Today we walked around Dublin a lot. We stopped into a bunch of shops we had been passing for the last few days. We took this time to pick up souvenirs for everyone back home. It was fun looking through all the different shops where people worked so hard on the things they were selling. There was also the standard gift shops where you can find everything Irish!
We made plans with a young couple we met in the Dublin airport to hang out this night. The couple was our age and from just a few miles away from us here in Michigan. Greg and I actually met them in the Dublin airport when arriving from London. After some chatting we thought it would be cool to hang out so we exchanged numbers.
We met them in the Temple Bar district in front of the Hard Rock Dublin. We walked around a bit before we found a place with a menu that looked like something we would all like. It was great to visit with people from home! The guys talked sports and the girls talked about work and stuff.
After dinner we headed to a couple more bars in the area to listen to some great Irish music! We had a great time watching everyone dance and have fun... We also gave it a bit of a shot, but we didn't get down all that well. Must've been that Guiness!
We finally parted ways pretty late... Greg and I had an early morning the next day, but the night was worth it! We made it back to the hotel and got some shut eye and prepared for our last whole day in Dublin!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dublin - Day 3
Today we took a half day trip to Malahide Castle and to the Howth Peninsula. It was a nice trip for only being half a day. Our tour guide was an older Irish man who was a sweetheart!
We headed out on a double decker tour bus to the Malahide Castle. It was a beautiful castle that had stayed in the family for years. The person who gave the castle to Ireland is still alive but living in Tasmania on family property there. We were not allowed to take pictures inside, but it was very beautiful and historic.
There was a small church on the grounds, a ton of flowers, peacocks, a dollhouse exhibit and just a gorgeous view.
After the castle we headed over to the Howth Peninsula. The drive there was spectacular. We drove along the coastline and just enjoyed the view of the small towns and the beaches.
Once we retuned to Dublin we walked around for the remaining part of the day. We visited Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin. We explored St. Patrick's Cathedral. We watched a variety of street performers like break dancers, jugglers and mimes. It was a lot of fun to just people watch and take it all in!
We headed out on a double decker tour bus to the Malahide Castle. It was a beautiful castle that had stayed in the family for years. The person who gave the castle to Ireland is still alive but living in Tasmania on family property there. We were not allowed to take pictures inside, but it was very beautiful and historic.
There was a small church on the grounds, a ton of flowers, peacocks, a dollhouse exhibit and just a gorgeous view.
After the castle we headed over to the Howth Peninsula. The drive there was spectacular. We drove along the coastline and just enjoyed the view of the small towns and the beaches.
Once we retuned to Dublin we walked around for the remaining part of the day. We visited Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin. We explored St. Patrick's Cathedral. We watched a variety of street performers like break dancers, jugglers and mimes. It was a lot of fun to just people watch and take it all in!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Dublin - Day 2
Walked and walked and walked a little more through Dublin today to find St. James Gate. The map the hotel provided did not have the same street names as what was really there. The street signs were obviously old, but whatever – we found it! Eventually!
We went through the tour on our own which was fine, but somehow there were middle school aged kids on field trips there which made it very hard to enjoy the tour at first. Once we lost the kids, we had fun! There is a tasting section where you get about a quarter of a pint. You also get to try roasted barley which is one of the key ingredients for flavor in a pint of Guinness. We finally made our way to the top where we got our Guinness. The view of Dublin from atop of the Guinness Brewery was breathtaking. The day was beautiful and we could see all the way to the mountains!
While sitting there, of course Greg and I made a couple of new friends. Deb and Mel were here from Oxford, England for Deb’s birthday. They were a couple of really nice people who helped to change our impression of England. They were both quite clear that we experienced tourists London where the people don’t really want to communicate with the tourists. Had we went say… to Oxford – they would have been more polite and open to conversation.
We also found two beautiful churches that we later went back to visit. One was called St. Audons, the other was also part of St. Audons, but when the Anglicans took over the Catholic churches the old mid evil one became St. Audons and when the Catholics could be Catholics out in the open they built a bigger better church right next to it, almost touching it but not touching it. They are both beautiful but we like the older one better!
At St. Audons we met Terry. Terry couldn’t have been more than 35 years old. He clearly loved the mid evil Dublin times and took us on a wonderful and free tour of the church. Greg and I were so grateful to have stumbled upon it!
