Nov. 8th - Visiting my 34th country: Ireland

Ready to take off. 
I am visiting a new country, which is always super exciting!

 FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland

Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland – a sovereign state covering five-sixths of the island) and Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom – covering the remaining sixth). It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest in the world. As of 2022, the population of the entire island is just over 7 million, with 5.1 million in the Republic of Ireland and 1.9 million in Northern Ireland, ranking it the second-most populous island in Europe after Great Britain.

Dublin Airport

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Airport

Dublin Airport is an international airport serving Dublin, Ireland. It is operated by DAA (formerly Dublin Airport Authority). The airport is located in Collinstown, 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Dublin, and 3 km (1.9 mi) south of the town of Swords. In 2024, over 34.6 million passengers passed through the airport, making it the airport's busiest year on record. It is the 13th busiest airport in Europe, and is the busiest of Ireland's airports by total passenger traffic; it also has the largest traffic levels on the island of Ireland, followed by Belfast International Airport.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Dublin

Dublin is Ireland's most populous county, with a population of 1,458,154 as of 2022 – approximately 28% of the Republic of Ireland's total population. Dublin city is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, and the largest city on the island of Ireland. Roughly 9 out of every 10 people in County Dublin lives within Dublin city and its suburbs. Several sizeable towns that are considered separate from the city, such as Rush, Donabate and Balbriggan, are located in the far north of the county. Swords, while separated from the city by a green belt around Dublin Airport, is considered a suburban commuter town and an emerging small city.

I am staying at the Marlin Hotel. 

So far, so good. The location is great, 15 minutes walking to the river, where everything happens.

Simple room, but a bit more spacious than the one in London. 

Temple Bar Neighbourhood

It's Saturday night and the street are taken by thousands of young people. 

This is for sure a party town.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

Temple Bar is an area on the south bank of the River Liffey in central Dublin, Ireland. The area is bounded by the Liffey to the north, Dame Street to the south, Westmoreland Street to the east and Fishamble Street to the west. It is promoted as Dublin's 'cultural quarter' and, as a centre of Dublin's city centre's nightlife, is a tourist destination.

Temple Bar Pub

FROM: https://dublin.ie/live/things-to-do/nightlife/

There are around 772 pubs in Dublin, so you won’t have a hard time finding somewhere to have a jar. (That’s Dublin slang for a pint!)

The city is divided into north and south by the River Liffey. Temple Bar, which is famously associated with Dublin’s nightlife, is located right by the river on the south side.

Here, you’ll find lots of pubs and restaurants lining the cobbled streets. This area is particularly popular with tourists, so many of them serve the likes of Irish coffee and Guinness stew.

FROM: https://www.visitdublin.com/ha-penny-bridgeThe Ha'Penny Bridge is Dublin's oldest pedestrian crossing over the river Liffey. It was erected in 1816 as the Wellington Bridge and it acquired its better known nickname from the halfpenny toll levied on all users of the bridge up to 1919. The Ha’Penny Bridge is one of the earliest cast-iron structures of its kind. In 2012, citing a maintenance and damage risk, Dublin City Council removed a number of love locks from the Ha'penny Bridge and nearby Millennium Bridge.

Arlington Hotel

My very first activity in Dublin was a traditional Celtic night, with food, music and dance. It can be view as a "tourist trap," but it's definitely a fun one! 

FROM: https://celticnights.com/

Celtic Nights is a spellbinding traditional Irish dance show that transports you on an exhilarating journey through Ireland’s rich cultural tapestry. Immerse yourself in legendary Irish songs and captivating traditional Irish music, all while witnessing the breathtaking performances of our world-renowned dancers and musicians

Located at The Arlington Hotel O’Connell Bridge, Celtic Nights combines pulsating traditional Irish dance rhythms, jaw-dropping footwork and legendary Irish songs. Celtic Nights takes to the stage 7 nights per week.

Besides the show, you have dinner included with the ticket.
You get to choose one starter and a main course from this menu.

You pay drinks and side dishes separated.

I choose the Soup of the Day to start, a delicious vegetables soup with a bread roll.
For main course, I tried a hearty Tradicional Irish Lamb Stew.
It was tasty and filling. I love the puff pastry.

The music starts right away and the audience is easily engaged. 

This guy was sort of our host, mixing music, dance and Irish stories.

The dance is spectacular!
I really cannot understand how they do that with their legs and feet!

Some members of the audience are invited to go on stage and "learn some moves."

I was so full from the food that I could barely touch my dessert.

It was a nice and pleasant introduction to Dublin. 

More to come!