Kilmainham Gaol – Dublin Ireland

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Kilmainham Gaol is as famous for its history as it is for its prisoners.  This former jail turned museum is a must see for history buffs visiting Dublin for the first time.  The jail was a cruel and unyielding place used to house revolutionaries as political prisoners after the Easter Rising and eventually as a free state.

The jail is not only interesting in architecture and function but its history mimics that of Ireland itself.  Built in 1796 it was supposed to be technologically advanced moving away from its more dungeon like predecessor.  Hangings took place outside the front door giving meaning to the reptile you find adorning the entryway.  The yard outside witnessed many a young person shot to death before their time.

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A photo of the dragon who sits above the entryway where many of the early hangings took place. I took a little artistic license with it…

Within its walls it housed such noteworthies as Eamon De Valera (who went on to be President of the Irish Republic), Charles Parnell, Countess Markievicz, Padraig Pearse, Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett whose marriage at the jail helped turn public opinion, and so many more.

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Grace Gifford married her Revolutionary husband in this prison the day before he was killed. This helped turn the tide of public opinion at the time. Grace adorned her cell with artwork during her time in prison. The ruined mural has been reproduced in the original cell and can be seen through the door hole.

After falling into a state of disrepair the jail has been restored to protect its history because, like everywhere in Ireland and particularly in Dublin, the Irish take their history very seriously.  It is important that there are visual queues reminding one of sacrifices made in the past for those of the future.

Many noteworthy movies have been filmed on location such as The Italian Job, In the Name of the Father, Michael Collins, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, and the Adventures of Young Indiana Jones.  Get to this location early as the queue fills up early and one must wait in line for a visit.  The hop on hop off bus tour visits here so be weary of crowds.  It is worth the wait and there is a safe to keep you fueled.

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The main wing was heated from kitchen steam built directly below its floors

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Who says you can’t find beauty and beautiful lines at a jail?

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Names and statements were carved above jail cells. Some original work remains.

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Drafty, cold, and damp inmates slept on the floor and were lucky to have hay to sleep on.

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The yard whose walls could tell the stories of each revolutionary killed for their beliefs…

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The Irish flag flying proudly in the yard where so many were killed.

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Kilmainham Gaol 1787

Would you like to follow my other Irish musings and Dublin scribbles please click here…

These Boots are Made for Walking

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The great blog Where’s My Backpack came up with a fun and unusual Travel Theme of Feet!  One could go all over the place with this theme…my feet, animal feet, statute feet, furniture feet, feats of strength…this gives me an excuse to display some of the random photos I have taken while trekking around…

One thing is for sure.  Apparently, I have nothing better to do than to take photos of my feet while wandering through the world! I suppose these photos tell a story of their own separate from those that were taken directly of the attraction I was visiting.  🙂

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Relaxing in Mendocino

Spring Flower Hiking in the California Sierras

Resting at the top of one of the temples of Tikal

Cooling off in Phoenix

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Boonie Crashing at the Arch of Labna in the Yucatan

Searching for Water in California

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Hot Chili and Cool Cars in Rocklin, California

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Mendocino Mushroom Festival

Hiking in El Dorado National Forest

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Standard Beach apparel – Doran Beach

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Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

Cee’s Black and White Challenge – Irish Fairy Tree, Hill of Tara

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Ireland is full of Fairy Trees or Wishing Trees.  Even for non-believers the Irish won’t often tempt fate by cutting down or messing with a single tree in a field or misfortune could visit.  People will often leave an item tied to the tree as a symbol of their wish or desire.  I came across many of these trees, the most compelling being those with baby bottles, shoes, and ribbons hanging from them.  I hope these trees bring their visitor’s peace.

Fairy Tree at the Hill of Tara, Ireland

Fairy Tree at the Hill of Tara, Ireland

Click here to see more wonderful Black and White Trees in Cee’s Challenge.

Botanic gardens – Golden Gate Park San Francisco

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I rarely visit San Francisco without visiting Golden Gate Park. My favorite place to visit within the park is the Botanic Gardens. Now charging a small fee for entry I often think I don’t need to visit having been there multiple times before. However, every time I go I am left recharged and looking forward to my next visit back.

The park is broken down by continent and type of tree or bush or plant. One can even experience a garden for the blind which boasts hundreds of odorific plants.

The park is an oasis in the hustle and bustle that is the City by the Bay and is hands down my favorite location in the city.

I would be honored if you would view another of my fun posts on the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park by clicking here!

Japanese Tea Garden – Golden Gate Park San Francisco

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Golden Gate Park, in my book should be every bit as popular and well known as Central Park and for some unknown reason it’s not. It is a virtual oasis in The City.

One of many reasons is the Japanese Tea Garden. For a few dollars you can be transported to another place in time.  It is peaceful and joyous and well cared for. Because of the small entry fee it is busy but not overrun with crowds.

So take a picnic and enjoy a first rate garden in the middle of the City by the Bay.





  
  

Check out Annie Heart’s heartbreaking love story inspired by my post on the Tea Garden by clicking here!

Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge – Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

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I am still sifting through photos from my recent trip to Ireland.  Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge presented a fine time to bring out and highlight the attached photo.  Kylemore Abbey is a jewel of Ireland.  The abbey and grounds are nothing short of spectacular.  One can explore the abbey, walled gardens, and mountain and lake hikes.  Beyond the small church on the grounds is this odd ball sculpture.  It is said that one must stand in the palm of the hand and throw a rock backwards.  If the rock makes it beyond a large boulder then the thrower will benefit from good luck!  I feel like I have good luck from just seeing this strange hand fighting its way from the earth.  Can you imagine stumbling upon this alone in the dark?  I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do.

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Back from vacation! Now what?

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You spend months planning and saving for your trip.  You spent the week before packing, planning, and Bon Voyaging.  You go on your trip and have a glorious time.  You come back and post some photos on Facebook.  You go back to work and stare at the mound of paperwork waiting for you.  A few of your colleagues politely ask you how your trip was and you tell them it was fine.  Now what? You slip in to a tiny depression wishing you were back from whence you came?

How do you cope with coming down off of an awesome vacation?

(I have found that blogging helps me relive my trip.  I enjoy editing my photos and sharing them with friends and family possibly even making photo books out of them.  But, most of all I enjoy starting to plan the NEXT trip!)

Inspired by this recent Huff Post article

Making the most out of a layover – NASCAR style – Charlotte, North Carolina

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I am so not in to NASCAR.  But, there is NO denying that the Nascar Hall of Fame isn’t pretty great.  It is a top rate interactive museum that peaks the interest of even non-Nascar fans like me.  And it makes a great place to kill half a day on a layover.  Not to mention my parents were out of their minds visiting the Nascar mecca that is the Hall of Fame.

The building is beautiful and the interior is interesting.  The main hall is banked like a race track which gets more and more angled to simulate the true angles at some of America’s greatest race tracks. (36 degree angle! Woah!)

The museum houses historic vehicles and memorabilia.  Museum goers can interest themselves by challenging each other to various forms of trivia, memory games, and knowledge tests.  One can even test their skill at the pit stop by fueling up a car, jacking it up, and changing a tire.  If that isn’t fun enough you can race your friends in a Nascar simulator.  You get to sit in a real Nascar that moves around and revs up making you feel like you are driving the real thing.

While Charlotte, frankly didn’t have much to offer but good BBQ, the Nascar Hall of Fame was a treat which was probably one of the highlights of my parent’s trip on the way home from Ireland.2971

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