Dublin (Ireland) | A Day Without Clouds - Day 32

The pod was hot last night, but so was the room. A downside of having enclosed cubicles for sure. Despite this, I slept well. I am even more surprised by how well I moved this morning and have no issues putting weight on my legs right out of the gate. There is still a lingering dull pain inside both knees. I expect my tendons to be sore, which they are as they heal slowly. The pain improves slightly with stretching but doesn't quite ever go away. This week, I want to wean myself from the Paracematol (Acenometaphin) and the daily doses I have relied upon over the last couple of weeks. This is the next step in my rehab while continuing to build my strength back up. I have already stopped taking ibuprofen and Naproxen (Advil) now that the inflammation is gone.

Dublin is the largest city in Ireland. Over 550,000 people live here. I take a moment to put that into perspective. That is equivalent to the entire population in the state of Wyoming in the United States. Dublin is the busiest and most diverse place I have visited in Ireland. Below is the modern No.1 George's Quay industrial building south of the River Liffey.

On the left side of the photo, the moored Jeanie Johnston and the Samuel Beckett Bridge that crossed the east end of the River Liffey.

I wander west from Jacob’s Inn, staying north of the River Liffey, and find my way to the Jervis shopping area. The streets are alive with people. I weave in and out of the oncoming pedestrian traffic while noticing that French is a common language in Dublin. I hear snippets from conversations involving at least five or six different languages. This is a new experience for me in Ireland. Dublin appears to be quite diverse too. Even though I fail to recognize the languages spoken, it adds to the enjoyment of the boisterous scene around me. Below is a photo from somewhere on Jervis St.

The sun is out with temperature near 70 F (21 C) for the day. I enjoy watching people carry their bags as they hustle to and fro, like busy little ants. The area is closed to car traffic, which allows me to take photos while I admire the scenery. Dublin is a mix of older and very modern buildings.

Next on my agenda is the leading tourist attraction in Europe, Epic The Irish Emigration Museum. A quick check on Google tells me that the average visit is 1.5 hours. Epic tells the story of Irish people who left Ireland. The first section is focused on how Irish people emigrated off the island. What types of transportation did they use? Followed by, where did the Irish go? Why did they leave? What influence did the Irish have on cultures around the world? What contributions did they make to science, art, music, politics, human rights, sports, foreign wars, and literature?

I exit Epic 3 hours later. The immersive experience is fascinating and fills in many of the missing pieces to my trip. I walk away with a new appreciation for the Irish people and their accomplishments. There is not a culture and a country they have not positively impacted. I feel like I just had dessert, happy and content with the great experience. I highly recommend visiting Epic when in Dublin;  if you want to understand what kind of people the Irish are.

Tonight for dinner, I walk into Ninja Sushi. I want to try sushi in Ireland, which is why I ended up here. However, once I sit down and review the menu, seafood ramen sounds more delicious and it is.

On my way home, I notice the lack of clouds in the sky. First time in over 30 days, there has been a clear night sky. I might be able to see the stars. Not wanting to miss my opportunity, I make my way down towards the Samuel Beckett Bridge as the darkness envelopes Dublin. Behind the bridge is The Convention Center Dublin lit up in the Irish national colors.

The Samuel Beckett Bridge from the north side of River Liffey with the moon low on the horizon. At a quarter past 11 pm, complete darkness still evades Dublin.