Swords

David has made a miraculous recovery and just as well as today’s outings required nearly 20000 steps! We have been so lucky with the weather and again the sky was blue with the sun shining even though it was cool. We had a quick breakfast at the hotel and headed by tram to the Guinness Storehouse. After two hours there I had to remind David and Alanna that there was plenty more to see in Dublin. The Guinness Storehouse is an amazing place to visit with the icing on the cake being the free pint of Guinness with a view at Gravity Bar, Dublin’s highest bar and our faces being printed on the head of the beer. The view over the whole of Dublin is amazing as was the relaxed atmosphere (shame I don’t like beer). We left there for a walk to the centre of town and George’s Street Arcade. Along the way we came across The Molly Malone statue as well as many other beautiful and interesting buildings. We stopped for lunch at a cosy little cafe before heading up Grafton Street, the main shopping street. It was packed and there were lots of cool buskers singing at every second corner. With the beautiful Christmas lights and shop windows, it was a lovely place to be. We wondered around the corner to the Little Museum of Dublin where we went on a very amusing tour through the old Victorian house. The lady guiding us was very dramatic and funny, but also gave a very succinct story of Ireland's history. We left there at 4 30 to locate Temple Bar. There was no mistaking it as there were crowds of people everywhere and probably the best Christmas light display ( inside and out) that we have seen yet. The bar we were in was buzzing and we quickly found a gorgeous little corner to sit in and enjoy a drink and watch everyone, while listening to some great singing, which included Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House. We left there to wander 200m down the street to the restaurant we had booked earlier in the day for dinner. It was our best meal yet- truly Irish with David having the Shepherds Pie and Alanna and I having the chicken Boxty. Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake and it was delicious. But the bread and butter dessert and Baileys cheesecake that followed was also amazing, which moved Gallagher's Boxty House Dublin to the top of our list of best meals. As if we hadn’t done enough walking, we wandered back (30 mins) along the Liffey, admiring all the light displays especially that of the the Samuel Beckett Bridge which was truly spectacular, and also a very large government building with an amazing light display projected on its facade. We loved Dublin and possibly regretted not having another day here, but instead will be heading tomorrow to the airport at 6 30 am to fly to New Castle and then drive to York.Read more