Lunch Time in Morata

Playas Castelar y Reya

Castelar beach (left) and Reya beach (right)

Trains In Spain

Top photo: This old retired locomotive is now "Street art" in Aguilas
Bottom photo: Tourist "toy train" runs along the beach promenade in Puerto de Mazarron

Bird At The Beach

Puerto de Mazarron

Change of Scenery - Playa near Puerto de Mazarron, Espana

Today I arrived in Mazarron - and what a change from Dublin yesterday! After finishing my work commitments I headed for the beach near Puerto de Mazarron as the sun began to set. I enjoyed a cool beer and a walk in the water. Heaven!

Sunday Afternoon (1)

Sunday Afternoon (2)

Sunday Afternoon (3)

War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge

When I last visited the Memorial Gardens (see blog 21 Mar, 2010) it was a cold showery morning in March. There were no flowers but there was plenty of evidence of planting and pruned rose bushes getting ready to re-awaken. Now the gardens look spectacular, the roses are in full bloom and the place is a paradise of color and scent. These gardens are one of Dublin's best kept secrets and only a handful of people were there when I visited. Which is a shame because it's a truly beautiful place to relax and enjoy.

God and ...

I'd like to keep my blog religion free (oh, and environmentally friendly, politically correct, non racist and apolitical) as much as possible and although there is a religious theme to this post it is only to (I hope) illustrate the contrast between someone who has been saved and who is trying to save others and the people walking past - in a hurry ... to pay bills, get to work on time, or pick the children up from the creche...

(or go to Starbucks for a Cappuccino)

Mr Screen

This sculpture called Mr Screen by Vincent Browne is outside the Screen cinema just off d'Olier Street. I really like it!
Mr Screen is an usher/ticket collector, an elderly gentleman who has probably been doing this job for 50 years. He exudes an air of authority in his smart uniform and military style hat, and he looks a bit fierce so you wouldn't want to cross him. But you know that once he gives you the go-ahead the magic world of the silver screen awaits you inside...

The Invasion Of Dublin

During the Summer months thousands of students from mostly Mediterranean countries come to Dublin to learn or improve their English. Although locals refer to them as "The Spanish students" in reality many are Italian, French and other nationalities. But they have one thing in common - on the street, on the bus, on the train, they chatter loudly and incessantly. And they congregate in large numbers on our streets sometimes blocking them completely. But for all that they are welcome seasonal visitors adding a bit of variety ( and noise) to our city.

The Day My God Died

I posted a few videos on Youtube and somebody commented on my "Summer in Dublin"(Bagatelle). I had a look at his Youtube site and he had posted this documentary. It is a heartbreaking, sad, distressing account of how young girls, some just children are kidnapped and sold into prostitution in Asia. There is an organization called Sunlaap which is struggling to free them and help to rebuild their lives. I also read a book recently called "The Road Of Lost Innocence" by Somaly Mam on the exact same subject. It is an incredible book written by an incredible woman who suffered horrific abuse and who now helps others to escape from a life of misery and unbelievable pain.
I tried to watch this documentary but only got halfway before I had to swich it off because it was so distressing. Watch it but be prepared to cry!

The Trouble With Ducks

On Sunday I strolled along the banks of the river Liffey at Islandbridge. There were lots of ducks on the river and some people were feeding them bread. I tried to get a nice close-up shot of a duck, but every time I aimed my camera Mrs Mallard swam furiously out of frame - or started cleaning duties...

... went under water ...

... eventually I succeeded in getting a reasonable shot! Thank God for digital cameras, because in the old days this would have cost me a roll of film.

 

I have a theory...

 

..that if you are good at - music... sport... acting... prose... poetry ...singing... art...
you can go anywhere in the world and be successful... rich... famous...
(it will also help of course if you have looks like Robert Pattinson (man) or Beyonce (woman)!).
I believe God bestows gifts on certain people, and this young artist painting a mural on the Cobblestone Bar in Smithfield on a Sunday afternoon is perhaps not aware of how blessed she is.

I love art and artists - they give so much happiness to us mere mortals!

The Old Jameson Distillery

 

The Jameson Distillery was established in Bow Street in Smithfield, Dublin 7 over 200 years ago. The popular Whiskey is now distilled in Cork and Bow Street is a popular Visitor Centre which attracts many thousands of tourists. I sometimes take a short cut through here and it always seems to be buzzing. As you can see from my photos there are people milling around and the cafes are busy. The new apartments overhead have a great view. The short cut is through the quaintly named Duck Lane. I like that name!

The Book of Love. Peter Gabriel

I heard this song for the first time on my car radio today and I immediately fell in love with it. It was written by Stephin Merritt who performs with a band called the Magnetic Fields and is sung here by Peter Gabriel (ex Genesis).
(With thanks to my good friends Abi & Louise who were married in January)

Have You Seen The Light?

Two St James' On James Street

James Street in Dublin 8 is best known as the home of "the black stuff" and much of the street is taken up by the Guinness brewery which was established here in the 1750's by Arthur Guinness when he acquired a 999 year lease. There are two interesting churches on the street one hundred yards apart on opposite sides of the street, both called St James.
In my top photo is St James former Church of Ireland, now sadly a Lighting showrooms. And in the bottom photo is St James Catholic Church, which is still in use as a place of worship. I like the architecture of both churches and they are perhaps unusual in that they do not have tall spires. Indeed in the top photo you could almost imagine that the builders will be coming back after their lunch to continue construction...

Faces of Dublin

Free Travel

Dublin is not blessed with a good transport infrastructure like other modern European cities, even our two new shiny (and very popular) Tram lines are not connected. But at least this week plans were announced to build a Metro line and to join up the various public transport systems. In the meantime there are some practical ways to get around the city - in my photo taken in O'Connell Street (the city's main thoroughfare) you can see two free ways to get from A to B. The "free" bike scheme was initiated by the City Council in conjunction with a well know international advertiser. Basically you can hire the bicycle using your credit card and it is actually free for the first half hour after which there is a small charge. The scheme has proved immensely popular, in fact more popular than in any other European city where it's in operation. But if you're just too lazy to cycle around the city there is always the Rickshaws (pictured) which are sponsored by a well known soft drinks company and which are free to hire (with passengers hopefully tipping the drivers).

The Chester Beatty Library

I came to live in Dublin in 1990, and 20 years later I finally get to visit one of the city's most popular tourist attractions - the Chester Beatty Library at the back of Dublin Castle. And what a fascinating place!

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Roney Beach, Ballygarrett, County Wexford