Hi,

It was only a week's visit to Dublin, Ireland, and I wasn't in rush-rush mode at all for this trip, but I'd like to share a few highlights, and doing a trip report is a way of enjoying the trip again.

My word, watching the weather reports and social media pictures, I certainly had a lucky break with the weather. I arrived Sunday, 18 February, and departed on the 25th, thus avoiding the 'Beast from the East'!

The 18th was overcast with sprinkles. I saw a few people with umbrellas, though I'd left my travel one at home. I don't think it would have been much help with the occasional strong gust and the hood on my jacket sufficed for the little amount of rain that fell.

Monday-Thursday (19th-22nd) was a mix of cloudy or partly sunny days, temps up near 50F several times. Friday was brisk and the first one I'd call cold, temps nearer to 40F. I dressed with more layering on the Saturday, which also started very brisk, though a bit of sun brought in some warmth. The second Sunday, the 25th, was a lovely day to travel home via BOS. Maine had had snow that morning but when finally arriving on the bus to Portland in the evening and getting a ride back to home, it was raining, so little trouble with the roads.

I'd booked this trip last September, knowing that February is a winter month and weather could muck up the itinerary, but I really had good fortune with the weather!

I flew BOS > DUB and DUB to BOS on Aer Lingus. I saw a sale last September and I tried the cheapest fare, the Saver fare for $415.

The Saver fare does not pick a seat (you're assigned on check in), nor is it to receive a blanket and ear buds though my seat had both when I reached it on the plane. It looked like just everybody's did. The Saver fare can choose to pay for the seating and blanket/earbuds, but then it's about the same fare as the next one up, so I decided to "live dangerously"

I was assigned a window seat on the way over, but I discovered I do better with an aisle seat (you're only going over 1 person's knees on the 2-4-2 seating, but still...), so I used Wednesday morning to visit the airport (no laptop with me to do this change online myself) and get an aisle seat for the return trip. I should have had to pay $25 for this, but the agent didn't charge me.

Aer Lingus sent an e-mail about bidding to get an upgrade to business. You could choose to do this both ways of the trip, or just one. I could choose to bid from $500 to $1200 and Aer Lingus would decide if my bid were acceptable or not. I went with no bid for outward leg and $500 for return. My bid was not accepted, but I did it more for seeing what happened vs. expecting an acceptance. Cheaper for me to not have it accepted too!

Both flights went well, with early arrivals.

I took two guide books with me. I highly(!) recommend the Frommers. It included useful information .. opening hours, bus routes, street and DART maps. It also had a few day trip options described; I did two of those. I also had the Moon Dublin guide, but I didn't open that much, just for some general background occasionally.

Frommer's Dublin Day by Day / Jack Jewers
https://www.amazon.com/Frommers-Dubl...dp/1628872926/

Moon Dublin / Camille DeAngelis
https://www.amazon.com/Dublin-Travel...dp/1631216570/

I took along a Canon point-n-shoot camera, but after the first day, it just stayed in my bag and I only pulled out my iPhone SE. I haven't tried to print any pics, yet, but for sharing online the iPhone worked a treat.

Two apps got the most use:
The Dublin Bus app .. for learning the locations of stops and if the stop didn't have one of the electronic signs with next arrival info, when the next bus was coming
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dubl...450455266?mt=8

Google Maps .. it wasn't always perfect on directions (ex: sent me around the back of the Tara Street DART station instead of the more typical front direction), but it helped me a lot, listing bus info and showing the road maps
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goog...585027354?mt=8

My phone is on the AT&T network, so I used the $60 international package for roaming (reminds me, I need to make sure this is turned off, no more trips coming up).

The SE replaced my 2009 iPhone 4. I was disappointed when setting up apps to find only one game app still available from my original choices: Chip Chain. But I also determined that I would not be one of those folk who do nothing but stare down, so I limited myself to one game a day. I used time to people watch and/or work in my journal.

After looking at hotel prices, I made my first attempt with Airbnb, and stayed here https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3893380

The pictures show exactly what I found. The location is terrific with the bus stops just a couple minutes away and Triona was always quick to answer questions. It was a very good stay.

The first day I went past the Harold's Cross Park to find a Centra store for some groceries, but after a few days walking around, my other shopping was at a Tesco on the South Circular Road to the north of the cottage. I also used the pharmacy near the Tesco. The distances (~10 min walking) were about exactly the same, but to visit the churches/museums/etc, you're always going north anyway.

