Finally! Some Pictures from Dublin

The end of our tour came so quickly. The first week we were in only two hotels. Then our pace picked up and before we knew it we were preparing to say "goodbye" to many new-found friends. Most of them would be leaving the next morning and we would be suddenly torn from our comfortable community of travelers. As our friends were leaving for the airport, we would be transferring to lodging quite different from what we had become accustomed to. Now, on our own and on foot, we would set out to discover Dublin. Here is what we found...

Saying "Goodbye" to the sheep. We're leaving this lush and wonderful countryside for the bustling activities and noise of the city! Dublin, here we come!

Ireland's most famous export!

The famed Ha'Penny Bridge, spanning the River Liffey.

The lovely Molly Malone.

A fine example of the numerous Georgian doors in one section of the city.

This arch marks the entrance into St. Stephen's Green Park. Bill and I stepped into it and discovered an oasis of serentiy in the middle of a noisy, trafficky city. It is so large, with two lakes and acres of parkland, one could spend an hour just walking through it.

Christ Church Cathedral.

We were amazed (and appalled) that there was an admission charge for this church and for St. Patrick's Cathedral. What a disappointment.

Among other events happening in the city, there was a "tall ship festival" going on at the river near the docklands. We had stayed at a hotel on Custom House Quay during our previous trip and walked through this area in an attempt to find the hotel (without success - it has either been torn down or has changed hands and appearance.)

Because several streets have been made "pedestrian only", we often came across various kinds of street artists. Some were quite bizarre. This one was the most talented!

Prominent statue of Daniel O'Connell, after whom this bustling boulevard was named.

Our guesthouse was just two streets over and the hop-on, hop-off bus stops were on both sides of the street.

On the very last day I finally had my walking-Westie sighting! The throng of people didn't bother him at all. See the walkers in red shirts and pink shirts? There were about 10,000 women walking throughout Dublin all day for a cancer cure.

We talked with a couple of them later that evening.

The horse patrol in the Temple Bar area. We found a great gourmet burger restaurant for lunch here. A couple at the table next to us were from Victoria, B.C.

By Monday we were so bored and ready to come home,

Bill and I were getting giddy with our cameras!

This is very typical of "window treatment" all over Dublin. You see this mainly at pubs, but also at some hotels. All the rain makes the flowers so happy!

The Wellington Monument in Phoenix Park. Note: Abundant sunshine, Bank Holiday, Dubliners out sunbathing!

We're ready to board our plane to Atlanta. Look at Graham, so innocent, not realizing that he is smuggling an apple in his red carry-on bag! In just eight hours he's going to get busted by an apple-sniffing beagle! We won't let him live that down for a long time!