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Published: December 14th 2010
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Hello once again!
Back from new travels to Ireland! It was really really fabulous. I don't think I've ever met so many friendly, helpful people.
We arrived in Dublin on the 7th of December and immediately had a bit of trouble locating things like the currency exchange and the bus stop to get to the city centre, and stopped to ask for help. This man at the airport was very funny, dry humoured just the way I like. He made some crack about us going the way we usually go and if we were doing that then we should probably do the opposite if it's not working. Then, just as we were about to head through the exit (where by the way, you can't get back through once you've crossed ) he says "welcome to Glasgow!". My friend had a bird. She thought we had somehow taken the wrong plane. I laughed and laughed! Ahh first impressions of Dublin.
When we finally made it onto our bus the bus driver truly was incredible. We told him where we were going and he dropped everyone off at the last stop, shut the lights down on the bus and drove
us right to the road leading to our hotel- not even a normal stop for him! At the hotel we checked in and to our dismay they stuck us in a "smoking" room. Since we specifically booked non smoking I thought this was less than cool and went to the front desk to raise a little hell...our room was actually giving me a headache from sitting in it for like 15 minutes. I may have done a bad thing and told them I'm asthmatic to get them to move us since the hotel was actually full according to them but I dont feel that bad since they didnt give us what we requested just because they were busy even though we prebooked it. Needless to say they made the necessary changes and moved us immediately. I guess alls fair in travel and tourism.
In total we spent 5 nights and 6 days in Dublin's fair city where the girls are so pretty. We did some sightseeing on our own just touring around the city and shopping. On the second day we did the Viking and Dublinia exhibition and also toured Christ Church Cathedral. This was truly a worthwhile adventure.
Me!
On the skywheel overlooking Dublin at the Docklands It was the best exhibit I think I've ever been to. We also visited City Hall and Dublin Castle and had lunch at Chester Beatty Library which I'm pretty deserves a day spent in itself. We found the shopping district and spent some time there. It was fantastic! Dinner was the best fajitas I've ever had in my life at a new Mexican restaurant in the heart of Dublin. I was in heaven!
Day 3 we thought we were going on a tour of the Wicklow Mountains but it didnt happen because of weather conditions. We found the tourist office and bought a bunch of souvenirs and then walked down to the Docklands and found a really fantastic Christmas Market. I definitely could have stood there all day drinking mulled wine and listening to this adorable Irish man play Galway Girl. It was a really great moment. After the Christmas market we found the train station and took a train to this little coastal town called Bray. We walked along the beach and took a bunch of pictures and stopped in this tiny pub for a few beers.
Day 4 We went to Malahide on the train to
Stadium
View of the Stadium in Dublin from the skywheel see the Castle which was pretty fabulous! When we got back into Dublin we took the "hop on, hop off" tour bus around the city and learned about all the sights we had seen on the first day. Our tour guide was great, he even sang to us! We finally got off at the writer's museum and did the tour (although to be honest it didnt live up to my expectations) and then walked back into the city centre and found a pub to eat and have our one Dublin night out in. We were in the Temple Bar district but we basically just picked the pub that looked the least full since by then it was 6:30 and insane everywhere. I had the best vegetarian lasagne ever! Seriously the Irish have some outrageously good food. We started to drink a bit after eating and the next thing you know we have a tab going at the bar and a whole group of like 12 new friends! ha I told the one guy how much I love this one Irish song and he went and told the band to play it for me and they did! Another truly memorable moment
in Dublin. After that pub we moved on to a club and danced a bit and didnt end up getting back to the hotel until 5am. The tour into the Wicklow Mountains was re-scheduled for 9am the next day....
Day 5 We had to wake up for 8:30 and get ourselves to the tourism office by 9. Somehow we did it (I think I was still drunk) and spent the day on a tour bus travelling into the Wicklow Mountains. Everytime we stopped somewhere, I got out to puke. Back on the bus I slept and probably missed most of the tour. I do remember seeing Bono's house (from U2) and I did get off the bus to see the mountains. The only time I truly thought I was crazy for being there was when our tour guide passed out shots of Irish whiskey on the bus. I thought I was going to die. He had to get me a garbage bag...
On the last day I was really really sick. Turns out that hangover was actually the start of the flu which I am now currently enjoying in the comfort of my room in Sweden. We spent
two extra hours at the airport because our flight was delayed and nearly missed the last bus out. I had the worst fever ever and spent hours huddled and shivering and we didnt end up making it back to Linkoping until 2:30am. When we arrived it was -14 here.
It was a really amazing amazing trip and I have fallen madly in love with Ireland and hope to make it back there again. What a beautiful country filled with people who are truly the kindest most warm hearted individuals.
Slainte!!
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