The last stop on my roadtrip around Ireland, before heading back to Cork, was Dublin.
After such an intense and fabulous time in Belfast, I didn't really want to leave, and was very happy not to like Dublin at all. But I did. I really liked it.
Dublin is a quaint city with real personality, beauty, and my favourite thing of all, quirkiness. It didn't have the intensity of Belfast, and it's much much bigger, yet it still has such a lovely charm, and Dublin is clearly the coolest city of Ireland! It's got a Melbourne meets Paris sort of thing going on.
I would give you one hint, though, for your first visit to Dublin, stay right in the centre of town. I didn't and I regret it. Find a nice hotel and stay for 4-5 days exploring the city and its surrounds. I'm already planning my visit back!
So...what to do? Well, after 3 nights in Dublin, here's my pick of the top 5 things to do...
1. Queen of Tarts
DO NOT GO TO DUBLIN AND MISS THIS. Mmmmmmmmm....divineeeeee...the top 4 pics show the delights of this famous Dublin cake shop which you'll find in the Temple Bar district. It's been open for 15 years, and is so popular they have opened one just around the corner in Cow Lane that's bigger and better - but you know me, I like the original! All these pics are of the smaller, original Queen of Tarts. I tracked this place down for my first Dublin breakfast - triple decker Victoria Sponge with cream and strawberries, and a Madeleine dipped in jelly and coconut! OH MY GOODNESS - what a way to start a new city!!! Everything in here looked good, and they make it all on the premises...and the staff were sooooooo friendly. GO AT LEAST ONCE.
2. Trinity College Library
Book of Kells Schmells! I know that's sacrilegious, but really, why on earth is the Book of Kells so famous in Trinity College Library, when in fact the real show stopper is the library itself???? Saw the exhibition, read the blurbs, looked at the Book, then followed the signs to the Exit, upstairs, turned towards the library section and gasped so loudly everyone looked at me!!! OMG, pay your 9 Euro just to see this breathtaking library. DO NOT MISS IT.
3. The Streets and Alleys off Grafton Street
Dublin has two main shopping areas, I avoided one and spent most of my time in the other - and that's Grafton Street - but much better than Grafton Street are all the side streets and alleys that run off it heading East. I literally spent hours just wandering from one alley to another, one cute street to another, finding hidden treasures of other quirky little shopping centres...it's a labyrinth of shoe, clothes and little food shops. Avoca is worth a look, it's an Irish shop with cafe and bistro, but I like the one in Belfast much better, you'll stumble on a Butlers Chocolate shop, also an Irish institution, where you can go in and order your coffee with a free chockie of choice! My favourite "stumble upon" was Fallon & Byrne.
4. Fallon & Byrne
Mmmmmmmmmm...food shop. Think David Jones foodhall, but smaller, quainter, and cosier. I literally stumbled on this one on Exchequer Street - walked in and was in heaven. Mini gourmet supermarket, butcher, fromagerie, deli, cafe, and a bistro downstairs. I had a coffee on day 1 in the little cafe area, then on Day 2 bought a take-away cup of their homemade Leek and Potato Soup and sat out the front of the cafe (pic above) sipping and watching the world go by for about an hour. Heaven. Oh, and I also bought a little bag of the most divine lollies, sorta like our Milkshakes, they're called Ritchie's Moo....mmmmmmmm, I'll be trying to find more of these Irish numbers!
5. The Temple Bar
This is one of the hippest places to hang out in Dublin, well it's a little over the top touristy too I have to add. It's a mix of bars, pubs, cafes, cool little shops, all in a cobblestoned area off the River Liffey in town. It's the place to be, and definitely to check out. There's a great vibe here, funky and cool. I got my hair cut here, and visited the best tattoo parlour in Ireland (so they say) just to check it out (no, no tattoos for me!). They have a market spread all around the area on a Saturday, but it's small, so don't have high expectations - there's some great food stalls (pic above), but not much else. I wish I had spent more time here - apparently there are some great restaurants and a few good theatres, but alas, I was unable to partake. Bummer. Next time.
And that, my friends, was Dublin. I was there long enough to really like it, but not long enough to fully experience it. I'm definitely going back for a second go.
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