Tuesday: The Vacation with The Narration

Back to the fair city of Dublin and three years later, the journey from the airport (all of 6 miles) still takes nearly an hour because they* are still building the Dublin Port Tunnel...



* They being Mowlem, who have a talent for delivering major projects on time, having also built The Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth for the Millennium in 2005. The scenic lift there now does work apparently, after a further five months delay, due to the addition of a small magnet.

This is due to open later this year and all HGVs will be forced to use it (apart from the ones which won't fit, 'cos they built it too small), taking them out of the city centre. So when the guide on the Dublin Tour Bus says "T'be sure, if ye look te yer right now, dat'll be da Ha'penny Bridge..."** you won't take a photo like this...



** Authentic Irish © Liz Meehan Texting Services

Anyway, lots to get done, only here for three days.

Saw Molly Malone again...



..and was reminded by the all-knowledgeable tour guide that she's also called "The Tart with The Cart", and she also sang the song this time, badly, (the tour guide, not the statue) and gave us further nicknames for her...

• The Trollop with The Scallops
• The Dish with The Fish
• The Dolly with The Trolley etc...

These nicknames are a peculiarly Dublin thing, so I'll thread them in as I go and you can try and spot any I've made up...

The Old Jameson Distillery was definitely worth a second visit, as you get free whiskey (with an "e"; I obviously wasn't paying enough attention three years ago), and you get a really good look over the city from the Smithfield Viewing Chimney (The Flue with The View).

In the "Other Tall Things in Dublin" category comes The Spire. (Can't get it on one picture, so here's two and you'll have to Photoshop them. Or just cleverly use your mind and imagine what it would look like...)

You will notice that I have made ( *** insert own favourite from below ) look taller than it really is by including the same cloud twice.

• The Stiletto in The Ghetto
• The Spire in The Mire
• The Rod to God
• The Stiffy by the Liffey

Fisnished the day with a return visit to Kilmainham Gaol...

• The Jail in The Dale
• The Clink in The Stink

...which is where they tell you that under British rule, hundreds of Irish people were killed (which is what they tell you everywhere you go in Dublin...)

...and where they filmed bits of Michael Collins, The Italian Job and In The Name of The Father...

That's Tuesday...

Wednesday...? We're all going to the zoo tomorrow... (for Roger!)