Dublin, on the surface, appears to be the same as any other major cosmopolitan city of relative size and scope. Most major cities are essentially the same to a degree, Toronto, New York, London, Madrid, I could go on and on. At certain point, they sort of lose that local identity, becoming part of a greater transpolitan landscape. And while I generally subscribe Dublin to this international group of homogenized cities, I made this video to reflect some of the local flair of the city centre that doesn't quite subscribe to the modern day megalopolis.
Grattan Bridge (Droichead Grattan in Irish, thanks Wikipedia!) lies just off the O'Connell Bridge near the heart of the city. Overlooking the River Liffy, the Grattan is one of a number of bridges for pedestrian and commuter alike. In the video, you'll notice a number of things that I find interesting and relevant to this conversation.
The walled nature of the banks with stoic brick buildings belies the warm and friendly nature of the city. Numerous shops and restaurants crowd the river, enticing consumers to spend a few minutes in their establishments and purvey the city and the bustling streets full of tourists and native Dubliners alike. But at the same time, the closely grouped buildings of imposing stone and mortar give one a strong sense of isolation, closed to outsiders and absent the very warmth its citizens provide.
The buildings also lack the bright colors and vivid spots of allure one might find in other European cities like Venice, Copenhagen, or even Graz, Austria. There are some parts of Dublin that may fit this bill, but even then it's quite muted in comparison. Maybe it's the weather, the disposition, or even the materials to work with, but the reserved nature of Dublin reigns supreme.
That by no means lessen its beauty. Dublin is a gorgeous city, medieval in nature and forged from grey stone and crimson brick, a creamy limestone or marble will appear now and then, but the city is dominated by these materials. Trees line nearly every street, supporting the notion of Ireland's emerald reputation. Dublin is just a great city for the pedestrian, and as you can see from the film, traffic is present, but rarely does it reach the congested levels of Chicago or Nagoya. Dublin doesn't choke its inhabitants or its visitors, and for that, I will sorely miss it in just a few days.
Grattan Bridge (Droichead Grattan in Irish, thanks Wikipedia!) lies just off the O'Connell Bridge near the heart of the city. Overlooking the River Liffy, the Grattan is one of a number of bridges for pedestrian and commuter alike. In the video, you'll notice a number of things that I find interesting and relevant to this conversation.
The walled nature of the banks with stoic brick buildings belies the warm and friendly nature of the city. Numerous shops and restaurants crowd the river, enticing consumers to spend a few minutes in their establishments and purvey the city and the bustling streets full of tourists and native Dubliners alike. But at the same time, the closely grouped buildings of imposing stone and mortar give one a strong sense of isolation, closed to outsiders and absent the very warmth its citizens provide.
The buildings also lack the bright colors and vivid spots of allure one might find in other European cities like Venice, Copenhagen, or even Graz, Austria. There are some parts of Dublin that may fit this bill, but even then it's quite muted in comparison. Maybe it's the weather, the disposition, or even the materials to work with, but the reserved nature of Dublin reigns supreme.
That by no means lessen its beauty. Dublin is a gorgeous city, medieval in nature and forged from grey stone and crimson brick, a creamy limestone or marble will appear now and then, but the city is dominated by these materials. Trees line nearly every street, supporting the notion of Ireland's emerald reputation. Dublin is just a great city for the pedestrian, and as you can see from the film, traffic is present, but rarely does it reach the congested levels of Chicago or Nagoya. Dublin doesn't choke its inhabitants or its visitors, and for that, I will sorely miss it in just a few days.
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