On Saturday we were Super Tourists and hit up all the big sites in Dublin. Christchurch Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Jameson Distillery, Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Castle. The city is pretty compact so besides getting turned around with the map, we manged to walk around everywhere easily.St. Patrick's Cathedral had a beautiful green park.
We didn't see any rainbows, but at the Jameson Distillery we found gold - We learned all about how the famous Irish whiskey is made and drank some too!
We didn't see any rainbows, but at the Jameson Distillery we found gold - We learned all about how the famous Irish whiskey is made and drank some too!
At Guinness, we learned about the science behind the beer, and the tour ended with a pint at the Gravity Bar overlooking Dublin.
Saturday we took a day trip to the Wicklow Mountains and the town of Glendalough. Our bus tour took us south along the coast and through the Irish countryside, where we saw babbling brooks, sheep in meadows, waterfalls, mountains, lakes, and valleys. It was spectacular.
In Glendalough, which means "Glen of the Two Lakes," there are two glacial lakes nestled in breathtaking mountains which turn purple in the summer from the heather flowers. There are also ruins of churchs, a tower which may have housed Rapunzel, and a cemetary filled with Celtic crosses. The beauty of nature was overwhelming.
For our last night in town, we took the DART train to Howth, a small fishing town about 30 minutes out from Dublin, for dinner. Imagine this: You are sitting in a pub on the coast of Ireland. In this small fisherman's town, you are the only tourist. You sit in a pub with a plate full of the most delicious fish you ever ever had, fried and served with "chips." Guinness in hand, you sit and watch Ireland win the National Rugby Champtionship game. You feel as if you too are Irish, as the people in the bar decked out in Ireland apparal cheer on the team. It was beyond wonderful, and as with absolutely everything I did that weekend, I said "surely this is the pinnacle of the trip, and maybe even my life!"
Sunday we spent the last few tearful hours in Ireland walking around St. Stephen's Green and doing a last bit of shopping. I didn't want to leave! St. Stephen's Green is certainly called a "green" for a reason, and the park had numerous fountains and statues of famous Irishmen. Nikki and Blake had earlier flights then me, so I went off to the National Gallery Museum and saw some Irish art, as well as works by Peter Brueghel, El Greco, and "Lady Writing a Letter" by Vermeer.
On my walk back, I heard music playing in the distance, which I of course followed. There was a live band and what seemed to be all of Dublin was celebrating in the street to welcome home their Rugby champions. A green flag was put in my hand, which I enthusiastically waved along with the crowd and cheered as the Rugby team drove by.
I hope to go back to Ireland some day soon, and I know the luck of the Irish will draw me back.
In Glendalough, which means "Glen of the Two Lakes," there are two glacial lakes nestled in breathtaking mountains which turn purple in the summer from the heather flowers. There are also ruins of churchs, a tower which may have housed Rapunzel, and a cemetary filled with Celtic crosses. The beauty of nature was overwhelming.
For our last night in town, we took the DART train to Howth, a small fishing town about 30 minutes out from Dublin, for dinner. Imagine this: You are sitting in a pub on the coast of Ireland. In this small fisherman's town, you are the only tourist. You sit in a pub with a plate full of the most delicious fish you ever ever had, fried and served with "chips." Guinness in hand, you sit and watch Ireland win the National Rugby Champtionship game. You feel as if you too are Irish, as the people in the bar decked out in Ireland apparal cheer on the team. It was beyond wonderful, and as with absolutely everything I did that weekend, I said "surely this is the pinnacle of the trip, and maybe even my life!"
Sunday we spent the last few tearful hours in Ireland walking around St. Stephen's Green and doing a last bit of shopping. I didn't want to leave! St. Stephen's Green is certainly called a "green" for a reason, and the park had numerous fountains and statues of famous Irishmen. Nikki and Blake had earlier flights then me, so I went off to the National Gallery Museum and saw some Irish art, as well as works by Peter Brueghel, El Greco, and "Lady Writing a Letter" by Vermeer.
On my walk back, I heard music playing in the distance, which I of course followed. There was a live band and what seemed to be all of Dublin was celebrating in the street to welcome home their Rugby champions. A green flag was put in my hand, which I enthusiastically waved along with the crowd and cheered as the Rugby team drove by.
I hope to go back to Ireland some day soon, and I know the luck of the Irish will draw me back.
I'm so glad that you went to Glendalough! I love the scenery and history there. Stephen's Green is fun too, did you happen to walk by the Newman Chapel there, part of the Catholic University?
ReplyDeleteI just poked through all your pictures on picasa. COOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!!!!!!
ReplyDeletep.s. see you IN MERE HOURS
Sounds like Ireland was great!!! I will go back with you when you return :) LOVE you!
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