It’s hard to believe that it was already two years ago that I visited Dublin during the holiday season.This is my second Christmas in California since moving from Ireland.
I thought I would post another archive blog entry (from my former blog I kept while living in Ireland). Here is a post from my Christmas in Dublin.
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Yesterday, I went to Dublin with my friends – I had a lot of fun and it was our most successful trip so far! We had a failed trip to Scotland – we intended to go to Edinburgh, but didn’t have time, so instead we spent all but four hours of a 24-hour travel day on buses and ferries. We had four hours in Glasgow, see post on pictures from Scotland, which was beautiful, but by the time we arrived, it was dark so I was not able to take very many photos. Our second trip, was even less successful.
We wanted to visit the Marble Arch Caves, and did a great amount of research to try to find out how to get there. After spending at least $80, we arrived at the Marble Arch Caves only to discover that they were closed for the winter season! So, we were stuck in a small town with only one street, one restaurant open, a 7/11 like store open, and a pub. We ended up staying in the restaurant (which was also the hotel) and eating shortbread cookies because we had nothing else to do! For lunch, I had a red onion and lettuce sandwich because they were not prepared for a vegetarian. The good thing is that third time really is the charm – our trip to Dublin was far more successful! It was also one of the least planned trips thus far.
We arrived in Dublin with a map, made it to the hostel where my friends were staying, and then decided where to go next. Each time we made it somewhere, we would decide where to go rather than planning the whole day beforehand. It was probably the best way to do things because there was less stress over what we would do and how we would feel if expectations were not met.
Although, I have to admit that I’m not 100% sure we were in Dublin – I think we might have been somewhere in France, because everyone there was French (including our group). I don’t think I heard English at all throughout the day. Even when we were at the café on a brief break, the man who sat at the table next to us was French. We joked about how there were French people partout. When the man sat next to us in the café, someone remarked that he was French based on mannerisms and presentation. So I leaned over and asked “Vous êtes français?” And of course the response was, “Oui”.
One of the cool things about being in Ireland is the fact that I can find things with both my names everywhere! They were all sorts of signs with Kennedy and Shannon written on them. I even found a pub called Doyle’s! We went into the Temple Bar district, I was kind of hoping to see Glen Hansard (no luck), but it reminded me quite a bit of some areas in Paris and it made me happy (maybe that is why there were so many French there!).
We don’t have any more trips planned before I come home, but it is probably better because it will force me to spend my weekends in the library working instead (which I need to do). My goal is to avoid bringing home a bunch of school books – that would really weigh my luggage down. And because they would be library books, they would be in my carry on (not an exciting idea) so that I would not have to worry about them being lost.
The parts of Dublin you show seem so modern. Something I didn’t expect.
Dublin was a spectacular mix of modern and historic, I have other photos that are a little less modern, I’m not sure if I’ve already posted them or not though.
Great photos and a great literary city to visit.
Thank you.