http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Ireland , County Dublin en-us Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:53:05 +0000 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:53:05 +0000 After nearly 3 weeks in and round the northern half of Ireland we have formed a few impressions we thought you might like to reflect on. Ireland is a beautiful and hospitable country with magnificent scenery and an absorbing past. We have met some wonderful people and are having a great time but it is flying past too quickly. Next week we head across to Galway.In country areas every second person http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-790897.html HelloToday was another free day. I got up and hung out downstairs for a while. Then other people came down and joined me. It was nice to use wifi. It was after noon when we decided to go out. We went to this nice little bistro called Copper Alley Bistro. It was the best meal I have had yet. I got a beef burger and chips. The people were really nice as well. After that we went to get ice cream. I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/Ballsbridge/blog-790379.html Hello againToday was a free day The girls in my room and I decided that we would sleep in and then go to the zoo. We got up between 10 and 11 and then set out for the zoo. We walked 2 12 to 3 miles to the zoo. It was fun We got to see all kinds of animals We saw some giraffes tigers rhinos and elephants. It was so much fun I really enjoyed my time at the zoo. After the zoo we came back t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/Ballsbridge/blog-790199.html HelloToday has been a good day We had part two of the lecture. We talked about the Irish Civil Rights Movement. We learned about Bloody Sunday and all that came from it. Bloody Sunday was a horrible day in Irish history. After our lecture we went to the Natural History Museum. The museum was huge It took us a couple of hours to go through it. We got to see many different things dealing with th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/Ballsbridge/blog-790031.html Hello againSo this morning I woke up at 500 am. I felt well rested but a little tired. I decided that I would sleep a little more. I39m still getting adjusted to the time difference and jetlag. It was finally time to get up and go for the day. We had a lecture to attend this morning. We set out for the place where the lecture was and ended up getting lost. We walked for over 2 miles before http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/Ballsbridge/blog-789829.html I am so excited to be in Ireland My journey began yesterday in Birmingham and now I am in Dublin Ireland This morning we have been walking around Dublin. We have gotten to see some of the sites and gotten a brief history lesson on parts of Dublin. We saw the Christ Church and talked about the history. We saw where some of the vikings39 homes were and how they were laid out. We toured Trinity http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/Ballsbridge/blog-789677.html We visited Monasterboice Hill of Tara Hill of Slane Trim Castle Melifont Abbey Battle of the Boyne and then had lunch at an Irish Pub called Boyle39s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/Ballsbridge/blog-787769.html On the first day we traveled from Dublin to Drogheda where we saw New Grange and Knowth. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/Ballsbridge/blog-787764.html Oh Ireland. What can I say Its been great so far. Andy and I found each other easily in the airport and our trip from the airport to the hotel was a breeze. It definitely is living up to its weather though. Absolutely freezing and cloudy everyday. But Dublin39s architecture and rich history make up for it. I especially love the random old drunk men that wander around midday and noone seems to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/blog-787331.html We set the alarm for 7am. We were not docked yet still moving up the mouth of the Liffey river. It is cloudy and it looks like maybe some light showers 52 degrees. I jumped in the shower as Ken went downstairs to get our lattes. We called Bobbie and Annie to wake them up. We went up for our eggs and orange juice didn39t see Annie and Bobbie. We met them outside our room and headed down to ge http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-785126.html 7 12 hour trip to London. Boarding the flight went smoothly and after we lifted off from Chigao we received the usual airline dinner offering pasta or some kinda meat. Beverages were plentiful and included selections of both beer and wine. We stayed awake a little bit after the meal watching some movies. Turbulence also was featured as dessert. It was good enough for the pilot to seat the.fli http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-785098.html Today is the big day We are at the airport waiting in the terminal The first flight is a puddle jumper to Chicago then we hop to Heathrow then finally arrive in glorious Dublin The morning started off by sleeping in... When you regularly hope out of bed at 6 AM 9 AM is sleeping in. The remainder of the perishable food in the refrigerator created a hearty breakfast. After attending to final a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-784890.html Packing is a big thing. It is all about how to have enough clothing toiletries and electronic devices yet fit it into a backpack eachNo we do not have those mondo oversized hiker39s backpacks but a decently sized backpack each like kids use to haul all their stuff back and forth from school.The way we deal with the clothing is to roll it up tightly after folding it carefully then wrap http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-784403.html It has been a lot of planning and saving but we are within 2 days of traveling We have packed and repacked our backpacks arranged for transport taking care of a last few details. This has been 4 12 months in the planningIt all started after our last vacation when we were thinking a bicycle trip through Belgium kinda like the New Belgium Beer Company founder had made many years ago. Ther http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-784393.html ltstrong stylefontfamily Arial sansserif lineheight 19pxgtTravelling with Kids in Irelandltbr stylefontfamily Arial sansserif lineheight 19px gtSome changes for us we didn39t take the carseat just a booster. He had more room to stretch out on the plane but didn39t seem to sleep as easily on it. On the other hand he seemed happier with the increased mobili http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-783694.html 03042013 HowthOur roommates at the hostel turned out to be rather noisy and generally unkind seriously kids if you go back to the dorms at 1 a.m. you39re quiet as mice and definitely don39t spend another hour discussing this nice guy at the bar what a clich we got out of the room as soon as we could as we couldn39t sleep anyway feeling a bit tired. I guess that39s why http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Howth/blog-780993.html So let39s start. I hope to gradually describe my previous trips and travels and also to be rather systematic with the trips that are yet to come. I already have one analogue diary written by hand with photos developed in the oldfashioned photo lab something I can carry with me when I travel. But... maybe it39d be nice to actually share my experiences with someone We will see how it http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-780991.html I scheduled my train and ferry to Dublin the morning of my 2nd day in London. I had a total of four usable days in London including my halfday trip to Stonehenge which wasnt enough time especially given certain distractions. Thus I left without seeing the Tower of London a Shakespearean play or any of the musicals. Good thing I dont have to be anywhere at any particular time after my tr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin/blog-780194.html From 23022013 to 27022013 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin//blog-778842.html Ireland Part ITwo days we39ve been in Ireland and it39s been fantastic Tomorrow we are traveling to the West coast to Galway Doolin and Killarney. Ireland is beyond incredible http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/Dublin//blog-777012.html