Prior to our visit to Dublin, where we’ve been for the past six days, and after Beth’s visit to Stratford, we had two last days in Moreton-in-Marsh to play with Daisy, peruse the local market, and have a good meal out at an Indian restaurant.
After saying goodby to Daisy last Wednesday evening, we caught a train to Birmingham for a quick overnight stay before catching an early train the following day to Holyhead, Wales, where we caught a ferry to Dublin. We have really enjoyed the train system in the UK. Much easier than flying and dealing with security and other logistics.
The ferry was awesome too — large with a theatre, cafe, restaurant, shop, quiet zones, and cabins. The seas were smooth which made for an easy 3 1/2 hour trip. We would have enjoyed it more but upon waking up in Birmingham at 4:30am to catch the train, we found we had an email from our Airbnb host cancelling our 6 night stay in Dublin that was to begin that night! That made our rail/sail travel a stressful search for accommodations using slow WiFi. About 2 hours into the ferry ride (since the wifi on the train was useless), we finally found something (not Airbnb) in our price range and everything turned out OK, so we were able to enjoy the rest of the ferry ride.
Cafe on the ferrySitting area
There is so much to see and do in Dublin. We saw a lot of great parks, continued our tours of colleges/libraries, learned about Irish writers and some Irish history, and sampled some Irish beer and whiskey. See photos below:
Bell Tower at Trinity University — one bell rings at 6:10 to call everyone to 6:15 dinner. The 2nd bell only rings at exam time or for funerals on campus.The line to see the Book of Kells (illustrated book of New Testament). That and the library were our reason for visiting Trinity.The gorgeous library. We saw the Book of Kells and library after a great tour of the campus provided by a PhD sociology student.Bob before a Guinness.Bob after a few.Jameson Whisky showroom. It’s no longer made in Dublin. We didn’t do the tour, but I can’t say we didn’t sample any of their whiskey while in Dublin.Teeling Distillery — only distillery currently making whiskey in Dublin.Inside the distillery — awesome tour! Prior to the world wars and America’s prohibition, Dublin accounted for 60% of world’s whiskyJames Joyce Memorial. Visited the Writer’s Museum which covered — Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Yeats, etc., even Frank McCourt.Hanging with Oscar Wilde. We’re both facing his old room at Trinity U.One of the bridges over the River Liffey which runs through Dublin.Another view of the River LiffeyView of a cricket game in Phoenix Park, one of the largest urban parks in Europe and twice the size of Central Park in New York.Selfie in front of the Irish President’s house that is located within Phoenix Park. The original part of the structure served as the Park Manager’s house which was apparently a prestigious position. We had a great (and free!) tour of the building.Cross erected for Papal visit during the 70s. It is located in Phoenix Park near the US Ambassador’s estate (also in the park).Memorial cemetary for the leaders of the 1916 Irish rebellion against England. The memorial is on the grounds of a prison where some were kept before being executed for their role in the uprising.Remembrance statue and fountain for 1916 rebellion which ultimately led to Ireland’s statehood.Book display in the Temple Bar area of Dublin.Public art
Yesterday we did a day trip out to Howth, a small fishing village just north of Dublin. Will do a separate photo blog on that. Now we are getting ready for our return flight to the USA after spending 3 months out of the country. Our next house sit begins on May 30 south of Tucson in Green Valley. We will be there 3 months watching a house and two dogs while the owners test out living in Panama.
Peckish Travels 
One reply on “Irish Adventures”
Exciting and welcome back
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