Dublin Visitors: Round 2

Three weeks after my parents spent time in Dublin, it was Naber time! B's parents came over to spend a few days in Dublin, then we spent back-to-back weekends in Munich and Madrid (will cover those next). It was a jam-packed 10 days and even I was exhausted afterwards, so I can't imagine how they felt! However, it was, as always, well worth it. 

I know it's a common sentiment to be wary of the dreaded visit from the in-laws. Well, I'm extremely lucky in that sense, because I married into an amazing family (and I'm not just saying that because they read my blog ;) ). Since day 1, B's parents and siblings have treated me like part of the family and I am 100% myself around them. It's a wonderful, disarming feeling, and I have never experienced any dread; in fact, it's the opposite. I look forward to any visits because I get the same relaxed, recharged feeling I would experience around my immediate family. But enough brown-nosing, ha, I'll get to the trip... 

Similar to my parents' visit (Dublin Visitors Round 1), Karen and Dave arrived on a Thursday and I, still languishing in the work permit approval process, was able to be take them on my traditional walking tour of Dublin.

First, we walked through St. Stephen's Green, up through Grafton, to Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and made a pit stop in Temple Bar for some lunch and their first pint of Guinness in Ireland. Next, we toured the insides of Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral - a first for me!

Above is Christ Church, located in the former heart of medieval Dublin and first founded around 1030. It contains the largest cathedral crypt in Britain or Ireland, which has been renovated and is open to the public today. 

Below is St. Patrick's Cathedral, whose timeline dates back even further, to around 450 AD. As with many sites in Europe, the history is unfathomable, especially coming from the States.

Both tours were fascinating and the interiors of both were beautiful! It was also a treat for me to be able to do something new in the city, so it was a first for all of us.

Next was the Guinness Storehouse, the famous brewery where Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease for £100 in 1759. I won't go into the detailed history, but it's definitely worth a visit. The museum layout is designed well and it's self-guided, so you can choose what to see. Of course, you get a free pint at the end -- you can pour your own OR go to the Gravity Bar. I always opt for the latter for the 360 views of the city. 

Such a photogenic beer, huh?

Gravity Bar - Guinness Storehouse

The evening consisted of a casual dinner at Foley's and some live Irish music. The next day, the three of us did the ever lovely Bray to Greystones day trip.

Start of the Cliff Walk - Overlooking Bray

Upon returning to Dublin, we had another relaxed meal with B and a pint at O'Donoghues. A lot of ground was covered in a couple days! Then, we packed and geared up for our trip to Munich for Oktoberfest... 

Dublin Visitors: Round 1

I've been neglecting the blog, I know! We've been traveling through Europe the last few weekends in a row and I haven't found the time, but I'm back in action today and will try to write much more frequently.

I decided to start my posts about all our visitors at the O'Naber B&B. First of all, let me say that we're extremely appreciative of everyone who has come to visit us. As anyone who has moved to a land far far away knows, you get plenty of, "I'm totally coming to visit you"s. As expected, the follow through on this is always pretty poor. 

Believe me, we know how much time, money, and planning it takes to actually take a trip to Ireland, so we understand when it's just not feasible. However, for those that have, kudos to you! It's likely a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit a friend or family member abroad (and stay for free!) in a country with someone who knows the lay of the land. Best of all, we get super excited to take people around and show them the sights and what our lives are like over here. It's a "stay-cation" for us and we always feel recharged when familiar faces are around :)

Bray to Greystones

Our first familiar faces were those of my parents. They had been to Ireland twice previously, but didn't hesitate to hop on a standby flight over (thanks to my airline captain brother). Per their usual luck, they brought seldom seen sunshine and warm weather with them to the Emerald Isle. They arrived on a Thursday morning and, thanks to my Accidental Housewife status, I was able to play tour guide and design my own walking tour of Dublin and the surrounding areas. 

We had lunch at the Village Market across the street from our apartment, then walked to the centre to hit the tourist spots -- St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College, Dublin Castle, The Liffey -- then stopped at Oliver St. John Gogarty's in Temple Bar for a pint of Guinness (my Mom actually had Guinness!) and some live music. Jet lag set in pretty hard after a beer, so we made our way back and had a nice, low key evening at home.

Patrick Kavanagh on Grand Canal

On the Liffey

Pints at Gogarty's - proof of Mom with a Guinness

Friday was spent on the Bray to Greystones walk. It was one of the maybe 5 days that we've had 70 (21+ C) degree weather in Ireland, so I was in a t-shirt and loving it. My Mom, however, actually complained that it was a little hot, ha! I think we should really switch climates.

The 4 of us took took a road trip to Northern Ireland for the weekend, then I took a trip around southwest Ireland with them during the week (both of which I'll cover separately), and we capped the final weekend in Dublin with a trip to Howth. It was a jam packed trip, but well worth it!

It was an amazing experience to make memories with my parents in Ireland AND I was able to take a trip the 3 of us around the beautiful countryside. I guess I have the Irish government to thank for the time off ;)

Next, I'll go over our trip to Northern Ireland and the Antrim Coast...

Dublin Day Trips: Bray to Greystones

The other day, B asked me if I could send him my Dublin itinerary to forward to a visitor in town. As I'm writing itineraries for various European cities, you would think I'd have a great itinerary for the city I'm living in, right? Nope! It got me thinking that I need to put more focus back into Dublin and the surrounding areas. 

The city itinerary is a work in progress, but I'm starting a new series: Dublin Day Trips. 

I've gone on several day trips around the Dublin area that I would definitely recommend for visitors. What's great about Dublin being pretty compact is that you get out of the city quickly. You can take a 30 minute train ride or car ride and be in much more rural, picturesque spot for hiking, lounging, etc. The first trip I'll cover is Bray to Greystones.

Boardwalk & Beach in Bray

Bray and Greystones are two separate coastal towns located just across the Dublin county border in Wicklow. Trains first arrived from Dublin in 1854 and Bray became the hot spot for urban holiday goers, so it was developed to resemble an English beachside town. Greystones is a quaint little town named for a stretch of stones on the beachfront, and makes the location where the southbound DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) terminates.  

View of Bray Boardwalk from the start of the Cliff Walk

The "Bray to Greystones" trip involves catching the DART to either destination (I prefer Bray) and taking the Cliff Walk from one point to the other. You can walk along the boardwalk in Bray, complete the Cliff Walk, stop for a bite in Greystones, and hop on a train back to the city in 3-5 hours total. It's the perfect half day trip! I've done this 5 times now and have enjoyed it every time!

The Cliff Walk itself is about ~3.5 miles and is not strenuous (I've done it in flip flops a couple times, but I would recommend gym shoes!). The route boasts spectacular coastal scenery -- some that, in my opinion, rivals some of the most beautiful places in Ireland on a sunny day. Even after 5 times, the beauty doesn't get old and I'm still compelled to take pictures each time.

See what I mean? Stunning. The path winds around the edges of the cliffs, showing off views of the train cutting through the hillside, rounds off for a great vista of the beach and Greystones in the distance (below), and brings you through country fields on the decline into town. 

My favorite place to end the walk is at The Beach House in Greystones. It's a bright pink pub/restaurant at the end of the walk with a large back patio (useful if you're lucky enough to get a nice day!). It's the ideal place to refuel with a pint and some good local food before walking through the little town centre and heading back into Dublin. 

You can't miss it!

The Bray to Greystones walk is unquestionably one of my top choices for Dublin Day Trips. It's cheap, relatively quick, close to the city, and gorgeous! I'd suggest this for anyone staying longer than 1 day in Dublin, as the city itself is easy to see in a short amount of time. 

More day trips to come...