Thursday, November 9. 2006
Our European Holiday - Dublin
Day 7
The English Breakfast down the road was too good to pass up so we went and had that again. We came back up to do a little admin, pack, write in our travel diary, download photos etc. We then headed off to Buckingham Palace to try and catch the changing of the guard before rushing back for our transfer to the Airport. The Changing of the Guard was late for some reason. We just caught the beginning of their march down to the palace as we rushed back to the Motel. Perfect timing, we had just checked out as the bus showed up. The transfer took us to Victoria station for the train to Gatwick.
Once at Gatwick we had to re-arrange our hand luggage so that we didn't have any creams or liquids on us and we were only allowed one bag each (including Chris' handbag which we shoved into the back pack) very fluster-mer-ating! After checking in and clearing security we relaxed for a bite to eat and a pint or two. The flight to ireland was short and sweet. We caught a local bus transfer into the city and checked in to Cassidys - a sight for sore eyes, pure luxury compared to London! After a freshen up we decided to go down to the restaurant (Restaurant Six) for tea. Devine! Matt had steak (sirloin) with three peppercorn sauce and Chris had the Sea Trout with dill sauce washed down with a Cab Sav from South Africa (name to come, Zonnee something). followed by Bourbon Biscuit tart with banana and caramel and Strudel with ice cream. A fantastic meal, brilliant atmosphere, wonderful company.
Day 8
The Motel provided a full "Irish" (buffet) breakfast - wonderful. The standard and hospitality of Dublin has left London for dead. After breakfast we went for a short stroll down O'Connell St (the main drag of Dublin). We then caught the City Bus tour (Hop-on-hop-off bus) around the city and then to the Guiness Brewery. We spent about 3 hrs working our way through the storehouse. Matt had our complimentary pints of Guiness in the bar ontop of the brewery which provided a spectacular 360 degree view of the city. We bought a few souvenirs and then join the bus tour back into the city centre.
We found a pub (Madigan's) for a late lunch and a few more pints. Matt went back to the room for a poppy nap while Chris went back around again to stop at Trinity College for a quick stroll and the Dublin Castle. After that we both freshened up to go to the Groomes Bar for tea followed by a quick walk, a bit of telly and then off to sleep.
Day 9
We went for a brisk walk before breakfast, we knew what was coming
. After brekkie we ducked back to the room for Chris to call home and to rug up for the Coastal tour we were doing today. We joined the South Coast tour which took us through South Dublin, through Black Rock (saw some crazy people going for a swim at the "beach") and onto Powell Court Gardens. Here we grabbed some lunch and then strolled around the wonderful gardens for an hour or so, a beautiful day. Once back in Dublin we got off to have a closer look at the statue of Molly Malone and the Temple Bar area. We ducked into a pub near there for a quick pint and then ended up watching the 2nd half of the International Rules (Gaelic Football) game between Australia and Ireland. Australia won!! While in the pub we met another Australian family from Perth, Allan, Rose, their daughter and 2 sons. Lovely family that were just finishing up their 3 month European holiday. After finishing our pints we walked across the HaPenny bridge in search of a Bottlo (off license) with little luck. We ducked into a internet cafe for a bit and then back to the Motel for a few quick drinks and then ducked back out again to pick-up some Chinese takeaway for tea. After tea Matt went off to the bar while Chris re-packed to make sure our clothes were fairly evenly distributed between the two suite cases and tidy up a bit. Matt ducked out with a few other Aussies he met in the bar for a few more drinks.
Day 10
Matt got in around 3:30am, smelling like a brewery and promptly fell asleep. After a few more hours sleep we both got up for brekkie and then Matt went back to bed while Chris went off for the North Coast tour to Malhaide Castle (last owned by Rose Talbot, Sheep station owner in Tassie), very interesting. Chris got back around 2pm, met up with Matt for lunch (pretty ordinary Burger King) followed by a stroll around Clearys Department store. After some coffee and cake we went back for a Nap. Once we woke and freshened up a little we bundled up our laundry and went off to try and do some washing. Unfortunately the laundromat was closing so we took it back to the room and ducked back out again for our last stroll trough the Dublin streets and a bite to eat. After tea we went back, picked up the iPod and headed back to the internet cafe to upload some photos. After fiddling around there for a bit we retired for our last night in Dublin.
