Dublin

I am so excited to take you today to yet another new country. It is widely known as the Green Island and as long as I have landed, I had no doubts why. It is indeed very green and close to the water.

Actually, in some parts they are maybe even overdoing it with the green.

I am sure by now you all have guessed that today we will visit Ireland. Or to be more precise, its capital city - Dublin. Since Dublin is a city with a long history, you will not be surprised that is has a castle.

Nowadays, the Dublin Castle is the sear of the Irish government. But it used to belong to a king of course. Though for centuries the title was held by the English kings who did not reside in Dublin but sent there their governonr instead. Maybe this is why the statue of the Justice is facing the castle rather than the nation gathered outside the main gate.

If I was an English king, I would not miss the opportunity to spend some time here. Even more, if I was a royal heir in shorts.

The gardens of the Dublin Castle hide one special place. In Garda Memorial Garden, completed in 2009, the names of all members of the Gardaí (Irish Police) killed in the line of duty are inscribed on a roll of honour.

The various sculptures are meant to remind the visitors that premature death tears families and society apart, leaving deep wounds.

Not far from the Dublin Castle, you will find the Irish parliament.

As we move on, we reach the Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I .

Ireland witnessed in its history many religious turmoils. For many years, Catholics could not pass that gate. But today we can enter inside, irrespective of your confession.

In the center of the College grounds you will find a bell tower called Campanile. Do not ask me why a university needs a bell tower, maybe to wake up students who snore too loudly during classes.

The Trinity College is considered the best university in Ireland. It is proud of its many famous graduates. One of them immortalised Dublin of his times in the famous book Ulysses. And Dublin pays back his honours to James Joyce by offering him a statue.

But Dubliners do not commemorate only people of distinguished talents. They have also made a monument for a common fishmonger called Molly Malone. You can easily see which part of the monument is the most appreciated one.

And if you do not know Molly, you need to turn the volume up.

As we move through the narrow streets ...

... we will reach the river Liffey. It is crossed by many bridges, some of which are for pedestrian traffic only.

On the other side of the river we need to take a look at the Spire of Dublin. If you have no clue what it represents and what is its connection to Dublin, you are likely to find many Dubliners of the same opinion. Though others say that the Eiffel Tower was hated for decades as well.

The Spire stands next to the main Post Office of Dublin (hello, my Postcrossing friends!).

I propose that we cross the river again. Those who wish can stay in one of the many pubs in the Temple Bar district.

Those who want to reconnect with the green side of the Green Island can join me into Stephen's Green, one of the city's many parks.

And next week, I will take you to one special place in Dublin, where Irish people celebrate the man who is painting the whole world green on one specific day of the year.

 

Planty in Kraków

Last time that we were in Kraków, we managed to visit the Old Town and the Royal Castle on the Wawel Hill. But the weather was not inviting and we could not admire one of the most enjoyable places there - the Planty park.

The peculiarity of Planty is that the park is actually round shaped and runs around the entire Old Town.

As you probably guessed, it was created in the nineteenth century when the rulers of the city decided that the old and falling walls, together with the accompanying moat, are no longer needed. Our walk today will start next to the Barbican.

Let's move into the green.

As we pass, you can see a small fountain.

It is located in the middle of an artificial lake.

The lawns are embellished with flowery carpets and monuments. The one in the back is commemorating Artur Grottger, a famous Polish painter.

And that one is for Lilla Weneda, a fictious character from a drama by one of the most famous Polish poets - Juliusz Słowacki.

And here comes another one, this time from a poem by probably the most famous Polish poet - Adam Mickiewicz. Her name is Grażyna (actually Mickiewicz invented this name himself but it is quite popular now in Poland).

As we move along, we can see several buildings of great importance to the city. Like the seat of the Kraków Society of Friends of Fine Arts.

 Then comes the Collegium Novum so the new college of the Kraków University.

As you rightly guessed, if there is a new college, there must be an old one as well. But it is not called old but great - Collegium Maius.

It is the Jagiellonian University's oldest building, dating back to the 14th century. Today it is no longer belonging to students but was turned into a museum.

Just next to Collegium Maius you will find the Professor's garden.

Inside, you can realise what professors looked like when Mikołaj Kopernik was one of the students in Kraków.

I admit that I like this porch a lot.

Next to the University buildings, you can see a few remainings of the old walls.

I was walking on Planty with an American friend and he said it looks a lot like Central Park in New York. I have never been there so I cannot judge - any opinions?

Finally, we arrive to the other side of the Old Town, having made half of the length of Planty. Up there, you can already spot the Wawel castle.

But I propose we do not walk up the hill but instead take this nice lane and walk back to the Market Square.

Here, those of you who are too tired to walk can continue in one of those nice carriages. I will stay there and have a chat with my cousins.

Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans in Chernivtsi

In 1782, following the incorporation of Bukovina into the Habsburg Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the seat of the Moldavian Eastern Orthodox Bishops of Rădăuți was moved to Chernivtsi (then known as Czernowitz). Unfortunately the building given to them collapsed and they were obliged to move to rented rooms. In 1851-1852, bishop Hacman sent a series of reports to the administration in Lviv, complaining that this situation was undignified. In 1860, the Religious Affairs Ministry issued a decree announcing a contest to select an architect for a new episcopal residence.

Ladies, gentlemen & horses, welcome to the residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans in Chernivtsi.

The Czech architect Josef Hlávka was selected to develop the project. In preparing his designs, Hlávka researched the building traditions of the region. The resulting work combines Byzantine and Moorish style, with the Alhambra as one inspirations.

Hlávka's proposals for the complex included not only the bishop's palace but also administrative offices, meeting halls, a library, a choir school, a museum of church art and a chapel.

Construction commenced in 1864 and took over 18 years, because of substantial delays due to technical problems, the illness of Hlávka from 1872 onwards, and to disagreements between Hlávka and the local administration, which led to Hlávka's resignation.

Let's enter the residence through the main entrance.

And take the stairs to the first floor.

Through the windows we can admire the fantastic park surrounding the residence.

Let's enter the most representative room - The Synodal Hall, called also the marble hall.

Have you noticed the ceiling ?

The name of the hall comes from the many colours of marbles used to decorate the walls and columns.

And here comes the smaller representative room - the Red Hall, with all the walls covered with red Chineese silk.

Once again please raise your heads.

Let's go to the seminary church.

Here you can admire the iconostasis - a wall between the nave and the sanctuary, which is covered with icons.

What brings everyone's attentiom is the fantastic cealing, with feagures of many saints, starting with 4 evangelists.

One can also see stories from the key moments of Jesus life.

Inside an orthodox church everything looks amazing, like the manoualia with candles.

Here the visitors can see all the vessels used during celebrations.

And here comes the church in the full view.

After the World War II when the region came under Soviet control, the theological faculty was closed down; when the buildings began to be restored in 1955, they were transferred to the town's university.

It must be a great pleasure to learn in such a bautiful place.

Extensive restoration was carried out from 2004 onwards, resulting eventually in the ensemble being inscribed by UNESCO in its list of World Heritage Sites on 28 June 2011.

Next week let's smaller but also impressive tserkva, but in totally different style.