Golden Days of Summer

A few weeks ago I responded to Carly regarding her inspiration about a "Family Album". She asked what summer means to each of us, and to take a picture and submit it along with an essay.  

I have been thinking, as my time zooms closer, and I have concluded that summer certainly has meant different things at particular times of my life.  Those of ya'll who know me understand how much I love a "theme" and can run with it.  

I was reminiscing about back when I was a kid.  When you woke up each morning and had no clue what was in store for you in another 10 years.  You awoke to all possibilities...no job to go to, no mate  or lack of to worry about.  Life was so simple,  and at the time you didn't realize it.  

It's summer.  It is the 1960's.  There are kids everywhere.  Everywhere. On bikes, on skates, playing kick ball, making up gangs of all girls or all boys, building tree houses, playing Tarzan in the jungles of the rail road track, catching fire flies, rounding up enough people to play tag, statue, base ball, play marbles (I must have been the last generation to play marbles), hide and seek, and to dodge cars in the street. These were the elements of the summers of the 60's. 

Then it was 1963, I think.  The year the pool opened.  My Dad was a very strong swimmer.  Back in his day, he almost made it across the English channel.  He did make it to New Jersey once swimming across the river....by accident, he caught the current.  He made it his life's purpose to teach us kids to swim and not just to swim, but to swim well and some of us swam well  enough to be champions.  

This is the pool when it opened.  I'm the girl.  The boys are my pesky brothers (three of us born with in two years of each other...) and the baseball kid, the tiniest looking lovingly at his older siblings, P. 

And my Dad, looking young and happy.  

I  sometimes dream of my Dad being at his prime of life, as in this picture.

These were some of the best summers of my life.

Life Goes On

Now that I have finished the Irish Chronicles I now get back to the everyday life adventures that are going on.    My Sister Omega, her husband, Joe and myself went to the Cincinnati Reds baseball game last night.  They were playing Pittsburgh, and the Reds lost.  That was a bummer, but we had a great time anyway. 

Omega's husband was given these great tickets, which included access to the Club House and seats above home plate.  I was blown away.   One foul ball came whirling at us at about 100 miles per hour.  All these seats at the game, and the ball is heading right at my head! 

This has happened to me before, when I was with my brother Pat.  He had to deflect the ball while holding a beer!  The result was he jammed his thumb, saved his sister, and did not spill a drop of beer.  

The same thing happened, almost.  The guy behind us reached out and knocked the ball down, it landed on the stairs and bounced to the front row where it was immediately picked up.  Such a big deal!  Wish we had gotten it!  

We went over to Omega's house afterwards and listened to an Irish band called the Saw Doctors.  We sang along with "N-17"...."oh I wish I were on the N-17!  Stone walls and the grass is green. Traveling along with just my thoughts and dreams."  Joe sang loudest of all!  

They are going to be performing in Indianapolis on August 17th....hmmmmmm, what do you say Chef Grace?  

Taking our Leave

We left Ireland as we entered, in the rainbow making rain, on the Blue Coach.  We left Blooms Hotel and made the short journey to the bus stops in front of Trinity College.  As we were waiting, a bloke approached us and asked if we were headed to the airport.  We nodded and answered in the affirmative. "Well, not at this stop ye won't!" he informed us. Once again we were saved by the kindness and affable nature of the Irish.

We were given typical Irish directions, "Walk down the street until you come to the green shop with the pretty flowers sitting next to the Paddy parlor , turn right and continue about a half block and there you should be!"

Off we went again.  It was actually very close  Unfortuntely, the Blue Coach was rounding the corner in front of O'Neills Pub heading away from us.  Not to worry, a new one arrives every 15 minutes. Our tiny group of two grew as the time went by.  We were engaged in a nice conversation with a young man who was going on a holiday to Spain.  We watched the people walk in that swift determined and no nonsense style that made me understand why there are so very few over weight people in Ireland.

I missed it already and I had yet to leave.

It began to rain with fat drops plopping on my upturned face as I looked skyward. I backed up against the high rock wall that bordered the sidewalk.  The ivy growing on the opposite side spilt over the top making a natural unbrella.

I took this last picture of Joe on the streets of Dublin in the soft Irish rain, the lad going to Spain behind him, and across the street, O'Neills Pub.

The rain mixed with the tears running down my face. 

The Stiffy by the Liffey

When walking along the streets in Dublin, one must always be on the look out not to get in the way of the hustle and bustle of the crowds on the sidewalks.  I could never get the hang of everything being on the left side vrs the right.  It seemed we were always going against the current, but I feel it was just our American habit of yielding  to the right.  It was particulaly harrowing when preparing to cross the street!!  Thank goodness jay walking was just not accepted.  The crowds would calmly wait on the sidewalk for the lights to change.  The pedestrian signals were especially important and would begin a countdown for the "okay" to cross.  It would begin at 45 seconds and then proceed all the way to "GO!" and the masses would begin to cross as one.  It was very cool. I tried to get a picture but was knocked aside.

