We woke to begin our second and final full day in Dublin. We also woke to the prediction of no rain today!

First up, after getting out of pjs and into street clothes because we are just smart enough to know walking around in pjs might look odd, was breakfast. We opted today to go for something much lighter than yesterday’s delicious but large breakfast and instead bought our coffees and we each had a pastry (Something with apple for me and what I assume was a chocolate croissant for Dan.) The place was small but we found a seat and enjoyed our treats.

While there I realized it would be good to have our AirPods for our next destination so our “next destination” actually turned out to be our hotel to collect those. I thought, too, I should share the magnificent carpet in our hallway. I really should take photos of these at every hotel they are so … um … interesting. Heh.

Then it was back out to walk to Christ Church Cathedral. It’s “Don’t Mow Month”. Seems like we’d be smart to have that where we live too. Good for wildlife and the flowers popping up were pretty.

With our tickets we could get the audio tour (thus the AirPods). So inside we went, and I did listen to a lot of the audio and wandered. (The “Musicians’ Corner” was sadly blocked by a grand piano (fitting, I suppose): I would have liked to have seen things better.) I did shoot a good number of photos. (Or if you are bored and don’t like them I guess it’s a bad number of photos. You choose.)

Then we took the stairs to the crypt (and gift shop but I don’t take photos in gift shops).

After the cathedral we walked through a bit of Temple Bar again, but only took two shots.

Then it was on to Trinity College where we walked around briefly. We didn’t enter any buildings, though. I guess dogs aren’t allowed to attend the college.

Our next destination was what claims to be the oldest pub or some such thing. But we’ve seen “the oldest” claims a few times. We’ve also seen “the best” and, for Guinness a pub that claimed to have “the creamiest” Guinness. So who knows? But we walked toward the pub.

After a bit of walking we landed at The Brazen Head. I wasn’t sure we’d eat there, but they had room and we figured we might as well. We decided that would be our large meal of the day. Dan went for the bangers and mash and I ordered fish and chips. I must say my meal doesn’t photograph very well! (And I’m now thinking that should be my final fish and chips of the trip … so darn filling and I know they aren’t exactly healthful. But we’ll see if I stick to that.)

Following lunch it was time to cross the Liffey River and go to another place we’d seen recommended. For the first time I saw the “green walking man” lit on the sidewalk. Cute! (I can’t remember what a “sidewalk” is here, but I know they don’t use the same word. Maybe I’ll come up with it later.)

Eventually we arrived at EPIC — The Irish Emigration Museum. I was hesitant after looking at photos, as it seemed like yet another “experience” place and they just seem odd to me, but I’m extremely glad we went! I learned a lot, and it was quite well done. I didn’t take a ton of photos, but I did take some.

I also took some videos. In one of the music sections they showed how Irish music was then brought over to America.

One song was sung and I recognized the tune, and then another person in the video sang “Streets of Laredo”. Sure enough the tune was nearly identical. I managed to get the original version on video:

I found this so interesting because when we were eating lunch they had Irish music playing and suddenly I heard what we would call “Simple Gifts” — the Shaker tune that Copland then used as well. So perhaps that, too, was actually from a folk tune here.

EPIC handed us our “passports” as we entered the museum, and at each of the sections we had them stamped. Now normally Dan and I are just not into things like this but somehow this one worked and we HAD to get our stamps!

We had purchased our tickets as we entered the building at 2:50 or so (noting that we did NOT buy them at the ticket desk because it was €4 cheaper to purchase online!). We didn’t leave the building until 5:50! I think that shows just how interesting it was — and we didn’t even do all the things we could have done there.

At that point it was time to go back over the river, and I wanted to be sure and go over the ha’penny bridge for that. (The toll at one point for this pedestrian bridge was a ha’penny.) I wish I’d taken a better photo of it, but if you want to see it I’m sure you could google it. There were so many people crossing and I just didn’t have a good shot.

We ambled and went in search of a light meal. Typical of us it took a while to find a place. One pub seemed nice but there were no seats. Another would have worked but there appeared to be a long wait.

Finally we spotted the Bruxelles pub and not only did they have room, but they had a very small room with not one other person in it! Perfect for my ears and no loud music! (Eventually one other couple entered but they were quite quiet.) I ordered a toastie again. I could have done without the fries after lunch, but the toastie did hit the spot. Dan’s “light” meal turned out to be a bit larger. We both had our “zero zero” Guinnesses. These alcohol free beers are actually not bad (we had them at lunch, too), and I was happy to have an alcohol free day.

Speaking of alcohol, on our walk home we saw this place … look at all those barrels!

Once back in our room I packed as much as I could pack tonight, set out tomorrow’s clothes, and got started on this entry. Tomorrow is, once again, moving day. This time we go by train and I tend to enjoy that kind of travel the most. For the first time we are on Irish Rail and of course we’ve never been in the Dublin Heuston station so I’m sure we’ll be there plenty early so yours truly doesn’t stress.

For now, though, goodnight!

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