I like going carry on only, and I used the same MEC Shuttle II Travelpack as my last trip in 2014. The current version, the Shuttle IV, looks similar but also a bit different (I notice a padded slip for a laptop), https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5034-8...-IV-Travelpack

My "purse" is the same from my first trip in 2008, a mini-size, black messenger bag, which is no longer for sale from L. L. Bean (I've suggested to Bean's customer service that it come back) but you can see it pictured here, https://midnightdsignsfashion.blogsp...enger-bag.html

Oh, sorry .. the MEC Shuttle IV isn't an available pack. I missed that bit on the link.

Going over, the MEC weighed 13.8 lb and the messenger purse was 2.8. I accumulated a lot of brochures and some souvenir gifts on the trip I weighed the bags before leaving the bus station .. 21.2 for the MEC and 4.1 for the messenger!

For money, I thought I had some Euro from previous trips but couldn't locate it. While I knew it'd be more expensive, because it makes me more comfortable to arrive With something in my pocket for funds vs. assuming I'll get a working ATM before needing to pay for something, I stopped by the foreign exchange booth at the airport and purchased €40 for $57.38 + $7 fee for $64.38 total or a bottom line cost of $1.61 per Euro (the current exchange rate is more about $1.24). The booth was not busy, so rather than accept two €20 bills, I asked nicely and ended up with a variety of bills as well as some €2 and €1 coins.

I used two ATMs at the Dublin airport.

On arrival morning, I did find an ATM in the baggage area. It offered a price of $1.34 with one of those screens that suggest paying in home currency vs. clicking "continue without conversion." I know about the Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynami...ncy_conversion , and clicked "without." My €220 withdrawal was listed on that screen in home currency for $295.06 but using the "without" choice I found a withdrawal of $276.14 when I could check my bank account. I was appreciative, though, the ATM spit out all €20 bills, nothing larger.

Because I was there, I visited an ATM on the upper level, outside the baggage area, on Wednesday morning. This time a DCC page stated my €220 withdrawal could cost $276.65 though I found, when I could check, that choosing "without" cost me $273.01. I was less appreciative to receive two €50 and a €20, so I put the card in again for a €40 withdrawal ($49.64 from my account vs. the $64.38 from airport booth).

I think I will make any first withdrawals be 180 on future trips. There's the risk of a couple 50s, but I'll at least get four 20 bills, possibly more

I use a Capital One money market account for my trips. This has worked well for me. It keeps travel money separate from other savings. Currently, the account earns more in interest than my local bank. I haven't any Cap1 bank around me, so I opened the account online.

My credit card on the trip is my Venture Capital One card (no foreign exchange fee). I had one more credit card and debit card for backups, but didn't need to bring them out on the trip.

Sounds like you really did you homework!! tell us more about the sights & food

Time to dig out the journal .. I use a Moleskine Cahier with blank pages, https://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Cah.../dp/8883704940

I bring along scissors from a travel sewing kit and a glue stick, so I can put in pictures cut from souvenir paperwork, and there's a pocket for keeping receipts (sometimes I just glue them in, too). I mostly use a pen, but I also bring along a couple pencils, b/c I've done tracings on the blank pages.

I've learned to keep the journal in my day bag, so any down time while out for the day can be used for journaling. I also keep a blank piece of copy paper and pen handy for doing quick notes, when pulling out the journal would not work, then write up that info at the next journaling time.

If journaling a trip .. I've found the only successful way is to do it that day. If you wait a day, the days quickly(!) begin to blur and I just forget the details.

Nice to know you're along for the "trip," Rhea58, tx.

The trip started Friday night with checking in for the flight at home and printing a paper to use to get through Security at the airport. I left home Saturday morning with a friend dropping me off at the bus station. The weather was simply beautiful, almost spring like (though brown for ground covering) with sunshine and warmth.

Aer Lingus is now flying out of Terminal C, which was new for me (all my other flights have been from Terminal E), but taking shoes off and emptying pockets for Security was familiar. An agent was calling out directions, which I followed. I realized after going through that the scanning must be different b/c there was no direction for pulling out the liquids bag and I didn't get in trouble for not doing so!

