I saw no evidence of the need for this sign, I trust it's purely historical now!
And returning to the hotel, we passed the Spire again - illuminated this time.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Dublin, day 2 evening
After a great day out, we needed to top it off with some city culture. At the Oliver St John Gogarty. In the heart of Temple Bar it proudly boasted it is the only venue in Dublin that plays proper traditional music. Having heard many renditions of Danny Boy, Wild Rover, and Oasis' Wonderwall during our wanderings I can well believe. Having had a good time there a few years ago (thanks Andy!!) I knew we'd be in for a good time. I was, and the crowds big enough to need a photo of the tv screen
I saw no evidence of the need for this sign, I trust it's purely historical now!
And returning to the hotel, we passed the Spire again - illuminated this time.
I saw no evidence of the need for this sign, I trust it's purely historical now!
And returning to the hotel, we passed the Spire again - illuminated this time.
Dublin, or rather Howth, day 2
Having spent the first evening of our arrival, and the first full day in the city, it was time for a change of air. After yet another sizeable Irish breakfast at the Kingfisher, we took a brief stroll down O'Connell Street to the tram stop. Having got our tickets we were amused to watch the 'a tad' inebriated chap try to help a couple of American tourists work out how to buy tickets, she tipped him whilst her husband walked off! In the end is assistance was useless, they missed their tram, and then she crossed the road to use the machine on our side.
A few minutes later ours arrived and we took the sort trip to Connolly station. Expecting a 45 minute wait for a train to Howth, we were pleasantly surprised to find a train due in about 10, so rushed to the ticket machines; solved the "so how do these work then" conundrum in just a few seconds, grabbed our tickets, strode through the Kings Cross like architecture and layout to the platform (in Kings Cross terms 9 3/4).
The journey was through the suburbs and along the way a group of young lads took the train all of 1 stop (just a few minutes) nothing strange in that - except the pushed their bikes on. Not sure why they didn't use them and ve the fare.
Upon arrival we dived into the small farmers' market just outside and got a bespoke green tea and a coffee at the Doghouse (previously blogged http://corylus.blogspot.com/2011/05/from-recent-trip-doghouse-howth-dublin.html) and then strode off, to find another farmers' market around the corner where it was clear we could get some lunch later.
So we set off through the mighty breeze to the harbour, taking in the view below,
We then came to another Bryant holiday habit - the harbour wall. So off we set. We went for the "on top" options as it seemed just as breezy in the lee of the wall
Passed another view of the boats
And came to end of our mission:
A breezy view over the sea (a lot of wind over tide going on - glad I wasn't sailing out there)
Down below the harbour entrance light, was the lighthouse
Where we found a plaque to Erskine Childers, who I know principally from the book Riddle of the Sands, which I first read many years ago when my dad (a keen sailor) encouraged me. The film's not bad, but only in more recent times (after picking up Robert Kee's worthy, but slightly turgid, three part Irish history on a previous trip to Eire)
In the distance...
We turned back to shore, and a few hundred yards from the end of thew breakwater the skies opened up and we legged it to Ann's. It's a newsagent cum village shop and was crowded with people sheltering from the rain. Feeling it wrong to just go for shelter I paid for a coffee, and was gratified to get a really good one (even better than the Doghouse!).
The squall ended quite quickly and we sauntered back to the markets and lunched on a Pieminster pie, a 60 second pizza from a wood fired oven, ad some chocolate biscuit cake (yum).
A stroll to the fishing harbour where a crowd on the concrete wall revealed there was something up, to find:
A hundred yards further on, was this sign
And Mrs B proving the King had small feet
A few minutes later ours arrived and we took the sort trip to Connolly station. Expecting a 45 minute wait for a train to Howth, we were pleasantly surprised to find a train due in about 10, so rushed to the ticket machines; solved the "so how do these work then" conundrum in just a few seconds, grabbed our tickets, strode through the Kings Cross like architecture and layout to the platform (in Kings Cross terms 9 3/4).
The journey was through the suburbs and along the way a group of young lads took the train all of 1 stop (just a few minutes) nothing strange in that - except the pushed their bikes on. Not sure why they didn't use them and ve the fare.
Upon arrival we dived into the small farmers' market just outside and got a bespoke green tea and a coffee at the Doghouse (previously blogged http://corylus.blogspot.com/2011/05/from-recent-trip-doghouse-howth-dublin.html) and then strode off, to find another farmers' market around the corner where it was clear we could get some lunch later.
