Up early again, still battling the cold and cough. Taxi then train to the airport then the shortest flight I think I’ve ever been on, about 30 minutes.
Taxi to the hotel which was very impressive – an old castle (I don’t think there are any new ones actually).
The room wasn’t ready so we dumped the bags and took a bus into Dublin and wandered around trying to find something to eat, most places seemed to serve fried breakfasts or pub food but we found a cafe that did rolls and bagels. The weather was cold and a bit overcast, around 7C.
Every second shop is a pub – drinking appears to be the national pastime.
The weather got worse and started to rain heavily and I’d decided to leave the umbrella at the hotel so got a bit wet, not doing my cold any good. Walked over the Ha’penny Bridge and into the main part of Dublin, through some alleys and back streets heading to Dublin Castle. It wasn’t that impressive to be honest, so we carried on to St Patrick’s Cathedral. Paid our 6 Euro to get in and heard what I thought was recorded music but it turned out to be a choir of teenagers performing, so we sat and listened for a while. Very pleasant and relaxing. Wandered around inside, found out that Jonathan Swift was buried there and took some photos of the inside of the cathedral.
Left to go to another church but when we got there it was shut so continued back to the main part of the city. We were both tired from the early start so stopped off for a coffee, then found ourselves outside The Temple Bar which Song said was famous. Unable to resist any longer, we went in for a beer. I was going to have a Guinness for appearance, but I don’t really like it so had a Murphy’s, and Song had a Beamish – both stout. Song had a couple of mouthfuls and told me to finish it – gee, the things I have to do.
We were still tired and debated whether to go back to the hotel and come back later or to keep going and eat, although I wasn’t hungry. We decided to keep going and found a restaurant serving traditional Irish food. I like to try the local food, although I drew the line in Iceland because theirs consisted of shark, whale, puffin and horse. I had a beef and Guinness stew, Song had corned beef. Mine was ok, not great. Song said hers was not bad. Struggling to keep awake, got the bus back to the hotel and crashed. Another early day tomorrow, heading to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, taking a coach tour that leaves at 0630. Oh joy. Still, we can sleep on the bus.
