Going Home Day Fourteen

I woke up in Dublin on the day I got to fly home with an email from change.org talking about how the Supreme Court upheld the travel ban. I was shocked, disappointed and heart broken. I walked downstairs to see my host and she asked me how I was and in my shock I was honest saying, "I am depressed that my Supreme Court would uphold such a racist decision." She then told me some of all the things I had missed in my world travels. 

I missed a lot! I left you all in charge and it all went to hell for those two weeks. My host was a talker and I was able to get her feelings on The Troubles. As an Irish person living in Dublin there is very much a sense of let them do as they want, it isn't our place to muck in their business. There are groups who are working on full unification, for sure, but for now they aren't violent, and that is much appreciated. 

To experience the amazing open arms of these two countries, something I always thought we had as well, I am full to the brim with world love and happiness... I know I can be Pollyanna, but dammit it shouldn't be naive to believe in the best for this world. I will continue to live that way, because it makes me feel good. The more of us who do feel positive, can spread that good energy providing  more positivity to spread and hopefully the world will become what I just experienced: Nice, happy people, living the lives that make them happy and enriches their souls. I heard this again and again from my hosts and people I met along the way. Do what makes you happy and enriches your soul.

I took this picture in the airport in Dublin, and as I walked away, I told the woman who took the picture that I missed them, and an American woman walked by saying, "I don't." That is what America is about and having the freedom to have differing opinions is a good thing. I love when people disagree with honesty from their hearts, that is how you have a productive conversation.

Thank you for going on my trip with me. I hope you learned and were inspired to take a trip yourselves. I would recommend going to Ireland first, it was a bit of a let down after the fjords of Norway.

Listen and speak with honesty from your hearts my friends.

Hugs!

Ireland Day Thirteen

Moving on to Dublin for the day and night to prep for my trip home.

My drive to Dublin killed me a bit. There are about 50 things I wanted to stop and see on the way, one was a ancient Oak forest... whimper. None the less I made it to Dublin.

Trinity College

For my theatre friends, Samuel Beckett Theatre.

Line to get into see the Book of Kells. It was crazy expensive, I didn't go.

Dublin street.

I found a 1/2 off sale at Doc Martens... I walked out without out... but it was hard.

Looks so good, I didn't have any. I am diabetic, and I saved my sugar for a honeycomb ice cream walking through the park.

This is a mall.

Chilling like a villain. 

St. Stephen's Green

One of the sights of the Easter Rising of 1916. They have a nice walking tour of the battle sights in the park, as well as many Sculptures of the heroes of the battle.

Nice to have official rules in the park!

After the park I had Dim Sum (I know, I am weird. It was easy and cool to go to a Korean market in Dublin and I love Dim sum. I was amazing.) and went to a ring class. I made my own ring. You know you are jealous.

Day twelve - Part two

The first half of my day was a free and fun Kpop blasting day, and I realized I might not be in London, but I was in the UK so I decided to get fish and chips. I remembered stopping at the city for breakfast so I went back. While I was driving out of town in the morning I saw some cool murals, so I thought I would stop and see them. What an eyeopening experience.

Free Derry Corner

This is a monument to all the people who died in The Troubles whose monument couldn't be placed within the city where their deaths happened.

This is the mural I saw on my way out of town, inspiring me to come back.

This corner is somber. each of these murals are painted on the end of apartment buildings. It is clear from this location and the buildings around that the IRA is alive and well, and it may be quite, but the fight is not over. 

The Walled City
Built 1613-1618 walking the city walls is a great example of the british stiff upper lip. There is a lot of events surrounding The Troubles and all of the signage is very neutral, stating facts. The culture clash in this city is awing. I felt still the entire trip.

I apologize, the pics are a bit out of order, I can't even begin to set them right, but they are still enjoyable.

Built in 543 AD

Seen from the wall. Near Free Derry Corner.

Look at the width of this wall. It is bigger than the roads.

The Peace wall.

Someone has written IRA on this within site of the wall.

Soccer/Basketball court.

Seriously this is so much bigger then what I have been driving on.

Kids playing by running through the whole in that wood plank. Some of them balk at it and can't make it through. This is very serious play! 

Here is a video of the craziness.

This cannon was destroyed by an explosion in the barrel before the cannon left destroying the tip.

For my theatre friends.

Needless to say I now understand, and happy that I respected that couple's feelings that it is too soon. The Troubles may be quite, but they are not resolved at all. I was very humbled by this experience. Americans really don't understand the underlining tension in this location. We are truly blessed with our peaceful country.