grapes

A trip to the Trento-Alto Adige area of Italy means wine country! The area was absolutely beautiful and grapes grew all over. We were lucky enough to be in the area at the beginning of the harvest. It was interesting to see the litle tractors carrying trailers of grapes to the vineyards.

Basilica San Marco

The Basilica of San Marco is a very grand and ornate cathedral. We weren't allowed to take pictures in it so there aren't that many here. The original church had been Romanesque and built in the 9th century AD as a shrine for Saint Mark, but it was destroyed in a fire 967. It was then reconstructed by Byzantine architects and completed about 1087. However, it wasn't until 1807 that it became a Basilica for the people since it was originally for the Doge, rulers. It is currenlty a Greek cross with a Gothic entrance. It is 250 feet long and 220 feet long! St. Mark's bones are in a tomb in the cathredral. There are also many spoils of wars from the Crusades.

As we toured the church, both John and I were impressed and struck by the mosiacs. The inside and outside are covered in them. It amazes me that people could make such intricate designs on the ceilings of this 250 foot high church. I posted a picture of the facade of the whole church in my San Marco post previously.

The Regatta

While we were in Venice, there was a regatta. Apparently regattas started in Venice as gondola races. We missed most of the regatta because we went to two art museums instead. However, we did catch the tail end of it where the more ornate boats raced.

A true misadventure

Today I woke up with a headache and a stomach ache. I have also been congested and so I was looking forward to a hot steamy shower to clear my head. When I turned on the hot water tap (faucet), the knob kept turning and water bubbled out and the knob turned all the way off! Since John had fixed the tap before, I phoned him to see how to turn the water off. He explained it to me over the phone and eventually I got the water turned off. I also turned off the hot water heater since it wasn't needed. After turning off the water, I remembered that I hadn't showered yet so I turned a bit of (cold) water back on and filled the tub. I heated one kettle full of water and added it to the bath. It didn't really help. I quickly washed up in the cold bath and went on to work. I was only 15 minutes late. That is quite good for me.

So, my head continued to hurt but I made it to work. I putzed through my day doing administration type work that didn't really take a lot of brain power. Eventually it was time to go home. I left work a little past 4:30 PM. I waited a bit for a bus. I decided that even though my backpack was heavy it was a nice day and that I would walk to a street that had more bus routes and it would give me a bit of excercise. So, off I went and it was a nice walk. After a couple minute wait, I got on my bus and rode. And rode. And rode. At 5:40, I got off the bus (it usually takes about 25 minutes to get home from work) and walked across the Ha'Penny Bridge.

As I crossed the bridge, I dug my keys out of my jacket pocket. I kept walking over the bridge and got to the steps going down. I took the first step. I stepped down and missed the second step. It threw my balance off a bit and I twisted my ankle. As I twisted, the hand holding my keys went up to balance myself. My palm opened. My keys left my hand. They flew over the side of the bridge and then fell, slowly, into the river. Yep, the keys fell into the Liffey. I swore as I watched them fall and sink like in a slow motion movie. I swore some more as they disappeared.

So, frustrated but finding humor in the situation, I started to phone John to see when he'd be home. I tried 5 times. No answer. I then phoned my friend M to see if she'd bring an extra set of keys that are in my office to me. Nope, she was shopping a ways from work. So, I phoned my office mate to see if she had left yet and to ask her to not lock the door. She had left and locked the office door (my office keys were now in the river).

So, I walked to catch a bus and there happened to be one as I got to the stop. 45 mintues later, I got to work. The security guy couldn't find the keys. I had 45 cents credit left on my mobile phone. I finally called my office mate and she drove up to unlock the office. She then drove me to Phibsboro where I could catch more busses. I caught a bus and got home. I got off on the south side of the river so I didn't have to cross it. I got into my apartment at 7:30 PM and phoned John. I tried to send a text to my office mate and M but I didn't have enough phone credit. We then went out to the Porterhouse and had a couple drinks and chicken wings. Now, I am making brownies.

Happy year Dublin (Mis)Adventures

It is actually a little over a year ago that I started my blog. It is hard to believe that I've had the blog for a year and have made a little over 230 posts. I am averaging a little under 100 hits per week which I think is pretty good. I know lately my blog has been more of a travel blog but we've travelled a lot this year. Soon I'll be posting Irish stuff again.

With the seasons changing, I have been once again reflecting on my life here in Dublin. This week, I was told that I said something "very Irish." Another mate teases me that I don't speak Irish enough. Guess you can't win. However, I have changed my vocabulary in subtle ways. I have started "thinking Irish" lately. I have also started spelling the Irish way. Slowly, I seem to becoming Irish.

San Marco

San Marco is a major tourist area in Venice. It is the major town square and has the Basilica of San Marco (which will get its own post). The square is crowded with people during the day and empties out once the museums close down.

Us