Finding Pat: Spring Break, Chapter 2, 3 and 4

Hi, we're back!
Easter is a five day weekend here, so Easter Monday found us playing tourist in our own neighborhood. . . we finally took the tour at Dublin Castle! Much history, although MOST of it is English. . . since Ireland as we now know it is younger than my mother!

Largest Hall in the Castle

Tuesday found us at the National Museum of Ireland, Archeology. Gold hoards, bog men and lots of really beautiful artifacts. . . unfortunately, we took photos of NONE of them - - but a Brooch of Tara may me in my future.

Wednesday began Chapter 3, off to Birmingham, England where Mark had an academic conference. Arrived in time for the opening cocktail party and dinner with Purdue friends at a nearby pub.
On Thursday I decided to partake in the planned activities for spouses, and was happy to be on a bus tour of Stratford 'on Avon for all things Shakespeare! It had been 34 years since my last visit there, and it has changed considerably from what I remember. . . for the good of the town and tourism, I'm sure!

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Holy trinity church where Shakespeare is buried

Shakespeare's birthplace

Thursday night we had a civics lesson at the Birmingham Council House (City Council) and came to a real appreciation of the American way of government.

Council House

Council Chambers

Friday was a day for me to explore on my own, and I headed to the Birmingham Museum and some nearby shopping for some "people watching".

Birmingham Museum

Friday night was the gala dinner at the very impressive Aston Villa Football (soccer) Park. You don't have to be a fan to be awed.

Aston Villa Park

Chapter 4 began early on Saturday with a train trip into London. True to form, we fit about 3 days of activity into one - - Piccadilly Circus was near our West End hotel, as was Buckingham Palace - we just caught the end of the Changing of the Guards. . .

Buckingham Palace

Palace Gates

Then to the British Museum which had ALSO changed since our 1978 visit - - who knew?

This used to be a courtyard!

Mark's repeat request from '78 was to go back to St. Paul's Cathedral and take in the top of the dome! Glad to still be able to do the 528 steps 34 years later! Great views!!!!

Views from Stone Gallery - 376 steps up

Views from Golden Gallery - 528 steps up

Looking up to where we were - - above the main dome!

Then across the river to the Queen's walk, deciding to skip the London Eye since we had already been higher on top of the dome at St. Paul's. Besides, the lines were ridiculous!!

London Eye

Houses of Parliament

Dinner near the hotel was a good idea, as was the bottle of wine we took back to the room to nurse our aging knees.

Sunday morning we were lazy, reading the Sunday Times over tea before heading out again. My "wish list" was the Victoria and Albert museum which was a nice walk from our hotel, passing by the Wellington Arch and Harrods.

The V & A turned out to be more than we ever expected! Spent the entire day there!

View from our lunch table

Museum Courtyard

Monday was our last day, but the plane didn't leave until pretty late in the day, so we hit the National Gallery for a special exhibit of Turner landscapes. . .

National Gallery

Nelson's column from Gallery stairs

Back on the tube to Hyde Park where we spent the rest of our day strolling through Hyde Park and Kensington Park, from Kensington Palace back to Wellington Arch again, and then to the hotel to collect our luggage and leave.