What is it about the inhalation of the air that surrounds towering stacks of ancient and nearly so leather-bound volumes? Hand written, illuminated, or early press-printed, the books give off the dust, the must, the awe, and the spirits of those who have gone before and fill the Long Room of the Trinity College Old Library. Bram Stoker, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Becket all wandered its shelves and gave us Dracula, Dorian Gray, Godot and so much more. Synge gaves us "The Playboy of the Western World" and "Riders to the Sea". The proclamation poster of Independence that led to the Easter Rising is framed there - and that was just a smidgeon of "upstairs." Not to mention the Book of Kells manuscripts and those from ancient Coptics, Armenians, Egyptians. That was but one moment of yesterday.
Today the Curragh, the sheep, the mounds, the Shannon after the Liffey. The Irish National Stud Farm was a busy walking tour with some very interesting bits of information! Then to the town of Ennis and a bit of shopping before a medieval dinner at Bunratty Castle where much mead and other wines were enjoyed with dinner and song!
In the midst of the travel we had sunshine, wind, torrential rain showers, and several storms of large hailstones! Thankfully we were in the bus or inside a building when the hail rained down and none of it dampened the soul or spirit of any. Tomorrow is another full day beginning with the Cliffs of Moher after a 7 am breakfast. We're in the same hotel for two nights so I'm off to have another Guinness. I must keep up the quota set by family and friends! Til the next time, Ta!
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2 comments:
Sounds wonderful!
remember, one guiness does not a stout make... but two does.
Sounds as if the trip is even better than could be imagined. I love "All Hail Broke Loose."
Waiting for the pictures.
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