Monet in the Japanese Garden

We've begun a spell of good, sunny weather in Portland, after a gray and rainy few months. So we decided to hike up to the Japanese Garden, which reopened recently after being closed for expansion since September. The colorful spring vegetation and late afternoon light made for some pretty, dappled scenes that reminded me of Monet paintings.

Bubbles and the Easter Bunny

Back to Portland temporarily. The Saturday before Easter Sunday was sunny and reasonably warm, so the festivities in Jamison Park in the Pearl District were well attended. Kids were enthused about the Easter Bunny and the soap bubble makers.

St. Patrick's Day in Dublin: After the Parade

March 17: Half a million people in central Dublin, most of them young and celebrating.

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin: Pop Favorites

March 17: After the "official" groups came those outfitted as cartoon and pop culture characters. Lots of color and energy there.

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin: Starting Out

March 17: The first participants in the parade were the more "official" ones.

St. Patrick himself led the parade.

The Lady Mayor of Dublin's carriage, overseen by superpowers.

One of a number of participants from the USA: San Francisco Police Department

St. Patrick's Day in Dublin: Waiting for the Parade to Begin

March 17: Our last day in Ireland happened to be St. Patrick's Day, so of course we went to O'Connell Street to watch the parade. By luck we ended up just where the parade gathered and started off, and we were there early enough to gain front-row standing room. So I'll begin this series of posts with photos of people (and a dog) waiting for the big event to begin.

Reminders of the Struggles

March 16: At the end of our day in Derry we explored a Catholic neighborhood that has some striking political murals, mostly based on photos from the time of the Troubles, on the ends of housing blocks.

Londonderry Guildhall

March 16: The Derry Guildhall was built in 1887, destroyed by fire in 1908, rebuilt, destroyed by bombs in 1972, and rebuilt yet again. It's a fine, dignified, late Victorian building with elegant woodwork and spectacular stained glass.

History of Londonderry

March 16: Derry has a long and notable history, imaginatively and attractively exhibited in its City Museum.

Passage through the walls of the old city

In the City Museum, depiction of a famous episode in Derry's history:

Two boys holding shut the gates to the city against invaders.

Cartographers flourished in the seafaring age of Francis Drake,

inspired by the radiance of Queen Elizabeth.

Direct and reflected views of historic buildings combined in the glass on the roof of the museum. 

The Guildhall is in the foreground.

Protest Posters in Derry

March 16: A gallery in the Catholic part of Derry is a museum of photos and posters from the time of the Troubles up to today. These issues are still very much alive.

Derry: St. Columb's Cathedral

March 16: As a break from images of sectarian conflict, here are a couple of photos of a beautiful cathedral in Derry/Londonderry: The entrance gate, and some stained glass windows.