Dublin, Ireland

Our next port of call was Dublin--an interesting, walkable city, easy to explore with just a map and good walking shoes.  We took the Princess shuttle bus from the pier and were dropped off close to Trinity College, Ireland's oldest university and home to the Book of Kells.

Trinity College students were available to take us around so we enjoyed our time spent with our third year student, who was obligated to wear the black gown while working.

He advised us to return at 2 pm to view the Book of Kells, which was excellent advice as we managed to line up and enter the building to view the Book,  which is an 8th century text of the four gospels, written in Latin and illustrated with brightly coloured humans, animals, and plants, interspersed throughout the text.  I had heard of the Book of Kells but had no real idea of what to expect.  I can definitely appreciate the hours spent in producing each page.

Not only was the Book of Kells spell-binding to actually see but we marvelled at the actual Library--home to many thousands of volumes, only a small fraction displayed and shelved by size, not by Dewey Decimal System.  The size of the room amazed us but the feeling that you got as you walked and looked at the displays--we felt we should be pinching ourselves!

We did manage to walk along part of O'Connell Street and made our way to the General Post Office, a beautiful building that was the focal point of the 1916 Easter Rebellion. 

Bullet holes, Post Office

It is an easy walk along the River Liffey and we enjoyed seeing the different stores and varying architecture of the buildings.

Dublin is a vibrant, compact city that is constantly changing.  We did notice, however, many To Let signs which indicates the state of the economy of Ireland at this present time. 

To spend one day in Dublin is rushed and there is so much more to explore.  However, we were pleased to have seen as much as we did--part of the Temple Bar area, Trinity College, the Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, the Post Office and more.  We bussed past Molly Malone and the statutes depicting the famine victims but did not have time to actually stop.

Would we return to Dublin?  A definite "Yes, of course" as there is more to see and do.  Plus dear husband still wants to enjoy his Guinness!