Dublin Part 1
So, James had been very organised with the trip to Dublin. He had booked a rail sail ticket for the both of us. Basically, the plan was we would park at Llandudno Junction, and catch the train to Holyhead, where we would catch the ferry to Dublin.
You could say, it was so well planned, that things were bound to go wrong. And that they did. So we got up early in Liverpool, I hadn't slept much as I had woken up in the night with a really serious headache that had made the room spin, so I didn't feel great during the drive into Wales and towards Llandudno. So we arrived at the train station, parked up and paid the ticket. I can't remember how much the parking was, but it was a really good deal. We headed into the station, filled with excitement and nervousness (RORO ferries are one of my main phobias) and waited for the train. About five minutes before it was due, an announcement was made to say that the train was delayed indefinitely, due to a vehicle hitting a railway bridge. Unfortunately, the staff couldn't say how long the delay was going to be, so after a quick discussion, we decided to drive to Holyhead and get on the ferry our selves. So we headed back out to the car, jumped in and drove to Holyhead. We then parked up, got the bags then caught the shuttle bus to the port, where we arrived to find that the ferry had actually sailed a good half an hour before the actual billed sailing, due to the rail company incorrectly listing the ferry timetables. So not only did we end up forking out for two lots of parking (It was around 40 pounds for five days of parking at Holyhead) but we missed the ferry anyway. I think James did send them an email about what happened, although at the time of writing I don't know what the outcome of it was.
So it was not the best start to our trip. But we eventually arrived, and were actually quite grateful to get off the ferry, as it was full of screaming Irish kids, and it was hard to get a moments peace on-board. That said, the ferry was clean, comfortable and had some bits to do, so we were fairly amused for the four hour crossing.
We arrived in Dublin and jumped onto the bus, which dropped us right into the centre. We were staying in Generator hostels, and it was I think James's first time staying in a proper hostel. It wasn't the best place, the rooms had just beds and a stool in them, no tables or desks or anything, and there wasn't a kitchen, just a lively bar where you could drink and eat, and it was actually quite quiet which was nice, as initially I was thinking it was going to be rather raucous over the weekend.
Dublin is a rather pleasant city. I wouldn't say it was a must visit destination, but it's got that Parisian, coffee & cafe couture culture, as well as a lot of green space and retail therapy. It's got quite a few really touristy locations, as well as a few more hidden ones, that seem to be rather unknown to others.
The first thing to talk about (Naturally) was the food. Wuff Cafe to be exact. Usually, we never eat anywhere twice while away because it's nice to discover new places and things to try. But the first breakfast there was so good we decided to go back again.
The breakfast was amazing. This is toasted soda bread, ham and cheese omelette with a sort of subtle spinach pesto and a pork sausage. It wasn't the cheapest, but by far was it the best. A little way from the main city centre, but believe me it's worth every step!
One of the first things I wanted to see in Dublin was the reason why everyone leaves Ireland, as bizarre as that sounds. Ireland is one of those countries which has such a well known and influential diaspora, that it seemed silly not to try to understand why people have left it in such numbers. The museum of Irish Emigration ((EPIC) is right in the heart of Dublin, and is a very immersive experience. When you enter, you are given a little booklet, designed to look like a passport, which you stamp after visiting each of the rooms, all of which are themed about a certain thing, be it music, food, sport, family, dance. Every room teaches you something new, and it was so nice to see another side to Ireland, especially the Ireland of old, where entire families left for better opportunities, and even now people still leave to find a better life elsewhere.
The museum had some beautiful pieces of artwork, all representing different things. The top two pictures show you a sculpture that showed all the different ways and means that Irish people used to leave their homeland for a new life, by boats and planes, and I'm sure in the near future, people will be leaving on spaceships and teleports too. But it just showed you that we all leave in the same way, even though we all are leaving for very different reasons. It's a very thought provoking and at time quite challenging museum, but well worth a visit to see the part of Ireland that is infrequently discussed.
Just outside EPIC, there are the Irish potato famine memorial statues. These statues show the poo, desperately searching for food and salvation. The Irish potato famine was such a waste of life. It was estimated that a million people died and a further one and a half million left Ireland. Even now, 150 years later, Ireland is still feeling the effects of it. The population of Ireland before the famine was around 8 million. Today, its around five and a half. Thats quite frighting, and it's what really kicked off emigration from Ireland, which has continued in very high numbers ever since.
