HOPPING ON AND OFF IN DUBLIN

Started our day in Bewley's Café with delicious coffee and a raisin scone with cream and raspberry jam.  It was delicious and such a beautiful setting.  It was the perfect start.  We made our way to the stop for the Hop On Hop Off Bus to have a look at some of the sights that were a little far for our walking sight seeing.  It was great to see the city while leaning a bit along the way. 

 

We got off and had a tour of the Kilmainham Gaol.  Although the historical significance was explained very adroitly, I confess that very little stayed with me.  I remember our guide saying that there were public hangings in the and thousands of people would come from all parts of the country to watch - liquour would be flowing and it was considered a form of entertainment.  In the Irish struggle for independence, many leaders of the Nationalist Party were housed here with several of the being put to death for their efforts.

 

Back on the bus and then we hopped off on Nassau Street - a street of pleasant shops for wandering in and out of.  It was a pleasant outing.  There was some impromptu street music and several flower sellers with the most beautiful and fresh selection of flowers.  The weather cooperated with sunny breaks now and then during the mainly foggy day.  It wasn't raining ... and with an average of 3 inches of rain per month - we were lucky to stay dry for today.

 

There is much richness in the architecture here.  Lovely old buildings that show interesting features.  The windows at the bottom of the buildings are large and then the size decreases as the stories rise.  This serves two purposes:  to give the illusion that the buildings is larger than it actually is; to keep more of the heat in on the upper floors and lastly because of a glass tax in the early 1800's.  Very simply,  the glass tax levied a tax on light and air coming into your dwelling. 

 

Now for the truly amazing thing I saw today....YES Tim Horton's is thriving in Ireland.  The kiosk inside the store was so many more times better than the one that Sandra and I saw in New York - and it was busy in there!  Lots of people enjoying a Timmy's. 

 

Tomorrow we will be traveling to Savona.  We take a plane to Nice, France and then a train to Ventimiglia and another train to Savona.  There we will have a night's sleep, a day to look around and then onto the Costa Mediterranea for our cruise.