After meeting, Steph and I decided to take advantage of being in the city and do some more touristy stuff. We started at St. Stephen’s Green for a quick lunch.
Noticing numerous ducks in the water, we instantly felt obligated to make a scene and feed every duck in sight.
Irish folks do not like this.
Nope, we’re not in Boerne, Texas y’all, and apparently feeding the ducks on the river bend is like a sin. Needless to say we ran away quickly, trying to hide the word “tourist” printed across our foreheads.
After running into an Aggie on Grafton Street and seeking advice on the “free” tours to go on, we headed to the National Museum of Archeology. I have to say, this was one of the most interesting museums I’ve ever been in. It wasn’t necessarily Viking Ireland or the Ancient Egypt exhibits, but is was the BOG BODIES that did it for me. Yep, fully preserved bodies that date back to 1750. Their muscles, hair, and even teeth are fully intact. Photography was restricted throughout the museum, but I swore to my mum a long time ago that I would never give up an amazing picture opportunity.
After taking it all in for awhile, we decided to head to Trinity College for a glance at the Book of Kells. The book is one of the world’s most valuable religious monuments and is considered Ireland's finest national treasure. It dates back to ca. 800. completely written in Latin and containing the four Gospels of the New Testament- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The book was created by Celtic monks and is TRULY a masterwork of Western calligraphy.
We then walked up to the Trinity College Library, which dates back to the 18th century. It was absolutely GORGEOUS and reminded me a bit like Belle's library in "Beauty and the Beast." Yes, I would have take pictures but by this time I'd been "red-flagged" by every security person in sight as being "camera dangerous." We would have been thrown out.
After feeling we’d completed an amazing day of culture and spirituality, Steph and I hoped back on the bus to UCD to get ready for the evening. We had dinner at Valpraiso restaurant, featuring steak (this was the first red meat I've had here so I was EXTRA excited) and amazing chocolate muse.
The group then ventured down to Mount Marion road for some picturesque scenery and an amazing sunset. Naturally, Steph climbed the rocks while I helped snap every picture possible at the time.
Our professor then led us down the road for the main event of the evening- Irish dancing! I now deem Irish dancing as the GREATEST WORKOUT OF ALL TIME. Yep. A few hours into it and not only are your thighs burning, but you've sweated out every ounce of beer you've consumed that day.
A wedding party was also participating in the lessons, so Steph and I decided to be of service and help them get their groove on. Needless to say the bride and groom thoroughly enjoyed our antics and crazy American laughter.
We even invited ourselves to the wedding. :)
I have to say, though, that this has been the most wonderful day here in Dublin. From intense Irish history to culture to moments with friends, this trip is slowly changing my life...one small dance at a time.
Texas fight for life.
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