There were statues everywhere commemorating everything from a very busty Molly Malone to a bullet ridden angel (bottom left). The center of O'Connell Street is lined with many of them, including the Spire fo Dublin, which is a 300+ foot stainless steel pillar which is called The Stiffy by the Liffey...I love that about the Irish.

 

Pursuit of the Perfect Pub

And then it was Noon.  That means, the pubs opened!

Which one is the best in Ireland?  We have not enough time to visit each and every one.  We needed more time that just seven days.

Our first pub was The Goat.  Then O'Neill's, then Stirrups, then.....oh, the list is soooooooo long!  I can not choose just one.  It is impossible.

Queens Hotel in Ennis.  Sally Long's in Galway.  Danny's in Broadford.

The Vat.

The Spanish Arch Hotel.........

Sightseeing in Dublin

The next morning I awoke to find that Joe had found his way home.  Hurray!  We got ourselves together and visited the restaurant for the celebrated Irish breakfast.  It was overwhelming wonderful, as always.  It begins with cereal, toast, fruit,  juice and yogurt.  Then you advance to the buffet for eggs, sausage, bacon (that is nothing like our whimpy substitute), black/blood pudding, potatoes, more fruit, more toast, and scones.  Finished off with the most delicious coffee I have ever guzzled, I mean swallowed.

Off to see the sights. From the top left, clock wise....foot bridge over the River Liffey and the wonderful boardwalk that runs next to parts of the river.  Early morning shot on a beautiful day.

A child feeding the pigeons in St. Stephens Green, the most beautiful and manicured public garden nestled close to Trinity College.  The garden has a enclosed area for a childrens playground, many sculptures and fountains.  A delightful refuge from the noisy Dublin traffic.

Cobblestone street around  the Temple Bar area awash in the soft morning light.

Trinity College where we took a walking tour of the college.  We were suppose to sign up to take a walking tour of Dublin, but somehow we got mixed up and did not realize it until too late!  The tour was well worth the hour we spent learning the history of the  Protestant college, begun in the early 1500's.  Our tour guide was a professor and a student at the illustrious institution.  He had excellent dry wit and a droll delivery that kept Joe and I in stiches.

The famous Central Bank is situated in an area that is  very limited for  parking...virtually non-existent.  This dapper gent  in top hat and tails makes sure that everyone is in the right spot at the right time. I could never seem to get a picture of his front!

Elvis lives and he is on the streets of Dublin.  I spotted him numerous times, usually in upper windows gazing down on the bustling streets.

Off of Dame Street

That is how we ended up a day earlier in Dublin that we anticipated.  The car rental place took the car back but not any of our money did they give back!  We did get a ride to the Airport where we (once again) hopped on the Blue Coach and rode to the old part of Dublin, the downtown area.  We disembarked in front of Trinity college and then walked around in circles, dragging our luggage looking for Bloom Hotel.

I had made the reservation from the pay phone at the airport. Yes they did have rooms (dance of joy), yes it was affordable, (jump for joy) and an Irish breakfast was included (tears of joy)...but, "We are in the midst of Temple Bar. It does get a little noisy at night.".  Even though my Aunt Kitty had warned us about even visiting Temple Bar, Dublin's Left Bank, it sounded intriguing.  More so now that even the front desk reservations found it necessary to forewarn us.

Walking around the narrow cobblestone streets between the bank and the River Liffey we came across a street sign that said, "Blooms Hotel".  And as if a miracle had happened there it was in all its yellow glory, about a half a block from Trinity college!

We checked into our room.  Two single beds, a 13 inch black and white TV, a desk and one chair.  The room was very warm, so we pried open the window to let in the Irish air. We were pleased to find that the view, if you craned your neck and stuck your head out the window, included the Plaza of the Central Bank.  In the middle of the Plaza was a golden globe, representing the world I would think.

We wasted little time in the room, and ran down to experience the night life of Dublin in the infamous Temple Bar area.

We went right into the hotel bar, called The Vat and immediately began to meet an assortment of characters. We  were drinking pints of Guinness and my favorite Smithwicks, and began to  purchase rounds for each other.  We were swapping stories about our roots in Ireland, and theirs in the States.  It was so much fun! 

So much fun that when I finally made it into the lift to return to the room, I had lost Joe.  I had also forgotten to settle up with the bar! 

My first night in downtown Dublin, and I was already had turned into one of the depraved degenerates that Aunt Kitty had warned me about.

P.S.  That is me in the middle in the pink.