A Day in Dublin

After getting stuck in traffic on the bus the night before, I was very eager to see Dublin this morning.  Lo and behold a glorious sun had finally come out to join us.  While the air was still a bit crisp and brisk, the sunshine was wonderful.  We started the day with a more formal city tour by bus, driving by the major monuments, government buildings, famous statues, and notable sites with a bit of a commentary on Dublin’s history.  We were told that the recession had hit the city hard, that many businesses had had to close, and that many Dubliners had immigrated to other countries, which was obvious as many storefronts were shut down and quite a few homes were boarded up.  The guide also stated that 1/3 of the population was under the age of 30, which was also obvious as the streets were full of youth.  I thought it gave the city a lively feel and one of hope.

Charles Parnell Statue - Dublin

Daniel O'Connell Statue - Dublin

After the bus tour, a few of us took the option to head to Wicklow to visit Glendalough, an old monastery and cemetery not too far from the city.  The drive up was spectacular.  We drove through some very pretty suburban areas with beautiful homes and on to some of the most beautiful countryside I’d ever seen.

Wicklow Mountains in Irish Countryside

When we arrived at Glendalough, I felt an immediate sense of peace and tranquillity wash over me.  Old graves with the notable Celtic cross were scattered throughout the grounds and majestic lush trees enveloped the area. We strolled around with a local guide who shared some of the history of the monastery and then we all had a chance to wander about the site independently.  I walked around quietly and respectfully so as to not disturb those in eternal rest, inspecting many of the tombstones that each told their own story.  The intricately carved markers were beautiful works of art and a great tribute to cherished loved ones.  After my time ambling through the cemetery, I wandered over to the market stalls to see if there were any interesting souvenirs. I wasn’t expecting much so I was astounded and elated that lying on a table under a few caps and scarves was a gorgeous Irish tweed hat in the exact colours I was looking for!  Best of all, it fit my tiny head perfectly and was extremely affordable too!  I couldn’t have been happier.  My day was already made.  I immediately donned my new hat, which made the chilly day much more bearable, and went about my merry way, a smile permanently affixed to my face.

The Round Tower at Glendalough Monastery

Glendalough Cemetery

Celtic Cross Gravestone - Glendalough

After our tour of Glendalough, we were dropped back off in the centre of Dublin, right near Trinity College, to explore the city at our leisure.  I took to the streets with great fervour in order to take in as many sites as I could, while continuing my hunt for more tweed and some great Irish treasures.  In one of the first shops I entered, I found another gorgeous woollen scarf that matched my hat perfectly.  This was turning out to be a great day indeed!  I walked along Grafton Street, popping in and out of several shops and enjoying the buskers and live entertainment, wandered through Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, a very attractive shopping mall, and entered a bunch of shops in the city, picking up some other typical Irish souvenirs.  The streets were absolutely buzzing with activity and energy, but being such a beautiful sunny day, I didn’t mind the crowds at all.  Nothing was getting me down today.  I admired the old historical buildings, the attractive Georgian homes and the interesting architecture, took lots of photos, and just soaked up the great vibe of the city.

Grafton Street, Dublin

After thoroughly enjoying Dublin, having walked many km, I returned to the hotel with sore feet, but it was all worth it.  The day was a great mix of rural and urban delights and I’d definitely revisit Dublin in the future to check out some of the other things I missed.

Wet Wales, Tudor Chester & Standstill Dublin

Another rainy and wet day today as we crossed into Wales, as famous for their beautiful landscapes as they are for their ridiculously long words and interesting local tongue.  Our first stop was in the town of Llangollen, which lies in the picturesque Dee Valley, nestled in the north east of the country.  The town, renowned for its annual music festival, the International Eisteddfod, is a charming place to stroll around and enjoy the natural scenery.  From atop the ancient bridge that crosses over the River Dee, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the town, the old train station, and on to the lush green hills in the distance.

Llangollen, Wales

As I walked around the town, I spotted the iconic and striking Red Dragon, or the Y Ddraig Goch as it is known in Welsh, everywhere – on signs, on walls, above doors, near windows; it was clearly guarding the homes and businesses of the people.  Being a Sunday, not much in the town was open and it was very quiet.  In the main city parking lot, many visitors and locals alike were gearing up and preparing for hiking and cycling treks in the nearby mountains.  I so wished I could have joined them in the great outdoors to discover the country’s natural wonders.

