24 June 2005---Orientation and Tours
Mood:  a-ok
We had our 'official' orientation this morning where they gave us the schedule for the next couple of weeks, as well as a folder full of brochures and other helpful information to aid us in our stay here in Dublin.

I met the other two girls on my floor this morning: Laura, who's also from the University of Minnesota, and Colleen from Notre Dame. Jean is also from Notre Dame. As it turns out, it's all Notre Dame and Minnesota students in House 61. The Wisconsin and Michigan students are grouped together in houses across the courtyard. Whether by design or happenstance, we're kind of shut off from the Wisconsin-Michigan students. I'm leaning toward design and not complaining at all. Being eight to ten years older than the other students is a bit difficult, but it does have it benefits as well.

This afternoon we had a city tour of Dublin that took us through the southern Georgian District of Dublin and saw the famous colored doors of Dublin. We also saw where Oscar Wilde lived, which was pretty cool.

After the Georgian District, they took us to Saint Patrick's Cathedral, which is Anglican, not Catholic; a fact that surprised many in the group. There were these neat Celtic grave slabs that made me wish I had remembered to bring my camera. D'oh!! Oh well, I'm here for seven weeks, so I can always go back.

I also saw Jonathan Swift's grave, smack dab in the middle of the Cathedral. Right next to him is Stella. Swift, as well as being a great satirist, was Dean of Saint Patrick's Cathedral back in the day.

Apparently they have a wonderful boys choir that sings during services. I just might have to go check it out.

After Saint Patrick's Cathedral the bus took us to Castle Dublin, where one tower of the 'original' castle still stands today. Most of the castle was destroyed in a fire, and in a foolish attempt to stop the fire, the British guy in charge at the time decided to set off an explosion that would smother the flames and effectively put out the fire.

Let's just say his plan failed. Miserably.

Castle Dublin is still used for governmental functions today, such as the swearing in of the President.

Along the tour we saw the throne room and the throne William of Orange sat in after he thoroughly trounced James II. In what I think I remember as the King's bedroom they had a magnificent Vandyke painting. Sorry no pictures!

Our guide also took us to the remains of the gunpowder tower beneath the castle. Down there one can the Viking and Norman influences in the architecture.

Once our city tour was completed, we had a reception at the National Library to officially open the summer school. They had some wonderful displays of the artwork in some of Hans Christian Anderson's books. The artist was Irish, but his name escapes me for the moment.

I think the purpose of the evening was to get us to expand and mingle. How successful that was, I'm not sure, but the hor'dervs and the wine were wonderful!