I arrived at the gate several hours ahead (relying on public transport, I always leave plenty of time) and while waiting in a chair, felt so, so tired. I did hope this trip would be a chance for a reset of body and mind. It was my first vacation to myself for several years.

After staff arrived, I noticed they were calling for folk with home check ins to come to the desk and get an actual boarding pass and showing off the passport, so that necessity got done.

It was the best kind of flight .. uneventful with early arrival at the destination. If anyone has an Aer Lingus question, I'll try to answer.

Hi scotlib, I’m here too! I posted last night but for whatever reason, it’s not here. :/

The Airbnb looked very cozy. Glad it worked out well for you.

the last time we flew to Dublin we bid on biz class seats and “won” them for $400 each going over. The food and service were great, but the best part was being able to lie flat and actually sleep on the plane. I woke up when they started breakfast service. I doubt we would do that again, but it was nice to try once.

I always mean to keep some type of journal but never manage to follow through. Maybe you will be the inspiration I need for our April trip!

We landed Sunday, the 19th, at DUB's Terminal 2. My other trips involved using DUB as a transfer to somewhere else. This was my first land and stay. I'd read online about two bathrooms before Passport control, but that's not what I experienced, so using the first one when coming from the US is what I will advise.

After speaking with the immigration officer and getting the passport stamp, you're let into the baggage area, which does have some bathrooms to use. I used the ATM provided, studied the different color channels for customs and used what seemed most normal for a visitor (no excess sums of money with me or prohibited stuff): green.

I was outside at the bus area before 6am. I had an appointment to be let into the Airbnb at 8am. In hindsight, I could have waited at the airport (lit and warm) before taking a taxi, but I took the Aircoach for €8,50 to Leeson St Upper with a mad thought that I could walk from there to Harold's Cross.

On the way into the city center, staring out at the black scenery, it dawned (pun intended) that a) it was looking very night-ish and b) I didn't know really where I was going .. sooo, hmmm ...

The bus stop is at the Clayton Hotel. I went inside and begged a lobby seat for an hour, which was readily granted. I noticed when going in that there was a taxi rank outside the hotel, and I learned in the coming week that outside of hotels is one of the ways to find taxis. Before 8, I used a taxi for the short ride to the cottage, €8. After a good introduction to where things were and some advice about finding a store and getting around, I was in Dublin and truly starting the vacation!

After some unpacking I went to find the Centra and some groceries. I took my time coming back to enjoy the Harold's Cross Park views. A couple of yarn-bombed trees made me smile. I then used the Google Maps app to find a pharmacy b/c one ear had not popped after the flight. Going north to the pharmacy included walking the canal to get a few pics of the swans for friends. The pharmacist gave me some Sudafed (the kind that over here you have to sign lots of paper to receive, with pseudoephedrine). I took the Sudafed for a couple of days, but it didn't seem to make much difference. My ear didn't really open until Thursday morning, but at least it wasn't painful, just made me a bit more hard of hearing than usual

I'll have more to offer about sights than food. I didn't buy overly much for groceries, ready to eat fruit or easy to cook items. I did like the Tesco chocolate puddings and bought a couple more after the first one. The cottage has an induction stove top. This was my first use of one and I rather liked it; water boiled very quickly on it, I thought.

I do enjoy the different television shows when on my trips and DIY SOS became a favorite for the week, BBC One - DIY SOS

During the evening I planned Monday's events and spoke with DH.

I'd brought a light fleece vest to wear under my jacket, in case the jacket wasn't enough warmth (this one, https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/8260...rimaloft-lined ) but the pima-loft was enough warmth for the up to 50F days. Instead, I found myself wearing the fleece at night, with my pj t-shirt not enough of a layer. The cottage was warm, yes, but not warm-warm on those stone tiles, and I did like the little extra of the vest!

Hi allisonm, tx for the post.

Yes, journaling each day of the trip is the only way I've been successful with them. It truly is a way to re-enjoy a trip. Trips with just blank pages after the first one .. I can't remember them entirely

I agree trying business class is a nice thing. My 2014 trip with my sister used miles earned with British Airways (one of Aer Lingus's airline partners) for an Aer Lingus business class seating over to Dublin and we had coach on the way back. I wouldn't have minded experiencing business on a return trip. I read a few reviews about the upgrade method .. the pricing for an acceptance would just depend, it seems.

