Visit to a Georgian House and a Medical Stop

We started out the day by taking a taxi to Emergency Room at an area hospital so Steve could arrange to see a doctor. Not urgent, but wanted to check it out; maybe a kidney stone or infection. The cost at the hospital for non-EU residents is 300 Euros ($402.22)! Told us seeing a nearby doctor (not in hospital) would be about 70 Euros, so an appointment was made for later in the afternoon.

Took bus to Merrion Square so we could visit Number 29, a restored Georgian House. They began with a film about the history of the area and then we took a tour of the house. Five floors, including the lowest level where the kitchen was located. They've included some authentic furnishings and some reproductions throughout the house. Some interesting info about the people included the twice a year bathing, men having a commode kept in the corner of the dining room so they could relieve themselves multiple times during the 9-14 course meal (women could leave only a few times during the evening between courses to take care of their needs), boys wearing dresses until they were about 7 years old (to discourage chimney sweeps or gypsies from stealing them!), girls received education from a nanny who was of same social class as they were (taught them only what they needed to get a good catch of a husband), when a man died all his money went to eldest son (or male cousin, not to wife or daughter, who were often put out on the street) until laws were changed in early 1970s, and servants waited on lowest level of house until someone rang for them and had to pay close attention to which bell rang. Beautiful non-electric Waterford crystal chandelier hung in one room,

In front of the house is a newly installed electric car charging station. I read in the newspaper that there are few electric cars in Dublin, but seems like a great idea to me. Must cheaper than the $7 per gallon gas cost! Steve and I are constantly on the lookout for an electric car, but want one that can "go the distance," not the neighborhood vehicles that seem to be more common in the U.S. 

We walked through lovely Merrion Square Park to the nearby National Gallery of Ireland because I wanted to see the Caravaggio (The Taking of Christ) painting that we missed on our last trip to Dublin (but it was out on loan to a Dutch museum). When we went to the Information desk to get our freebie (No admission cost, so Dublin Pass entitled us to a free guide), I saw a sign that the painting was out on loan AGAIN, this time to a museum in Rome for the 400th anniversary of the artist's death. Wonder when or if I'll ever see the actual painting... another reason to return to Dublin.

We took the bus to the doctor's office. Very relaxed office with friendly people. Cost for visit was 60 Euros ($80.44), not all that different from what it is at home. Had to pick up a prescription at a nearby pharmacy, too. While there, we spoke with a salesperson about medicines in Ireland vs. United States. Many medications that need prescriptions in the United States are over-the-counter in Ireland. Regular aspirin, however, needs a prescription in Ireland due to overuse and stomach problems. Go figure...
Decided to get off return bus a little early so we could walk long the canal.  There were statues of a boy and horse. Boys led the horses who pulled the boats along the canals.