VICKI & DON FROM HOME IS WHERE TO HEART IS: ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE ABOARD THE BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS AT SEA ON IRELAND COAST 88888888888888888888 DAILY DATA REPORT: VOLUME 2018, EDITION - SEPTEMBER DATA FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 EPISTLE RESEARCH OF DON ALLEN TO STEAL IDEAS FROM SOMEONE IS PLAGIARISM. TO STEAL FROM MANY IS CALLED RESEARCH. THOUGHTS OF MARK TWAIN Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. 1 PAGE So throw off the bowlines.sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD FROM HOME IS WHERE THE HEART THE BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS STATEROOM 3620 AT SEA 8888888888888888 THE PLAN OF THE DAY: TOUR OF WATERFORD AREA WE WILL HAVE TO TENDER INTO SHORE. 8888888888888 2 PAGE
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MEDIEVAL MUSEUM HOUSES 13TH CENTURY CHORISTERS HALL IN THE HEART OF WATERFORD'S VIKING TRIANGLE AND IS THE ONLY MUSEUM OF IT'S KIND IN IRELAND. THIS STRIKING NEW BUILDING REVEALS THE STORY OF WATERFORD THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGES AND VISITORS ARE WOWED AS THEY GO UNDERNEATH THE NEW BUILDING INTO CENTURIES OLD VAULTS. ON DISPLAY ARE THE MAGNIFICENT CLOTH OF GOLD VESTMENTS, THE ONLY COMPLETE PRE-REFORMATION SET TO SURVIVE IN EUROPE. IT'S HOME TO SOME INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT TREASURES INCLUDING THE ONLY COMPLETE SET OF MEDIEVAL HIGH MASS VESTMENTS TO SURVIVE IN NORTHERN EUROPE AS WELL AS THE WATERFORD CHARTER ROLL WHICH WAS VIEWED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH II ON HER VISIT TO IRELAND. 5 PAGE
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ABOVE IS THE ORIGINAL FLOOR OF THE CHORISTERS HALL BUILT AND USED IN THE 13TH CENTURY. THE CHORISTERS HALL IS WHERE WE MET AND THEN ENTERED THE WINE VAULT WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 15TH CENTURY.. (NOW JUST THINK ABOUT THESE DATES.) 8 PAGE
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WATERFORD CHARTER ROLL IS A HISTORIC LEGAL DOCUMENT. IT WAS CREATED BY THE ANGLO-NORMAN PEOPLE OF WATERFORD. ITS STORY SHOWS US THE POWER OF ENGLISH KINGS IN IRELAND THROUGH THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD TO THE 19TH CENTURY. IT IS 4M LONG AND THERE ARE 17 INDIVIDUAL DRAWINGS ON THE ROLL. IT IS DATED TO 1372/3. IT CONTAINS THE EARLIEST DEPICTION OF AN IRISH CITY FROM A TIME WHEN WATERFORD WANTED TO MAINTAIN ITS STATUS AS THE PROMINENT TRADE CITY ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND, PARTICULARLY OVER NEIGHBOR, NEW ROSS. WATERFORD WAS DESIGNATED A ROYAL PORT BY HENRY II AND THEREFORE COULD LEVY TOLLS. THE ROLL IS OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE AS IT CONTAINS THE EARLIEST CONTEMPORARY PORTRAIT OF A MEDIEVAL ENGLISH MONARCH, THE EARLIEST PORTRAIT OF A JUDGE IN EITHER BRITAIN OR IRELAND, THE EARLIEST IMAGE OF THE MEDIEVAL MAYORS OF DUBLIN, WATERFORD, CORK AND LIMERICK, AND THE EARLIEST VIEW OF AN IRISH CITY. 14 PAGE
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THIS IS KING HENRY VIII HAT. IT IS THE ONLY CLOTHING BELONGING TO HIM THAT IS KNOWN OF, IN ENGLAND OR IRELAND. 16 PAGE
IT STUNS ME TO SEE THAT BOTH OF THESE ITEMS BELONGED TO KING HENRY VIII. 17 PAGE
IT IS HARD TO SEE IT. IT IS THE KING HENRY VIII SEAL ON TOP OF THE HAT. 18 PAGE
THIS WAS CARVED 1350+/- 25 YEARS. IT IS AMAZING WORK TO SEE.. IT IS OVER 600 YEARS OLD.. THE FRANCISCAN BOYS DID IT 19 PAGE