These statues really do show you the true horrors of the famine. Even a lonely dog follows, clearly suffering for starvation, just like the people leading it. A famine that was entirely avoidable too. But we hope these things never happen again, yet they do, all across the world, just this time, not right on our door stop.
The final part of this post is about St Stephans green. Its a charming little area, with a duck pond, and some very eager birds who want to make friends (and eat anything you can offer them). It had some beautiful blossoms as well, and despite being busy and full of people, birds and dogs, it still felt very relaxing.
Opening the bag of birdseed and drawing a hungry and unruly crowd!
The beautiful blossom!
James making a new friend who was desperate to get into the bag of birdseed!
You could say, it was so well planned, that things were bound to go wrong. And that they did. So we got up early in Liverpool, I hadn't slept much as I had woken up in the night with a really serious headache that had made the room spin, so I didn't feel great during the drive into Wales and towards Llandudno. So we arrived at the train station, parked up and paid the ticket. I can't remember how much the parking was, but it was a really good deal. We headed into the station, filled with excitement and nervousness (RORO ferries are one of my main phobias) and waited for the train. About five minutes before it was due, an announcement was made to say that the train was delayed indefinitely, due to a vehicle hitting a railway bridge. Unfortunately, the staff couldn't say how long the delay was going to be, so after a quick discussion, we decided to drive to Holyhead and get on the ferry our selves. So we headed back out to the car, jumped in and drove to Holyhead. We then parked up, got the bags then caught the shuttle bus to the port, where we arrived to find that the ferry had actually sailed a good half an hour before the actual billed sailing, due to the rail company incorrectly listing the ferry timetables. So not only did we end up forking out for two lots of parking (It was around 40 pounds for five days of parking at Holyhead) but we missed the ferry anyway. I think James did send them an email about what happened, although at the time of writing I don't know what the outcome of it was.
So it was not the best start to our trip. But we eventually arrived, and were actually quite grateful to get off the ferry, as it was full of screaming Irish kids, and it was hard to get a moments peace on-board. That said, the ferry was clean, comfortable and had some bits to do, so we were fairly amused for the four hour crossing.
We arrived in Dublin and jumped onto the bus, which dropped us right into the centre. We were staying in Generator hostels, and it was I think James's first time staying in a proper hostel. It wasn't the best place, the rooms had just beds and a stool in them, no tables or desks or anything, and there wasn't a kitchen, just a lively bar where you could drink and eat, and it was actually quite quiet which was nice, as initially I was thinking it was going to be rather raucous over the weekend.
Dublin is a rather pleasant city. I wouldn't say it was a must visit destination, but it's got that Parisian, coffee & cafe couture culture, as well as a lot of green space and retail therapy. It's got quite a few really touristy locations, as well as a few more hidden ones, that seem to be rather unknown to others.
The first thing to talk about (Naturally) was the food. Wuff Cafe to be exact. Usually, we never eat anywhere twice while away because it's nice to discover new places and things to try. But the first breakfast there was so good we decided to go back again.
One of the first things I wanted to see in Dublin was the reason why everyone leaves Ireland, as bizarre as that sounds. Ireland is one of those countries which has such a well known and influential diaspora, that it seemed silly not to try to understand why people have left it in such numbers. The museum of Irish Emigration ((EPIC) is right in the heart of Dublin, and is a very immersive experience. When you enter, you are given a little booklet, designed to look like a passport, which you stamp after visiting each of the rooms, all of which are themed about a certain thing, be it music, food, sport, family, dance. Every room teaches you something new, and it was so nice to see another side to Ireland, especially the Ireland of old, where entire families left for better opportunities, and even now people still leave to find a better life elsewhere.
Just outside EPIC, there are the Irish potato famine memorial statues. These statues show the poo, desperately searching for food and salvation. The Irish potato famine was such a waste of life. It was estimated that a million people died and a further one and a half million left Ireland. Even now, 150 years later, Ireland is still feeling the effects of it. The population of Ireland before the famine was around 8 million. Today, its around five and a half. Thats quite frighting, and it's what really kicked off emigration from Ireland, which has continued in very high numbers ever since.
The final part of this post is about St Stephans green. Its a charming little area, with a duck pond, and some very eager birds who want to make friends (and eat anything you can offer them). It had some beautiful blossoms as well, and despite being busy and full of people, birds and dogs, it still felt very relaxing.
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