What a surprise.
We expected it to be drab and uninteresting. After utilising the City BusTour to orientate ourselves, we discovered many hidden secrets. We definitely did not allow enough time, except the 3 hours we spent at the Guinness storehouse tour. It was interesting as they have utilised very successfully their old factory into a museum. As a reward for spending time and learning the process we were given a pint of Guinness to try with our lunch. It tastes different to the stuff in Australia. Guinness is good for you.
We stayed with Niamh whom we met in Central America. She owns a semidetached 2 storey place fairly close to the city. Her place is very nice and comfortable and was a good base to explore Dublin. She made us very welcome.
We were in Ireland for a Bank Holiday weekend which enabled us to travel across Ireland with Niamh. We had a ball. 300 kms across to the west through the mist and rain. As soon as we arrived in Westport the sun shone and stayed that way for a BBQ we had with some of her friends.
We expected it to be drab and uninteresting. After utilising the City BusTour to orientate ourselves, we discovered many hidden secrets. We definitely did not allow enough time, except the 3 hours we spent at the Guinness storehouse tour. It was interesting as they have utilised very successfully their old factory into a museum. As a reward for spending time and learning the process we were given a pint of Guinness to try with our lunch. It tastes different to the stuff in Australia. Guinness is good for you.
We stayed with Niamh whom we met in Central America. She owns a semidetached 2 storey place fairly close to the city. Her place is very nice and comfortable and was a good base to explore Dublin. She made us very welcome.
We were in Ireland for a Bank Holiday weekend which enabled us to travel across Ireland with Niamh. We had a ball. 300 kms across to the west through the mist and rain. As soon as we arrived in Westport the sun shone and stayed that way for a BBQ we had with some of her friends.
On the way we stopped in Knock. This was the sight of an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879 and is therefore now a place of pilgrimage for Christians from all over the world. what a touristy place the streets were full of many plastic Jesus handicrafts etc. It was also the place to take Holy water home from (a 100ml bottle full would not have been enough for us s that is all we could bring back on the plane. You can buy bottles, flagons and any other size container you could want and fill for free from the local spring.
talking of pilgrimages , after having a good night in Westport - good food, wine and beer at O'Malleys we went to another local pub where there was live Irish music. We stayed there for ages, until it closed anyway. It was great to see the real thing, just a group of musos jammin' the night away.. And one really great thin, there is no smoking in any enclosed premises in Irelnad so NO SMOKE. so cool.
The next morning after another full Irish breakfast, sausages, egg, tomato, black pudding, bacon, soda bread etc, we set of for Crough Patrick. It is a place of pilgrimage and devout catholics climb to the peak in bare feet. We struggled to climb it in hiking shoes, maybe too many sins. It was very steep, stony and rocky. The views were worth the struggle though. wWe did not quite get to the top. We had to leave something for another time.
1 comment:
Goodness.. this is what happens when you're not home to read blogs. I haven't looked for a couple of weeks and suddenly there's about 20 blogs to read for you guys!! At least now I'm updated.. See you soon I guess :)
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