Trinity College | Robert Humrickhouse

We booked a formal tour of Trinity College Library and the Book of Kells this morning. We were the first group let in when the library opened so had optimum viewing of the vellum created circa 800 AD. Of course, no pictures allowed of the scripture books but we were free to take as many snaps as we wanted without a flash in the Long Room. Imagine walking up a set of stairs, you turn, the smell of old books starts to permeate the air, your eyes see this, and you hear a fellow tourist state, “Well this looks like somethin’ out of a Harry Potter movie.”

After a walking tour of Dublin Castle, we sat down for lunch at Chez Max, a cozy little bistro.

Then back to see the State Apartments at the castle and a closer inspection of the grounds.

Tomorrow we pick up a car and start our drive around the coast. Driver and navigator are meditating for peace before we attempt to conquer the wrong side of the road.

That is the official name of Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Liz I. It is at the top of every Dublin destination guide and rightly so. Mobbed by tourist and guides dressed in Harry Potter costumes it is steeped in history and culture. After a late leave from the hotel we set out late morning to explore every nook, cranny and door we could open.

Seems the class of 2022 is just arriving.

The center of the campus, Parliament Square.

Then, the Chapel, completed in 1798 and still open to the pubic today.

Ornate floors with heating grills.

The seating and stalls, clearly meant to highlight rank and position, some just benches others with property doled out per armrest and seats of honor.

Unbeknownst to us, a bride and groom were about to walk the aisle and they do really still wear morning coats and hats.

The best view of a column is out a window.

Being built over hundreds of years the architecture is remarkably varied.

Perhaps some ideas for our front door? Same address.

What’s a Saturday afternoon without a game of Cricket?

We made our way out the Lincoln gate and stopped in at the National Gallery of Ireland, stunningly renovated in 2017 and boasts a Vermeer and Caravaggio before having lunch.

We decided to walk back to our hotel through college grounds in the late afternoon sun. Seems centuries old windows require modern food products to prop them open.

Still, who could resist this light.

And the beauty of trees centuries old.

Hard to top this day, but the cake still had to be iced. As if on cue bagpipers and drummers appeared in Parliament Square. A catering chef filled in the information they were rehearsing for a dinner this evening honoring fire brigades and first responders.