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
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
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…….
