Dublin!
We spent three nights in Dublin, two on the official tour and one on our own. We arrived a day early to acclimate and get over jet lag. This is something we try to do on each tour and found it works well for us. It makes a big difference to be able to hit the ground running on the tour! Sunday evening, we met our guide (Declan) and fellow tour members at our hotel and enjoyed our "Welcome to Ireland" dinner. After dinner, we took a walk through the heart of Dublin as the sun began to set.
Our first full day of the tour, we were surprised by Rick Steves himself stopping by for a quick hello and a selfie! (You can barely see my eyes peeking over someone's shoulder on the right toward the back....) We then headed out with our local guide, Tom, for a walking tour through Dublin which included a visit to Trinity College where we were able to view the Book of Kells and visit the Old Library. Oh my–that library almost had me in tears. It was simply beautiful! Dublin was an amazing city and I could easily spend a week there. We then strolled through various neighborhoods, including the medieval section and old government buildings. The architecture is so unique with a blend of modern and historic.
During our free time we strolled through parks, watched street performers, and visited the archaeology museum. Our hotel was in a fantastic location – easy walking to everything!
"Wow" Moment: Walking into the Trinity College Library took my breath away. You’ll know what I mean when you step into the great hall.
We spent three nights in Dublin, two on the official tour and one on our own. We arrived a day early to acclimate and get over jet lag. This is something we try to do on each tour and found it works well for us. It makes a big difference to be able to hit the ground running on the tour! Sunday evening, we met our guide (Declan) and fellow tour members at our hotel and enjoyed our "Welcome to Ireland" dinner. After dinner, we took a walk through the heart of Dublin as the sun began to set.
Our first full day of the tour, we were surprised by Rick Steves himself stopping by for a quick hello and a selfie! (You can barely see my eyes peeking over someone's shoulder on the right toward the back....) We then headed out with our local guide, Tom, for a walking tour through Dublin which included a visit to Trinity College where we were able to view the Book of Kells and visit the Old Library. Oh my–that library almost had me in tears. It was simply beautiful! Dublin was an amazing city and I could easily spend a week there. We then strolled through various neighborhoods, including the medieval section and old government buildings. The architecture is so unique with a blend of modern and historic.
During our free time we strolled through parks, watched street performers, and visited the archaeology museum. Our hotel was in a fantastic location – easy walking to everything!
"Wow" Moment: Walking into the Trinity College Library took my breath away. You’ll know what I mean when you step into the great hall.