Everyone got to participate in a walking tour of downtown Dublin. We started off in Trinity College, went to the old Parliament building, City Hall, and explored the Temple Bar area, which is known particularly as the cultural center of Dublin - full of museums, theatres, and other performance spaces.
After the tour we were able to explore on our own for a bit (in small groups) and some got to see the Book of Knells up close and in person. Others did some shopping. Most got something good for lunch, and then we were back to the busses and out of the city and into more of the beautiful surrounding land.
We saw the beautiful Glendolough monastery. Founded by St. Kevin, the remaining structures and cemetary are in some of the most beautiful land we have seen so far. Many films have been made there, including scenes from Braveheart.
I don’t think I have mentioned it before, but we have experienced a beautiful mix of sun and rain. The weather will change in literally 5 minutes. While many of the kids can’t stand the unpredictable weather changes, I am in love with them. Of course, the same kids who don’t like the sun and rain mix are generally also the ones who are caught wearing flip flops in puddles. Oh well.
On the drive back from Glendolough we passed more beautiful scenery of the Irish countryside, and I pretended to be a photographer, if only for a second:
But all of the kids were excited about photo-opts, even though the wind on top of the hill was terrific.
We got back to our hotel shortly after that and had dinner before rehearsal. As the chamber ensembles prepared for their July 4th concert, the other students were given some free time in the empty hotel disco.
Then, off to bed fairly early for another early wake up call in the morning and travel back to Cork!
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