Today we started our day at the Dublin City Gallery, the Hugh Lane. A small museum with a nice collection of modern contemporary Irish artists. The most interesting thing to see in the museum isn't really a piece of art, it's Francis Bacon's art studio preserved just as it was when he died in 1992. The room was moved intact from London to the museum in Dublin. The room is a disaster, paint cans and brushes, newspapers, boxes and junk line the walls and cover the floor. There is just a small space for the artist to stand and paint, it's a wonder how he ws able to create anything out of this space.
We then drove south out of Dublin along the sea (not an ocean as I was corrected) and had lunch at a great seafood restaurant in Sandycove called Cavistons, close to the neighborhood where Bono, Enya and Van Morrison all live. The seafood was fantastic. Sandycove is a quaint little town, not much to see or do but worth a stop for a great meal. Reservations are a must, they were turning people away while we were there, it is a small restaurant, only 8 tables.
After lunch we drove into the countryside to Powerscourt Estate. Originally a 13th century castle, it has been built on and remodeled over time. The gardens are a big tourist attraction and worth an afternoon visit. There is also a golf course, restaurant, shops, and close by a new Ritz-Carlton hotel.
Tomorrow we hit the road, driving from Dublin south to Killarney. And if the roads are like anything we drove on today I have to say I'm a little worried. Very narrow!
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