Not all who wander are lost: Dublin: getting in touch with my inner leprechaun

I think I turned a bit Irish during my week in Dublin!

After a couple days in London, I took a train and ferry over to Dublin, Ireland. The skies were cloudy and rainy for most of the journey until about halfway through our boat ride when the sun came out and blue skies revealed themselves to us. I was quite fortunate to get several sunny days in Dublin!

Preparing to leave from Holyhead, Wales. I boarded the boat with several delegations of People to People students. It was a fun flashback to remember too many years ago now my own PtP trip to Australia and New Zealand. It was fun to talk to some of the students and hear about their impressions of England.

Holyhead

Beautiful Ireland

Rathgar neighborhood of Dublin where my friends Gillian and Lisa live, who were gracious enough to host me for a week!

Rathgar

Dublin is my kind of town - so many beautiful doors and windows! :) It was fun to see Dublin and see how similar Boston truly is to this fine city. I fell in love with Dublin immediately.

Irish Pub

Many Irish author statues and plaques around town - what's up James Joyce?

Gillian, hanging with two of her friends

The famous Temple Bar district - beautiful, cozy pubs, live music and great food! Lots of tourists too, but hey, sometimes you just have to join in the maddness

Really enjoyed the architecture throughout Dublin - simple and understated yet with a hint of mystery - much like the Irish, if I do say so myself!

Kilmainham Gaol (Prison) Museum - used as a prison for 128 where the members of the Easter Uprising were imprisoned and later executed.

Kilmainham Gaol

Meant to be a place of "reform" the prison was home to men, women, and children. The youngest prisoner was said to be 7 who was imprisoned for petty theft. During the potato famine, many people would conduct petty crimes to get into the jail which guaranteed them a shelter and two meals a day.

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol chapel

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol - cell door

Kilmainham Gaol - through a hole in the cell door

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol - looking into a cell. This picture is a bit haunting to me.
I wonder what the people who were in this cell experienced, and how they created this opening.
If these walls could talk, I'm sure the stories would be amazing.

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol - famous part of the jail that has been used in several movies and U2 videos

Kilmainham Gaol - Mrs. Joseph Plinkett's cell. She and her husband were married in the chapel and he was executed hours after their wedding.

Kilmainham Gaol - the mural Mrs. Plinkett painted inside her cell

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol - the recreation yard

Kilmainham Gaol - the execution yard where the Easter Uprising members were executed

Kilmainham Gaol

More beautiful Dublin buildings and flowers

We found twinkies - as expats sometimes you just gotta go with those little American pleasures you so rarely get. Gillian was quite excited for her twinkie!

Dublin and the river Liffey

More love locks...they are seriously everywhere. Something I really didn't notice until moving abroad, and now I see them everywhere.

Dublin has a history lesson on practically every corner. I loved it and learned a ton about the Easter Uprising and other parts of Irish history.

The large needle thing - pretty ugly, but a great landmark for finding one's way

My favourite ad ever - that's exactly how I get rid of my gum! There is even an anti-gum liter task force. I need to get appointed to that! http://gumlittertaskforce.ie/bin-it

Hanging out at the pub listening to some wonderful Irish music

Lucky enough to share a Cider with Becca and Mama Mills on their brief stop over in Dublin. :)

Trinity College Library - beautiful library and home to the Book of Kells

Waiting to see the beautiful Book of Kells - created in 800 AD by Celtic Monks - a simply gorgeous book

Trinity College Library - no pictures allowed inside....it is simply stunning!

Book of Kells poster

Poster doesn't do it justice, but it's close. It had the most amazing old book smell!

To see a panoramic view of the Long Room of the Trinity College Library: http://panoramicireland.com/guide-to-ireland/360-degree-panoramas-of-ireland/trinity-college-360-degree-panorama

Book of Kells

Only people named Q should stand here :)

Gillian with her favorite Irish poet at the National Library

National Library

Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse - waterfall

Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse - like my other favorite museum, Spam Museum, I loved all the Guinness advertising.

Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse - pouring the perfect pint

Guinness Storehouse

View from top of the Guinness Storehouse - a bit rainy/dreary but a perfect afternoon for a Guinness!

Amy also visited Dublin for a few days while I was there, which was awesome. A highlight was the viking tour of Dublin!

Molly Malone statue

RAAAWWWWRRRRR! Scaring unsuspecting tourists - "Celts" while on our tour. The best part was watching the others on our tour get so into this!

How can you not love traveling with someone who at the same moment she sees this immediately goes over and makes this face so you can take a picture! :)