Ireland!
Daniel and I were so fortunate to visit Ireland over the holidays! Traveling is a big priority in my life, and it had been way too long since I’ve visited another piece of this rock we’re on. Finally finally finally…we did it!
We hit Galway first. Galway is a cool coastal town with an artsy vibe and a pretty bay, and Ard Bia - one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in a while. It was featured in my Lonely Planet Ireland book (purchased at Midtown Reader!). As fate would have it, one of my besties bought us a gift certificate for Christmas. It was well worth the 30 minute wait. Seriously.
Eyre Square had some interesting history, and it’s where the Browne Doorway stands. The Brownes were one of the original “tribes” of Ireland, and the doorway is part of the original house…around four hundred years ago! Perspective, guys.
Next stop was Dublin. Ah Dublin. The home of Guinness, Trinity College, and Dublin Castle. Guinness flowed from the taps there. They are proud of their Guinness. And who wouldn’t be? It’s delicious. It’s fortified! So, it’s like…healthy, right? Erherm…
Trinity College houses the Book of Kells…which was closed for “maintenance”. BUT the Trinity College Library, which houses the book, was stunning. It contains a huge collection of books, all older than we can imagine. A book lover’s dream.
I learned a great deal about Ireland’s origins at Dublin Castle. Vikings settled Ireland (after taking it from the natives, of course). Vikings! The name “Dublin” comes from “Dubhlinn” which means black pool. Apparently that’s what the Vikings found when they landed there. They built a castle, which then changed hands after the Normans took over. The castle survived attacks, fires, and the black plague. The old section has been excavated, and items found there can be seen in the National Museum. The newer sections of the castle show a small cross-section of life during the 1700s.
It was a long trip, and a helluva jet lag. But it was so worth it to ring in a new year in another country! I hope you all had a wonderful new year, even if you just stayed at home. Cheers!