Day 07: Serious downtime and chilling out

Day 07: Dublin

Date	Aug 20, 2022 (Saturday)
Total Ireland:	37 miles.
Total All Caminos:	1657 miles
Lodging:	Hilton Garden Inn @ $ 100
Total Lodging:	$ 470
Total Transport:	$ 165
Food:	$ 20
Total Food:	$ 130

Meaningful Moment

I'm in a serious negative mood.

Carlos and Adriana and I talked about me being in a rut. Hard to say what I've been feeling, but it's been going on for a while. And hiking in Ireland has not alleviated it.

I  wonder if I've been retired too long without a meaningful contribution to society. Of course there are many people who still work, and have no feeling that their efforts at the job contribute to society.

 I have definitely enjoyed my retired life, which is going on 3 years now. 

I get to do classes that I want to take, activities that I want to do and leisure when I want to relax. It's very different from the working world.

But sometimes I wonder what am I doing that's good for the world. Maybe after Carlos and Adriana return to the states tomorrow, that's something for me to ponder over the next several days as I continue on the Iveragh peninsula.

To be clear I have a great family life with siblings and mother and son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren. I have a good connection of friends and acquaintances.

I'm an active member of the United States Coast guard auxiliary, both as an instructor for public education and as a search and rescue crewman.

I'm an active member of a neighborhood association where I sit as a board member responsible for neighborhood safety issues.

I am President of a local hiking club which offers many people the opportunity each weekend to get out and explore local parks, to participate in healthy activities and have the opportunity for social interaction.

These are all great and wonderful things, but the malaise persists.

Unusual anxiousness in Dublin

Sensory overload in Dublin after the previous days of hiking. 

I'm surprised that this happened to me, but as I was walking around the Temple bar district last night, I was inundated with hundreds of neon lights, dozens of bars pumping out music, all kinds of food scents and smells, surrounded by thousands of people and feeling like I had no place to be in my own little world.

This is so unusual for me. My last time in Dublin, I kept walking around in order to take in this sights and sounds and smells and visceral feelings. This time I only want to hide from it, from all of it.

Tomorrow, after I see Carlos and Adriana off at the airport, I have a long bus ride back to Killarney where the day after I'll pick up on my hike. 

I can't wait to get out of Dublin. I can't believe I'm saying that.

Random Thought of the Day

Took another walk thru the Temple Bar district to get some supper. Carlos and Adriana got another dose of exciting times. They got some more shopping done while we mingled with the Dubliners.

Heard back that I've been accepted to audit two intermediate German language classes and one intermediate Spanish class. Also seriously planning to take an external German class because I like the people in it and it's kind of a reinforcement.

I don't think I'm overdoing it, because only one class will be new material for me. But it might sure make for a busy fall and early winter.

Notable memories

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

The Irish emigration Museum is right next door to the Hilton Garden Inn where we are staying. So while Carlos and Adriana continue to sleep in this morning, I took a few steps over and had an amazing experience.

All the displays are audio visual so I really couldn't take any pictures that would have been any good. 

The museum is a record of the story of the Irish people through tragedy and famine, suppression and oppression, being down and out but rising up and coming back.

The population of Ireland declined by 25 per cent during the potato fan due to the British govt ordering exports to England to continue instead of using the other home grown crops to feed the Irish people. In other words, the famine was govt caused.

There was so much there for me to learn.

The Jeanie Johnston ship

Later in the afternoon Carlos and I toured the Irish emigration ship Jeanie Johnston.

Due to the dedication of the captain, the owner and the doctor, this ship had a zero mortality rate carrying famine refugees from Ireland to the new world during the potato famine.

These three people made sure the ship had food and supplies sufficient for the people, while charging them a fair passage rate.

All other cargo ships at the time charged exorbitant rates, provided no food and kept the passengers in cargo holds with no access to fresh air or healthy conditions. The mortality rate on those ships was upwards of 25%, not to mention the mental damage inflicted on people kept confined for 7 weeks of voyage.

	Neighborhood where I got my morning coffee
	The Irish Emigration Museum
	Dedication to the forlorn and weary Potato Famine refugees
	The Jeanie Johnston
	A replica of the original ship, commissioned for the year 2000 millennium memorial
	The ship carried 200 passengers, while most of the ships carried upwards of 500.
	At the end of the day, a rainbow appeared over the River Liffey.