Ireland and the Dublin singing lesson

Date: 19 February 2008 15:40:15

I have just returned to Berwick after one lovely week in Ireland. Having been told that it rains alot I was expecting the worst but am glad to say that I didn't see a single drop all week. I had beautiful, sunny, clear skies the whole time. Maybe it's some kind of world record for Ireland!

First of all I stayed with my cousin and her boyfriend in Kinsale. She is a very hospitable person and I felt very much at home in her little cottage. Kinsale is a very beautiful and colourful town:

Across the harbour is the best-preserved 17th century star fort in Europe (or at least that is what the guide book said):

From there I caught the bus to Galway where I spent a couple of days. There are not many tourist attractions in this town but the atmosphere is fantastic and it's a beautiful place so I understand why people go there. I made friends with a Canadian lady and we hung out (which is really nice when you are travelling by yourself). We even went to a traditional Irish pub to eat dinner one night. This is a photo of Galway cathedral:

Then I bused it over to good-ole Dublin. Nice city. Unforunately, being winter, they weren't holding any walking tours while I was there so I took myself on one. First stop was the site where Handel's Messiah was first performed:

then Christ Church Cathedral

I ended up at <a HREF="St Patrick's Cathedral just as evensong was about to start so I sat in on the service. After we sang the last hymn and people were leaving, I was approached by a man who said that I had a 'lovely, interesting voice' that had 'good control'. Turns out he is a singing teacher, an ex-conductor of the Vienna boys choir and an ex-singer of the Vienna Chamber Opera. I took what he said as quite a compliment. He then showed me around Dublin telling me the history of various places. He then made me an offer, if I bought him a cup of coffee, he would give me a one hour singing lesson. I took him up on that offer. The next day I went to Trinity College:

to view the Book of Kells.

I then walked around the city:

(Halfpenny Bridge)

(Ireland's version of the Last Supper)

until it was time for my singing lesson. It was a great lesson and he was very nice to me.

Since travelling, I've had to put my Love Life Live Lent actions on hold. I'm trying to follow through with as many as I can. Tomorrow I head down to London in preparation for a week in Morroco.