub right here.

It had not quit raining by the time I got to the lobby so I ate in.  The meal was nourishing, but that is all that can be said.  However, the pint of Guiness was just fine and now I’m too tired to go on.  This hotel’s internet connection is not all it could be, so I won’t post this until I find someplace with reliable service and have the chance to add photos.