Ireland 🇮🇪

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Trip start
October 31, 2023
Ireland 🇮🇪
En Route to Dublin
October 31, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C
Chillin out in Dulles while I wait for my flight to Ireland. My flight is delayed by 30 minutes and I’m hanging out in the Polaris Club since I splurged on the upgrade for the overnight flight.

I’m hopeful I can sleep since there are 6 of us that are meeting our favorite Camino travelers - Joan and Julie- in Dublin for an extended weekend of adventures. I’ve been pricing options to do this trip solo… so I jumped at the chance to meet them there before they returned to the States.

I’m anxious with anticipation… Dublin and Ireland have been on my bucket list for many years… and outside of Japan, this is the only other trip I’ve ever thought I’ve wanted to do… the only other place I’ve ever felt the yearning to see… and I can hardly believe in a few short hours I will be there.Read more
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Ireland 🇮🇪
36 Hours in Dublin
November 3, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Well, to say we hit the ground running is an understatement. We joined our traveling pilgrims at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin and proceeded to the very first of many pints of Guinness in Dublin. We were excited to hear the stories from our friends that have been following the Way of Saint Francis for the past 5 weeks and celebrate this monumental achievement.

We played our favorite ‘left bar/right bar’ game and met up with some women from Manchester who decided to have a fun day in Ireland - and flew over to shop and have some “Porn Star martinis” in Dublin. It was an excellent afternoon.

We checked into our Aparthotel - Staycity Dublin Castle and migrated to Etto for an amazing dinner. Highly recommend - just steps from the Shelbourne and so quaint - so absolutely perfect to end our first few hours in Dublin.

We woke up this morning - grabbed some coffee and a snack before we boarded our chartered tour of Wicklow. Our driver Sean recommended a visit to the Irish National Stud & Gardens. We learned about the Irish thoroughbreds and toured a Japanese Garden on the property - completing the Path of Life within the garden.

We then had the opportunity for a pint and some traditional Irish Food at the Highest Pub in Ireland - Johnny Fox’s. What a treat to enjoy some Beef & Guinness Pie and Fish & Chips - such rich history and such amazing people.

We finished our day at Darkey Kelley’s & the Brazen Head - Dublin’s Oldest Pub!Read more
TravelerWhat an awesome crew!
11/5/23Reply
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Ireland 🇮🇪
A Day in Dublin
November 3, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
We decided to take in the sights of Dublin today on a ‘Do Dublin’ hop on/hop off tour. We got to cross Dublin’s most photographed bridge - the Ha’Penny Bridge over the River Liffey on our way to the tour bus. The Irish are amazing storytellers and each of our tour bus drivers put a different spin on the city. We got to see places that great writers like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce lived, we learned about important leaders in Irish history, and we took in so much of the city on an amazingly sunny day in Dublin.

The bus tour was perfect because it had a stop at the Guinness Storehouse and we had a tour booked there at 11. The beautiful thing about the tour is that it is self guided and we were able to take in each floor at our own pace. It was interesting to learn about the brewing process and the history of Guinness. In the building is also a copy of the 9000 year lease that Arthur Guinness signed for the site of the brewery 150 years ago.

The tour culminated with a free pint at the “Gravity Bar” on the 7th story of the Storehouse with 360 degree panoramic views of Dublin and into the countryside. We were all grateful that the weather afforded us the opportunity to see so much of the country.

After the tour and our pint we had worked up an appetite and hopped on the bus to take us to our next stop - Nancy Hands for some lunch. We commiserated on our next move and decided to take in Trinity College, The Book of Kells & The Old Library/Long Room. It was well worth the stop. It was graduation day on campus and there were a collection of graduates taking photos in front of the Bell Tower. We were awed by the history of the Book of Kells - and stunned when we walked into The Long Room with its rows of books.

What a fine day we had in Dublin.Read more
TravelerAlooooooooha to all you rosy- cheeked gals! Our best to you on this momentous reunion! God bless! ❤️🌺❤️🤙
11/5/23Reply
Traveler💕
11/7/23Reply
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Ireland 🇮🇪
Saturday in Ireland
November 4, 2023 in Ireland
The weather we enjoyed on Thursday & Friday was expected to turn on Saturday so we decided to pivot our plans and have a ‘create your own adventure’ day.

75% of travelers decided to take in a tour of Malahide, the gardens and Castle and the other 25% took in Christchurch & St Patrick’s Cathedrals as well as some shopping. It was a fun filled day for everyone.

We met up in the evening in a pub, enjoyed many pints of Guinness, live music,and lots of laughter. Ireland has been so good for the heart and soul and we are reminded that time together is our greatest gift.

Sláinte 🍺🇮🇪💚Read more
TravelerThe FOMO is going to give me an an aneurism.
11/5/23Reply
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Ireland 🇮🇪
Our last full day - Sunday in Howth
November 5, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
For our final day in Dublin we decided to take the train to the seaside and visit Howth. We took the Dart on a quick thirty minute ride out to the coast. We walked off the train and it felt like we stepped into a small Northeastern Town - like Gloucester. There were little shops along the main road and a string of seafood restaurants straight out on the pier.

The weather was a little gloomy when we arrived and quite chilly… so we explored the town a bit before we decided to venture up the trail around the peninsula . We did a 4 mile loop along the coastline - which offered us spectacular views as the clouds broke and we made it around the trail. I was reminded of the Makapu’u lighthouse trail along the Ka Iwi coastline … the expanse of the ocean… and the views north up the coast of Ireland remind me of the view from Waimanalo around to Lanikai - with Kaneohe MCAS in the distance.

We did the loop in a little less than 2 hours and made it back to town ready to enjoy some fresh seafood - and Howth did not disappoint. Oysters fresh from the ocean, wild Halibut, Seafood Chowder, it didn’t matter what we ordered, it was incredibly fresh and delicious and we were so grateful. By 3:45 pm, we were headed back to the city.

It was an outstanding way to end our tour of Ireland and a memorable trip to celebrate a monumental achievement - Julie & Joan completing the Camino de Santiago.

On to new beginnings - SláinteRead more
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Trip end
November 6, 2023

En Route to Dublin

36 Hours in Dublin

A Day in Dublin

Saturday in Ireland

Our last full day - Sunday in Howth