The English Breakfast down the road was too good to pass up so we went and had that again. We came back up to do a little admin, pack, write in our travel diary, download photos etc. We then headed off to Buckingham Palace to try and catch the changing of the guard before rushing back for our transfer to the Airport. The Changing of the Guard was late for some reason. We just caught the beginning of their march down to the palace as we rushed back to the Motel. Perfect timing, we had just checked out as the bus showed up. The transfer took us to Victoria station for the train to Gatwick.
Once at Gatwick we had to re-arrange our hand luggage so that we didn't have any creams or liquids on us and we were only allowed one bag each (including Chris' handbag which we shoved into the back pack) very fluster-mer-ating! After checking in and clearing security we relaxed for a bite to eat and a pint or two. The flight to ireland was short and sweet. We caught a local bus transfer into the city and checked in to Cassidys - a sight for sore eyes, pure luxury compared to London! After a freshen up we decided to go down to the restaurant (Restaurant Six) for tea. Devine! Matt had steak (sirloin) with three peppercorn sauce and Chris had the Sea Trout with dill sauce washed down with a Cab Sav from South Africa (name to come, Zonnee something). followed by Bourbon Biscuit tart with banana and caramel and Strudel with ice cream. A fantastic meal, brilliant atmosphere, wonderful company.
Day 8
The Motel provided a full "Irish" (buffet) breakfast - wonderful. The standard and hospitality of Dublin has left London for dead. After breakfast we went for a short stroll down O'Connell St (the main drag of Dublin). We then caught the City Bus tour (Hop-on-hop-off bus) around the city and then to the Guiness Brewery. We spent about 3 hrs working our way through the storehouse. Matt had our complimentary pints of Guiness in the bar ontop of the brewery which provided a spectacular 360 degree view of the city. We bought a few souvenirs and then join the bus tour back into the city centre.
We found a pub (Madigan's) for a late lunch and a few more pints. Matt went back to the room for a poppy nap while Chris went back around again to stop at Trinity College for a quick stroll and the Dublin Castle. After that we both freshened up to go to the Groomes Bar for tea followed by a quick walk, a bit of telly and then off to sleep.
Day 9
We went for a brisk walk before breakfast, we knew what was coming
. After brekkie we ducked back to the room for Chris to call home and to rug up for the Coastal tour we were doing today. We joined the South Coast tour which took us through South Dublin, through Black Rock (saw some crazy people going for a swim at the "beach") and onto Powell Court Gardens. Here we grabbed some lunch and then strolled around the wonderful gardens for an hour or so, a beautiful day. Once back in Dublin we got off to have a closer look at the statue of Molly Malone and the Temple Bar area. We ducked into a pub near there for a quick pint and then ended up watching the 2nd half of the International Rules (Gaelic Football) game between Australia and Ireland. Australia won!! While in the pub we met another Australian family from Perth, Allan, Rose, their daughter and 2 sons. Lovely family that were just finishing up their 3 month European holiday. After finishing our pints we walked across the HaPenny bridge in search of a Bottlo (off license) with little luck. We ducked into a internet cafe for a bit and then back to the Motel for a few quick drinks and then ducked back out again to pick-up some Chinese takeaway for tea. After tea Matt went off to the bar while Chris re-packed to make sure our clothes were fairly evenly distributed between the two suite cases and tidy up a bit. Matt ducked out with a few other Aussies he met in the bar for a few more drinks.Day 10
Matt got in around 3:30am, smelling like a brewery and promptly fell asleep. After a few more hours sleep we both got up for brekkie and then Matt went back to bed while Chris went off for the North Coast tour to Malhaide Castle (last owned by Rose Talbot, Sheep station owner in Tassie), very interesting. Chris got back around 2pm, met up with Matt for lunch (pretty ordinary Burger King) followed by a stroll around Clearys Department store. After some coffee and cake we went back for a Nap. Once we woke and freshened up a little we bundled up our laundry and went off to try and do some washing. Unfortunately the laundromat was closing so we took it back to the room and ducked back out again for our last stroll trough the Dublin streets and a bite to eat. After tea we went back, picked up the iPod and headed back to the internet cafe to upload some photos. After fiddling around there for a bit we retired for our last night in Dublin.
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