Who forgot to take pictures?

I don't know where this week went!

Alex and Carrie made their return appearance on Tuesday, and we finally did what you're "supposed" to do in Dublin - - a pub crawl.  Not one of those organized, follow the local talent around to the pre-arranged atmospheric pubs, but rather a collection of various pubs along a path now well known to us.

 
Starting with dinner, we went to the "upscale" pub - the Bank, housed in a beautifully re-purposed nineteenth century bank building.  After dinner drinks were to be found at the traditional Temple Bar - - crowded with tourists, music and good fun.  Then on to a quieter, but still very traditional Farringtons, the first pub Mark and I visited back in 2010 when we ducked in to get out of the rain! On to the the Liffey and the spacious (and by now pretty empty) pub which shall remain nameless because I didn't write the name down.  Mark and I called it a night (morning) after that, but the young folks closed out with one more stop.

Pub Crawling

We met up at lunch the next day to say our goodbyes.  I will never understand why I'm not better at getting family pictures when we get together. But the memories last even without photographic proof. 

Thanks for coming to see us!!!

 
Thursday sent us to Dun Laoughaire for a Retrofit Conference - - it was really interesting to get the Irish "take" on the greening of existing structures.  They really have their work cut out for them with the age and design of their existing housing stock.  Mark was a presenter, and made America proud (well, he made me proud at least, and I was the only American in the room).

Conference location

After the conference activities ended we took a walk along the waterfront guided by our DIT friend Sonya.  It was another beautiful day.  Don't know what to think about all the sun lately!

Beautiful day on the coast

The rest of my time has been spent planning Spring Break which officially began last night at 6:00.  I have the trains booked, the hotels reserved, the bus tours selected and all we have to do is hope for good weather and no delays on the connecting trains.

So, no new posts until we get back . . . I'm taking the camera with me, but leaving the computer at home!!

Safe travels to all my Indiana friends also on Spring Break. 

Birds, Bees, Spring!!

The cosmos must have known that I needed a really beautiful Spring weekend - - and boy did it come through!

Saturday we decided that it MUST be time for a return to the Botanical Gardens (see "Etherials") since it has been over a month since our first visit.

Happy Bee

Irish Robin

Magpie

Much had changed in a month, especially the need (or lack thereof) for a jacket.  We spent most of the afternoon just exploring every corner of the park (and the tea house was good as well).

Primrose love it here

Heather

A Field of Golden Daffodils (I know it's Wordsworth, but I always think of Bullwinkle)

Saturday only whet our appetite for more - - so we decided to hop on the bus Sunday morning and ride for an hour to Wicklow County - the "Garden of Ireland".  Our destination was Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, County Wicklow. 

You know how sometimes you read about a tourist destination and think that it won't live up to the hype?  Well, Powerscourt did NOT disappoint!!  There is much history wrapped up in the estates surrounding Dublin, but I'll leave that for you to explore on your own (and I would encourage you to do so).  As for me, I'm going to let the photos, once again, do the talking.  Enjoy!

Looking back across Triton Lake

Closer look

View from "Pepperpot Tower"

Pepperpot Tower

Great Sugar Loaf Mountain

Rhododendrons the size of trees

Well, maybe not

Happy Pat

 

TGIF - - really

It sort of seems like this week has stretched beyond a week . . . not sure if that's a good thing.

But, I vowed to stay positive, and of course there were some real high points - - starting on Monday with the Guinness Storehouse!  How do you make a 32 year old act like he did when he was 5 and you took him to Disney World for his birthday?  Take him to Guinness!  A good time was had by all!

Looking up into the Worlds Largest Pint Glass

Views from the Gravity Bar - Guinness Storehouse

We actually closed the place out - - last call!  But that left time for a night of pubs and micro-brews   . . . I think Alex and Carrie had a good time in Dublin before heading off on the next leg of their Spring Break, and we're looking forward to seeing them again next Tuesday before they head home.

The weather has stayed pretty nice all week, which got us out to another garden we hadn't visited since we were here in 2010 -- the Castle Garden connected to Dublin Castle.  It's only a block away from our apartment, so not sure what took us so long to get back to it.

Dublin Castle

Today we were on a DIT field trip out to County Wicklow with a detour through "Hollywood" --  there was even a sign on the hill, but it didn't show up in the photo I took, so here's a more official sign.

Hollywood, Ireland

I also tried and failed to get photos of some new lambs with their mommas - - maybe tomorrow I'll have more luck.  I think we'll head back toward the Wicklow mountains in the morning to take advantage of a good weather report.

Have a great weekend, all!







St. Patrick's

St. Patrick's Day in Dublin isn't a "day" it's a four day weekend!


Beginning Friday I knew I would need to go into "Hurricane preparation" mode, so I headed out early (in the rain, of course) to get some shopping done. . . too late!  The sidewalks were jammed, the lines were long, and there were white "trainers" (athletic shoes) everywhere.

Friday afternoon we had planned to go to the ceili in Stephen's Green, but the rains persisted and we left it to the out of towners.  It cleared enough in the evening for us to head to Grafton Street for a quick walk by.

As I posted on Facebook yesterday morning, the sun was shining when I woke up - - and surprisingly, the weather was pretty nice all day!  A short shower ahead of the parade, then cloudy with rain in the distance - - the parade lucked out.

We headed to the roof as planned

Up on the roof - waiting for parade to start

Some interesting "floats"

 

The pretty weather persisted, so we headed to the end of the parade route. . .

 

Even more interesting after they were being dismantled!

Walked with the parade goers toward the Grand Canal, made our way around to Christ Church where an open air market was set up all day.  Skipped out on some of the scheduled festivities and finally ended up in Temple Bar again to try to see some of the outdoor stages. . . couldn't even get close!

 

We headed home for a "quiet" night - - if you could ignore the revelers out all night long :)

There was good reason to have a quiet Saturday night, because Sunday morning, Alex and Carrie arrived!!

Sunday was also Mother's Day in Ireland (coincided this year with "national hang over day" - great plan) so we had a great time doing Mother's day stuff!

Out to brunch, then to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells.  No photos allowed - have to come see it for yourself!

On to Merrion Square where the "Big Day Out" family carnival was taking place.  "That looks like fun!"

And it was!

Time for some traditional sight seeing



Uisce Beatha (Breath of Life) - Jameson Distillery

 

Back home for dinner and some unwinding - - A & C made it through their "36 hour" day in good spirits, and are deservedly sleeping in today. . . I'll post the rest of our visit later this week, but hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day wherever you celebrated!

Cheers!

Pause, re-set

We're back in Dublin after a short but very full visit back to the USA.

Indianapolis ordered up some beautiful Spring-like weather for us, and we enjoyed our yard, our neighborhood, and friends and family.  Even got to do a little "yard work" while we were there.  No telling how overgrown everything will be by the time we return in June (lawn will be mowed, but everything else will be waiting for us - - )

Certainly one of the highlights was having Jayme spend the night. . . she's grown so much in a short time, and June seems a very long time in the future!  Don't go to college without us, Jayme!

Rockin' with Cookie Monster

Then on to San Antonio for a National Demolition convention - - a different venue than the usual Las Vegas, and one we enjoyed very much - - had time between conventioning for some sight seeing . .

We ate here

Classic Riverwalk

Don't forget the Alamo

Monday was a travel day, Tuesday was a rest, grocery shop and do laundry day, today I don't know what day it is, so tomorrow should be back to normal!

Looking forward to the St. Patrick's Day festivities this weekend and the arrival of Alex and Carrie for a visit! 

On with the adventure!!!!