September 22, 2013: Dublin to Galway, Ireland
	September 20, 2013: A Day in Carlisle, Scotland
	Return to the Index for Our British Isles Trip

Today is going to be a day of travel. We're going to leave Liverpool on the train, ending up in Holyhead, England, where we will catch a ferry to take us across the Irish Sea to Dublin, Ireland. Once there, we'll travel to our hotel. In the time remaining in the afternoon, we'll see what we can in Dublin and then have dinner.

The Indigo Hotel in Liverpool

We were at the Indigo Hotel only one night; as hotels go, it was quite similar to hundreds of others that I have stayed in. As far as our room was concerned, it was much like any other hotel room in any big-city, downtown hotel. A bit small, but certainly adequately appointed.

The Indigo Hotel

I didn't realize it at the time, but the Indigo is actually a chain hotel- although unlike other chains, each hotel is very different. Some years hence, one would actually open right in San Antonio.

Click on the Image Above to View the Slideshow

I must say that the the Indigo was certainly a colorful hotel; both our room and the lobby were done in bright shades of orange and other earth tones. We'd checked in at night, but the next morning when we met in the lobby for our trip to the Dublin ferry dock, we could see how colorful the hotel lobby was as well. Ron and I went to return the van, and when we returned everyone was in the lobby waiting. I want to show you some pictures we took in our room, as well as some that Fred, Prudence, and I took in the lobby. I'll use a slideshow for that.

To view the slideshow, just click on the image at right and I will open the slideshow in a new window. In the slideshow, you can use the little arrows in the lower corners of each image to move from one to the next, and the index numbers in the upper left of each image will tell you where you are in the series. When you are finished looking at the pictures, just close the popup window.

Our Train Trip to Holyhead

About eight o'clock, we were all ready to head out to the train station to catch our train to Chester, England. We walked out of the hotel and jogged southwest to the next street down. At the foot of Chapel Street, we could see the River Mersey.

As you can see in the aerial view of downtown Liverpool at left, our walk to the station was neither long nor circuitous. It was a straight shot down the street southwest of the Indigo to a main street three blocks southeast- past the street where we ate dinner the night before. Along this street, we passed a barbershop with an interesting name. When we got to the street where we had to turn right to get to the entrance to the underground train station, I could see Derby Square and the Queen Victoria Monument in the other direction.

The neo-Baroque Monument is built over the former site of Liverpool Castle. There is a large ensemble featuring 26 bronze figures by C. J. Allen adorning a structure designed by local artists and architects. The foundation stone was laid on October 11, 1902, and the monument was unveiled on September 27, 1906. The work is often described as Allen's greatest, and as one of the most ambitious monuments to Queen Victoria. (My picture was not all that good, so I have included a stock photo at left.)

There are four groups of figures around the pedestal, representing agriculture, commerce, industry and education. A 15-foot statue of Queen Victoria is at the center, centered in four groups of columns which support an open dome. Atop the column groups are four allegorical figures representing justice, wisdom, charity, and peace; atop the dome itself is a large figure representing Fame.

In 2002, as part of the Liverpool Biennial festival, Japanese artist Tatsurou Bashi built a hotel room around the statue of the Queen entitled Villa Victoria, in which paying guests could spend a night.

In the James Street Station (Liverpool)

I caught up with everyone just outside the James Street underground station, where a helpful station attendant helped us navigate the complicated hallways, stairs and elevators to get down to our platform, where I took the picture at left. I also made a movie here in the station, and you can watch it with the player below:

(Mouseover Image if Video Controls Not Visible) In the James Street Station on the Liverpool Underground

I took a couple of additional pictures, one looking down our platform and one looking across the tracks at the opposite platform. It was Fred who took the really interesting pictures here. In addition to a couple of pictures of us on the platform, he photographed the wall decorations, which were mosaics and combinations of flat molded pieces that were combined into fanciful shapes and compositions. You should definitely use the clickable thumbnails below to have a look at those pictures:

The James Street Station and Its Wall Decorations

Presently, the train arrived and we headed off to Chester (paying close attention to the line diagram in the car and the announcements on the PA system to ensure no repeat of the Carlisle incident a week ago.

(Mouseover Image if Video Controls Not Visible) On the Train to Chester

I guess maybe I just can't sit still, or maybe I missed my calling as a cameraman for some famous director (or perhaps as the director himself), but I made another of my short movies while we were riding along. You can watch it with the player at left.

Of course we took a few pictures on the train as well, and you can have a look at some of them by clicking on their titles below:

Our Trip from Liverpool to Holyhead Through Chester

The trip to Chester took about an hour; there, we had to change trains for the next leg to Holyhead. If you are curious, you can see a small map of our train trip this morning at right.

At Chester, I was gratified to see that everyone had gotten off as scheduled; no repeat of Carlisle today. And it was easy to find our platform for Holyhead; it was the other side of the platform where we had gotten off.

