Dublin, the capital of Ireland, known for its culture and fun, is a popular tourist destination. A UK visa is required for travel there. Tickets on budget airlines are as little as £35, London-Dublin return! Certainly tempting if you happen to be visiting London.
Landing in Dublin from London, we found the Irish people friendly and helpful. The Airlink bus which plies every 15-minutes from the airport, dropped us almost at the doorstep of the Clifton Court hotel which is located in the city centre, an area called Temple Bar.
Our first thought was to get lunch and eat the famed Irish stew! Walking down the streets of Temple Bar, we looked for a restaurant serving Irish stew. Strange that there were just two restaurants that served it! The helpings were so huge that we were unable to finish our portions. We were told that we must return to the original Temple Bar (a bar in the heart of the city which gives the area its name) in the evening, to try out their Jameson and Ginger Ale combo, and Guinness beer.
Crossing the famous Ha’Penny Bridge that evening, we made our way into the heart of Temple Bar, where the narrow cobbled streets are lined with lively bars, restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Foot-tapping music mingling with the sounds of laughter, filled our ears and beckoned us.
The interior of the Bar was interesting as it had a garden area, the usual bar area and so many other spaces, each unique in its decor and designed to transport us into another era far gone.
A large part of present day life is woven into the history of Ireland. A pub and diner called The Church built inside an old church was a wonderful experience.
The beautiful pulpit and arches still remain and provided history as we sipped a whiskey called Connemara which they said was the best in the world. We could almost hear the organs playing choir music in the background. Irish tap dancers performed on high tables around the bar, adding to the ambience. The courtyard outside was quiet and dotted with tables and chairs, where students of the Trinity College served the customers.
A sense of calm and serenity pervaded in the courtyard, while we tried some Irish coffee and Baileys Coffee – The best in Dublin, it is said.
A walk along the river Liffey which flows through central Dublin reminded us of Venice. Tourists sat along the river till late at night looking at the beautifully lit city on either side of the river sipping their drinks. The next day, we decided to take the Hop on Hop off bus to see the city. The ticket is valid for 24 hours. There are three routes which cover Dublin extensively and the bus is equipped with a guide who was informative sharing the rich history of each place. There were many freebies on the tour too. We were disappointed that we couldn’t take the Jameson tour, as Jameson was closed till March 2017.
I found the Irish innovative. There was a Ghost bus captioned– Get on it if you dare, which took people to the parts of Dublin and told them stories of slaughter and hidden ghosts in castles. Another was the story telling tour – old Irish stories of interesting venues. What an interesting way of bringing the history of Ireland to the visitors. There was even a restaurant and a pathway to walk around in the Glasnevin Cemetry.
Irish accents are difficult to understand. The city is clean and green. The Irish lifestyle is to go to the pub after work, yet, we didn’t see many fat Irishmen there. We were told that this is because they take exercise and sport very seriously. Work seems to be chilled out. We did not come across any tension or stress of any kind and it seemed to be one happy land. There are many two-for-one deals available and some of the well known places are Boxtys, known for their good Irish menu, Pacinos for Italian food, Adelphi for a hearty Irish breakfast.
Shopping is great too. A complete value for money! The Irish guides make the tours interesting with their anecdotes. You leave Ireland wishing to go back again someday!
— The writer is a Bengaluru-based image consultant and founder director of the Lalitha Subbarao Nanjundayya Memorial Trust
