Saturday, September 20, 2014

Dublin

Last night we stayed at the Cassidy Hotel in downtown Dublin.  It is located on O'Connell Street close to the Liffey River.  This hotel was quite different then our B&B experience the night before.  Accommodations were just OK, not great by any means but we payed twice as much. 
 It all has to do with Location, Location, Location.  
After spending the day in the city I have decided I like country living better:) 
While it was nice being there and experiencing the area it is not the cleanest city I have been to. 


Rick 'hanging out' in our room!

On the streets of Dublin getting ready to go to the souvenir shop.

Riding the 'hop on hop off' tour bus.

The Potato Famine Memorial

The Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship

Back in the mid 1840's Ireland's main crop (potatoes) were ruined from a fungal "blight"and thereafter for the next few years the country was in a state of famine.  Over 1.2 million people died of starvation and another 2 Plus million emigrated to other lands.  Mostly Canada, America and some even Australia.  Ireland lost about 1/3 if it's population because of the famine.  The ship the Jeanie Johnston was a cargo ship used to haul lumber to North America.  When the famine hit people were looking for aways to leave the country.  

The owner of the Jeanie Jonhsston decided that it was profitable to pack humans (200 of them)into the ship to get them out of the country and to fill his coffers.  The cost was over Four Pounds whitch at the time was 8 months earnings.  A lot of money!  While many people died on these "coffin" ships (which they were called because at least 25% would die on the 6 week voyage to America) the Jeanie Johnston did not lose one soul in the 14 trips across the Atlantic.  This happened because of the Ship's Captain and the Ship's Doctor.  They were very advanced in their thinking and caused the passengers to do certain things each day to keep from spreading disease.  Simple things like washing hands, cleaning the steerage deck each day with vinegar, isolating those that were feverish, and having the passengers get fresh air each day.  These simple actions which we most likely take for granted each day helped in sparing their lives.  It was amazing to see the tiny places they had to sleep in the steerage section.  Six to a berth.  And if you were traveling alone that meant you had to sleep with  strangers.  Rough stuff!  Anyway,  it was an interesting piece of history to learn about.  

A passenger on the ship is reading his bible.  I thought I would join him:)

Rick at the helm

Doesn't this little pub look like it belongs in Ireland?

Another beautiful pastoral scene.  We're on our way to stay in Limerick on the west coast.

A Dublin Door.  I love the color!

I'll try and update again tomorrow:)

1 comment:

  1. This was fun to read, and it was cute to see Rick "hanging out" of his window--way UP there!! The story of the potato blight and ensuing famine, was really interesting--thanks for sharing.
    You said you were on the way over to Limerick, so I bet that's where you went to church today. How nice!--(if it was!) Kam and Blaine felt that Dublin was pretty dirty and not too interesting, so I hope you find the other side of the country a bit cleaner and maybe even more enjoyable. How wonderful that you get to BE there!!

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