(Mouseover Image if Video Controls Not Visible) At the Chester Train Station

Let's begin our hour wait at Chester with the movie I made here; you can use the player at left to watch it. We also took a number of pictures on the platform at Chester, and I've put these into a short slideshow.

Click on the Image Above to View the Slideshow

To view the slideshow, just click on the image at right and I will open the slideshow in a new window. In the slideshow, you can use the little arrows in the lower corners of each image to move from one to the next, and the index numbers in the upper left of each image will tell you where you are in the series. When you are finished looking at the pictures, just close the popup window.

One of the pictures in the slideshow was one of me taking a picture of Guy; you can see that picture here. And in one of Fred's pictures you can see a group of young women in the background. They turned out to be American exchange students, and they were taking pictures of each other by the red phone booth, and I offered to take a picture of all of them with various of their cameras. Then I snapped a picture for myself; you can see it here.

Click on the Image Above to View the Slideshow

The train to Holyhead arrived pretty much on time, and we were off. Fred and I enjoyed looking out the windows of the car and taking some pictures, but we couldn't keep that up for three hours, so we read or did other things for much of the time. There was a lady on the train with a dog who showed it to us, and we read or just napped. Not all the pictures turned out well, but the ones that did have been included here in a slideshow.

To view the slideshow, just click on the image at left and I will open the slideshow in a new window. In the slideshow, you can use the little arrows in the lower corners of each image to move from one to the next, and the index numbers in the upper left of each image will tell you where you are in the series. When you are finished looking at the pictures, just close the popup window.

The Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin

When we arrived at the Holyhead station- the end of the line for the train we were on- we found that the ferry terminal was actually connected to the train station, so we were able to just go to the window for our cruise line and pick up the tickets that Karl had arranged for. Then we sat down to wait. When our departure was called, it was much like an airline, where we checked our large bag (for free, though) and took only our small bags on with us. We boarded a shuttle that took us a half mile away where the ship was waiting.

We were on a ship called 'Ulysses', operated by Irish Ferries. I wasn't sure quite what to expect, but what I found was a ship that looked and felt like a very small cruise ship. The vessel can carry 1342 cars and 2000 passengers, and is pretty nicely equipped. Have a look at the ship diagram at left. You can see there are two decks for large vehicles and trucks, two decks for smaller vehicles and cars, a deck for passengers and a deck for passengers who want cabins and for truck drivers who, apparently, have a club of their own on board, since many of them probably make the crossing frequently. There is also a top deck that is open.

Like a cruise ship, there were at least a couple of bars/pubs on our deck, at least two restaurants, a movie theatre, lounges for watching TV, a video arcade and gift shops. So it was really just like a cruise ship in miniature. (Well, not quite miniature- more like half-size.)

When we boarded the ship, it was misting, and in any event we did not have a chance to get onto the dock to have a good look at the ship, and when we arrived, we disembarked through a terminal building, and again there was no access to go dockside and have a look at the Ulysses. So, for a look at the ship itself, I have to resort to another stock shot; you can see one at right.

Unlike the cruise ships we've been on, we had no cabin today, of course, the trip being only a few hours. So for most of the trip, Fred and I just either sat in the area I'd found for us, or wandered around the public areas of the ship. We saw most of the features that I mentioned above.

We all had something to eat in the cafeteria restaurant, and on our way around the ship, Fred and I went through the gift shop, which turned out to be in a two-story atrium-like area midships; the area had a staircase and a glass ceiling, and you can see those features here.

Our "Home" Aboard the 'Ulysses'

As soon as I got to the passenger deck, and being ahead of the rest of our group, I went scouting for an area big enough for all of us and also near some sort of window. I found a space on the port side of the vessel- a couple of small tables with some chairs and a banquette- along with a couple of large windows. This would be our base of operations for the trip across.

You can use the clickable thumbnails below to see some of the candid pictures that Fred and I took of our group during the crossing:

Candid Shots from Our Time on the 'Ulysses'

One interesting thing that we did was to go up two decks to the open deck at the top of the ship. This is always an enjoyable thing to do; on cruise ships, much of the shipboard activity takes place on the top decks. Of course, Ron Ruckman liked being up here because it was the only place he could smoke his cigars.

(Mouseover Image if Video Controls Not Visible) On the Open Deck of the Ulysses

The open deck that we had access to turned out to be at the rear of the ship; it was not possible to get to the bow (like a couple of the cruise ships we've been on). One of the first things I did when we got up here was to make a movie, and you can watch it with the player at right.

