Ireland - Drinks, Jail, and Cemetery (not in that order)

Jason and I rose at the crack of dawn to drive from Dingle to Dublin.  It was so pretty to watch the sunrise and enjoy the open roads with barely any traffic.  Now that's crazy backwards driving I can get accustomed to!  We made Dublin with good time, got gas (after I accidentally directed Jason into doing donuts in a double roundabout for about ten minutes), and then dropped off the car.  

I grabbed a cab back to Elle's house, checked in with her, and then we grabbed a bus down to Dublin and got tickets for the hop on and hop off bus which are good for two days.  We rode past a lot of beautiful architecture, saw Trinity College, and where Oscar Wilde grew up.  Unfortunately we were on the wrong bus and had to switch over to get on the right bus to get us to Glasnevin Cemetery... so we did the same loop a second and third time.

Glasnevin Cemetery is located on the outskirts of Dublin and was built in 1832.  The purpose behind the cemetery was to have anyone be buried there - Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, suicide, whatever your religion or reason for death, anyone was welcome to be buried here.  There are 1.5M people buried in this cemetery including many Irish leaders including Michael Collins, Daniel O'Connell, Eamon de Valera, Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa (who had a special exhibit opening in the museum), Parnell, Casement, etc.  We had an amazing guide, he was so knowledgeable about intricate details on the inhabitants' past lives, how they came to be buried here, why the graves are placed the way they are, architecture of the grave stones, and so much more.  We wandered around with him for over an hour and listened to his stories transfixed.

Strange thing happened at the cemetery, there was a woman on the tour that was the spitting image of my Grandmother, who passed away five or six years ago.  She was the same height, build, wearing similar clothes and even had a broach on that my GM had when she was alive.  She was even walking around with a cane similar to the one Grandmother Paulie had.  I couldn't stop staring at her, it was really cool and yet quite unsettling.

Once the tour was over we realized the bus wasn't coming back to get us, so we hopped another bus into the city, picked up Eoghan and went back to Robswall.  Elle served us some home cooked chili and we made it an early night.  

Next day I needed to get to the hospital to get my blood checked for thyroid levels.  I was really unsure of how this was going to go, but Elle and Eoghan recommended St Vincent's Hospital and explained how to get there.  So I walked to Malahide and took the train to Sydney's Parade and then walked to the hospital.  The receptionist in phlebotomy (different than the one I had talked to on the phone earlier that morning) looked at the order I had and told me it wasn't sufficient.  I was at a loss of what to do, I knew that it was near 4am in Seattle and so there was no way of getting in touch with my doctor.  The receptionist was extremely friendly and helpful but his hands were tied.  He saw the look of forlorn on my face and told me to wait and he'd talk to his boss.  So I waited and fretted and wrung my hands coming up with Plan B and Plan C.  Finally he came out and ushered me into the clinic almost secretively and said they'd do it.  And best part was, they didn't even charge me a cent!  I was blown away, someone up there was watching out for me for sure.

Then I took the train back into the city to finish the hop on and off tour and try to get to Kilmainham Gaol, but unfortunately when I got there the tours were sold out.  I took the bus back to Christchurch area and wandered around a bit, finding St. Augstine's Church.  I sneaked inside and lit candles for my Dad and Grandmother and was overcome by the silence of the place, the beautiful stained glass windows, and the grandeur of the high arched ceilings.  I just sat there, for a long time, enjoying the silence and resting my feet.  

I finally got up and walked over to meet Eoghan outside of his work.  We then wandered over to Darky Kelley's a bar near Christchurch and got many many pints, and more and more pints once Elle joined us.  There was trad music being played in the front room and people talking about whatever sporting match had just gone down.  It was lively and fun and the drinks and conversation were flowing!  

We decided it was time to get some food in our stomachs and went to Zaytoons which is hands down the most amazing kebab place I have ever been.  I almost cried when my food came out it was so delicious and smelled so good.  

A few more pubs and drinks, met some interesting characters, drank lots more Bulmers and Guinness and even got Eoghan to join me for a shot of Jager.  Cab home, sleep.

Next day was catch up day, I willed my body to get up and see more of the city but I just wanted a day off.  Elle and I watched about a season and a half of Scrubs on Netflix and we ordered food in.  Then Eoghan and I watched Nightcrawler, did some laundry, sorted out my tickets and travel plans to Scotland the following day and let that be that.

My last day in Dublin was calculated, I was getting to Kilmainhaim come hell or highwater.  I made it to the city and jumped on the LUAS (Dublin tram system) over to Suir Road and then walked.  I tell you I took the train (Irish Rail and DART), the tram (LUAS), the bus (public and sightseeing), taxis, ubers, and tons of walking while I was in Dublin.  It was a whirlwind of public transportation for someone who is so used to having a car.  I made it to Kilmainhaim and there was a humongous line, but I made it on the 2:30pm tour.  Talked to two nice British ladies, mother and daughter, on holiday to spend time with each other.  We chatted a bit which made the waiting easier.

The Jail was pretty incredible.  It was built in 1796 and housed many of the leaders that I had seen earlier at the cemetery.  A bunch of executions from the Easter Rising leaders occurred there as well.  We got a grand tour of most of the wings although a few parts were being excavated.  I suppose a highlight (if you can call it that) was seeing the chamber where prisoners who were to be executed spent their last night.  It was much larger than a normal cell, with high ceilings, a fire place, and a window.  There were two peepholes unbeknownst to the prisoners where the executioner spied on them, trying to gauge how much rope to use the following morning.

After the tour I took my public transportation back to Malahide where I met Elle and Eoghan for a nice dinner to thank them for letting me stay with them in Dublin.  We ate SO MUCH FOOD, I think we were all catatonic after dinner and got to bed early.  I tried profiteroles for the first time, delicious!

The next morning I left for Scotland, and what an adventure that was!  Stay tuned...