Corrections:

OK, I haven't been reading the blog for a while, and so now that I have, I am going to post the corrections to the following inaccuracies:

1st of all, (By the way, it's Clare) MY FAVORITE BEATLE IS NOT GEORGE!!!!!! I think when talking about The Beatles, or anything, for that matter, it is not a question of who is your favorite, but it can be broken down to much more complex branches.

I value John's music the most, and his activism, but I express my displeasure that he couldn't cooperate with the rest of the band.

I think George is the most talented, mainly because, (as well as the guitar and singing) he can play the SITAR!!!!! The coolest instrument EVER!!!!!! And I LOVE how he was kind of a Buddist, and he hung out in India a lot.

Paul was just good at holding the band together, and he could sing and play the bass at the same time, which is cool.

Ringo is just the luckiest guy in the world.

Pete Best is the opposite.

Also: concerning "Books and Blood" I am enjoying myself IMMENSELY, I am just slightly exhausted. And there might be a rebellion coming on, but I will NOT, at this time, disclose any information concerning that topic.


I stand by what I said about Pete Best. He WAS involved in a conspiracy theory.

Keep watching the stars.

Over and Out...

Books and Blood

We began the day with a tour of Kilmainham Gaol, one of the scariest places we have seen, mostly because the incarcerations and executions there are not in the distant past. It was where the organizers of the 1916 Rising were executed by a bullet to the heart (where the British Govt overplayed its hand, causing the rebellion to gain support and popularity). Kilmainham Gaol is also where the Irish patriot Robert Emmet spent his last night before being executed--hanged and then beheaded. The place holds some additional significance as being the last place in Ireland for many of the "convicts" transported to Australia. In some ways we are following a similar path (although we didn't do nothing, honest!).

Bear with the tough transition to...Trinity College for a look at The Book of Kells, an eighth-century illuminated manuscript of the four gospels and possibly the oldest book in the British Isles. It is magnificent.

Most of you are wondering, are the children enjoying themselves on these excursions? I mean, what 6-year-old doesn't love an ancient book, a walk through a university campus, and lectures on republicanism? Ok, I admit there might be some rebellion afoot.

Dubh Linn

It means "Black Pool" and it's an intense place, at least the way we have experienced it so far. Having written my undergraduate thesis on Ulysses and taught it several times, I feel like I'm in the novel--the street names, some of the pubs and eating establishments, statues, buildings are all here and we keep unintentionally stumbling over them, even walking the same routes as Bloom over the H'penny Bridge towards O'Connell Street, for example. We're staying right on Wellington Quay on the Liffey a few blocks down from the house that's the focus of Joyce's story, "The Dead" (and where John Huston made a film of it).

I know, I know. I'm still geeking out, but I really can't help it. Sites seen: the exhibit Dublinia (about Viking and medieval Dublin), bus-ride through the city for an overview, Christ Church Cathedral (another 13-century edifice; we are certainly learning our flying buttresses).

Last night Philip and I got a babysitter and went to a production of Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars at The Abbey. We simply lucked out--there's no more appropriate play to see at The Abbey, founded by Lady Gregory and W.B. Yeats in 1904. The first performance of the play in 1925 (at The Abbey where it premiered) caused a riot--the play's refusal to romanticize the Easter 1916 Rising along with the appearance onstage of both the Tricolour flag and a prostitute raised quite a ruckus. The eeriest thing (and there were many eerie moments) was that the play stages the action just a few blocks from the GPO where the Rising began--and the theater itself is just a few blocks from the GPO. Tightly and powerfully performed, the play well illustrated the complexities of the time.

Awed and a little stunned afterward, Philip and I walked back to the southside past O'Connell Street (where it all happened) over the H'penny Bridge and back to The Clarence Hotel where we are staying. It is owned, I kid you not, by Bono and The Edge.

Dubliners--Emmett

What toys have you bought? "Quill pen and ink, knights and horses, pirate playmobile." [he's a big fan of Harrod's]

What was your favorite thing to do so far? "The train (the tube)."

Because Emmett is a reluctant interlocutor at the moment, I will just add that he has enjoyed playing with the girls at our inn in Tewkesbury, swimming in the pool there, running around castle ruins, seeing the animals at Longleat, digging up treasure at The New Place dig in Stratford.

Who is your favorite Beatle? "Paul."

Dubliners--Isabella

Isabella, what are your first impressions of the UK? "There's a lot of old stuff like the kings and queens' houses."

What's the most memorable attraction so far? "Henry VIII's place, Hampton Court Palace, Longleat (for the animals), and the London Eye."

What's the most difficult thing about being here? "Not seeing Finny and trying not to make fun of people's accents" [Isabella won our best English accent competition].

What interests you the most? "The Tudor family times."

Who is your favorite of King Henry's wives? "Anne Boleyn."

Favorite Beatle? "George."

Why was Pete Best kicked out of the Beatles? "He wasn't good and the manager didn't like him."

What do you miss? "Finny, Titi, and my friends."

Dubliners--Clare

Given that it has been difficult so far for the children to post to the blog, today, in honor of the series of sketches by James Joyce of the inhabitants of Dublin, I'm going to interview Clare, Isabella, and Emmett about their impressions of the trip so far.

Clare, what are your impressions of the UK so far? "They are smarter than Americans in terms of design--converting castles and using costumed employees. There's also a lot of Italian food. And people from the UK are not as loud as Americans."

What have been the most memorable attractions so far? "London Eye and Stonehenge."

What's the most difficult thing about being in the UK? "The other tourists." Also, "lots of people are confused about us because of Dad's Australian accent and our American ones."

Would you ever want to live in the UK? "Yep, definitely." [now that she has dual Australian-American citizenship, she can work in the UK without a problem until the age of 30].

Why was Pete Best kicked out of The Beatles? "He was involved in a conspiracy with the Russian government."

Favorite Beatle? "George."

What do you miss? "Finnegan and my friends."

Liverpool and Northern Wales

Beatlemania in Liverpool where the airport has been renamed John Lennon Airport (middle name = Winston, for that guy from London day 1, see below. Apparently John was born during a terrible Nazi air raid). Loved Liverpool with its cool vibe and lively Albert Dock. But we had a ferry to catch so we hightailed it through Northern Wales to Holyhead and across the Irish Sea. Along the way we stopped at Conwy Castle (that's not a typo, folks; it's Wales!), which is one of the many spectacular 13th-century castle ruins erected by Edward I (Longshanks) along the Welsh coast to intimidate the Celts and anyone else who dared attack. As you can see, it's a bleak and foreboding place--very eerie. We had a weird transition from the Fab Four to Conwy Castle (alliteration being the only commonality I could come up with).

Another question for our dear readers--why was Pete Best kicked out of The Beatles? It's as elusive a question as who built Stonehenge and how? The kids offer theories tomorrow...