After making one, maybe two, wrong turns we arrive at the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, confirming my belief that it is easier to navigate walking rather than it is driving. We find Mike and JoAnna quickly and "catch up" over breakfast. We exchange travel stories and pictures and then drive them to our place, just to show them our digs. We had planned to cook dinner for them and their travel companions.....their buddies are tired and we have been battling colds, so we settle for a "look-see" and proceed. This is taken in our "back yard".
We return to tour the village of Dalkey. The church is our first stop.
HMMG is hanging out close by.
The seven castles mentioned below were actually warehouses for the goods delivered to Dublin. Dalkey had a deeper harbor to receive the imports by sea and then transfer by land. The castles were also fortifications.
The archer came it to tell us that he would be providing security from atop the castle while we were at a banquet that night. He let the kids draw his long bow. He demonstrated 3 kinds of arrows the archers used -- one to pierce armor and kill people, one to kills big game animals, and one to spook horses to throw the enemy rider and preserve the horse for future use.
He took us to the church dedicated to St. Begnet, patron saint of Dalkey, built in the 8th century.
From the top of the Dalkey Castle, you can see all the old church.
You can also see the surrounding areas where the enemy would have been.....hardly a realistic picture of "what was".
JoAnna is having a great time with the kids!! Seriously, she loves their questions, antics and wonders what the tour would be like without them????
Do you suppose this is where the England term "loo" comes from?
From this woman, we learned
about haircuts...
extracting teeth...
In those days the barbers were also the doctors and dentists -- full service shop. It was well known that too much blood was the cause of several maladies. The barbers would let a little or a lot of blood out using the stick with the cloth attached. They would wipe up afterward using the white cloth on the end. The cloth was then hung out on the pole to dry the blood. The wind would spiral the blood soaked cloth around the pole. Thus the red and white spiral barber pole. Most of the patients died.
JoAnna enjoys the flowers perhaps more than I!!!! Yea!!!
We stroll by the library ....
and a colorful resale shop
Finnegan's Pub is our unanimous choice. Tom enjoyed it yesterday and both Martins had read about Bono's affiliation/affection for the place. Bono has, in fact, brought the Obamas here. And my vote was its flowers.
Dalkey is a wealthy town...
Just across the street, another fine establishment covered with flowers, the Guinea Pig, our restaurant.
Finnegan's has produced mellow smiles...
Start with seafood chowder -- all are different similar to shrimp-n-grits in Charleston.
Or spring rolls.
Our chef of Italian descent came out to chat with each table. His personality was as delicious as his cooking.
Back at the Fitzpatrick, we do our farewells till Del Webb. Thanks, Mike and JoAnna for taking a day to share with us!!! See you back home! Hope your Ireland journey has sunny skies and the wind at your back.
