Dublin- (Part II)

How did we go about picking our “must see” sights- both in Dublin and Ireland/ Northern Ireland……well guidebooks are our lead resources…..whether checking Lonely Planet’s Ireland guidebook (hard copy only for taking with us!) or Fodor’s Ireland– at least a couple of us spent time checking out both the highlights as well as the lesser known sights. Newspaper articles also came in handy, as did Trip Advisor for restaurants, etc.

IMG_2187In Dublin, on days two and three, we checked out various spots according to our interests.  We didn’t travel together all of the time in Dublin, and this allowed us to individualize our interests…….first of all-The Book of Kells at Trinity College as well as The Old Library.  A must see for all history/ book aficionados.  Then onto The Chester Beatty Library, which houses Egyptian papyrus texts, beautifully illuminated copies of the Qur’an, the Bible, European medieval and renaissance manuscripts- one of the top museums in Europe. Also- here we had lunch- and the lunches at historical sights and museums in Ireland were delicious- a far cry from what is often served in North America.

A couple of us then headed to the top rated National Museum of Ireland- Archaeology, while the other two headed to National Museum of Ireland– Decorative Art.  All in all a busy day, topped off with one of the best meals on our trip- supper at Matt The Thresher Seafood Pub.

IMG_2226The following day we headed to Merrion Square for pictures of the Oscar Wilde statue, before heading to Number 29, ESB Georgian House Museum for a look and tour at the Georgian style houses for which Dublin is so famous. From there we headed to the National Library of Ireland where we were fortunate enough to catch a retrospective of Yeats……how fabulous that was. We ended our day with a walk to a foodie market in the Temple Bar area where some of us enjoyed fresh oysters and a glass of wine sitting at an outdoor food booth…….perfect!

All in all, Dublin is a great city- we barely scratched the surface, and is a place we can go back to again and again……next post- exploring the rest of Ireland……the great outdoors!

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The Best of Ireland

I have titled this post the best of Ireland, only because I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this fabulous country……As you know from my last post, my three friends and I booked a custom self-drive vacation with Royal Irish Tours – we decided on where we wanted to go, and they booked the hotels (breakfast included) and the car for us. Highly recommend the company- and this method of travelling…..no muss no fuss! Over the next few posts I will give a short synopsis of our travels in Ireland.

Upon our arrival in Dublin, we made our way to the Alexander Hotel, a luxuray 4-star hotel close to Merrion Square in the city centre.  Arriving in the morning meant we had the rest of the day to begin our explorations, and so using my iphone I sent an email to Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours of Dublin for a possible tour that afternoon at 230 pm. After drinking coffees/ teas and having a bite to eat in a coffee shop located not too far from the hotel, we began to explore the downtown area while keeping an eye on the time.

Molly Malone Statue- The Meeting Place for our Walking Tour

Molly Malone Statue- The Meeting Place for our Walking Tour

At the appointed time, we arrived at the meeting place, and there was our tour guide waiting for us. Talk about service! Because of the time of the year, we were the only ones on the walking tour, which meant we could ask questions to our heart’s content! (More about travelling in the shoulder season later!) Having a walking tour this early in our visit to Dublin meant we could orient ourselves, decide what we wanted to look at more closely, and then arrange our visit accordingly.  Tip for travellers:  Always plan a walking tour shortly after arrival in a new city……

Saint Patrick's Cathedral as dusk approaches

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral as dusk approaches

How far did we walk that first day?  Don’t laugh- 12.5 km……we may have overdone it! Along with the walking tour, we headed to evening vespers at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for a lovely end to our first day in Dublin.

Next post: Our “must sees” in Dublin…….

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