Roland had suggested taking a tour of the countryside before we left, so when we got there he talked to the hostel attendant, and we got set up on a pretty cool excursion with Over the Top Tours. For only €25, we took a day trip into the Wicklow "mountains" outside Dublin. Again, the weather was spectacular - I love to watch clouds, anyway, and this was exceptional. We drove past some of the areas used to film Braveheart (apparently 75% of my favorite movie was filmed in Ireland - most of it north of where we were - and I was caught without the soundtrack on my iPod). Our guide was a crusty old Irish dude named, Mallis. (I forgot to ask him how he spells it; I hope that's right!) [OK, excursus time: I've turned into a coffee snob. The tour advertised a stop for a complimentary cup of coffee. It was instant. Blech!] We stopped to snap photos at several small lakes surrounded by low hills covered in winter brown heather. After we stopped for lunch at a pub in the small village of Laragh, we visited the ruins of a monastery at Glendalough. Mallis' commentary included what I perceived to be the perfect Irish, dry wit; stuff like (you'll have to imagine your own Irish accent): "this next village is so small, it hasn't even got a pub. Ha. That's pretty small."
We made it back into the city in time to catch Evensong again at Christ Church Cathedral. Again, it was amazing. Afterwards, we walked back toward our hostel, cleaned up a little and walked half a block to the Brazen Head - Ireland's oldest pub (built in the late 12th century) - for some chips (fries) and a pint. Again, it was mostly tourists, and again, mostly American. It was pretty full. Roland and I had our own table, and when I saw a family (three generations, with an adult son) walk in and stand in the middle of the room looking for an open table - there were none, I did the European thing and invited them to join us. (They were from Oregon - though the father was originally from Wausau, Wisconsin. They were a little unsure at first, but they got a kick out of it when I explained that it was the "European thing, they do this all the time".) [Excursus: the first time I met Dr. Salzmann, the rector - basically president - of the seminary here in Germany, was this past summer in St. Louis. We went to church together one Sunday morning and went out for coffee afterwards. Similar situation; no open tables. A couple walked in and he invited them to share our table. They did sit down, but they looked pretty confused by the offer.] Again, very friendly people and some good conversation! And, of course, the Guinness tasted exceptional. It really does taste even better in Ireland!
[Dublin]
[Vans. Our group included eight Spaniards and a chain-smoking Danish couple.]
[One of the Guinness family owns the estate down there (off frame to the right).]
[Mallis]
[Glendalough]
[Roland is by the door to St. Kevins at Glendalough. I haven't any idea who that other guy is.]
[Roland]
[Christ Church Cathedral]
[I didn't know that either.]
[The Brazen Head]That was Thursday . . . again, more to follow!
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