Any idea where I am?

 

How about now?

 

OK, you’re getting close…you are here:

 

Céad míle fáilte romhat!  “A hundred thousand welcomes to you” is an Irish Gaelic blessing that’s lovely in sentiment and even lovelier when spoken.  When I said I could listen to Dutch commercials and be happy, I hadn’t yet spent a few days in Dublin. The lilt in their voices, whether they’re speaking English or Irish, rolls as merrily as the green countryside below my plane.  I suppose even when they’re cursing at me I’d still enjoy it.  I can’t wait to hit the ground running…but as soon as I’m outside the airport I remember I’d better flip my brain around. It’s funny to see cars moving in the opposite direction from what I’m used to:

 

By 9am I’ve dropped off my luggage at the hotel in the Ballsbridge area. I have a habit of staying in the business or residential parts of town (my favorite thing is to stay near embassy row) when I visit a new place–as opposed to crowded hotels found in the touristy city centers–and am usually rewarded by more spacious rooms and better service.  

 

I also enjoy strolling through the quieter neighborhoods at the end of a long day just to imagine what it’s like to live there.  

 

Most (touristy) places don’t open in Dublin till 10, so I head first toward St. Patrick’s church:

 

Within ten minutes I’ve almost gotten run over twice crossing the street so now these signs on the ground are my new friends:

 

I arrive at the famed church in one piece…along with the crowd of people who’ve come via the hop-on/hop-off bus. And BTW, it’s somewhat chilly here on a summer day in Ireland.  A warm yet breathable scarf is a lifesaver wherever you travel:

 

What you’ve probably noticed so far is how overcast it looks, right? That plus the row of brick Georgian houses. Well, I’d have to say I’m actually having a bit of the green luck with me. They’d predicted lots of rain but so far just a fine mist and a wee bit of a break in the clouds. Let’s see if the sun streak I brought from LA will continue through the rest of my visit overseas.  But too much chatting already, let’s go inside St. Patrick’s:

 

Did you know that the famous satirist-writer Jonathan Swift was once a Dean of this church? This marks his tomb,

 

and this is a translation of his self-written epitaph:

 

More about great writers of Dublin later…let’s now tour the grounds of the church:

 

Most likely another church visit in tomorrow’s blog entry, but stick with me. I promise to show you both the godly and the alcoholic spirits in Dublin. Then I will share the two key things I treasure most about this city and its citizens…and I’m not even talking about finally finding my leprechaun. Put on some walking shoes and meet me here tomorrow: