Ireland, Part 1; Dublin
After postponing this trip twice, we are finally in Dublin. We arrived in high spirits due to an invaluable tip from a well-traveled friend who said, "Upgrade to first class, you won't regret it." We ate like kings and slept on the plane, waking up refreshed and ready to explore. We delivered our bags to the perfectly-located Buswells Hotel, grabbed some coffee and met my dear friend, Jennifer, and her family at the historic Shelbourne Hotel for breakfast. It was a clear sunny day and it was only 9 a.m. There were peaceful protesters on the the streets (love the Irish tenacity) and I had my list of things to do, places to see.
First stop was the National Museum of Ireland. It is free. Do not miss this place. We spent about two hours among the exhibits which tell the story of this wild and rustic island. From here it was off to Grafton Street and Trinity College. The good thing about Dublin is that it is compact. It is a bustling city, of course, but easy to navigate and explore on foot.
We dined at the Steps of Rome, a restaurant just off Grafton Street, and owned by Italians who decided that Dublin was a better fit for them. I know what you're thinking, Italian food in Dublin? Trust me, this place was worth it. We will have our fair share of shepherds pie, brown bread and soup in the next twelve days. Tonight, however, we feasted in a restaurant with about five tables in a room no bigger than 14' x 14' serving up fresh pizzas, steaming casseroles of lasagna, pasta, fresh salad and carafes of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine, all within easy walking distance of our hotel. Life is good.
