A Travel Log: Part One

Dublin is the biggest city in Ireland, with a population of over a million and so many attractions. You might be wondering which places to go to, so I will tell you of some places I recommend, general knowledge and overall culture of this city.

To travel around the city you will either have to walk or take a bus. While there are taxis they cost a lot and take some time to get around, so only use them when absolutely necessary.

To continue on, the first place that you have to check out is Dublinia. It is a very hands-on museum. This museum recounts information during the Viking time period. The museum also explains different diseases and it gives a run down about the dark age. They also have a program called “knights school”. This is where they will teach children the different techniques and ways knights had to use their swords in attacking and defending. The children will also have an opportunity to try on different helmets and hold different shields and swords. The actors who are helping teach the children are dressed up in full garments, impersonating nuns, monks, knights, and squires. The costs here for two kids and one adult total to 27 euros.

Another place that is a must see is the Jeanie Johnston boat tour . This tour takes place on the River Liffey. The boat is a replica and is filled with rich history. It was a carrier boat during the famine and was the only boat of its kind that no one died on. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and told us many interesting stories about the Jeanie Johnston. One, for example, is of a woman who gave birth on the ship and was so thankful for everyone’s support she named her child after everyone who helped her. The child ended up having nineteen names. The cost for the tour here for a family of five is amounting to 40 euros. So while the Jeanie Johnston was a more obvious location to explore, the next place I am going to recommend can only be described as a hidden jewel.

St. Audoen Church, a real treasure, which may not be as famous as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, is still full of information and beauty. The bells from this church are some of the oldest of its kind considering that they were here seventy years before Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World. St. Audoen also has a lucky stone that you can touch. The story behind the stone was that it started as a grave slab that was continuously being stolen from the church but always ended up returning to its rightful place at the church. The lucky stone then ended up by a cistern so that people who drank the water would have luck. Later in 1826 thieves tried to steal the stone when eventually it seemed to get too heavy for the horse and the thieves had to leave it. In total this church is wonderful and you must check it out if you happen to visit Dublin, compared to the costs of other activities this church is completely free to visit.

Now a place that I wouldn’t suggest stopping by is the GPO. It is true that this is an important landmark for the Irish but it just wasn’t as engaging and interactive as the other museums. Also the costs were a bit more, 15 euros for adults and 12 for kids.

Now that we have discussed some sightseeing in Dublin, let’s talk about the people and culture. A taxi driver expressed his national pride in Ireland. He loves the Gaelic language, explaining how the Irish had to fight for their language and independence. He left us with a piece of advice to travel as much as you can, learn as much as you can, and everything else can wait. Overall from my experiences the Irish are kindhearted people who want to share their knowledge and laughter.

To conclude this log, Dublin, Ireland is a wonderful place to visit if you plan to travel.

Slán libh!