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DUBLIN, Ireland, May 30, 2003 / FW/ --- Back to the streets I passed by two mannequins wearing all white, like a breath of fresh air.

The youthful Eurasian mannequin with a full tousled head of hair sat in meditative peacefulness.

Her compatriot was a standing-tall blonde looking like he was on alert with his shirt unbuttoned almost to the belly button.

Around the corner from them in the same store was Mr. Cool with a wild plume of blonde hair, sunglasses, a dark navy jean outfit, with matching jacket and pants rolled up to the knees, a crisp white shirt buttoned to the neck and white and navy shoes, sans socks.

It was time to catch up with a friend at the Shelbourne Hotel for a glass of wine.

Entering through the back door there was a fireplace at the other end of the room with a huge oil portrait gracefully aged from the smoke of pipes, cigars and cigarettes.

On either end of the massive carved wooden bar stood two Egyptian styled female sculptures holding lamps above their heads. Scattered around the walls of the room were political and social cartoons.

It seemed odd that placed among the major political figures was a drawing of Woody Allen (Since flying back to Bordeaux I have seen Allen on the news pleading for things to be patched up with France and the U.S. as he didn't want to have to eat freedom fries and he wanted to be able French kiss his wife).

One could imagine the various people and conversations which had taken place in that room.

As a surprise there was a Montblanc pen in a gift bag placed on my table at the Shelbourne; perhaps it would hold the magic needed to complete my first novel.

Dinner that night was a simple appetizer of smoked salmon at Buswells.

I test drove the Montblanc and scribbled thoughts through the evening.

I spent the next day touring the campus of Trinity College. Their historical library is The Long Room. It has the essence of so many minds and souls it is staggering.

If only one could have a knowledge transfer into your mind like a computer data transfer.

The Book of Kells, the exquisitely illuminated gospel manuscript thought to have been started in the 8th century and completed in the 9th century is on exhibit at the Old library.

It survived innumerable Viking raids. The Vikings were not noted for their love of literature.

It is a blessing that a piece of literature and artwork like this has been preserved.

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