redzinner
Me Wants the Medianoche!
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2007
Sunday 05/24/2009 Day 2 of Tour
Life on the Liffey
Today was dedicated to a whirlwind tour of Dublin sites. In the Lobby at 9 to board our coach and meet our Dublin local guide, Georgina.
Dublinia Heritage Center, Christchurch Cathedral and Dublin Castle crammed into the morning.
The heritage center was a display of the progression of conquerers and inhabitants of Dublin, what each culture contributed and how they lived. A hands on place that children in the tour would really like I think.
Dublinia used to be the Synod Hall of the Church of Ireland so it has some imnpressive stained glass windows.
It was Sunday so we didnt get into Christchurch because services were being held.
It was interesting hearing the nuances of Irish political history through the ages and the current Celtic Tiger era at the Dublin Castle. Since it was Sunday it wasnt open to the public because the Castle now plays host to European Union Presidencies, Heads of State, and leaders of business, industry and government. We felt very privileged to be able to tour this site. We were the only ones there.
With the morning tours over we headed to the revered Guinness Storehouse. Before we went there though we had a special trip through Phoenix Park which is similar to Central Park in NYC. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and the Irish were out in full force enjoying the sun. It was wonderful to see families enjoying the day together.
On to the Guinness Storehouse.
Lunch was in a private room. They took our order for entrée (selection from 4 options; Irish Stew, a chicken dish, a fish dish and a vegetarian entrée) with the sides available on a cafeteria-type serving line.
After lunch we were given a whirlwind tour of the storehouse. Definitely not enough time to study the production of the stout. Really my only slightly negative comment about the trip. The guided tour was way to fast for me. Im sure others found it adequate. Oh well, I have another reason to go back!
Bye Guinness it was indeed a pleasure!
Quite a few of us did the Optional Trinity Tour later that afternoon. Georgina, the local guide was still with us and discussed the College and Book of Kells at length. We could not take pictures of the Book or of the Long Room library. The Library was wonderful. I could have spent all day there.
Okay we have had a long day but it wasnt over! Dinner was on our own and the guides had arranged a Literary Pub Crawl for those of us who wanted to venture forth into the world of Beckett, Swift, Wilde and Joyce. It was great fun and we really enjoyed it. Two men recited snippets from Irish authors and told us about those authors lives. It doesnt get dark in Dublin until about 10 pm this time of year so there was no hurry to get back to the hotel.
A very good day indeed!
Part Four
Life on the Liffey
Today was dedicated to a whirlwind tour of Dublin sites. In the Lobby at 9 to board our coach and meet our Dublin local guide, Georgina.
Dublinia Heritage Center, Christchurch Cathedral and Dublin Castle crammed into the morning.
The heritage center was a display of the progression of conquerers and inhabitants of Dublin, what each culture contributed and how they lived. A hands on place that children in the tour would really like I think.
Dublinia used to be the Synod Hall of the Church of Ireland so it has some imnpressive stained glass windows.
It was Sunday so we didnt get into Christchurch because services were being held.
It was interesting hearing the nuances of Irish political history through the ages and the current Celtic Tiger era at the Dublin Castle. Since it was Sunday it wasnt open to the public because the Castle now plays host to European Union Presidencies, Heads of State, and leaders of business, industry and government. We felt very privileged to be able to tour this site. We were the only ones there.
With the morning tours over we headed to the revered Guinness Storehouse. Before we went there though we had a special trip through Phoenix Park which is similar to Central Park in NYC. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and the Irish were out in full force enjoying the sun. It was wonderful to see families enjoying the day together.
On to the Guinness Storehouse.
Lunch was in a private room. They took our order for entrée (selection from 4 options; Irish Stew, a chicken dish, a fish dish and a vegetarian entrée) with the sides available on a cafeteria-type serving line.
After lunch we were given a whirlwind tour of the storehouse. Definitely not enough time to study the production of the stout. Really my only slightly negative comment about the trip. The guided tour was way to fast for me. Im sure others found it adequate. Oh well, I have another reason to go back!
Bye Guinness it was indeed a pleasure!
Quite a few of us did the Optional Trinity Tour later that afternoon. Georgina, the local guide was still with us and discussed the College and Book of Kells at length. We could not take pictures of the Book or of the Long Room library. The Library was wonderful. I could have spent all day there.
Okay we have had a long day but it wasnt over! Dinner was on our own and the guides had arranged a Literary Pub Crawl for those of us who wanted to venture forth into the world of Beckett, Swift, Wilde and Joyce. It was great fun and we really enjoyed it. Two men recited snippets from Irish authors and told us about those authors lives. It doesnt get dark in Dublin until about 10 pm this time of year so there was no hurry to get back to the hotel.
A very good day indeed!
Part Four
