Galway to Dublin...

Another day in Galway... the last day of medical school!!! I think we were more relieved we had actually survived the bike riding in crazy traffic and roundabouts than surviving school. :)

The nicest hospital lobby I've ever seen... the Galway Clinic. Never did hear the piano played!

The most beautiful building built in the 1960's, I suspect: the Galway Catholic Cathedral. It was a work of all local material and craftsmanship - limestone and granite, and the distinctive green-hued Connemara marble. It is a truly lovely and peaceful place.

Then, Thursday May 17 were off to Dublin, joined by my friend Maureen, hailing from Michigan.

We did quite a bit of walking in the afternoon, but only made it to Trinity College in the evening. Unfortunately, we therefore missed viewing the Book of Kells in the library. It is a perfectly preserved 9c set of Gospels, four books intricately painted by Irish monks and found preserved in a bog... something to come back to see!

Tania and Maureen on the River Liffey, Dublin. We had a good dinner (lamb stew!!), then headed out to hear some music elsewhere when our pub's band failed to show...

Dublin in the evening... eventually we found a little upstairs spot and took in some Irish ballads.

The following day Tania flew out and Maureen and I returned to the city. We decided to be tourists extraordinaire and see the Guinness Brewery at St. James' Place. It was actually a great tour, very interesting to those that find industrial biology intriguing (aka, me)... and the marketing special effects were pretty spectacular.

In case you wondered about the water in brewing....

I did wonder what would have happened if the protozoa infection that has all of Galway county on bottled water had happened in Dublin. Would we have a world shortage of Guiness???

Try and read this. It is quintessentially Irish and very funny. I've worked on liking Guiness.

The easiest way to see Dublin City - from the glass-enclosed bar at the top of the brewery!