So we set off through the mighty breeze to the harbour, taking in the view below,
We then came to another Bryant holiday habit - the harbour wall. So off we set. We went for the "on top" options as it seemed just as breezy in the lee of the wall
Passed another view of the boats
And came to end of our mission:
A breezy view over the sea (a lot of wind over tide going on - glad I wasn't sailing out there)
Down below the harbour entrance light, was the lighthouse
Where we found a plaque to Erskine Childers, who I know principally from the book Riddle of the Sands, which I first read many years ago when my dad (a keen sailor) encouraged me. The film's not bad, but only in more recent times (after picking up Robert Kee's worthy, but slightly turgid, three part Irish history on a previous trip to Eire)
In the distance...
We turned back to shore, and a few hundred yards from the end of thew breakwater the skies opened up and we legged it to Ann's. It's a newsagent cum village shop and was crowded with people sheltering from the rain. Feeling it wrong to just go for shelter I paid for a coffee, and was gratified to get a really good one (even better than the Doghouse!).
The squall ended quite quickly and we sauntered back to the markets and lunched on a Pieminster pie, a 60 second pizza from a wood fired oven, ad some chocolate biscuit cake (yum).
A stroll to the fishing harbour where a crowd on the concrete wall revealed there was something up, to find:
A hundred yards further on, was this sign
And Mrs B proving the King had small feet
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Dublin, day 1
For me it was my third time in Dublin for Mrs B, her first. We were visiting in order to get what had originally been the last gig of Roger Waters' Wall Tour. We had been secretly hoping for the special appearance by David Gilmour on Comfortably Numb, but he'd already been to London to do that. To boot, a second (subsequent) date had been added in Dublin, and a host more in Europe.
But still we were looking forward to it! But first, some fun!
What you cannot fail to see these days is the Spire. It's 400 feet high, and dominates O'Connell Street. When the clouds rush by, it can make you feel giddy just looking up at it - more interestingly (for us) it's higher then some of the RAF planes that fly over Corylus Towers occasionally!!
This just tickled me, as you may have spotted, I like buildings that record in stone, bricks and mortar an expectation of continued occupation and use - this is one of the most unusual I've seen in a while!
On Grafton Street is the inimitable Bewley's. We stopped here a number of times for the best coffee we could find in town, and admire the architecture. To a degree it's a bit of a cross between Betty's of Harrogate, and Fortnum and Mason's. But it's definitely it's own thing!
Trinity College was heaving generally., and quite tied up with security preparations just outside for Obama's speech in a few days (preceded by Jedward and Westlife we were told - even more reason to leave the town centre!). It was good to see 'normal' life going on too. As well as the wedding there was some kind of treasure hunt going on, with students rushing around the grounds and the surrounding streets all day. We never found out what for,
St Stephen's shopping centre is reminiscent of the Crystal Palace, and has free wifi to boot. Useful for catching up and researching some shopping - I'd taken a fancy to a watch (subsequently not bought) around the corner - with the WiFi I was able to confirm it was no particular bargain!!
That evening, the Heineken final between Leinster (the local team) and Northampton Saints (my nearest team) took place. We rested here, The Bachelor Inn) and had a Kilkenny or 3 watching the game. My cheers for the Saints try on 7 minutes raised a few eyebrows, but there was a good atmosphere, and no-one came to harm!!! Despite the result, it was a cracking match.
But still we were looking forward to it! But first, some fun!
What you cannot fail to see these days is the Spire. It's 400 feet high, and dominates O'Connell Street. When the clouds rush by, it can make you feel giddy just looking up at it - more interestingly (for us) it's higher then some of the RAF planes that fly over Corylus Towers occasionally!!
This just tickled me, as you may have spotted, I like buildings that record in stone, bricks and mortar an expectation of continued occupation and use - this is one of the most unusual I've seen in a while!
On Grafton Street is the inimitable Bewley's. We stopped here a number of times for the best coffee we could find in town, and admire the architecture. To a degree it's a bit of a cross between Betty's of Harrogate, and Fortnum and Mason's. But it's definitely it's own thing!
Trinity College was heaving generally., and quite tied up with security preparations just outside for Obama's speech in a few days (preceded by Jedward and Westlife we were told - even more reason to leave the town centre!). It was good to see 'normal' life going on too. As well as the wedding there was some kind of treasure hunt going on, with students rushing around the grounds and the surrounding streets all day. We never found out what for,
St Stephen's shopping centre is reminiscent of the Crystal Palace, and has free wifi to boot. Useful for catching up and researching some shopping - I'd taken a fancy to a watch (subsequently not bought) around the corner - with the WiFi I was able to confirm it was no particular bargain!!
That evening, the Heineken final between Leinster (the local team) and Northampton Saints (my nearest team) took place. We rested here, The Bachelor Inn) and had a Kilkenny or 3 watching the game. My cheers for the Saints try on 7 minutes raised a few eyebrows, but there was a good atmosphere, and no-one came to harm!!! Despite the result, it was a cracking match.
BBMF at Duxford
Of course the day would not be complete without a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight...
And the old enemy too...
And the old enemy too...
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