We were up fairly early to find the day overcast. We began to look for a restaurant/pub open for breakfast. Not an easy task since breakfast does not seem to be a popular early morning activity in Dublin. We finally found Bittersweet Cafe just a block away that opened at 7 am. It was a small cafe with only about 6 tables, each a two top, so we had to split up to eat. I had a bowl of porridge with a rasher of bacon on the side. I must say that not only was the porridge creamy and delicious, but the bacon was the best I've had since I arrived. John ordered the omelette with both ham and bacon so he could figure out the difference. He's still not sure, but he loved the omelette. We left there well satisfied with our choice.
We headed on east and then north to reach the River Liffey, heading for the Ha' Pennny Bridge. Once we made it that far, we decided to press on to the Epic, The Irish Immigration
Museum. Being one of the sites on my list of places to visit, it seemed like a good time to head that way. It is aptly described as an immersive, interactive museum. It features 20 galleries that cover the migration of the the Irish people from ancient times through the Famine to the present and the influences of the Irish to the military, engineering and the medical fields. It gives you a great feel for who the Irish are and why they are who they are. I would recommend it to anyone traveling to Dublin.
On the return, we crossed the Ha' Penny Bridge and then decided it was once again time to eat. As we walked through the Temple Bar District I looked down the street and there I spied what else but the famous Temple Bar. Taking this as providence we headed that way. We wandered through the bar until we finally found a table the four of us could squeeze into. They had a very extensive menu including a long list of sandwiches. John selected the Irish Christmas sandwich which included turkey, ham, dressing and cranberry sauce on a baguette. I had a simple roast beef sandwich with greens and a horseradish sauce. (This was also the first thing I ate on my first trip to England.) I also included a Guinness and two Kirkpatrick oyster shooters. The oysters were from Galway Bay and included bacon and a vinaigrette. John got a couple of bloody Mary shooters and we swapped one each. The bloody Mary shooters were so good, I ordered two more. While we were eating, live music was playing in the next room. Contented with both the food and entertainment, we headed back to the apartment.
After a few minutes to rest our weary dogs, we decided to head to St. Patrick's Cathedral just a few blocks from the Apartment. When we arrived around 3pm, we discovered that they were having a Remembrance Service that started at 3:15 and only those that were attending the service would be allowed to enter. After a brief discussion, we decided to join the congregation for the service. The service lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes and was becoming somewhat boring. However, as the service neared its end, we all stood and, from the back of the cathedral, a trumpet sounded Last Post. As the well known notes rang, clear as a cathedral bell, through the centuries old structure, I was roused from my reverie and was glad that I had attended. Not only had the trumpet stirred my soul, but only a few people in the world can say they have attended a service at St. Patrick's. Besides, as I remarked to Cissy, when I stand before St. Peter and he is weighing both my good and my bad, perhaps he will look up and say "Thank God you attended the service at St. Patrick's."
After the service we wandered around the Cathedral. While I had been there before, there are always new things to see. Many famous people
lie at rest in St. Patrick’s including a small number of common soldiers. Hanging above the arches of the North Transept are many flags commemorating Irish soldiers who have fallen in service to the British Army. Many are over 150 years old and represent veterans of battles such as China, Burma and Crimea. Others honor those that fell in the two World Wars.
Though one could spend hours browsing the entire Cathedral, we finally took leave of St. Patrick's and headed back up toward the Apartment.
We decided that we should take time for dinner before calling it a night. Not wanting to wander far, we selected Darkey Kellys, just next door to the Copper Alley Bistro. There was live music coming out the door and, though the menu looked familiar, we sauntered on in and found a seat. Being the last night, John and Cissy went for the fish and chips. I had the seafood chowder which came piled high with mussels. The mussels were very good and a Guinness made them even better. However, it turns out that Darkey Kellys and Copper Alley share more than just a wall…they also share a kitchen. And John, to his chagrin, got another helping of the not so tasty cod fish which had the day before left him much less than satisfied. I decided, it being our last night to indulge in the Guinness chocolate mousse. Along with a cup of Americano coffee, it was the cherry on our trip.