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THE ONLY CITY CROMWELL FAILED TO CAPTURE: IN THE WINTER OF 1649 THE ENGLISH GENERAL OLIVER CROMWELL ARRIVED BEFORE THE WALLS OF WATERFORD AND LAID SIEGE TO THE CITY WHICH WAS UNDER CATHOLIC CONTROL. HOWEVER HE FAILED TO CAPTURE WATERFORD - THE ONLY CITY CROMWELL FAILED TO TAKE IN IRELAND SINCE HE HAD ARRIVED IN THE COUNTRY EARLIER THAT YEAR. AS THE WINTER DRAGGED ON HE WAS FORCED TO BREAK OFF THE SIEGE AND RETREAT WITH HIS ARMY. HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING SUMMER HIS ARMY WAS BACK AT WATERFORD, THIS TIME LED BY HIS SON-IN-LAW GENERAL HENRY IRETON. BY THIS STAGE THE DEFENDERS OF WATERFORD WERE WEAKENED BY PLAGUE AND SHORT OF FOOD AND MUNITIONS. THEY COULD MOUNT ONLY TOKEN RESISTANCE AND THE CITY FINALLY FELL TO IRETON S ARMY. BURIED FOR 123 YEARS THE VICTORIOUS SOLDIERS PILLAGED AND LOOTED THE CITY AND MOST OF THE GOLD AND SILVER CATHEDRAL TREASURES WERE DISCOVERED AND MELTED DOWN. HOWEVER THE MAGNIFICENT 15TH CENTURY CLOTH-OF-GOLD VESTMENTS ESCAPED DESTRUCTION. THEY HAD BEEN HIDDEN AWAY, LOCKED IN THIS AND OTHER CHESTS AND BURIED IN A DEEP VAULT BENEATH CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL. HERE THEY REMAINED FOR A FURTHER 123 YEARS UNTIL THEY WERE DISCOVERED WHEN THE MEDIEVAL BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1773 IN ORDER TO BUILD THE PRESENT CHURCH OF IRELAND ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL. THE BISHOP REALIZED THAT THESE VESTMENTS DATED TO BEFORE THE REFORMATION AND IN A GESTURE OF GOODWILL HE PRESENTED THEM TO THE CATHOLIC DEAN AT THE TIME. THE WATERFORD CLOTH-OF-GOLD VESTMENTS HAD SURVIVED DESTRUCTION AND THIS IS THE ONLY COMPLETE SET OF MEDIEVAL HIGH MASS VESTMENTS TO SURVIVE ANYWHERE IN NORTHERN EUROPE. 21 PAGE
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JUST THINK ABOUT THIS BASIC FACT.. THESE VESTMENTS WERE MADE AND USED IN THE EARLY 1400 S IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THESE. I HAVE LOOKED AT THEM ALL OVER THE WORLD WE HAVE BEEN IN AND THERE IS NO DOUBT: THESE ARE THE BEST I HAVE SEEN. THEY WERE ALMOST 350 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY WERE FOUND IN 1773. THEY ARE NOW IN 2018 ABOUT 600 YEARS OLD.. THAT FACT FLAT SHOCKS ME. 25 PAGE
WE WALKED ACROSS THE STREET TO THE WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY. 26 PAGE
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ALL OF THE TROPHY CRYSTAL IS MADE AT THIS WATERFORD FACTORY. THIS INCLUDES ALL OF THE SUPER-BOWL TROPHIES, THE NBA TROPHY, & RACE TRACK TROPHIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. SPECIAL VASES THIS IS A NITCH MARKET THAT ONLY WATERFORD HAS FOR 2500 EUROS YOU, TOO, COULD OWN A SUPER-BOWL FOOTBALL.. I HELD ONE: VERY HEAVY I WANTED TO BOUNCE IT AND THEY TOOK IT AWAY FROM ME. (DIRTY WORDS!) 29 PAGE
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MOST ALL OF THE REPEAT PRODUCTION ITEMS HAVE CAST-IRON FORMS IN WHICH THE PRODUCTION IS MADE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE USE OF A CAST-IRON FORM. 32 PAGE
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THE LOVELY LAURA IS HOLDING ONE OF THE PRODUCTION VASES.. PART OF THE CUTTING IS DONE BY HAND, BUT MOST IS DONE BY COMPUTER OPERATED GLASS CUTTERS IN A WATER BATH. AN AMAZING PIECE OF AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT 37 PAGE
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WOULD I LIKE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE? YES! WOULD I PAY 300.00 EUROS FOR ONE? NO! 43 PAGE
