Saturday, 23 July 2011

Midday, Saturday

Just knocked off umpteenth pint of Smithwicks (not all today!), and had very satisfying Beef and Guinness pie at Fitzgeralds, central Dublin. Feeling more positively disposed towards Ireland today, as aside from the pie it is a beautiful blue day here, the warmest of our holiday (though I expect that record to be comprehensively smashed in Abu Dhabi!).

Walked up to Croke Park with the kids and got us all tickets the the Gaelic Football quarter finals for this afternoon. Apparently it is nearly sold out, so it should be spectacular, as the ground looked awesome when we dropped by.

Dublin seems to be swarming with tourists (like us) here to see Dublin. I can't help but feel that what we are seeing is a mildly dissatisfying superimposition of old and real Dublin and the Disneyland version. Clearly central Dublin as it currently is wouldn't develop the reputation that it has, and I wonder how long it can live off it's past without having to build a now and a future? It's a thought I've had a few times on this trip. I love looking at old buildings - castles, abbeys, chateau etc. The ruined ones are even better. But I wouldn't walk around the corner to see the newly built ruins, as it would be missing something intangible. What is being built now that people will be wanting to see in 50, 100, 500 years from now? Or have we past the peak of history, and all the rest is just looking at the detritus? I guess some things will survive and inspire 500 years from now, but I wonder what?

Mirrors a thought about life I had recently - while it nice to sit around with friends talking about things that you have done, at some point you have to go out and actually do new things.

Anyway, enough of that line of reasoning, it is time to head back out and enjoy the moment.

Also, I heard from Ragnhild that while she felt the explosion at work, it wasn't exactly where she was, and that they are all OK. That's the only good news I know of in relation to that situation.





Location:Fitzgeralds Pub, Dublin

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