Day 14 Last Day - Dublin and Packing

 Good evening all.  About 12 hours from last I wrote.

Anita got up, we had breakfast, then hung around the hotel for a couple of hours. Meaning we drifted in and out of sleeping since we both needed the rest.  We finally got up and around and left the hotel about 2 pm.

I am happy to report that this will contain nothing about ancient stone ruins, churches, castles, narrow roads, or scenic Irish coastline.

It does make reference to one final pub we had our going away dinner and drinks in.

Not a lot of pictures today, but some here: Day 14 Pics

But before we got there we visited and toured a replica of an 1850's sailing vessel that was used to transport emigrants from Ireland to Canada and the US during the great famine of (1845 - 1852)  It would take Irish to North America and return with lumber and textiles from North America.

The company that built the ship in the 1840's is still in business.  A bunch of investors got together and struck up a deal with Dublin City Council late in the 1990's.  The deal was the investors would have the ship built, sail it around western Europe in some square rig races for a few years and then sell it to the City of Dublin for a song.  All that happened and the ship sits a mile or so above Dublin Port in the Liffey River and used as a museum and center for educaitonr about the Irish Famine and emigration. 

If you want to know more about the ship, or the famine, here is a good link you 
might try:Jennie Johnson History  There are some adds on the site.  But sort them and you find some interesting history.

The original Jennie Johnson was a 3 masted sailing cargo vessel.  The owners saw no sense in going west with an empty boat for lumber and other goods from North America, and so with the famine on and the emigration of millions of Irish, their cargo west bound was people. 

They were never considered a "coffin" ship.  As a matter of the vessel never lost a singel passenger or crew member.  The ships owner and captain were both from Tralee in Ireland and wanted to keep their good nams.

The replica was built in 2000 and and came to Dublin, Liffy River, in 2013.  Where it has been since and shall remain now that the Dublin City owns it.

The replica vessel was modified as required to comply with current Coast Guard regulations and made with some modern conveniences no the original.  Things like a bathroom, lights and hydraulic anchor windless... oh yea, and 2 big diesel engines attached to a prop. 

As you may have guessed I have a great time aboard her.  The Docent was knowledgeable and relayed a lot of very interesting history. Then he turned us loose to look around the ship on our own.  WOOOO HOOOOO says I.  So I looking behind every hatch and door that was not locked or did not have a sign that said "JIM WOOD KEEP OUT!" 

So we had a good time on board a really cool replica of three masted sailing vessel.  I also got some more great pictures I can use in the Captains School classes.

I didn't get to go up in the rigging (not for lack of trying.)  They had that blocked off very well.

After our time on the ship, we had one more stop on our to-do list.  That was a visit to one more pub before we left.  We were told about the a pub called the Brazen Head.  Good food, drink and music.  Lots of Ceol agus Craic.  Anybody recall what the means?  I believe I told 2 day ago.

So this pub supposedly dates back to the year 1098.  When a reference was found to a hotel and public house at this location.  Supposedly the pub had a mechanical, metal head that would answer questions.  Always correctly of course.  They also claim the pub has operated continuously since then.  

If you read the Pub propaganda that is the story.  Which makes it the oldest continually operated Pub in Ireland and England.  Also, it makes the 5th oldest in the entire world.  The picture below of Anita and I in front of the bar is in the original 11th century portion of the structure. 

Some "historians" while not saying it isn't true, simply say there is no evidence it has operated continuously.  

Since we are all free to believe whatever we choose to, I choose to believe it has been there for 925 years and I was standing on the same floor Norman Knights and Viking soldiers and original Irish common folk had stood.  And also, that the huge wooden beam used as a part of the bar and that I had my hand on to get a drink had been there the whole 925 years.

Brazen Head Pub Link: Brazen Head Pub Info

I had a great Irish stew and mashed potatoes.  Anita had bacon (ham by American standards) and cabbage.  These were accompanied, of course, with a couple pints.  We did not stay for the music.  We were both pooping out and we need to get up at 5 am tomorrow to get the car back and get through the airport in time to make the plane.

So endeth our last full day of vacation.  What an unbelievably wonderful 2 weeks we have had.

Not a lot of pictures today, but some here: Day 14 Pics

Tomorrow is traveling day and going east to west means it is going to be a lot of hours on the clock.  In reality it will be about a 20 hour day.  Which, if we can sleep on the plane won't be too bad.

Tomorrow, in terms of East Coast times:  We get up at 11:00 pm Friday night (today for you, 4 am Saturday Ireland Time), get showered, finish some minor "day of" packing and get on the road to the airport by midnight your time.  We turn in the rental car and hopefully get to the airport by 2 am. (7 am Ireland Time)  Stand in cues (lines) for 3 hours and with any luck be near our gate by 5 am (10 am Ireland Time).  Our flight boards at 5:45 am (10:45 am Ireland Time) and leaves at 6:15 am (11:15 am Ireland Time)  We arrive in Charlotte at about 2:30 pm, a little more than 8 hours in the air.  Then fly out to Fort Myers at 4:30 pm.  And hopefully home by 7 pm.     That 20 hours all told if my math right.

We have been watching the news here.  2 - 3 hour delays in getting into the airport, and then getting through security have been the norm.  So we will be out early.  

I will be posting two more Blog updates I believe.  One for a recap and feelings about the trip. And then one more reviewing the anticipated costs and actual costs.  It might take me a few days to recover and get the costs put together.  But they will be coming forthwith.

Time to get to bed.  Alarms will be going off in 7.5 hours.

Anita and Jim