We went through the tour on our own which was fine, but somehow there were middle school aged kids on field trips there which made it very hard to enjoy the tour at first. Once we lost the kids, we had fun! There is a tasting section where you get about a quarter of a pint. You also get to try roasted barley which is one of the key ingredients for flavor in a pint of Guinness. We finally made our way to the top where we got our Guinness. The view of Dublin from atop of the Guinness Brewery was breathtaking. The day was beautiful and we could see all the way to the mountains!While sitting there, of course Greg and I made a couple of new friends. Deb and Mel were here from Oxford, England for Deb’s birthday. They were a couple of really nice people who helped to change our impression of England. They were both quite clear that we experienced tourists London where the people don’t really want to communicate with the tourists. Had we went say… to Oxford – they would have been more polite and open to conversation.
We also found two beautiful churches that we later went back to visit. One was called St. Audons, the other was also part of St. Audons, but when the Anglicans took over the Catholic churches the old mid evil one became St. Audons and when the Catholics could be Catholics out in the open they built a bigger better church right next to it, almost touching it but not touching it. They are both beautiful but we like the older one better!
At St. Audons we met Terry. Terry couldn’t have been more than 35 years old. He clearly loved the mid evil Dublin times and took us on a wonderful and free tour of the church. Greg and I were so grateful to have stumbled upon it!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Dublin - Day 1
We had to leave London today. We were alright with leaving, but we're sad that there was still so much to do! While on our ride to London - Heathrow airport we sat with an elderly couple from Australia. They were in London headed to Vancouver. Many Canadians had been in London for Canada Day Celebrations which were June 30 – July 1.
Once we got to our gate to head to Dublin, I met Kate and her husband Henry. Kate and Henry had to of been at least 70 or 75 years old. Henry sat in his wheelchair doing Sodoku while Kate told me where she grew up and how her and Henry had only been married for 7 years. They were heading to Wales where Henry resided before they got married and where they both live now. They were very cute!
Once we got onto our flight Greg and I realized we would have to sit by someone. We ended up sitting next to a young man named Keith. Keith had been traveling from Ireland via motor bike through Africa. He was trying to make his way with a friend (or mate as he called him) from the northern tip down to South Africa. He and his friend were planning the trip to be only 4 months. They found that after 6 months they only made it to Nigeria so he had to come home to Ireland to visit his mum.
Once we got to Ireland we needed to find our luggage. We were aggravated with looking for the turnstile with our flight so we went to exchange our money for a break and to gather more patience. While we were there it was obvious that the gal in front of me was from Canada or US. I wanted to ask her where she was from, but I wasn't really in the mood to make small talk. The a young man approached the girl with a ton of luggage. Looking at him I chuckled because he was wearing a Tigers hat and t-shirt!
I had to ask if they were from Detroit, they answered yes... Then I asked where, they answered a small town called Warren... I didn't want to creep them out so I shared with them where in Warren we lived and then we learned they live 5 miles away! Here we are in Dublin Airport chatting with a couple who live only a few minutes away!
We chatted for 15 or 20 minutes and then swapped hotel numbers so we could hang out during the week! Greg and I then ventured off to find our luggage. Once we accomplished that - we hopped on the express bus to the stop near our hotel. On the ride we got to get a brief tour of Dublin and see where the main shopping roads were and where the action was. We got off the bus stop at the main bus station that is across the street from the Custom House (see the image above). After a short walk we arrived at our hotel that sat right on the rive Liffey. It seemed like a very nice hotel. Then we learned they had no record of our reservation.
My initial reaction was let me go potty then I will deal with this. Greg's reaction was let me just sit down for a bit then he will deal with it. So we did that while they dealt with it. We had all of our documentation... so they took care of us nicely. We were fine with waiting 5 minutes while they did that. They were shocked by our patience and politeness, which made us feel good and weird at the same time. What type of reactions were they used to? We enjoyed our view of the river for the week and the yummy breakfasts that were included!
Once we got to our gate to head to Dublin, I met Kate and her husband Henry. Kate and Henry had to of been at least 70 or 75 years old. Henry sat in his wheelchair doing Sodoku while Kate told me where she grew up and how her and Henry had only been married for 7 years. They were heading to Wales where Henry resided before they got married and where they both live now. They were very cute!
Once we got onto our flight Greg and I realized we would have to sit by someone. We ended up sitting next to a young man named Keith. Keith had been traveling from Ireland via motor bike through Africa. He was trying to make his way with a friend (or mate as he called him) from the northern tip down to South Africa. He and his friend were planning the trip to be only 4 months. They found that after 6 months they only made it to Nigeria so he had to come home to Ireland to visit his mum.
