I know better than to fly at night…oh hello Dublin!

Hello from Dublin!  Thank you very much to the friends and family who have responded to my new blog.  I greatly appreciate your words of encouragement!  I don’t think the blog would actually have come to life without that day of continuous rain in St. John’s!

It’s a four and a half hour flight from St. John’s to Dublin.  The flight was delayed by fog which meant we left after midnight, arriving in Dublin at my body’s time of about 4:30 a.m., with only a few short, miserable, and deeply unsatisfying moments of quasi-sleep during the flight.  I arrived at busy Trinity College by about 10 a.m., Dublin time, to find that my residence room was already available!  Hourray, a nap!  But my body did not want to nap, it wanted a full 8 hours!  So, over the next few hours I fought several times with the alarm and myself, wanting to sleep but also wanting to get up and go…I know better than to fly at night!

I finally woke up at around 3 in the afternoon, still not really feeling rested, and with a massive headache.  But, after stepping out for some fresh air, a good cup of coffee, and a toasted cheese sandwhich  I perked up somewhat.  I decided to splurge on a hop on hop off bus experience to get the lay of the land while my body and head continued to recover from the lack of sleep.

The “green bus”, as it is called (there are also competing yellow and red buses) is a double decker and it is so fun to sit up top and up front. My first impressions of central Dublin?  Busy, crowded, old, new, busted up (there’s so much road work going on in the central core as they put in, or maybe replace, a tram line).  Tourists are everywhere in singles, pairs, families, and large tour groups.  Locals jaywalk like crazy, and bicycle riders weave bravely (or foolishly, depending on how you look at it) among the myriad big buses and cars, taxis and motorcycles.

The one stop I had time for was Dublinia, a pleasant and informative museum that profiles Dublin during the age of the Vikings and also during the Middle Ages. There was also had a third exhibit about the tools and techniques archaeologists use to piece together an understanding of over 1,000 years of history.  A good first stop in Dublin.

Here’s a picture of the entrance hall to Dublinia, with the prow of a Viking ship and with Christchurch cathedral in the background.  Also, from inside, is a medieval recipe for Sweet and Sour Spiced Rabbit, in case you’re looking for something new to make for dinner!

Once I reboarded the green bus, I was lucky enough to have a very jovial driver whose commentary was a bit out there (!) and very, very funny.  And, of course, that accent!  Relaxing, informative, and fun!

Here’s a photo looking to the back of the green bus, with Phoenix Park, one of the largest urban parks in Europe, and home to the Dublin Zoo, to the left of the shot.  I like the lines in this photo.

My ride ended just after 7 pm near O’Connell Street, and beside the River Liffey which bisects Dublin and which is crossed by many bridges including the famous pedestrian “Ha’penny Bridge”, the decorative white bridge below, built in 1816, which used to require a toll of a half penny to cross.

A short stroll through tourist-busy Temple Bar had me thinking of a drink and dinner…

But, I settled on some inexpensive and healthy groceries after conveniently happening upon a Tesco.  Only 11 euros and I was set up with a dinner, some midday snacks for tomorrow, and breakfast for the next four days in the form of eggs, bread, peanut butter and jam.  Eating out is very hazardous to a travel budget!

I re-entered the main square of Trinity College to find it nearly deserted, compared to how busy it had been in the morning with huge groups of tourists taking guided tours and lining up to see the Book of Kells.  Yes!  Room to breathe, relax, and take a few photos.  Tomorrow, Dublin, I’ll do more than just say hello.  Goodnight to my friends and family back home.