Saturday 28.12.2024 - Dublin

Rathmines

I hadn't slept very well due to bad stomach aches, but I was wide awake at 07:30 feeling groggy, and I woke up the girls.

Leinster Square Rathmines - Memories

After a rushed breakfast, we drove to Rathmines to the Swan Centre, the heart of memory lane for me. I visited Castlewood Avenue and Leinster Square, along with Rathmines in general, which were my best days from 1988-1990. How can that be? Not even three years can hold such precious memories!

George's Street, Dublin

I took some pictures, then headed into the city centre. My first stop was a nice little place for coffee. I was still not feeling 100%. After coffee, I headed to Eason's, my favourite bookshop. I am always happy to be there. I browsed the entire shop and ended up buying a DVD of a film called "The Troubles, a Dublin Story" and a book called "The Last Disco" about the Stardust disaster, a tragedy that took place on Valentine's night in Artane, Dublin in 1981. I also used a gift voucher from Barbara to buy "Atlas of the Great Irish Famine." My bag was now very heavy!

Georgian Protesters

When I left the bookshop, I spoke to a group of Georgian protesters in their own language. They were standing outside the GPO, all sporting EU and Georgian flags. They were very surprised that I spoke their language. I made some videos for myself, as well as for them.

The Ha'penny Bridge across the Liffey

I continued back towards Temple Bar. There was a nice little record shop where I bought a CD of Afro-Celtic music as well as a DVD. I also visited the Irish Film Institute. I explored the DVD shop, but I seemed to have seen most of the titles on display. In the end, I bought a film from Paul Verhoeven called "Spetters."

Temple Bar - Dublin

I had time to kill, so I went to The George, Dublin's oldest gay bar. I ordered a Heineken 0.0 but ended up with an entire pint! A bloke turned up to my right; he used to be the manager of The George. When I was younger, he tried to seduce me, but he hadn't aged well! I got into a conversation with the English barman and a customer from Poland with an Irish accent. Soon after, another guy interjected and bored me to tears with a monologue on his whiskey collection.

The Train

It was time to go, so I walked to the tram stop and made my way to Connolly Station. The train was already present, so I took my seat and the train to Sligo took off. I got out at Enfield where Barbara and Joanie met me, and we made the short drive to Longwood. I prepared dinner: roasted potatoes with sea salt, fresh rosemary, and garlic, with oven-roasted Brussels sprouts with dried thyme and sea salt, served with carrots and parsnips.

After dinner we watched "Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief" before heading for an early night.

In a word #Dublin

#Ireland #Rathmines #Lomgwood #Contaenamí #Anmhí #RáthMaonais #BaileÁthaCliath #GeorgianProtest