Early Monday morning, I walked to the bus station in Belfast for one of the easiest “transition days” ever!  The Dublin Express to Dublin was quick, efficient, and clean.  Once I arrived in Dublin, I walked only two blocks to a store I found on the app Bounce where I could securely store my luggage for the day.  From there, I meandered around Dublin, following Rick Steves’ audio tour and snapping photos all along the way.  In the afternoon, after lunch and the Irish Whiskey Museum (yum yum!), I retrieved my luggage and hopped onto the tram to Heuston Train Station where I met Ben, Kait, Greyson, and Emmett.  Big smiles and even bigger hugs!

Sarah, our AirBnB host, greeted us at the train station and drove us – including our luggage and the accoutrements needed for a toddler! – to her fabulous home next to Phoenix Park.

Over the next two days, the five of us saw The Book of Kells, Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Guinness Storehouse, Christ Church, Dublinia Museum, Dublin Castle, Grafton Street, and St. Stephen’s Green.  Wowza!

Fun – and creative – too, Greyson and I forged our own silver rings at a craft class the second evening!

St. Stephen’s Green

Bronze plaque honoring James Joyce (Grafton Street)

Ha’Penny Bridge

One of many monuments commemorating the struggles for Irish independence along O’Connell Street

General Post Office bullet hole

Garden of Remembrance

Trinity College

Trinity College Library (Book of Kells photography not allowed)

Guinness Storehouse

With our silver rings!

Dublin Castle

Magna Carta – Christ Church

View of Christ Church from top of Dublinia Museum