An Anniversary in Dublin

Time changes places, and if it doesn't change the place then it changes people. The Dublin that was ten years ago is long gone, and I'm certain that there are those who even then would have told you that it had already lost its character. In corners, and in places where you aren't expecting it, the older side of Dublin will peek out at you and remind you that it didn't used to be all about tourism, but the tourists have come en masse, and the place will never be the same.

To be clear, I'm not saying that Dublin doesn't still hold its charm and sway, and you can still find the Irish in Dublin, but there is no doubt that it is a much different city than I remember. There are still moments when Ireland comes through in Dublin, strong and clear, but the message is increasingly muddled by the onslaught of shops selling tourist trinkets.

Spending our anniversary in Dublin was somewhat bittersweet, which seems somehow fitting for Ireland, with its often mournful history, and the tales that seem to end in tears at least as often as they end in laughter. Bittersweet, if only because Michelle and I both know that this will be our last visit to Dublin for at least a while now. Still, we did have an enjoyable time, strolling the rainy streets and visiting Beshoff's and Captain America's, wandering through Temple Bar, going to the Chester Beatty museum, and just generally taking a good look at everything again, before heading out to Howth and the "Eye of Ireland" for the second day.

Our visit was, as all visits seem to be, far too short to really do everything we wanted to do, but it was a nice break nonetheless.