Dublin
Wednesday
Our last day. We very excitedly went off to Dublin on the
bus which took over an hour going to all the towns on
the way. As we got off the bus, we were hit with traffic,
fumes and noise. We headed straight to Trinity College
where the Book of Kells is kept. We couldn’t hear ourselves
think so we were really relieved to finally arrive and
enter the grounds. The Book of Kells was excellent. Such
amazing artistry with such limited resources. Beautiful
writing and tiny intricate Celtic knotwork. Then the
old library blew us away. The room itself was incredible
– very majestic. The huge collection of old books was
breath taking. So much history housed in such a spectacular
manner. It was lovely to just sit silently and absorb
the atmosphere. Just as we love to do at sacred sites!
Then we visited the Archaeology museum where we saw artifacts
that had been found at the sacred sites we had just visited
including The Hill of Tara. After, we walked around for
a while before finding the Temple Bar area. Just walking
in Dublin was exhausting because of the immense traffic.
You can’t walk along the river in peace as there are roads
running directly parallel on the same level. Unlike the
Thames in London which has walkways well away from the
main roads. We reached the Temple Bar area exhausted and
relieved that it was pedestrianized. Old and cobbled, it
was a pleasure. We stopped for a drink and photography
exhibition and then went on the mission to find out where
to catch the bus back to the campsite. Many people that
I’ve met absolutely love Dublin but for us it was just
another city. I think it’s the sheer volume of traffic
that ruins it for me. However, we didn’t get to experience
the night life ……..
Everywhere is so expensive, often double the price we’re
used to. We’ve felt poor all through this journey. And
Dublin was even dearer. In a lot of ways we’ll be happy
to get back to England. I thought England was difficult
for travelling folk but it was much worse here. There’s
absolutely nowhere to stop to enjoy the environment. You
end up driving from one campsite to another. All the car
parks we came across had height restrictions. Visiting
the East of Ireland is a bit like visiting the East of
England - built up, over populated and over developed which
comes with all it’s urban problems, compared to the beautiful
lush green of the West of Ireland and England alike. Ten
years ago, we had such a different experience when we visited
the West of Ireland.
We felt a bit like these statues below as we only had
about £5 left in Dublin! Couldn't even afford a Guiness
- sad.....
We were very blessed to visit the many sacred sites of
Newgrange, Loughcrew and the surrounding areas. Each site
we visited was like another piece of the same puzzle. It
soon became apparent that these monuments were built by
a culture who were extremely observant and who handed down
this knowledge from generation to generation. It seems
obvious that these monuments all link together to form
“a vast astronomical device” which mapped the cycles of
the Sun, the Moon and the stars and demonstrates a great
awareness of the cycle of the procession.
What an amazing journey.
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