Once we got to Ireland we needed to find our luggage. We were aggravated with looking for the turnstile with our flight so we went to exchange our money for a break and to gather more patience. While we were there it was obvious that the gal in front of me was from Canada or US. I wanted to ask her where she was from, but I wasn't really in the mood to make small talk. The a young man approached the girl with a ton of luggage. Looking at him I chuckled because he was wearing a Tigers hat and t-shirt!
I had to ask if they were from Detroit, they answered yes... Then I asked where, they answered a small town called Warren... I didn't want to creep them out so I shared with them where in Warren we lived and then we learned they live 5 miles away! Here we are in Dublin Airport chatting with a couple who live only a few minutes away!We chatted for 15 or 20 minutes and then swapped hotel numbers so we could hang out during the week! Greg and I then ventured off to find our luggage. Once we accomplished that - we hopped on the express bus to the stop near our hotel. On the ride we got to get a brief tour of Dublin and see where the main shopping roads were and where the action was. We got off the bus stop at the main bus station that is across the street from the Custom House (see the image above). After a short walk we arrived at our hotel that sat right on the rive Liffey. It seemed like a very nice hotel. Then we learned they had no record of our reservation.
My initial reaction was let me go potty then I will deal with this. Greg's reaction was let me just sit down for a bit then he will deal with it. So we did that while they dealt with it. We had all of our documentation... so they took care of us nicely. We were fine with waiting 5 minutes while they did that. They were shocked by our patience and politeness, which made us feel good and weird at the same time. What type of reactions were they used to? We enjoyed our view of the river for the week and the yummy breakfasts that were included!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
London - Day 4
We were both very tired this morning. After talking with the very helpful men working as concierge and Ian the door man at our hotel, we decided to do our laundry.
The Laundromat - oh I'm sorry, it's Laundrette and it was only a 5 minute walk. It was the cutest little launderette! The woman working there was so nice to us. She was older and I think she just enjoyed our company. Other people would come in and just leave their laundry to wash or dry, being a paranoid tourist, I was not about to leave my clothes unattended to. Between the woman working the laundrette and a local man from France, they both gave us all the tips we needed to get the laundry done fast and efficient. The local man insisted on showing me how to use the laundry spinner that would spin all of the water out of our clothes so we could dry them for less time and less money.
Later that evening, we took the subway over to the Tower Hill Station. It was quite an easy trip on the subway right off the Circle or District Lines. We met up with a guy named Shaughan (Shawn) who was a wonderful tour guide for the Jack the Ripper tour. We retraced the steps of Jack the Ripper and his victims. Shaughan was an awesome guide and just really got into the role. We walked all over town and then took the subway back home where we spent another evening in search of a late night dinner.
You know, 9 pm is late eating for folks in London...
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
London - Day 3
Time for a day trip! We booked a trip through our hotel to head out to Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Greenwich. It was a nice trip. It was a good day because it rained on and off and we were able to be inside touring the various places. We were both in awe of Canterbury Cathedral and Leeds Castle. They were both breathtaking. We were grateful to be surrounded by such history and have everyone around us appreciate it too!
Later, we headed over to the Hard Rock Café London. Apparently this Hard Rock is the first one ever. What would a trip be without me randomly talking to people? We made quite a few new friends this evening. Sergio our bartender and Emily our waitress were wonderful.Emily was trying to get us to go out in SoHo, but Greg and I got so drunk from Sergio making our drinks that we knew we had to go back to the hotel.
It was a long dark walk through St. James Park but we made it and we made it safely!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
London - Day 2
This morning Greg and I had our first British Breakfast it was good but different. I think Greg enjoyed the variety of meat they had to offer, but I enjoyed the Nutella and croissants!
We headed over to the Big Bus Company stop where we proceeded to take the Hop on Hop off bus all around London for the day. It was a great way for us to get to see a large number of things. We then took the bus over to near Millennium Pier where we took our free boat cruise along the Thames River. Our tour guide was hilarious and very knowledgeable of the buildings along the river.
We got off the boat tour near the London Tower. We walked back to the hotel which was quite a long walk. We became hungry and decided to find a pub to eat at. That was an adventure within itself because pubs in London stop serving dinner fairly early. We were finally able to find a place and we really enjoyed our second English dinner. We are both doing our best to try new foods... which is hard for us both! LOL!
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