Delta flight #176 lands in Dublin a little after 8am. Uber
doesn’t co-operate but a gregarious taxi driver finds the Blackrock area, but not the Deepwell estate. A
phone call to KC produces both KC and Gael out on the sidewalk scanning for our
cab. Our
eyes meet . . . Sean and Anna appear outside the electronic Deepwell gate and
smiles and hugs abound as the cab driver upcharges us upon seeing the gorgeous
house he has discharged us to.
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Anna in the Deepwell gardens
|
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| Formal Garden at Deepwell |
Nick and Cynthia are in the kitchen creating an authentic
Irish breakfast and we sit down almost immediately to experience the height of
Irish hospitality and graciousness. Irish breakfast consists of eggs, sausage,
bacon, black AND white pudding, tomatoes, juice, black bread and soda bread.
I’m sure I’ve left something out but be assured there was lots of food and no one
left hungry.
The "awake" contingent walks along Dublin Bay, the kids doing
some geocaching while the jet-lagged contingent takes a quick catch-up nap.
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| KC, Cynthia and Nick |
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| Anna, Sean, Ben and Natalie |
The
afternoon is partially spent on a guided tour of Trinity College led by a
genuine Trinity Scholar….Nick.
“Scholars
are selected on the basis of a special examination. This particularly searching examination is not compulsory, and students
must show exceptional commitment, discipline and motivation if they are to
display sufficient merit to be elected to the position of Scholar.
The
announcement of each year's New Scholars and New Fellows is made with suitable
fanfare by the Provost from the steps of the Examination Hall in early May on
Trinity Monday, one of the most important days in the College Calendar.
Scholars
are entitled to have their course fees waived, to take rooms on campus, and to
attend Commons for free.”
Nick’s particular scholarly
talent (and we are certain there are others) is in Maths.
The historic Trinity campus
is in the midst of Dublin, as we enter through the gate an aura developed
over a period of 400 years encompasses us.
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| Trinity Scholar Tour Guide |
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| Pomodoro Sphere |
The Book of Kells is housed
in the 18th century Old Library building. It is said to be Ireland's greatest
cultural treasure and the world's most famous medieval manuscript. It was
written (in Latin) and extravagantly illustrated by monks who recorded the four
Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ in its pages. Now, about those pages: they
are a fine parchment called vellum, but they started as calfskin which was
soaked and scraped and pumiced to remove the hair, then stretched and flattened
and cut into pages. The pigments used to illustrate were derived from natural
elements. When the process is considered the Book of Kells becomes even more incredible.
The manuscript on
display is opened in a double-page spread. The pages are turned at regular intervals.
It’s the luck of the draw as to which page will be put on view when you visit.
Upstairs is the Long
Room, 65 meters in length, (200+ feet). It houses 200,000 ancient volumes
arranged on ceiling-high library shelves on either side of a long corridor. Marble
busts are placed at intervals along the hall. The 15th century harp
used as the model for the Irish coat of arms is on display in the Long Room
along with one of
the last remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
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| The Long Room |
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| Spiral Staircase in the Long Room |
We
stroll through Grafton Street, take a peek at Dublin Castle and notice a street
musician playing her harp. Classy.
We sit for a bit in the good room at Deepwell enjoying Irish whiskey, the elegant ambiance, stories and insider info on touring.
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| Gael in the Good Room |
Lodging: Cynthia and Nick's
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