Good Craic in Dublin

We hopped a inexpensive flight on Ryan Air from Oslo to Dublin (flight is about $45...BUT trip to secondary airport outside of Oslo is about $70, baggage fee $40, dirty planes, horrible customer service = never again). On to the final phase of the around the world journey.

Dublininess.

I love the sky in this picture. Not really sure what happened here because it has been cloudy and misting rain ever since we arrived. Maybe a few spots of sun here and there but otherwise we are getting the full Irish experience. They have had a wet July as far as we can tell so its back to jeans and raincoats as we plow through Ireland for the next 10 days. I sort of like it actually. It feels...Irish.

Anyway, Dublin is cool. It has a gritty, dirty vibe, the people have been super friendly, and the food has been delicious.

Couldn't report on Dublin without some famous Georgian doors. I won't post them all though as there are posters and books in every shop selling the images. Its a little over done.

But they're pretty and bright and fun and I kept wondering what color I would paint mine and why more people in the States don't experiment with fun door colors.

Christ Church Cathedral. There has been a church in some form or another on this site since 1028.

Beautiful tile floors inside.

There is a long history of music in the Cathedral and while we were visiting a solo member of the choir was singing somewhere out of site behind the nave. It was a very serene moment. 

Crossing the famous Liffey. I love that the Calatrava designed bridge behind me looks like a harp, a symbol of Ireland.

Note the Diet Cokes. We're so healthy.

The Temple Bar. The Temple Bar area has preserved much of its medieval charm with cobblestone streets and lots of cute pubs and shops. Saturday night at Temple Bar was quite the scene. Bachelorette and stag nights galore. Too many girls. Too much to drink. Too little clothing. It reminded us a bit of a more tame French Quarter.

Our second morning in Dublin we walked our way to the Kilmainham Gaol. This jail is most famous for housing many of the political prisoners from the 1916 Easter Rising. Alex and I had just watched "Michael Collins," with Liam Neeson, so I was somewhat up to speed on this period, but seeing the gaol firsthand really gave both of us a new sense of this period in Irish history. We have seen about 10 jails over this 10 month period and they have been harrowing experiences each and every time. The picture above was from the old wing built in 1796 (re-fitted in the 1900s).

The Victorian Wing was built later and established a new architectural style for prison construction all over the world. Individual cells for prisoners, total silence, and natural light were key strategies for the new penal system. Unfortunately severe overcrowding and lack of resources led to squalid conditions for most of the prisoners. Due to its "picturesque" qualities, the jail has been used in numerous films in recent years. Alex immediately recognized that central stairwell from the movie, "In the Name of the Father" with Daniel Day Lewis.

Outside in the exercise courtyard we saw the firing range where many of the leaders of the Easter Rising were shot by firing squad. Interesting to note that these executions led to an outpouring of sympathy by the previously unconvinced Irish populace. After the weeks of media attention surrounding the executions, public sentiment swayed towards the Nationalists and Ireland was one step closer towards independence.

As with all people seeking independence from an oppressive regime, the years that followed were extremely difficult and continue to plague Ireland to this day.