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THE IRISH HARP: THE SYMBOL OF IRELAND! 46 PAGE
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FREDERICK DOUGLASS VISIT TO WATERFORD: 9 OCTOBER,1845 FREDERICK DOUGLASS WAS AN ESCAPED AFRICAN-AMERICAN SLAVE WHO VISITED WATERFORD CITY IN 1845. FREDERICK DOUGLASS ESCAPED FROM SLAVERY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND ON SEPTEMBER 3RD 1838. HE TRAVELED FIRST TO NEW YORK AND LATER SETTLED IN MASSACHUSETTS. IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING HIS ESCAPE HE TRAVELED THE NORTHERN STATES TO SPEAK AT RALLIES DEMANDING THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. 53 PAGE
IN 1845 DOUGLASS VISITED IRELAND, WHERE HE MET DANIEL O CONNELL. HE GAVE LECTURES, WHICH WERE VERY POPULAR, IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS ACROSS IRELAND. IN A LETTER TO THE ABOLITIONIST WILLIAM GARRISON, DOUGLASS WROTE: I HAVE TRAVELED ALMOST FROM THE HILL OF HOWTH TO THE GIANT S CAUSEWAY AND FROM THE GIANT S CAUSEWAY TO CAPE CLEAR. DURING HIS TRAVELS DOUGLASS SPOKE AT MEETINGS IN DUBLIN, CORK, LIMERICK, BELFAST, WEXFORD AND WATERFORD. HE DESCRIBED THE GREAT SENSE OF FREEDOM WHICH HE FELT WHILE VISITING IRELAND. I AM COVERED WITH THE SOFT, GREY FOG OF THE EMERALD ISLE. I BREATHE, AND LO! THE CHATTEL BECOMES A MAN. I GAZE AROUND IN VAIN FOR ONE WHO WILL QUESTION MY EQUAL HUMANITY, CLAIM ME AS HIS SLAVE, OR OFFER ME AN INSULT. IN 2013 A PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED AT THE ENTRANCE TO CITY HALL BY THE MAYOR OF WATERFORD JOHN CUMMINS TO COMMEMORATE THE VISIT OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND HIS SPEAKING IN THE WATERFORD CITY HALL ON 9 OCTOBER, 1845. 54 PAGE
THIS WAS A GOLLY GEE WHIZ MOMENT. THIS IS WHY WE TRAVEL. I NEVER KNEW HE EVEN LEFT OUR COUNTRY. THOUGHTS OF DON ALLEN I NEVER HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING SCHOOL WITH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN KID. DOUGLASS ELEMENTARY/HIGH SCHOOL WAS WHERE ALL AFRICAN AMERICAN KIDS IN EL PASO COUNTY HAD TO ATTEND UNTIL 1956 WHEN SEGREGATION STOPPED.. (I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1954).. THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN KID I MET WAS IN THE US NAVY.. THIS SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE KIND OF MAN HE WAS. HE RETURNED TO CONTINUE HIS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY. HE COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY STAYED HERE IN IRELAND. HE HAD BEEN FREE 7 YEARS AT THIS TIME. JAMES K POLK WAS PRESIDENT. IT WOULD BE 16 YEARS BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR STARTED AND 20 YEARS BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR WAS OVER. DOUGLASS ON THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION: HE PRONOUNCES IT A MIGHTY EVENT FOR THE COLORED RACE, THE NATION. 55 PAGE
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THIS PHOTO TAKEN FROM OUR ROOM YES, WE WERE OVER THE TENDERS AS THEY RETURNED. 58 PAGE
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63 PAGE THIS IS THE CLIMBING WALL, RIGHT UP THE STACK. VERY GOOD LOOKING WALL
MINIATURE GOLF COURSE OR PUTTING GREEN 64 PAGE
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WE ARE WALKING TO CENTRAL STA WE ARE WALKING TO CENTRAL STATION AND CATCH OUR TRAIN HOME.. TION AND CATCH OUR TRAIN HOME.. IT IS TIME TO FINISH THIS DATA. THIS EPISTLE IS DONE. SO LET IT BE WRITTEN: SO LET IT BE DONE. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: IT S A WONDERFUL WORLD LIFE IS GOOD! LOVE IS BETTER! 66 PAGE