One of the nice things about being here is that you can do things like fly to another country for a weekend. So that's what we did. Last weekend we flew to Dublin for a night and found it refreshing (and not only because of the rain).
Most of the cities we have been to have clearly had a period on wealth in their history. They have a sense of grandeur about them. They might have a large civic space or series of buildings built by a king or emperor or other such dictator. Dublin doesn't feel like that. Its Georgian buildings feel modest and pared back. There's nothing too flashy. Instead of going to the cathedral or palace you go to the (decommissioned) jail.
Most of the cities we have been to have clearly had a period on wealth in their history. They have a sense of grandeur about them. They might have a large civic space or series of buildings built by a king or emperor or other such dictator. Dublin doesn't feel like that. Its Georgian buildings feel modest and pared back. There's nothing too flashy. Instead of going to the cathedral or palace you go to the (decommissioned) jail.
Our usual plan when we go to new places is to walk around a bit on the first day and get our bearings. Saturday was pretty wet so there was less walking and more....striding between various highlights on the Dublin City visitor's map. Sunday was spent out at a little seas side town called Malahide and polishing off a few things in town that we didn't manage to get to on Saturday.
Lowlights included:
- The price of getting into a church,
- The rain
- The Dublin castle which doesn't look like a castle,
- The rain,
- The lack of 'Irishness' outside the pubs and,
- The rain.
Lowlights included:
- The price of getting into a church,
- The rain
- The Dublin castle which doesn't look like a castle,
- The rain,
- The lack of 'Irishness' outside the pubs and,
- The rain.
Highlights included:
- The jail; the history of which gave us a real insight into the history of Ireland,
- Malahide; a nice little town not too far away with its very own castle in a big park,
- The Guinness factory; a very well designed installation explaining the history and manufacture of....well, Guinness.
- Irish pubs; really nice atmosphere with lovely people and did we mention the Guinness?
- The jail; the history of which gave us a real insight into the history of Ireland,
- Malahide; a nice little town not too far away with its very own castle in a big park,
- The Guinness factory; a very well designed installation explaining the history and manufacture of....well, Guinness.
- Irish pubs; really nice atmosphere with lovely people and did we mention the Guinness?
We had a really good time in the short time we had available. Staying in a hostel was interesting and so were the accents. The locals do say 'tirty tree' and 'pertaytoes' very well! It's hard not to laugh when you're being told all about the pertaytoe famine.
Meanwhile we're both well. We have three trips booked for May so the next few weekends are going to be spent enjoying London.
M+S
Meanwhile we're both well. We have three trips booked for May so the next few weekends are going to be spent enjoying London.
M+S
When Kiwis go to London they.....
Get much happier when spring arrives.
The best meal we've had since our last update was.....
Gunniess
Underground countdown
Our total so far is 60/321 and new entries include:
Acton Town for Laura's birthday!
Get much happier when spring arrives.
The best meal we've had since our last update was.....
Gunniess
Underground countdown
Our total so far is 60/321 and new entries include:
Acton Town for Laura's birthday!
1 comment:
Hi, glad you got to the Irish Republic; we've had 4 lovely holidays over there recently and love it. On our first trip the local butcher apologised for the rain and when I tried to make him feel better by saying "It's what makes you green and pleasant" he replied "No, it's what drives us to drink Guiness and Whisky all day" You obviously took advantage of both, to be sure to be sure.
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