V5 travels: What is it about Universities? Trinity College and Ancient books!

Today was a tour of Trinity College, or officially The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth. I walked to the campus earlier than the designated time, had a small walk around and then sat and people watched before my designated tour time. There were lots of tourists, but also students going about their business. There is almost an invisible mist over University campuses…the mist of learning! It is intriguing and I think addictive…I couldn’t help but think about what future learning opportunities might suit me in this next phase of my life! Thoughts of PhD’s entered my head, and then I thought ‘for what?’! I watched stereotypical academics arrive and enter buildings with baggy trousers and tweed jackets carrying leather satchels, and young students wearing op shop clothes and worn shoes scurrying to classes. There were those that looked like they had pulled an all nighter, and then some others dressed for interviews….they are reaching the end of the terms! The sun shone and smiled upon us all, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the opportunistic futures of those in their final uni days!

Jo, our tour guide, was a final year arts student who was studying English literature and French. He was also a foundation scholar, who I think will fast track into a PhD.

The tour around the campus was an explanation of the architecture and building purposes. The building called ‘Heaven’ a multi denomination chapel; while one called ‘Hell’ was the exam centre! The piece d’resistance was the Old Library. A beautiful old building, that had been extended upwards hundreds of years ago to house the growing collection, and then….the Book of Kells.

The weather was more conducive today to a walk around, so I finished the day with a walk over the River Liffey to the northern side, a wander and then traditional Fish and Chips in a pub!