Gage's
pass worked like a charm, and I arrived in Dublin bleary-eyed and ready to take
on the day! I took just a backpack so I could get started immediately.
I had
rented an Airbnb (9A Ballinteer, near Dundrum), and the host Paula suggested that
the public transportation was great. I found the bus, figured out how to pay
(you needed exact change), and found out how to get to the city center of
Dublin. Everyone was very friendly and helpful.
Dublin
I
walked to the Guinness Storehouse for a tour. It was a museum (they had a video
of men making barrels out of wood without measuring, which was fascinating) and
ended with a Guinness on the seventh story all glass, circular room. I just sat
and looked at the skyline and realized everyone was right - Gunniess does taste
different in Ireland!
Christ
Church - This was the prettiest one of all the churches I saw.
Saint
James's Gate – This was right outside the storehouse.
Castle-looking,
modern art museum - I didn't go in but admired the castle-like exterior.
Kilmainham
Gaol – No one was here, so I didn’t get a ticket, but I liked seeing it.
Part
of old city wall - Just right along in the street! I love when they just leave
things plopped right where they used to be.
St
Audoen Church – This had ruins in the courtyard. The guide here was super
friendly and wanted me to love his place and I did.
Dublin
Castle - The grounds were so European and there was a statue of a tiger. Felt
royal.
Trinity
College - A friend in college studied here and I was happy to see it. It was
absolutely nothing like I pictured. I was going to buy a tour and saw there was
a footnote that the books had been removed from the book of Kells. Is it worth
it? I asked the ticket seller. No, he said. Go to Marsh's.
St
Patrick's Cathedral and Marsh’s - I bought
a dual ticket to St Patricks and Marsh's. St Patrick's was okay, but I
loved Marsh's as soon as I walked in because apparently I LOVE the smell of
16th century books. They had an old map exhibit too, and I really enjoyed being
here.
I was
so tired and so jet lagged, as I’d been up more than 24 hours. I got a burrito
to go and the cashier asked if I had a student discount. THANKS! I rode the train home and saw I had
an 18 minute walk to my house. Whew. I went to bed early.
Day
two
At
the suggestion of my host, I walked to Marlay Park and headed on Wicklow Way,
which is really long – it actually goes 78 miles across Ireland. There were
tons of runners out at Marlay Park, plus people walking dogs. It was a lively
place. I walked on pavement for awhile thinking...this isn't what I meant when
I said hike...but then it turned into one! It got steep and rocky and opened up
to views of the city and the water.
Then
it happened - what I pictured when I thought of Ireland. I saw SHEEP and ROCK
WALLS. I have a deep affinity for rock walls because my mom built them at both
of our houses. I wanted to see sheep because Kris talked about his farm tours
in the past.
I was
thrilled. It was incredibly windy, but still warm. I walked right up a mountain
with mountains in the distance to Fairy Castle, which is a pile of rocks I'm
convinced people built to get out of the wind.
The
view was gorgeous. Mountains to one side, trees another, city, and the bay.
Beautiful.
I
didn't want to walk the same way back, so I figured I’d go to a car park and
call an uber. I had checked to make sure ubers came here, so no worries there.
I talked to a woman and she said, you should go to the coast - pointing at it.
It looked so close. Could I get there by train or bus? I asked. Oh, probably,
she said, though she had no idea how.
I
kept going and eventually descended into a car park. I had hiked nine miles at
that point and decided I'd uber to lunch. Just kidding! The uber pretended it
worked but when it came to 'find driver' it just circled. Oh well. I walked
another mile to a pub, but i didn't like the feel of it, so I hit up one on the
way home for a toastie (what they call a grilled sandwich). A 12 mile morning!
I
changed at home and headed for the coast. It took me a little to figure it out,
but I had to first ride a train and then a bus. The entire trip minus waiting
was 50 minutes. When I asked people for help along the way they couldn't
believe i was going there. I'm not sure why - it must seem far? I drive 50 minutes
for dinner with friends.
I
went to Dun Laoghaire which is pronounced Done Leery. Much easier.
