Sláinte!

When we approached passport control in Dublin, the officer looked at my passport, then at me, and smiled.

“Well, you’re a Hughes, so we HAVE to let you in!”

The first few days were typically rainy.  This is the pedestrian zone on Grafton Street.  I trudged about the city in waterproof boots, a rain coat and with an umbrella.  And I still got wet. 

All that water is what keeps the island so green.  Here is the garden at the Dublin Castle… note the labyrinth-like design in the grass.

Dublin is full of churches – here is the protestant St. Patrick’s: 

And the catholic Christ Church.  The weather was gorgeous for our last few days, so we were outside as much as possible.  

That is, when we weren’t drinking.  The Jameson's Tour is fantastic - and if you go, be sure to volunteer for the tasting.  The Guinness “Experience” isn’t really a brewery tour, which is very disappointing, but the beer at the end in the bar with the view of the city is very nice.  We left happy.  

Almost as happy as when I left This is Knit! J  If you’re in Dublin, go check them out.  They’re really nice.   Here is my huge haul, plus some knitting magazines I picked up at a bookstore across the street from Trinity College:

I really loved it in Ireland.  The accents were so cute - it was all I could do not to ask people superflous questions just to hear them talk.  Some people were difficult to understand, however - a few bus drivers, nice as they were, were also pretty confusing.  And one woman and I were totally at a loss with each other - finally I looked at her and said, "you know, we speak the same language only in theory!"  She smiled politely, but I have no idea if she understood my joke.

The people were ridiculously nice.  People would approach me when I was staring at the very confusing bus schedule and help me, unprompted.  I'm not sure if I could get used to the lack of sun - but if I could, I'd love to live there one day.  

I wonder why my great-grandfather left... a question for the next family reunion, perhaps.