Fred and I just enjoyed the open air and the views. The accessible deck looked down two decks at the stern to the deck where the vehicles were. I am not sure if vehicles drive on and off via this deck; we never got a chance to see that operation in progress. But I did find out that all the little circular things on the deck floor are tie-down hooks. We took some other good pictures up here on the open deck, and you can use the clickable thumbnails below to have a look at them:

On the Top Deck of the 'Ulysses'

Back with the group, I took a couple more pictures as an experiment, to see if I could put together a little panorama. Unfortunately, between the two pictures, Karl shifted position, but I was able to get the pictures stitched together anyway:

At Our Home Away From Home on the 'Ulysses'

About three hours after our departure from Holyhead we were coming into the harbor at Dublin. Eventually, the announcement was made that disembarkation would be beginning shortly, so we all gathered up our things and moved over to the other side of the ship to the exit. That is where Prudence got a nice picture of her sister and I waiting to disembark, and you can see that picture here.

Getting from the Ferry to the Dylan Hotel

When we left the ferry, our large bags were waiting for us in the terminal. We collected them and then walked outside to the cab stand and, fortunately, found a cab big enough to carry all of us, and our luggage, to the hotel.

(Mouseover Image if Video Controls Not Visible) Leaving the Port in Our Taxi

We found a rather garrulous taxi driver, who, as it turns out, gave us his card so we could call him again during our stay (which we did, the next day, to get out to the airport to pick up our van for the trip to Galway). He gave us a running commentary on the way into town, almost all of which was very interesting- ranging from local sights to politics to his last trip to the United States. Ron and he hit it off right away, which, I suppose, is why we called on him again.

Unlike the cloudy, cool weather in England, the weather here was sunny and much warmer, so we were all shedding jackets and such as quickly as we could. As we left the port (going alongside our ship) I made a movie, and you can watch it with the player at left.

I was sitting facing backwards in the cab, which made it hard to anticipate when I took pictures, but I did get a few good ones during the early part of our drive. You can use the clickable thumbnails below to have a look at them:

I can't be absolutely positive on the route that the taxi driver took to get to the hotel; as with most European cities, we aren't talking about a grid, here. But the map below, right, will give you an idea.

The ride was pleasant and about twenty minutes long. We took some candid shots of Dublin on the way, and you can use the clickable thumbnails below to have a look at some of them:

Dublin Street Scenes

About twenty minutes after leaving the ship, our taxi pulled up in front of the Dylan Hotel, our destination for this evening.

An Evening Walk in Dublin and Dinner

We arrived at the Dylan Hotel and got checked in with no problem. Since it is late today, I'm going to wait until tomorrow to have a section on the Dylan Hotel itself, because tomorrow we'll be able to take better pictures (before we leave for Galway). With that in mind, this last section today will deal with the walks we took before and after dinner here in Dublin.

Once we were all settled in at the Dylan Hotel, we gathered on the patio out front, where Ron wanted to smoke a cigar (at one point asking Fred to hold it for him). While we were waiting for everyone to show up, Guy took an interesting picture of the tower of St. Mary's Church nearby while Fred spied a cat on the sidewalk out front.

Then we headed out, turning left on Pembroke Road, crossing the canal, and then walking up Baggot Street to St. Stephen's Green, turning northeast to go by the library, and then following a route that took us past another park and back to the canal crossing on Baggot. There, right beside the canal, we found the Milano Italian restaurant. It had an outside patio where Ron could smoke, so that's where we had dinner. Before we got served anything (we had salads, pizza and wine), I got a picture of our group.

As far as pictures from our walk are concerned, we took quite a few.

The pictures that Fred takes tend towards interesting architectural or decorative elements, and items like this statue/lamp out in front of a building we passed.

For my part, when we are not at some particular site of interest like a monument, I look for the quirky or the humorous- like this picture:

I will photograph interesting buildings and such as well. My first picture was of the grounds of St. Mary's Church, just across from the hotel. Three others were of two interesting buildings and some local transportation:

One store we passed was serving up Mexican food for the masses, and when Ron took me into a local pub for a look around (he wanted to find a local cigar store), I took a picture of an ornate stairway. And just outside a charity group's building, I had Fred pose with two sculptures. There was also an art gallery where Prudence, Nancy and Guy stopped to window-shop.

Click on the Image Above to View the Slideshow

So we were just steeping ourselves in Gaelic culture and the "Dublin vibe" as we walked the clean streets near the Dylan Hotel and on our way back. I have taken the best of all these pictures (and there were quite a few of them) and put them in a slideshow.

To view the slideshow, just click on the image at left and I will open the slideshow in a new window. In the slideshow, you can use the little arrows in the lower corners of each image to move from one to the next, and the index numbers in the upper left of each image will tell you where you are in the series. When you are finished looking at the pictures, just close the popup window.

We were done with dinner about eleven, so we headed back to the Dylan for the evening.

You can use the links below to continue to another photo album page.

	September 22, 2013: Dublin to Galway, Ireland
	September 20, 2013: A Day in Carlisle, Scotland
	Return to the Index for Our British Isles Trip