Welsh Red Dragon - Y Ddraig Goch

Shop in Llangollen

After our brief visit in Llangollen, we drove along the impressive Horseshoe Pass, the Bwlch yr Oernant as it is known in Welsh, meaning the “Pass of the Cold Stream”.  Here, we stopped and got off the bus for a fantastic panoramic view of the area. This scenic route, which climbs up from Llangollen, is shaped like a horseshoe (hence the name), and offers some of the most spectacular views in Wales.  Along the drive, we passed the slate quarry on the Llantysilio Mountains near Oernant, which stood out amongst the surrounding green hills.  At the top of the dramatic pass lies the Ponderosa Café, a good place to stop, rest, and have a bite to eat, or set out for a hike to stretch your legs on one of the Offa’s Dyke paths.

Horseshoe Pass

Later in the day, we crossed back in to England to visit the beautiful town of Chester with its magnificent Tudor style buildings, which I have always been a fan of.  I’ve always said if I could build my dream mansion, it would definitely be in Tudor styling. The distinctive black and white half-timbered buildings, the steeply pitched roofs, the striking cross gables, the decorative arches, and the stunning small paned leaded windows all flashed before me with delight.  I was in Tudor heaven!  Even the slight drizzle and haze didn’t bother me while I explored the town and its amazing shops. As I walked through the arcaded rows and snaked my way through the many cobblestone alleys and walkways, I was captivated by the beauty of this town.  Much of the restoration here is remarkable with new buildings closely resembling those hundreds of years older. Chester’s High Street was a bustling centre of action with tourists and locals strolling about while street musicians and performers enhanced the artistic appeal of the town.  It really was a great place to spend the day and I wished I’d had more time to discover more of what Chester had to offer, especially since we returned back at the hotel early in the afternoon with absolutely nothing to do in the area.

Tudor Architecture in Chester

Chester High Street

The next day we crossed back over to Wales once again and were greeted with ferociously wet and windy weather.  We began the day by visiting the castle town of Caernarfon.  As soon as I exited the bus, I began battling the elements as the gale force winds thrust me hither and thither and the rain attacked me from all angles.  Popping into shops for some brief moments of warmth and shelter, I finally made it to Caernarfon Castle.  Hovered under awnings and tucked into doorways, I did my best to photograph the dominating fortress.  Returning to the bus soaked and dishevelled like a rag doll, I was actually relieved our stop here was only a brief 40 minutes as it was nearly impossible to get around reasonably in that kind of weather.  The other poor souls who struggled futilely back to the bus with their shredded umbrellas at least provided me with some amusement, even if it was at their unfortunate expense.  I’m still baffled by their sorry attempts at shielding themselves from those elements.  What were they thinking?

Caernarfon Castle

With the rain and wind following us, we moved on to the Isle of Anglesey, which lies off the north west coast of Wales.  Now renowned as the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and his new bride Catherine, the island is quite charming and picturesque and a great place to catch the ferry on to Ireland.  Soon after crossing onto the island, we stopped in the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (I did warn you about those long Welsh words), more commonly known as Llanfairpwll or Llanfair PG.  The town’s name, which is the longest officially recognized place name in the UK as well as one of the longest in the world, means, in one breath now: St Mary’s Church (Llanfair) in the hollow (pwll) of the white hazel (gwyngyll) near (goger) the rapid whirlpool (y chwyrndrobwll) and the church of St Tysilio (llantysilio) by the red cave ([a]g ogo goch). Phew!  Now there’s a mouthful.  Our stop here was basically a lunch break, so all I had time to do was enter the main shop and cue in a seemingly endless line for a hot bowl of soup.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Isle of Anglesey

The remainder of the day was spent on the ferry as we cruised on over to Dublin, Ireland.  Battling gale force winds once again, the ride was surprisingly not as rough as I’d expect in that type of weather, but we did arrive much later than expected.

On the Ferry to Ireland - Irish Sea

It’s a good thing we weren’t in a hurry as when we finally arrived in Dublin, we got stuck in traffic and had to circle around the city for over 2 hours.  Roads had been blocked due to US President Obama’s visit and so we had to wait for the main road to reopen so we could make our way to the hotel.  It was certainly a test of our patience, but everyone remained in good spirits, singing, joking, and laughing, including our driver who seemed unfazed by the frustration this type of traffic jam would normally cause.  On the upside, the slow driving speed allowed us to take some photos from the bus on this impromptu city tour.  After finally arriving at our hotel late in the evening, a few of us crossed the street to the nearby restaurant for a late dinner and a nice pint of Guinness.  Then it was off to bed for a good night’s sleep in preparation for another day of discovery.

Dublin, Ireland