Saturday August 31

The Long Room, Trinity College

Today began again on the "English" bus, this time for a short trip into Dublin where we visited the astounding Book of Kells at Trinity College. After learning about the sources of the dyes used for ink, treatment of the calf skin for the covers, binding and decoration, we visited the Long Room, which houses both restored and over 100,000 to-be-restored ancient texts. This is a dark and beautiful room in which the oldest text I saw dated from 5 years after Columbus discovered America.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

We returned to our two buses and were given a panoramic tour of Dublin, seeing the many bridges built over the ages over the River Liffey, the houses of Parliament, Phoenix Park where the US Ambassador's residence is located, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Then we were returned to Trinity College and set free for several hours on our own.

Kindelan Matriarch

Thanks to Terry's keen sense of direction, we located a recommended restaurant, The Bank, and lunched on fish and chips and fine Irish ale. Then we were off on a shopping quest, ultimately successful, and returned to the bus for a short trip back to City West Hotel.

Dinner took place at the hotel, with long rectangular tables full of Kindelans, the eldest 93 years old and sharp as a tack. We exchanged more details about ourselves, shared email addresses, and planned the next reunion in 3-5 years in (perhaps) Cordoba, Spain. We US Kindelans resolved to bring a larger contingent.

Walked 12,046 steps, 6 miles.