As I mentioned I stayed over in Dublin for a few days just to poke around and find out a bit more about the city. I was starting to feel a bit tired but also I think I caught a slight cold from one of my colleagues. This made me a bit more reluctant to amble too far but I still braved the lovely weather and headed out to explore.
I had managed a tram ride previously but it was very crowded and didn’t need another crowded ride. I later discovered that it was a bank holiday week-end, which explained the crowds. I found this out when I tried to get admission to the Guinness works and was essentially advised that I was an “eejit”…and did I not know it was all booked for the holiday.
So failing that adventure I stared wandering through the back streets of “The Liberties” and places west.
I wandered through a combination factory area and row housing and found the tram line again along St James Walk. This was a pleasant combination of park and residential area that parallels the tram line. It was a beautiful day and the kids and parents were enjoying the sun in the little parkettes along the way. I’m not quite sure what these “stackable” things were but they were certainly in contrast to the lovely walk and the very quiet tram.
I worked my way north from here, across the tracks, and found myself on the west side of St. James Hospital where there was a lot of construction going on. The “stackable” things were probably part of the work being done.
The structure on the top left is part of a the New National Children’s Hospital.
It was a strange sort of street as in contrast to the new modern construction, there was also a lovely brick residential area on the other side, with a corner store and apparently ice cream available.
I continued to follow my nose sort of north and ended up in a cute little area with a creek that I had to cross. I eventually ended up on Rowserstown Lane where I discovered that there had been a mill along this creek.
From this tiny enclave I emerged at the intersection of Kilmainham Lane and the South Circular Road to find civilization and the Gate Entrance to the gardens of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. I’m always amazed at how ambling, with no plan or specific direction can lead you to the most interesting sites and sounds.
This is the west entrance to the Gardens of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham as wall as the IMMA, the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
Through the gates the walkway was long but very pleasant and I occasionally stopped just to enjoy the peace and quiet that was so distinct from the hustle and bustle of the Guinness and Temple Bar areas.
Initially there was a large wall on the left (north side of the walk) but it soon gave way to an expansive park setting. I later found out that the walled off area is called Bullys Acre and it’s not clear that it is actually part of the Gardens.
You pass through an archway to enter the IMMA compound and people were enjoying a snack from the wee red van and basking in the sun.
It wasn’t clear to me where the Gardens actually were so I continued out the Eastern Archway and ambled to the back of the building…with the help of a wee sign and…lo and behold…the Gardens.
I didn’t go much further as I got into a conversation with 3 young people who asked me to take their photo. I turns out that one of the girls was from Calgary while the other girl was from the States and the guy was from the Caribbean. An interesting and personable group of young people.
I was getting a bit tired by this time so said farewell to the Gardens, exited past the Eastern Archway and found myself at the bottom of a wee hill where I stopped to took a photo of this cute yellow cottage. Note the yellow square bollards intended to prevent the whizzing traffic from inadvertently demolishing the building. I was thinking of getting closer but the place is on a curve in the road and the traffic was not slowing for any lost Canadian.
I set my butt on a short wall while taking the picture and was having a wee rest when another gentleman, walking his dog, came along and did the same thing. We must be of a similar age as we both had stopped for the same reason and ended up having a very nice chat in the sun. He even helped my out by telling me where I was. At this point I took a look at my trusty Locus app on my phone and it indeed showed that I had come completely in a circle to be just behind the Heuston Station and not far from the Ashling Hotel.
I had only walked a pitching wedge distance down the hill toward the train station when I spotted a cute little café and decided that a cappuccino was in order. At that point I decided I’d had enough exploring for the day and I headed back to the Ashling to decide about dinner. I mentioned earlier that I had discovered the restaurant “Wuff” but I’d also learned that it closed rather early so, given the need for sustenance and given the relatively early hour…I had a tiny rest, changed my foot gear and went off in search of “Wuffish” replenishment. All in all a fine day in the fine city of Dublin.
Tomorrow I’m on the bus early to the airport and flying to Aberdeen Scotland where I’ll board a Northlink Ferry for the overnight trip to Shetland. More to come in that regard.
You can…stand down.