Today's Random Pic

Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.








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Today's Random Pic

Sunset in St. Stephen's Green - Dublin







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Flowers (pt.2)

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Flowers (pt.1)

Someone (I'm sure it was my mom) requested some flowers... so because the last two posts were a bit of a downer (recession, coffin ships and all)... I thought that I would post some happy flower pics.














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Today's Random Pic...

"Reflections"





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Today's Random Pic...

"Courage"





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Here we go again....

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Should I be worried? I am starting to have this paranoid feeling like I am being followed.... it is a feeling like the little people really are after me.....


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But I am becoming wise to their tactics. They are tricky little things... they do their best not to be noticed.... they act casual.... they try to look like everyone else.... They want you to think that they are just part of the crowd....






(for the full story read these previous posts HERE and HERE)
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A few more pics...

Ok... I know that everyone must be tired of seeing zoo pics... but I am going to post a few more. I had such a good time taking them and I feel like I got some great pics... I hate to not to post them!









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Thoughts about the Zoo...

I really liked the zoo... and I appreciated the opportunity to see some amazing creatures close up... I, however, couldn't help feeling a little conflicted about the whole experience. I know that the animals are all very well taken care of and may in fact enjoy longer and safer lives in captivity than if they were left on their own in the wild (a fact that I was reminded of when I saw a VERY old wolf in the zoo).... but there is a certain sadness at seeing these wild creatures in such small enclosures and with such limited freedom. I stood and watched a majestic silverback gorilla sit quietly in the entrance of his cage... his face seemed so sad and broken... I couldn't help but feel a little guilty that this was his life.




I also found it very strange that zoos are such a popular place for children. I understand the fascination... but doesn't it seem a little strange and against every survival instinct to bring our youngest and weakest members of society and display them in front of the most dangerous creatures in the country? At what point did we stop fearing these creatures and start taunting them?




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The First of the Zoo Pics...

But please no comments about how the monkeys look like me... or something equally as cheeky!











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Happy B'day

While we were in Dublin we celebrated two big occasions. Our 9th wedding anniversary (wow... I can't believe it has been that long) and Dee's birthday (I don't think that I am allowed to tell you how old she is). It was nice to go somewhere different for these two occasions and to have some time to ourselves even if it was just for a couple of days. Dee enjoyed having extra time to shop in Dublin and we enjoyed getting to try some new restaurants (although our favorite one was closed down!).


Here is a picture of us on O'Connell street on Dee's birthday.





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Today's Random Pic...

Grafton Street in Dublin





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Today's history lesson...

O'Connell Street is Dublin's main street and is one of Europe's widest streets. The statue is that of Daniel O'Connell the great 19th century political leader that worked for Catholic Emancipation (the right for Catholics to sit in the Westminster Parliament, denied for over 100 years) and for the repeal of the Union between Ireland and Great Britain.

The great building with pillars (on the left of the photo) is the General Post Office. It was on this spot that the tri-colored Irish flag was first raised and Patrick Pearse read the declaration of Irish Independence during the 1916 Easter uprising.




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Too much to try and catch up on…

We are in Dublin for a few days. We arrived Wed. night during a day-long rain storm. I noticed around nine o’clock that the skies were clearing and that it was going to be a clear and crisp night. I grabbed the camera bag and ran down to the River Liffey. This river that runs through the heart of the city was once sailed by the Vikings when they first settled this area. I stood admiring the city when I noticed a ship off in the distance. I decided to investigate and boy am I glad that I did. This majestic sailing ship is a part of the Mexican navy. Yep…. The Mexicans have a navy! I tried to find out where the ship was going and why it was in Dublin, but the sailors that I was talking to did not speak enough English for me to discover the whole story. The men invited me aboard, and I was able to wander around for a few minutes on this amazing ship!








On a side note… Dee and I went to the Dublin Zoo Thursday morning… so stay tuned for some pictures! Here is one of the most beautiful creatures we saw there.

By Special Request...

From the archives...2004... a blue eyed cow:





There you go Tim.... bring back memories? I still laugh when I look at the other cow being nosey over her shoulder.

Where Am I?

From time to time I have to travel to Dublin with work... This last Monday I took a train ride to the big city for the day. I didn't have a lot of time to enjoy the sights (only about an hour or so) before I had to go to a meeting, but I felt like 'country come to town'. The capital city is so different from the rest of Ireland... It is truly overwhelming! The mixture of languages, the crush of people waiting and running at every cross walk, the double-decker buses flying by, the sounds of horns, and the silhouettes of statues out of the corner of my eye make me wonder if I was really in Ireland at all! Ireland has a population of about 4.5 million people. 1.5 million live in greater Dublin. Dublin truly is different from all other areas of Ireland... I enjoyed my day there. There are always things to see and things to do... and I love to wander the streets with my camera...