I
loved it here. I walked on the pier, I watched the waves, I ate ice cream - so
great. It was really pretty and there were so many people out, even ones swimming.
There were also tons of young people. I would spend more time here but I had to
get back to watch the World Cup rugby match at the local pub. (Did I know this
was going on? Have I ever watched a rugby match? No to both, but my host told
me the pubs would be busy because of it so I wanted to join in.)
The
crowd was FIRED UP. It was a familiar sports atmosphere to me. I looked around.
Not one person was eating. I ordered a
burger. Not one person had a glass of water. After Ireland scored (they killed
Scotland), when no one was paying attention, I quietly asked the bartender for
one and slammed it.
Day Three
I
stopped by a beautiful street with umbrellas over it, and then I booked it to
Christ Church for the service. The music was so great - the voices and minor
harmonies and the acoustic quality - I loved it. The message was about not
worrying, which I noted for later when I was trying to get home and there were
no seats on the flights.
National
Gallery of Ireland - I love art museums, and this had a couple of my old
favorites (Carvaggio, Monet) and then some new ones I loved (Geraldine O'Neill).
They had an entire section of Irish artists that I didn’t know, and I got to
see what was voted Ireland’s favorite painting, The Meeting on the Turret Stairs,
open only one hour a day. Beautiful place, and just the right size so you could
see every room, and free.
I
walked to the street along the Irish Whiskey Museum and it seemed everyone was
out. It was a 72 degree day in October, and it seemed everyone wanted to be
outside. Families, couples, people shopping, street performers people loved
(singing Ed Sheeran of course) - all such a pleasant atmosphere!
I
walked to the Ha'Penny Bridge and the Sprire, two things I didn't know were
famous until I researched.
I
took the train to see St Stephens Garden (their Central Park) and Ivegah
Gardens which surprised me with a waterfall and palm trees, plus a hedge
labyrinth! My friends Amy and Julie had just been talking about these and it
was adorable. I totally figured it out.
I
took the train back to the Temple Bar and wandered in and out of places playing
traditional Irish music and traditional American music. The city was packed
with people. You could hear so many languages at the same time.
I had
a burrito made by a guy from Mexico (such traditional Irish food!) On the way
home, I was immediately on alert at my train stop when I saw a group of guys
fighting. I stayed far away, but no one else was worried and stood near them. I
saw it was three train police arguing with a drunk shirtless guy. He eventually
left. Danger free!
I awoke
the next morning to see that instead of there being 16 seats available on my
flight, there were now -27. I didn’t make that flight, nor the next one, but I got
the third and made it home. It was all worth it in the end!
Notes:
Irish
people greet you with ‘Hiya.’
I
asked if the Wicklow Way hike was good, and the guy told me, “All the country
walks are grand.”
Lots
of earbud use among adults and kids.
Even
though they drive on the left side of the road, they do not walk on left side.
This surprised me.
There
were so many more people smoking, vaping, and kissing. Not at the same time.
You're
not allowed to eat on the train or bus but I noticed this everywhere...no one
is eating or drinking. I didn’t see one water bottle or sippy cup. In the
gardens, where everyone was hanging out, no one was eating. At the pubs
outside, no eating. People might be drinking a beer, but never water. So different
from home..
In
America there is a public trash can within view almost everywhere. I don’t notice
this until I’m somewhere else and have to carry my trash.
People
often had to ask me to repeat myself. I often had to ask them too. The older Irish
had much stronger accents than the teens and adults, which is true all over
now, of course.
Anytime
people asked where I was from I would say Michigan, because I assume I sounded
American. Things I heard about that: We don’t get many from Michigan. I had a
great time in Detroit once. I know it's beaten down now, but I had a great
weekend. On top of Fairy Castle, a woman said, I bet you don’t have anything
like this in Michigan. (Sure do!)
People
looked just so Irish. That was fun.
Traveling
alone - People were always willing to answer questions and then often asked
about me, where I was going, what I was seeing, and then offering suggestions
of good places. They all wanted me to love it there, and they all commented on
my luck with the beautiful weather! I didn’t see a drop of rain.
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