We arrived in Dublin early Sunday morning. Out Airbnb is near Hay Penny Bridge and many other sights. We took the Dublin Express bus close to our Airbnb, dropped off our luggage, and hit the streets.
We walked down Grafton Street, a popular shopping street in Dublin. Lucas got an Irish souvenir coin. Michael bought a pin because he collects them from every country he travels. The boys had fun in the Lego store and throwing the football in St. Stephen’s Green.
Michael and Henry went to McDonald’s. Henry has to try the Big Mac in every country. Lucas and I ate at a cafe. The cafe did not serve lunch until 12, so I had to settle for chocolate chip pancakes. We went grocery shopping and cooked dinner. Even though we travel fast, we try not to eat out too much.
Folklore is a big part of Ireland. We learned about leprechauns at the National Leprechaun Museum. It is a fun museum. Our guide was engaging, and the stories were interesting. Leprechauns wear brown and red, not green. That is a myth started by Walt Disney.
Michael’s pick for activity in Dublin was the Guinness Museum. The museum is well done. There are interactive exhibits, and restaurants, and you can even put your face on a glass of Guinness! It has changed a lot since I was there 16 years ago. We met a man from Northern Ireland in the tasting room who was an extra in Game of Thrones. His dog also starred in a movie with Pierce Brosnan.
Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral are near each other, so we started there on day three. We lucked out with another clear day. Cold, but no rain. The best surprise for us was stumbling upon The Chester Beatty Museum. It is a collection of art and artifacts from all over the world collected by Chester Beatty, a mining magnate.
Henry wanted to try Irish stew. We found a pub near our Airbnb called O’Connell’s. He gave his Irish lamb stew five thumbs up. After lunch, we walked through Trinity College and over to the Natural History Museum (also known as the dead animal museum). Michael and I went on a date night to the Vintage Kitchen. A wonderful restaurant recommended to us by a friend.
On our last day in Ireland, we took the train to Bray. A charming sea-side village south of Dublin. It was cold, and many places were not open, but it is easy to see the appeal of Bray in the summer. We hiked up to the Bray Head Cross and enjoyed the sweeping views of the countryside and the Ocean.
