Dublin

We did some really awesome things while we were in Dublin. We walked everywhere, the city is very compact. We checked out Trinity College, what amazing buildngs to go to class in, tooo bad that you cant walk or sit on the grass. It was a very impressive complex! From there we went to several parks and went to see the Famine Statues. They were designed to try to emulate the pain of the people that experience the famine, they were set next to the river, and they were walking from the Customs house to the port, like many of the famine suffurers would have done. We then went on a walk along the river, what is so neat is that each bridge is completely different. There is the ha'penny footbridge that looked like it might have been from the 1700's to a bridge near the harbor that was very Calatrava-esque in design. We then picked up lunch at a grocery and took it to the green space at Dublin Castle where we had a picnic lunch. Afterwards we went to see St. Patrick's Cathedral. The gardens behind the church were very beautiful. Inside the church an organ recital was going on. Next we walked to the Guinness Storehouse at St. James Brewery. Soo impressive!!!! They made a really neat experience out of how the beer is made. My favorite part was seeing all of the materials they had collected over the years from their different advertising campignes. We got to try a glass of the Guiness Draught when we got to the top of the museum. That was a real treat because the top was a Gravity Bar with a 360 view of Dublin. We got to see the hill and the bay with the Irish Sea beyond. It was really really beautiful. Later we went out with our roomate to grab a dinner and went out to the famous Temple bar for some Guinness and Carlsburg.

The next day was unreal. We went on a van tour of Wicklow county. This is probably my favorite part of the trip so far. Ireland is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. We went to several lakes, and a few waterfalls. We also got to see a valley owned by a Duke who entertains the likes of Tiger Woods and other big hollywood and sports figures. We also saw where several scenes from Bravehart and PS I Love You were shot. Our guide was amazing. He was the kind of person who will tell you more and take you more places then the tour is supposed to. He was really great! He explained all about bogs and the turf that they harvest from it to use as fuel. I think my favorite part though, was Glendalough. This was an old monastery where the fabled St. Kevin once resided. Some of the original structures still stood. They were from the 10th and 11th centuries. We then walked down a path along one of the lakes to a waterfall. These lakes were crystal clear and the sky was a bright blue while we were there, truely striking. I dont think I've ever seen so much beautiful nature all in one place. When we got back we got organized to take our 1000pm flight from Dublin to London, so this because a long day, but we got in safely without much hassel.