OK I know I've been dormant for a while.

Ok I've been dormant for a while. It happens. Massive catastrophe in posting the remaing pics from my vacay. I'm now long back from Europe in my beloved U.S of A. Can't belive it's taken me this long to blog ( yeah I know I 've got nothing to say, but I'll say it anyway). I'll be back blogging now about, well, whatever. Long live my blog yo.

(I wonder if anyone will read this.)

Wedding on Inishbofin

This past weekend I was back on another island off the coast of Ireland. A couple of friends I know from Houston were getting married on Inishbofin (see map below). Of all the people that went to Mark (originally from County Clare) and Grace's (originally from Cincinnati ) wedding, I travelled the least to get there.



The ferry ride out there was typical of the North Atlantic, rough and gray.

Me on the deck.

Getting to the island.

The old lighthouse.

You come upon ruins from the English invasion of Ireland as you sail into the harbor on the island (I explored these later).

After checking into the hotel, I wanted to make a phone call on my cell phone. Little did I know that you had to climb to the top of a hill to get cell phone reception.

Exploring the island. That water may look nice, but it's freezing. I know, I got in.

The next day the weather cleared up and wedding came off without a hitch. The church was really plain on the outside, but really colorful on the inside.

The Mark (the groom, on the left), and his brother David (best man, on the right).

Mark and Grace, exchanging vows.

Midway through, it looked like Mark would marry his brother?

Ceremony over. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Graham.

At the reception.

I woke up early the next morning and set out alone to explore the rest of the island. First, I conqured the hills.

On top of a hill. You can see the ferry going back to the mainland in the distance.

Zoom in.

A cut in the rock.

I then made my way over to the other side of the island and found the skeleton of a wrecked ship.



A house without it's roof.

I then came upon those ruins from the English invasion of Ireland under Oliver Cromwell. These ruins are called Cromwell's Barracks. Among other things, they were used to imprison Catholic priests who were captured. Catholicism was outlawed in those days by the English.

Making my way back to the hotel.

Most of the wedding guests took the midday ferry back to the mainland. Mark and Grace decided to take the late ferry. Here they are waving as we sail away.



Only a month left in Europe now. Will be back in the U.S. of A. August 2nd!!!

Radiohead Concert

While in Dublin this past weekend, we went to the much anticipated (at least by me) Radiohead concert.

Here's the group I went with walking through the streets of Dublin trying to find the train station.



Here's us just outside the venue chilling out before the concert.



In case some of you forgot what I look like.




We finally made it to the stage area.



Radiohead's new album is called In Rainbows. Thought the double rainbow was fitting.



Waiting in line for a burger.



We got rained on a bit, but hey, it's Ireland. Gotta have a good attitude about these sorts of things.



Overall, the concert was fantastic. It really felt like a slice of the ACL (the Austin City Limits Music festival for those of you who I haven't bored with the detail of that event). It seemed like it took a lot of effort to see one band (albeit a really really great band). We traveled a few hours and walked a fair bit to an open field to see music, just like ACL, except only one band. Dunno, just felt like something was missing. Or someone was missing.



Photo credit: Thanks to Anthony M. for the pics. I, again, left my camera in the car.

I'm going to take it easy this weekend before I do another charity cycle a week from Saturday.

Dublin

Spent this Friday and Saturday in Dublin for the Radiohead concert. The concert pics will be posted when I get them in.

Here are some pics from Dublin.

Trinity College in Dublin, opened in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. For a long time, only non-Catholics could go there. Not sure how I feel about that.








The Dublin Spire, officially called the Monument of Light. On this spot, there stood a Nelson's Column (much like the one in London), but it was destroyed by an IRA bomb in the 60's.



The River Liffey, separating the more working class Northside (Ronan's people) from the more posh Southsiders.