Friday May 20 Dublin fair city, where girls are so pretty!! ( Do you know that song?)

A slow day to start, as I am still recovering from my chest cold, and full of aches and pains after climbing mountains, but make no mistake, it was totally worth climbing them!! After visiting and having breakfast, Deb and I left the apartment at 12:30 PM to sight see. We went to the Dublin General Post Office and checked out damage from the battle fought at the height of the 1916 Easter Rising. Further walking took us up Moore street on the continuation of the battle field. We then decided to go to church. Instead of a service, we had a small Guiness at the church. The deconsecrated church is a wonderful ancient church that has been converted to a pub , cafe, and restaurant. Soon after we walked to Dublin Castle. We visited the Chester Beatty Library, the castle grounds, and the length of Dame street. The Chester Beatty Library is the greatest collection of oriental manuscripts, and the best privately owned library in the world. The current exhibition is called Lapis and Gold, and is a collection of original manuscripts of the Qu'ran from the 14 and 15 centuries. Detail is fantastic, and we used magnifying glasses to check out the artistry. From there we had a coffee, and took off to Christ Church Cathedral ( Anglican), where Strongbow, the leader of the Anglo Normans who captured Dublin in 1170 is buried. A trip to the crypt was great, and we saw a mummified cat and mouse, found in an organ pipe. There were many church treasures on view. The church was beautiful, with stain glass windows. I learned that G.F. Handel lived in Dublin, ( which was the cultural centre for Europe at the time )

 Above: Dublin Spire know fondly as the prick

 Above: James Joyce Stature, known by locals as the dick with the stick.

 Above: The Church: bar, cafe, and the circular structure is a lift leading to the restaurant on the upper levels of the church. This area is the choir stalls.

 Above: the church still has a great organ...upper level visible

 Above: half a pint of Guiness....was very nice

 Above: Deb with her half pint! Note the wall memorials

 Above: the river Liffey, theriver in Dublin, so make a wish as you go over the bridge!

 Above: Dublin Castle and below too

 Below: Mummified cat and mouse in the cathedral crypt

 Below: Christ Church cathedral

 Below: stained glass windows everywhere

 Below : a view of the cathedral

for a while, and the first performance of the Messiah happened on 13 April 1742 around the corner from Christ Church Cathedral. Deb and I went to a pub, but tried unsuccessfully to have a drink, but left without it. We took a taxi to Juniors restaurant where we had a lovely meal. Deb had prawns and I had hake. Bruschetta starter and pecorino cheese...hmm. The day is done...we came home to blog, and tickle the ivories, and chat. Thanks for checking in!!
Below : pic of the prick, see first photo