Our final travel destination was Dublin the capital city of Ireland. It was quite a change coming into a big city again, after 2 weeks travelling around rural Ireland, with nothing more stressful than meeting sheep on the road!

This is a lively city with plenty of tourist adventures happening but also a fascinating history. There are many beautiful Georgian houses and gardens from the period of British rule, but of course much of Ireland is now a republic and within Dublin, there is evidence of the periods of poverty and rebellion that have impacted on the city.

We spent a fascinating day exploring the National Museum of Ireland, which gives an insight into human development from early stone age, through bronze age, iron age, early Christian monasteries, Viking civilisation and into Medieval living. Of particular interest was a Kingship exhibition with bodies of 3 men that have been dated back to the Stone Age that were discovered preserved in peat bog, that is very common in Ireland. However, all the exhibitions had an amazing collection of cooking implements weapons, jewellery, clothing from all these different periods. A really interesting insight into the development of human living.

We also visited the Book of Kells at Trinity College, which is one of the oldest remaining versions of the Old and New Testament, I believe written in 800 AD with beautiful calligraphy and drawing on vellum paper used by the monks of the time. Very beautiful!

Traditional Irish music as well as the more modern pub music is also a big part of the entertainment scene here in Dublin. So there have been many more late nights, enjoying these sessions in the many Irish pubs.

So, sadly, it is back on the planes again today. Hope you have enjoyed the blog.