Cheers!

I can't think of a night when I haven't had to get up for some reason or other, not in many, many years, and I slept through that Sunday night .. that's the effect of a day and a night of travel and no person nor pet in the house, I guess!

I thought I had figured out what bus to take to get to Christ Church Cathedral in time for morning prayer, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin - : Christ Church Cathedral Dublin but I arrived after the service had started. I intended to tour the building anyway, so I paid for an entry ticket and sat in the nave while the service was finishing in the choir before I started poking around.

The crypt area was amazing. I didn't get any photo taken, and there wasn't any post card available (ought to be!), so I've been telling friends that it's a bit like an upside down egg carton with the sections keeping eggs apart built of stone and brick, but there's a photo on the web site, so you can see a tiny view .. Visit Us - Christ Church Cathedral Dublin : Christ Church Cathedral Dublin A couple of toilets were in the far back corner of the crypt. The light was so bright I assumed I had a window to the outside, but looking up, it was a terrific bright light, not a window.

I was watching a video about Christ Church in the Treasury section off the crypt when everything went off at the same moment that emergency lights came on plus a never ending siren whistle. Working my way upstairs, uncertain what I'd find, a gentleman was walking through the tourists offering assurances that it was it was a false alarm -- no power, but not an emergency situation for evacuating the cathedral. Most stayed in the nave, hoping the siren would end (it didn't). I eventually left to find the same siren was sounding outside and that there was no power on the street either. Over 4000 customers were without power that day, not many happy businesses around, Power restored after outages affect thousands in Dublin city centre

By that time it was after noon and I meant to try the Leo Burdock Fish and Chips location on Werburgh St near Christ Church, Leo Burdock Fish and Chips Dublin - Welcome but .. no power .. so I walked downhill to find Marsh's Library, which is near St. Patrick's Cathedral, Marsh's Library Home The "lib" in scotlib is for my enjoying libraries. Walking around the Marsh's Library takes a lot less time than the cathedrals but I did have some nice chat time with staff. After my library tour I enjoyed a nice ham & cheese toasty and bowl of soup at The Blossom Tree Cafe in St. Patrick's Park. The day was cloudy, though not freezing cold, and the warm food really felt good. Following my meal, I kept walking toward the cottage, stopping at Tesco on the way for some more groceries.

An ad I saw today tickled my funny bone and I looked it up on my phone to enjoy again and share to friends back home on FB. It's an ad for Berocca (a fizzy vitamin drink). The title is Berocca Chameleon dancing to Panjabi MC - Be More Berocca Ad : Berocca. I'm trying to get the URL here .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMS0zBPYRBU

My sister W, who traveled with me in 2014, encouraged me to seek out stained glass views, so she could enjoy them through my sharing pics and I researched an itinerary for Tuesday around seeing stained glass.

Tuesday, 20 February

The morning was the most beautiful all week--a bright blue sky, sunny, no clouds-- absolutely a gorgeous beginning to the day and perfect for seeking stained glass.

I made sure to hustle a bit quicker and get a bus in time to make morning mass at John's Lane Church, http://www.johnslane.ie/

I traveled on the same bus as going to Christ Church, indeed stopping in there for some post card purchasing that I could not do on Monday with the power outage. You just continue walking west past Christ Church for a little over a quarter mile to find John's Lane Church.

The Church's web site lists its stained glass as one of its features and oh, yeah! if you want to see stained glass, do visit here! On the sunny morning, with the Church's location at the top of a hill, sunlight streaming in the windows, it was a gorgeous sight!

I've photos, but I don't know when I'd get them uploaded. Yay, I've found someone who has a lovely set. Take a view at these:
http://streetsofireland.com/streetso...previous-photo
http://streetsofireland.com/streetso...-thomas-6.html

Google Maps helped me get a bus from near the Church to Parnell St. where I walked to The Hugh Lane, http://www.hughlane.ie/

The Hugh Lane has a stained glass by Harry Clarke, The Eve of St Agnes, http://www.hughlane.ie/eve-of-st-agnes-by-harry-clarke2

It has other art to view (Renoir, Degas, etc.), also Francis Bacon's London studio moved with every brush, paint pot, easel, and paper scraps in situ for viewing (what a mess I particularly liked the gallery with portraits of famous Irish folk; it was like an introduction to "names" to learn some of Ireland's history.

