The sail into Dublin this morning was not the best in the world…. The conditions were very windy and very, very overcast. After a wonderful send off by the ship’s senior officers, we were off on another adventure. We took the ship’s first shuttle to central Dublin and started our walking tour of the city. The shuttle dropped us at Merrion Square and we headed to Stephens Green one of Dublin’s best known Victorian Public Parks and along the way we stopped to see some of the doors of Dublin...From the Green we walked to the impressive St Patrick’s Cathedral, built in honor of Ireland’s patron saint. Continuing up the street we stopped at Christ Church Cathedral the oldest building in Dublin...I went down into the crypt, which predates the cathedral. Next, we went to Dublin’s beautifully restored City Hall with its outstanding example of Georgian architecture displayed in the spectacular Rotunda entrance. Just behind City Hall lies Dublin Castle, now home of the state government offices, ceremonial halls, the Chester Beatty Library and lovely gardens. Next, we meandered our way through Temple Bar, named for Sir William Temple, the cultural quarter of Dublin. Next, we crossed the Ha’ Penny pedestrian bridge over the Liffey River making our way to O’Connell Street to see the General Post Office. We crossed back over the Liffey River and went to the famous and beautiful Trinity College, opened in 1592 which also houses the Book of Kells...we tried to see the Kells exhibit but unfortunately the lines were too long. Moving onto the Grafton Street area we stopped at the Molly Malone statue. Our day in Dublin was completed with a stroll up and down Grafton Street, taking in the buskers, street musicians, sites and some shopping before catching the shuttle back to the ship. The weather was pleasant and allowed us to have a very successful walking tour of Dublin’s fair city.
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