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Gracious Dublin
While it has become quite cosmopolitan, gracious is the word I would say best describes Dublin. It is low rise, with gorgeous Georgian architecture, ample green space, and a nice pace of life.
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Grafton St. Shopping
Grafton Street, the city's upscale pedestrian shopping avenue, always is ablaze with color and buzzing with activity.
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Ha' Penny Bridge
The city is bisected by the River Liffey, which adds another element of charm. The romantic Ha' Penny Bridge, a pedestrian way constructed in the 1700s, was the first to span the river. Now, much like Paris, there are river crossings every few blocks.
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Getting Around
There are any number of ways to see and learn about Dublin. We did the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus and a lot of walking, but other tours abound.
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Temple Bar
Temple Bar is one of our favorite haunts when in Dublin. It brims with artsy and cultural venues and is a center of nightlife, with lots of atmospheric bars that are hopping day and night.
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Molly Malone
While strolling in downtown Dublin, you're sure to come across the statue paying tribute to our favorite fish monger, Molly Malone, of the song's fame. Who knew she was so well endowed!
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Trinity College
One of the oldest universities in the world, dating back to the 1500s, Trinity has a sprawling campus with gracious buildings and large green spaces, and occupies about 47 acres in the middle of Dublin. This is where you can see the famous Book of Kells and other Irish treasures.
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St. Stephen's Green
Another of Dublin's wonderful green spaces is St. Stephen's, a 22-acre gardened square surrounded by attractive Georgian buildings. The park is a favorite of Dubliners, and on many summer weekends, its wrought-iron perimeter fence is the venue for local artists displaying their work.
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Little Museum of Dublin
Adjacent to St. Stephen's Green, the relatively new Little Museum of Dublin tells the tumultuous story of Dublin in the 20th century, and is well worth a visit.
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Westbury Hotel
After an active day of walking around Dublin, some R&R is well deserved. We based out of the Westbury Hotel, conveniently located right off the center of Grafton Street. It is very comfortable--okay, luxurious--and the staff is welcoming and service oriented.
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Tea, Anyone?
It's an Irish tradition--high tea in the late afternoon--and tea served at the Westbury was most elegant, if somewhat expensive. It is the ideal pick-me-up if you are planning an active night.
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And Some Literature
Two charming and witty actors led us on a Literary Pub Crawl of Dublin's famed writers' havens, tossing out meaty and humorous tidbits about its famous authors and poets and quoting from some of their most poignant works. Of course, there were also a few stops in historic pubs to provide a bit of oral lubrication.
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Learning about Irish Whiskey
My favorite discovery was the Irish Whiskey Experience. What a good show! Our teacher/master of ceremonies was full of interesting stories, all delivered with a superior wit.
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Sipping
Of course, the proof is in the pudding, and we finished up the lesson with samples . . . and a certificate to prove we are now Irish Whiskey Ambassadors.
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On the Job!
I took my newfound title seriously and dove right in. There's nothing quite like an un-emptying bottle of Irish Whiskey!