So, as most of you know we both just took a carry on. Meaning we would need to find a laundry mat so we could wash some clothes. Well, we found one only they are called Laundrette’s because there is someone working there that will wash your clothes for you while you go about your day. The one we found was in downtown Dublin and our hotel was about a 20 minute or more walk from there. This wouldn’t have been bad because we could have caught a bus that would take us that direction, but no. They were having a marathon while we were there and all the roads were closed. It also just so happened that it went right past our hotel. So needless to say there was no bus available. So, we converted our bags to backpacks and started walking. Yes, we walked into downtown Dublin to the Laundrette and got our clothes washed.
We had about 45 minutes to kill while the clothes washed so we walked around downtown. In our wanderings we walked around the Temple Bar area, down on the waterfront and past this cute little bakery that smelled really good. Keep in mind we are still walking around with our backpacks on just screaming TOURIST. While the clothes dried we went back to that cute little bakery and got ourselves something to eat. By 11:30 that morning our laundry was finished. After getting our clothes we continued to walk around and found ourselves on Grafton Street.
This was cool. It reminded me of our Saturday market a little. The street is lined with stores on both sides and the street is made of cobblestones. Cars are able to drive down the street but for the most part is a pedestrian street only. The one thing we noticed right away was that at each end of the street you found a Burger King and McDonald’s almost side by side.
We got back to the hotel in time for our trip around the city. One of our stops was Dublin Castle. This was an interesting tour because it’s not really a castle anymore, it’s more of a mansion instead. The only original part of the castle that still remains is a tower. Even that has been altered and is taller that it originally was. The inside was very nicely decorated. First room we went through was the ladies drawing room. We learned that the large screens you see on stands in front of the fireplace was there because of the makeup that women wore at the time. The screen was to keep the heat from the fire off of their face and to keep their makeup from running. This is were we get the term “Saving face” from. Women wore very think makeup back then because most of them had small pox scars. The final layer of makeup they would put on was wax based and did not agree with the heat from the fireplaces.
We then went through the throne room. The throne was huge. We learned that the last person to sit in that throne was Queen Elizabeth II grandfather. Because England no longer rules Southern Ireland, she did not get to sit in the throne on her resent visit.
Next was the dinning room. This is a very long room with paintings of all the chancelors that presided over Ireland on the walls. In the middle of one wall was a large fireplace and on the facing wall were windows. Between the windows were three domed mirrors. The most important seat in the dinning room was just in front of the fireplace because you could see every corner of the room thanks to the domed mirrors on the other wall.
The last room we saw was the ball room. The room is very blue with huge mirrors on the walls. On the ceiling are three large paintings.
After our tour of the city we returned to our hotel for our welcome drink (since this was technically the beginning of a new tour and a new tour director) then dinner. Dinner turned out to be dinner and a show. That’s right, irish music and step dancing. Right up my alley. =) Dinner wasn’t bad even thought they had all of us packed into the room like sardines. Dwayne went up to the room after dinner because he had a headache. Good thing to because the waitress came by with a try full of drinks and she must have tripped or something because the next thing I know I’m wearing a glass of red wine. And of course because she spilled red wine I had to be wearing a white shirt. My new white shirt that I had just bought before the trip. Needless to say the shirt is still with the hotel. They are trying to get my shirt clean. We will see how successful they are when we get back to Dublin.