Visit to Dublin - 4th May, 2004
(Click the thumbnails for the big picture.)
Standing in the platform in Bray waiting for the DART. At least they provide something pleasant to look at while you wait.
This was my little mosy around the centre of Dublin. Starting at Pearse St DART station, through Trinity College, up Grafton Street, down towards Dame Street and over to Temple Bar, across the Ha'penny Bridge, up Henry Street, down O'Connell Street, across O'Connell bridge, along D'Olier Street, around by College Green, along Nassau Street and back around to Pearse St DART station. There you have it. A grand little mosy.
The view across Trinity cricket ground towards the Moyne Institute and the Pav (Pavillion Bar)
Some views around Trinity. Preparations well under way for the Trinity Ball which was held on Friday, May 7th. I was flabbergasted to hear that a single ticket to event costs €67.50. What the fcuk are they thinking! I attended it in 1993 and it really wasn't anything to write home about. A few thousand students in tuxes and ball gowns getting hammered on overpriced beer and the bottles that they've smuggled in. A few bands who at best include "The Divine Comedy" and at worst such unknown names as "Republic Of Loose" and "Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club". Ten years ago the Ball was a complete waste of money, but something you felt you had to do at least once during your college career. See more about this ridiculously overpriced tradition at the official website.
"As she wheeled her wheelbarrow through the
streets broad and narrow". Molly Malone and her rather shiny breasts at the end
of Grafton Street. Bronze statues like this normally have a shiny patch where
people rub it (for luck or something). With norks like that what did they expect
would happen.
Dublin fashions (frightening), a beer delivery to one of Dublin's oldest pubs, McDaids and the entrance to St. Stephens Green, a park given to the people of Dublin by the Guinness family.
I took a wander into the St. Stephens Green shopping centre with a view to treating myself to a proper shave with an cut-throat razor. And a real treat it turned out to be. If you're in Dublin I highly recommend a visit to "Knights on the Green" on the middle floor.
First step is the warm oil which is massaged into your face and then the hot towels. Next you get lathered up with a traditional brush and get the first of two shaves. This was my first time to have this kind of shave and initially I was a touch nervous as the blade scraped at my throat at touched off my lip. I need not have worried. Inga, from Lativa, was a complete profressional (and damn cute too) and not a drop of blood was spilled. Next was the cold towel followed by a face massage with refreshing oils. Excellent. That costs €26 and as a treat is well worth it. For an extra €8 you can get a head and neck massage which I can also fully recommend. Go there, you won't be sorry!
Knights of the Green
Phone +353 1 4780283
Email
haircare@indigo.ie
No, not a hooker on the job, I walked in on a model shoot just after coming out of Temple Bar. The photographer looks non too happy in the third shot. Not sure what the shoot was for. Her dress had some advertisements written on it for something or other. They called someone over, no doubt to inflict bodily harm on me, or threaten such, but I was off about my business in no time. Anyway, if you stand in the middle of a public street then what do you expect.
And over the Ha'penny bridge to the Northside!
The biggest prick in Dublin! It was the winning entry in a competition to provide a replacement for Nelson's Pillar which was blown up in 1966. The column is to the memory of Nelson, who obviously was also a complete prick! It is 120m tall and 3m wide at the base tapering up to 15 centimetres at the top. So there you go.
Moore St. Probably one of the most famous of all Dublin streets. Perhaps known to non-Dubliners who have seen Angelica Houston in the title role of the 1999 movie "Agnes Browne"
On one side of O'Connell street you have the very historic General Post Office and directly opposite it, as a sign of the times, you have a branch of Ann Summers!
A few of Dublin's clocks. Clery's clock on the left is probably the most famous as the vast majority of Dubliners born in the 40's and 50's met their future spouses under that clock. It was a central meeting point for young people as all the buses pulled in there.
One of the warning signs for the new Luas line tram system. If it ever gets finished!
A few scenes in and around O'Connell street. It's the widest thoroughfare in Europe. Now, there you go.
This sign just struck me as indicative of the current situation in Dublin. I'm not saying it's good or bad, just that five years ago there would have been no question of whether or not someone applying for a job could actually speak English.
Right, here's the thing. If anyone knows someone selling a ladder like the one on the back of this Pajero, then please drop me a line to roger@keydeck.com. I'm looking for one for my Galloper (same as 1985 Pajero) but so far to no avail.
Nice melons! And people say that my gags are cheap!
And we finish off back at the DART line.