Dublin’s Georgian Doors.
My sister-in-law accused me of taking pictures of Irish knockers. Well, yes, they are in the picture, but that wasn’t the point. Gerogian buildings, with their colored doors, line Baggot St., Stephens Green and Merrion Square in Dublin. Georgian townhouse windows get smaller as they go up to their three stories to give them the illusion of greater height. The buildings started as private townhouses but now many house corporate offices. The next to the last door is Coca Cola Ireland, with its predictable color. The final door looks like it has been several colors in its life. There is … Continue reading Dublin’s Georgian Doors.
Dublin, 2014
Dublin is not about sightseeing– although there are sights to see. It is about stories. You can find stories everywhere. Often stories are wrapped in songs. As part of the “media package” that came from the radio conference we got free passes to the “hop on hop off” busses. We soon learned to get on the busses labeled “live commentary.” The recorded commentary, on 6 tracks in 6 languages, was probably more informative of dates and historical “facts,” but the stories, Dublin slang, literary references and songs from the “live commentary” made this tour sparkle. During one of those times … Continue reading Dublin, 2014
Douglas, Isle of Man
Douglas is the capital. We stayed in a guesthouse right on the water and saw some wonderful sunrises and watched the ferry come and go from the UK. Continue reading Douglas, Isle of Man
Peel, Isle of Man
Peel is on the West Coast of the Isle of Man. It is the cathedral town, it has the Manannan MacLir’s museum, as well as Peel Castle and St. Patrick’s Island. The island has working boats. It also has some interesting Celtic-Viking stones and crosses with both religious and pagan symbols. Continue reading Peel, Isle of Man
Castletown, Isle of Man
Castletown was the original capital of the Isle of Man. It is on the Manx Steam Railway. The Rushen Castle is still administrative center. The small whitewashed building is from around 1200. It was first a church than the first school in town, now it is preserved as a historical monument. Continue reading Castletown, Isle of Man
Port Erin, Isle of Man
Port Erin is one of the loveliest towns I have seen, aside, of course, for Sitka. Unfortunately there are not many working commercial fishing boats there now. It is the southern terminus of the Manx Steam Railway. It is the home of the Manx Railway Museum. Continue reading Port Erin, Isle of Man
Views from the Manx Steam Railway
Here are pictures taken from the Manx Steam Railway. I love the puffs of steam and smoke that look like miniature and very low cumulus clouds. Continue reading Views from the Manx Steam Railway
Manx Steam Railway
These are pictures from the Manx Steam Railway. The Next post will be pictures taken from the trains. Continue reading Manx Steam Railway
Isle of Man
This is the first post from the Isle of Man. It has several shots from around the island, including the route of the TT motorcycle race. Other posts will deal with the Manx Steam Railroad, Douglas, Peel, Castletown and Port Erin. There‘s a sign when you leave the arrivals area of the Isle of Man Airport that reads “Travelers who are not citizens of the EU or the EEA and are arriving from the Republic of Ireland are required to register with the Isle of Man immigration and passport office.” It gives an address in Douglas, the … Continue reading Isle of Man
Sometimes flying becomes the theatre of the absurd.
The taxi driver from Clontarf to the airport offered to take me a different route, around Dublin Bay, along the coast pass the fishing village of Howth and then into the airport. “It’s more miles but with school getting out it now may be less time. At Howth he said “You’ll be flying right over that when you take off.” (We did.) I think he wanted the longer ride so he could ask me what I “really” felt about Sarah Palin. He rather likes the idea of a governor named Sean Parnell. Aer Lingus charges bags by weight. 15 kg … Continue reading Sometimes flying becomes the theatre of the absurd.
Radio Days Europe, Dublin, 2014
How could it have been better? Radio Days Europe are over. These three days are working themselves into being one of those annual celebrations that mark my calendar, in a way like the Winnipeg Folk Festival or the Sitka Festival. It’s a celebration of many things I hold close; radio, free press, good journalism, storytelling, meeting friends and, this year, Ireland. A celebration it was, but with a sober start. We all stood for a minute to honor the 200 journalists killed in the line of work since the last Radio Days. Twenty seven of them have died in the … Continue reading Radio Days Europe, Dublin, 2014
A Colorful and Happy St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin
St. Patrick’s Day Dublin, Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In a way it reminds me of the May Day Parade in Minneapolis presented by the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater. Continue reading A Colorful and Happy St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin
St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Battle of Clontarf, or Here Come the Vikings!
