Dublin Town - 11 to 12th May

 Hi all

Yesterday we said farewell to beautiful Bath and the surrounding Somerset and Gloucestershire countryside and headed to Bristol Airport for the short Emerald Air flight to Dublin. Holly was a bit perplexed when she saw the plane was a twin prop job - but we needn’t have worried as it was a very smooth flight. 

There was further concern when our African taxi driver from the airport needed Norm to enter our destination into his phone, then he still had trouble finding the Oak Bar, bright red as it is! Anyway, we managed to check in to our airbnb shabby chic “penthouse”, which was four floors above a lap dancing private gentlemen’s club! However, we are in the centre of Temple Bar which is a good place to start our exploration of Dublin’s fine city.


Today we started our exploration at Trinity College, taking in the very well presented Book of Kells exhibition and the old Trinity Library.







Then we set off to visit the  “Cathedral” which we travelled to via St Stephen’s Green, a beautiful inner city park.

Alas, after a fairly long walk Felicity said “it is a surprise that the Cathedral is so far out of the city”, we found St Stephen’s Church, not St Patrick’s Cathedral, and it was closed! Definitely time for a coffee to regroup! So, onwards then to the real St Patrick’s via the local bus from just outside the Angel Coffee house - 2 Euros each well spent.

The Cathedral has been used over the last 8 centuries as both a Catholic and Protestant church, in Cromwell’s time both at the same time! At present it is Church of Ireland, and some of the obvious British memorabilia might be a bit offensive to the locals.


However, ignoring the possible slight, it is still a magnificent gothic edifice, the 13th century chapel below is wonderful.


Last stop in our exportation today was the Chester Beatty Library. Well described as a “Gift of a Lifetime” by American Philanthropist Chester Beatty - his life collection of ancient books and scrolls from both western and eastern antiquity. What a legacy to leave the public.





We are having a well deserved rest after a lot of walking today, interspersed with some sampling of Irish cuisine- still to get to the “full Irish” breakfast experience for Holly, it will come! We will find a dinner spot later with some trad Irish music to help the digestion.

More tomorrow, all out love from the travellers. ❤️


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