We returned to the Apartment where I have spent the last two hours bringing this up to date. Unfortunately, while the local Wi-fi works fine with the phones, my PC has been plagued by an unresolvable DNS error and I have not been able to update my web site. However, it will be at the top of my list...on Tuesday. And I will follow up with an Epilogue to summarize the trip and add anything that I might have left out.
Taking a last look at Christ Church Cathedral from our balcony, I retired to my last night in this land of Saints and Scholars.
We headed on east and then north to reach the River Liffey, heading for the Ha' Pennny Bridge. Once we made it that far, we decided to press on to the Epic, The Irish Immigration
Museum. Being one of the sites on my list of places to visit, it seemed like a good time to head that way. It is aptly described as an immersive, interactive museum. It features 20 galleries that cover the migration of the the Irish people from ancient times through the Famine to the present and the influences of the Irish to the military, engineering and the medical fields. It gives you a great feel for who the Irish are and why they are who they are. I would recommend it to anyone traveling to Dublin.
On the return, we crossed the Ha' Penny Bridge and then decided it was once again time to eat. As we walked through the Temple Bar District I looked down the street and there I spied what else but the famous Temple Bar. Taking this as providence we headed that way. We wandered through the bar until we finally found a table the four of us could squeeze into. They had a very extensive menu including a long list of sandwiches. John selected the Irish Christmas sandwich which included turkey, ham, dressing and cranberry sauce on a baguette. I had a simple roast beef sandwich with greens and a horseradish sauce. (This was also the first thing I ate on my first trip to England.) I also included a Guinness and two Kirkpatrick oyster shooters. The oysters were from Galway Bay and included bacon and a vinaigrette. John got a couple of bloody Mary shooters and we swapped one each. The bloody Mary shooters were so good, I ordered two more. While we were eating, live music was playing in the next room. Contented with both the food and entertainment, we headed back to the apartment.
After a few minutes to rest our weary dogs, we decided to head to St. Patrick's Cathedral just a few blocks from the Apartment. When we arrived around 3pm, we discovered that they were having a Remembrance Service that started at 3:15 and only those that were attending the service would be allowed to enter. After a brief discussion, we decided to join the congregation for the service. The service lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes and was becoming somewhat boring. However, as the service neared its end, we all stood and, from the back of the cathedral, a trumpet sounded Last Post. As the well known notes rang, clear as a cathedral bell, through the centuries old structure, I was roused from my reverie and was glad that I had attended. Not only had the trumpet stirred my soul, but only a few people in the world can say they have attended a service at St. Patrick's. Besides, as I remarked to Cissy, when I stand before St. Peter and he is weighing both my good and my bad, perhaps he will look up and say "Thank God you attended the service at St. Patrick's."
After the service we wandered around the Cathedral. While I had been there before, there are always new things to see. Many famous people
lie at rest in St. Patrick’s including a small number of common soldiers. Hanging above the arches of the North Transept are many flags commemorating Irish soldiers who have fallen in service to the British Army. Many are over 150 years old and represent veterans of battles such as China, Burma and Crimea. Others honor those that fell in the two World Wars.
Though one could spend hours browsing the entire Cathedral, we finally took leave of St. Patrick's and headed back up toward the Apartment.
We decided that we should take time for dinner before calling it a night. Not wanting to wander far, we selected Darkey Kellys, just next door to the Copper Alley Bistro. There was live music coming out the door and, though the menu looked familiar, we sauntered on in and found a seat. Being the last night, John and Cissy went for the fish and chips. I had the seafood chowder which came piled high with mussels. The mussels were very good and a Guinness made them even better. However, it turns out that Darkey Kellys and Copper Alley share more than just a wall…they also share a kitchen. And John, to his chagrin, got another helping of the not so tasty cod fish which had the day before left him much less than satisfied. I decided, it being our last night to indulge in the Guinness chocolate mousse. Along with a cup of Americano coffee, it was the cherry on our trip.
We returned to the Apartment where I have spent the last two hours bringing this up to date. Unfortunately, while the local Wi-
Taking a last look at Christ Church Cathedral from our balcony, I retired to my last night in this land of Saints and Scholars.
