Dublin, Ireland

Our much anticipated trip to Dublin was our first exploration to Ireland, a country famed for its sports loving, Guinness beer drinking, happy go-lucky people with natural beautiful countryside of rolling hills, castles, and amazing land formations such as the Giant Causeway in Northern Ireland.Dublin city is divided by the river Liffey, with the northern side a shoppers heaven dominated by some of Dublin's largest departments stores and shopping malls dotted along pedestrian only streets, and this is where our self discovery tour of Dublin started.

Crossing the river to the southern side, we visited one of Dublins most famous institutions, Trinity College, a 400+ year old year old university producing famous graduates such as Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker, both fmous writers. The College library holds one of Irelands most important national treasures, the Book of Kells.For lunch, we search for a traditional Irish pub, and settled for some traditional Irish stew, and some bangers and mash, washed down with a pint of Kilkenny (no Guinness for me, I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the taste). Our day ended early due to heavy rainfall, to the point when we arrived at the hotel, we found the reception to be flooded. We stayed in for dinner having local Chinese take away.The following day started with great weather as we headed for Temple bar, and area where the main attraction are the Irish Pubs, and restuarants. Afterwards we explored nearby Dublin castle, St Patricks Cathedral, then all the way over the to the east side to explore Merrion Square Park, which has a statue of Oscar Wilde, & the St Stephens Green, a beautifull park/garden at the end of another famous Dublin shopping strip, Grafton street.

We both agreed next time, we'd like to see more of the Irish Countryside.