“In 1014 Brian Boru defeated the Danes at Clontarf near Dublin.” That is what my Grandfather learned in school and it is what he taught me. This year the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin looked back into history as … Continue reading St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Battle of Clontarf, or Here Come the Vikings!
Faces of St. Patrick (Reflections on my Grandfather.)
The hats were the same ones I saw at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York 9 years ago but instead of obnoxiously drunk teenagers these were mostly well mannered young people enjoying the Sunday of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s … Continue reading Faces of St. Patrick (Reflections on my Grandfather.)
Dublin Goes Green (It’s the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.)
Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. My Irish grandfather always told me it was no use going to Ireland on St. Pat’s. All the good bands were in New York, Boston or Chicago. The Dubliners had their own annual gig in … Continue reading Dublin Goes Green (It’s the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.)
Belgrade, Easter 2001 (continued from post before)
This is continuation, from the same letter I posted from yesterday. It is early for Easter but I thought the two posts should go together. Easter, 2001 In front of St. Marko’s church are stalls selling Easter candies and beautifully … Continue reading Belgrade, Easter 2001 (continued from post before)
Lent and Easter in Belgrade
April 15, 2001(Easter Sunday) Belgrade, Yugoslavia Dear Friends, Religion in Serbia is struggling to find itself after 45 years of official atheism followed by 10 years in which being a Serb, Croat or Bosniak was defined by religion since appearance … Continue reading Lent and Easter in Belgrade
Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday
The idea of an Easter Market seems counterintuitive. Lent is the time of penance between Carnival and Easter. The idea of a market selling food and flowers during Lent seems odd. But then there is Palm Sunday, a time to … Continue reading Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday
Carnival Lisbon, Apres Carnival, Belgrade
Carnival is over. In some places it continues into Lent with the funeral of Vaal (Carnival) which starts penitently enough but becomes a second bacchanal. We experienced something different in Belgrade. As an excerpt from this letter from May 2009 … Continue reading Carnival Lisbon, Apres Carnival, Belgrade
Carnival in Dubrovnik
This is Fat Tuesday: Carnival. I went back through my files for stories about Carnival and came on this letter from Dubrovnik written in March 2000. Dear Friends, Polka, not samba, not calypso, not second line, not even “Carnival in … Continue reading Carnival in Dubrovnik
Sitka Wearable Art Show
The Sitka Wearable Art show was a fantastic community event. Artists designed clothing made from discarded or unused stuff found around the house. Some of the costumes were made from empty beer and pop cans, there was a chain mail suit made of pop can pop tops, a suite made of old Kodachrome slides, plastic packing material, magnetic recording tape, spare napkins, cloth remnants, kids’ art taken from the fridge, old movie tickets, orange bait bags, old tire tubes, plastic cutlery, beer bottle tops, tire inner tubes, taco shells, money, unused neckties, and clothes pins. Some of the costumes were … Continue reading Sitka Wearable Art Show
A Letter to the Editor
Letter to the editor, To the Editor, Fifteen years ago I led a project to train Roma journalists in Slovakia. My students were honest and hardworking, but a stereotype followed them, limiting their opportunities. The Roma are an ethnic group commonly called Gypsies. My students were constantly confronted with discrimination based on the stereotype “thieving Gypsy.” At the end of a day’s training, we wanted to have a dinner at a local restaurant, but my students were refused entrance. After the training, I had trouble placing my qualified students as interns because of the fear that they would steal. It … Continue reading A Letter to the Editor
Winter Anchorage
Anchorage is surrounded by mountains and Cook Inlet. Denali, the highest peak in North America is visible from many places in Anchorage. Continue reading Winter Anchorage
Iditarod ! Can Spring be far off?
When Alaska sled dog racers boot up they are not starting up a computer. They are putting protective booties on their dogs to protect their feet. This week is the start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The actual race starts in Willow, but on the first Saturday of March the ceremonial start of the race takes over Anchorage’s 4th Avenue amid ceremony and celebration. IditaRiders win auction bids to ride in the basket of a sled for the first 11 miles of the trail with a musher. The auction helps support the race. The first 11 miles don’t count … Continue reading Iditarod ! Can Spring be far off?