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Ireland
July 21, 2010
We made it to Dublin!!! Got our rental car and drove to the hotel. (keep to the left) Had dinner at the hotel then made plans for the next days.
July 22, 2010
Cloudy and threatening to rain. Went to Phoenix Park- the largest enclosed urban park in Europe. We walked through herds of Fallow Deer. Old and young males were together and females with very young fawns were with what appeared to be last year's young.
There's a long growing season here as we saw a walled Victorian Kitchen Garden already being harvested. It was planted mid-February. Rain was a problem so we moved indoors - to the Guinness Storehouse. It was an interesting self-guided tour with a pint of the dark stuff at the end. The Gravity Bar was on the 7th floor with a 360 view of Dublin.
Phoenix Park
 
Ashtown Castle Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden
 
Fallow Deer
 
the males The US Ambassador's Residence
Guinness Storehouse
 
here at last
 
about 20,000 miles and 33 days we got our Guinness
we should have gone east not west
views of Guinnesss Storehouse and Dublin from the Gravity Bar
 
 
 
the Gravity Bar
July 23, 2010
Today we parked at the zoo and got on the Hop on - Hop off Dublin tour bus. First stop was Temple Bar area where we found the Central Bank. We wanted to exchange pre - Euro Irish $ for euros. High security in this bank! We walked to Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral then toO'Meill's Bar for lunch. It was overrated and touristy, noisy and rushed. Next we hopped back on the bus to Kilmainham Gaol. This was an interesting tour where we learned a bit about some political prisoners and the treatment of common prisoners - one as young as five! On the bus again to Jameson Distillery. Then we walked to the National Museum but it was closing.The pub we planned to go to was overcrowded so we looked for another on our list but couldn't find it. We gave up and went to a place near our hotel. The beer was bad and we couldn't get food at the bar. Went to the hotel bar where the nachos and beer were wounderful!
 
Christ Church Cathedral the oldest building in Dublin
 
 
 
Kilmainham Gaol
Jameson Distillery
 
view of Guinness Storehouse Peoples Garden at Phoenix Park
from Phoenix Park
July 24, 2010
Instead of sightseeing in the city, we drove out to the countryside. We stopped at a farmer's market in Delkey. Took a quick look around = had a nice chat with someladies in Dalkey Castle. Drove to Wicklow Mountains National Park = source of water for Guinness Stout. Found a trail, met couple from the area, and walked with them for about an hour. Went back and found the Visitor Center to get a map of trails so wee couldwalk again tomorrow. Tried to find a sight called The Devil's Glen but had no luck. Wet back to the hotel.
 
Dalkey Dalkey Castle
Wicklow Mountains National Park
 
 
July 25, 2010
Back to Wicklow Mountains National Park for more hiking. Wandered through avcient ruins and anold cemetary Walked two trails with beautifal scenery around two lakes then up about 1500 feet. Ended by walking along a small but pretty waterfall. The weather didn't clear so after 3 1/2 hours of mist and light rain we stopped hiking. Drove south as far as Wexford before turning back. Stopped at Avoca for a rather lame tourist attraction. Had a pint of Guinness while listening to live Irish music. Supper was at a pub along the way back.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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