Dublin

Roger went to the Dublin office, near the airport, to visit with all his work friends today. They have a full kitchen and a lady that comes and cooks lunch for the entire staff everyday. Ulick says he knows it’s a bit unique but they actually get a lot of work done while they sit around the dining table!
Judy, Marilou and I spent the day touring Dublin and shopping. We walked to Trinity College to see the “Book of Kells” which is on display in the library on campus. The sign in the school courtyard said  “Welcome Fresher's.”
“The Book of Kells” is a manuscript of four gospels copied, in Latin, by monks at Abbey Kells in AD 800. It is was sent to Dublin in 1653 for security reasons and is a national treasure of Ireland. The script consists of ornate calligraphy and drawings and is phenomenal. It is hard to imagine how they printed such small script and intricate drawings with homemade ink in candlelight! It is so ornate it is hard to recognize the letters.
We took a “hop on, hop off” tour of Dublin in a two decker bus and saw the major points of interest in town and then we shopped along Grafton Street.
I was disappointed in St. Patrick’s Cathedral – not a very pretty church – big, dark and gray - and with a gift shop in the back! But, the boys choir was practicing and that was a plus! The picture of the door with a hole in it is the "Door of Reconciliation." Two famous families in Ireland had been feuding for years. In 1492 one army forced the other to seek refuge in the Chapter House at St. Patricks. They could have won the battle but the dominating army was led by a man who wanted peace. Not trusting his sincerity, the "captured" clan would not open the door and talk so he hacked a hole in the door and stuck his arm through for a handshake. Since he risked having his arm slashed off they figured he was serious and they negotiated a peaceful solution.
We didn’t tour the Guinness Storehouse because we had just been to the Jameson Brewery but we happened to be in Dublin on “Arthur Day.” Arthur Guinness celebrates his birthday every year by providing free Guinness at the brewery and local pubs! All the souvenir shops have women's T-shirts with a picture of an Audrey Hepburn like girl drinking a black drink - the caption reads "Every woman needs a little black drink!"
We had dinner at the hotel dining room and relaxed for the evening.