Trumpet & Travel #5 - Brian Swartz in Dublin Part 2

In this edition of Trumpet & Travel, painter John Nolan shows me around Dublin, Ireland for my 2nd day of sightseeing July 12th - 14th, 2017.

It was a beautifully sunny day in Dublin. Perfect for seeing the sights of the charming fishing village of Howth (John and Miriam pronounced it Hoot). I was still feeling slightly under the weather so part of today's mission was to find some sudafed and kleenex (which we did).

The Nolan's are wonderful hosts and use the word "brilliant" whenever possible. For example, "Hey John, let's go to Howth for lunch." "Brilliant, Miriam!"

Here is a link to the Wikipedia page about Howth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howth

The next day, we walked around the beautiful city of Dublin. With it's bustling streets full of bars and shops, and it's bridges straddling the River Liffey, Dublin has a charm all it's own.

The next day, we walked around the beautiful city of Dublin. With it's bustling streets full of bars and shops, and it's bridges straddling the River Liffey, Dublin has a charm all it's own. These photos tell the story of Dublin's old world beauty.

Then we walked over to the Christ Church Cathedral which was first established in the year 1030, two years after I graduated high school.

Then finally, our grand quest was fulfilled. We drove over to the youth center where John Nolan's painting, "Crescendo," hangs. He looked at it as a parent would look at a grown child that had left home and was thriving, enjoying a life of it's own. It was truly a remarkable moment for us both, to think that this painting linked us in friendship and brought us together as artists.

We spent my last evening in Dublin drinking beer in the Nolan's kitchen with some of their friends, regaling me with stories of their youth and rich lives full of family and friendships. I hated to leave Ireland...but I'm pretty sure I'll be back.