The Rick Steves Tour of Dublin

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So . . . I think that by the time I leave this glorious island I'm going to be a master of the Dublin day trip.

This weekend one of my best friends, Pulkit, came to visit me in Galway. Despite how obscenely well-traveled Pulkit is he had never been to Ireland, so I was excited to introduce him to the country. We spent most of our time poking around Galway, but Sunday we woke up mighty early to catch a bus to Dublin. I'm getting quite good at taking up twice my allotted amount of room and catching some sleep on these buses, so we managed to have a fair amount of energy upon arriving in Dublin. Of course, when we got off the bus it was raining (all the more Irish), so we quickly took shelter under the overhang of the GPO, consulted Rick, asked a friendly Garda, and figured out the quickest way to Kilmainhaim Jail. After catching a city bus, and having a very nice lady point out the stop we needed (sense the condensation made seeing out the windows impossible), we made it. We were very excited to discover that students only had to pay 2.10, and that we were just in time to catch the next tour. Two points for timing. The jail turned out to be the best thing I have done in Dublin - the tour was EXTREMELY interesting . . . maybe my friend Katie has just turned me into an Irish History dork, but I loved learning about the country from this perspective. The tour was packed with information we never hear about (like the real story behind the famine), and it gave me a much greater understanding if Irish idenitity. I thought it was strange that I hadn't heard about this site from anyone I actually talked to - I learned about if from Rick Steves (of course) - but, if I was planning a trip to Dublin, this would take first priority.

After the Jail we stopped by the Book of Kells, which I wrote about it my first blog. . . . I just felt like Pulkit had to see it. Plus, it was one of the other sites that Rick awarded with three triangles. Then we stopped by Bewley's on Graffton street to sit down for a few minutes and grab some much needed caffeine and sugar (haha - if there's anything the two of us DON'T need, it's caffeine and sugar . . . if you'd seen the kid after a couple frappacinos, you'd understand). But after a bit of rejuvenation we headed onto Rick Steve's Highlight #3: The National Museum. This stop was interesting with its collection of artifacts from all eras of Irish history. However, after spending lots of time in museums during my travels (especially after hitting the British Museum with Pulkit over New Year's) it didn't seem like anything overly special. We enjoyed wandering around, but my personal highlight was watching the excited German children point out ancient butter churns.

So . . . we successfully made it to Rick's three favorite spots in Dublin, and even managed to find the bus station in order to catch a lift back to Galway in time for pot luck with API girls and guests. Let's just say: Nutella and Raspberries. Enough said.

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Photos

On the way to Kilmainhaim
Pulkit - Mr. Tourist - likes to take pictures everywhere . . .

Death Row
Where many leaders of the 1916 Rising were imprisoned before their executions

Comments

[Emily]

The prison looks so interesting! I think I just might have to go there the next time I am in Dublin. Can I borrow your book?