Dublin

Nipped over to Dublin last week with Nadine Holfter for  a three night stay. Its only an hour and £60.00 return with Ryanair from London, so it was well worth it. It was a very bumpy flight over though, thanks to strong winds and and even bumpier landing which was not great, but we landed safely so it was all ok.

Even the waves in the Irish Sea were visible from 10000m - big waves.

We (Nadine and I) spent three three days walking our feet off round the place. Its actually a very small city, and it is quite easy to reach places, so we covered a lot of ground. The weather wasn't too bad either, although we did get soaked on Monday afternoon.

We stayed just off O'Connell Street, not far from the Spire. This stands on the spot where Nelson's Pillar used to stand. But that was blown up in the 1990s and replaced with the 10 metal structure which  is apparently representative of all church spires in Eire.

 Parnell Square was just down the road too. Named after Irish statesman Charles Stewart Parnell, a large statue commemorates him just where the Square meets O'Connell Street.

Unfortunately, when approached from behind, it presents a slightly different image....

Christ Church cathedral was pretty impressive but not worth the 6.50 Euros that they were asking for. However, as a service was due, we managed to get in for that and for nothing. Even the service was ok and the priest shook everybody's hand when it was over - including ours.

We also popped into St Patricks but didn't go in.....

 Then to City hall.......

And to a couple of photographic exhibitions, one a student one, the other a news/ documentary one from the 1960s to present day.

After lunch........

 ..........we wandered through Temple Bar and into Trinity College....

 That's where it really started raining, and it carried on as we walked back to the hotel via the banks of the Liffey.

Day two.....The Guinness Storehouse. We got the bus to that one as although it wasn't that far, it was still raining.

Whilst at the bus stop, three modified Vespas rode past. One came back for a second circuit.

The Storehouse is really worth a visit.....now disused as a brewing place, it is an interactive museum with many of the original features incorporated into the displays.

Included in the admission price is a free pint of Guinness - which you can either pour yourself on the fourth floor, or go right to the top of the building to a bar with panoramic views over the whole city, and have it poured for you there. We did that, although neither of us actually like the stuff. But at least we tried it.

We ate lunch in the Brazen Head, Dublin's oldest pub.....

... and then went back to Temple Bar for another poke about in the shops although we were quite restrained and didn't buy anything apart from a fridge magnet. Our feet were aching by now so we headed back to the hotel via the banks of the Liffey, then went and found some food.

Our flight didn't leave until 4pm so we still had the best part of the day to see a few last bits and pieces. It rained again, although it did stop from time to time.

One of the last things we saw was the memorial gardens to people who had died in the battle for irish freedom.

The flight back to London was better - smooth, uneventful and on time. Caught the train from Gatwick to East Croydon, then the bus home. A good use of a few days, and very sore feet as a consequence.