I found a route 16 bus to take me back to St. Patrick's Cathedral for an afternoon's visit, https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/

I'd read somewhere that afternoon sun would be extremely lovely for viewing its stained glass, but the day was clouding up, so while nice, I didn't get the impact I received from John's Lane Church's wonderful windows.

I was in time for a guided tour from one of the Cathedral's volunteers. A very interesting point was how the Cathedral received a restoration staring in 1860 before which the floor was part wood, part tomb covers, and part dirt! Now it's all tile, which is looking extremely good for 150 years of walking, i.e., quality tile! St. Patrick's has a good gift shop area and I picked up a number of souvenirs and gifts.

Then it was "home" for a late lunch/supper, journaling the day, talking with DH and sister W, and thinking about/planning what I'd do the next day.

Wednesday, 21 February

The morning was mostly sunny, a few clouds but still a very nice start to the day. I wanted to arrange a confirmed seat for the flight home so after a leisurely start to ready myself, I used the route 16 bus to go all the way to the airport. I appreciated that I now knew exactly how the bus would go and where to get off for Terminal 2.

After getting my seat set, I found the ATMs on the upper level and with the four �50 notes, I decided a way to use one of them would be to take a taxi to the Chester Beatty Library, http://www.cbl.ie/

Noel was chatty and upbeat about how things are in Dublin and Ireland. I really liked that he drove me right into the Dublin Castle grounds and helped me see where to go for the Chester Beatty. The ride cost �25 and then I included a couple Euro for a tip.

I knew about the 1pm tour on Wednesdays. It was only one other visitor and myself for an hour and a half tour with Diana. She talked right until needing to rush off and do another tour. For anyone with an interest in the world's religions or history of book making, do make a trip here. It's a fabulous library/museum. I saw a bit of papyrus with text of one of St. Paul's letters from about 200 AD, over 600 years older than the Book of Kells (coming on Thursday's touring).

The Chester Beatty doesn't allow backpacks and I'd done some gift shopping before the tour. I was glad that I didn't buy big items b/c I was able to stuff them in my purse (putting the purse in a locker wasn't requested). It reminded me of a policy I tried to follow from my first trip: buy only souvenirs that can fit the purse and it'll be a lot easier trucking them home at the end of the trip.

I walked from the Chester Beatty up to the Werburgh St Leo Burdocks for my fish and chips. I walked with it down to St. Patrick's park to enjoy. I've been seeking an excellent fish and chips ever since my 2010 visit to Stonehaven, Scotland, where I had the best fish & chips and mushy peas from The Bay, http://thebayfishandchips.co.uk/

Leo B's cod wasn't bad, the chips could have used a bit more frying, I thought. Overall, it was okay, but I'm still leaving a return visit to Stonehaven on my bucket list!

It's walkable, but I found the bus stop past St. Patrick's and took that the few stops to the cottage to settle in for the usual evening.

Thursday, 22 February

After a lovely non-stressful time to leave the cottage, I found the morning was a bit cloudier, but still not too cold for getting around.

I knew from a Facebook post that the Trinity College Secondhand Booksale was this week, the Tuesday to Thursday, https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/event...id%3D126678124

I've not hunted through a book sale in a room with chandeliers before It was a lovely time and I found some "treasures" to take home for just a couple Euro.

After the book sale I visited the Book of Kells. I didn't pay for the audio guide and I think I would if going again. Each time I had an in-person guide on this trip, it definitely added to the experience.

From the Book of Kells, I walked to the Celtic Whiskey Shop on St Stephen's Green, http://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/ for some whiskey samples for friends. From there, it wasn't far to the Little Museum of Dublin, https://www.littlemuseum.ie/

I looked around the rooms open for viewing and then joined the next guided tour. Hearing so much history and explanation here brought home how I think I missed out by not using the audio guide at the Book of Kells.

I walked over to the National Library of Ireland on Kildare St, https://www.nli.ie/

Bags aren't allowed in the Library, plus I think there would have been a registration process necessary to go inside, so I only viewed the lovely lobby area (more stained glass pictures for W ).

From here, I walked back to the Trinity College area to catch one of my normal buses for the trip to the cottage and my evening of journaling and planning.