Farmleigh is a country estate formerly owned by the Guinness family and is just north and west of Phoenix Park. The estate is about 6km from our apartment through the park, and it is not available via public transportation. The day was cool, and we had little else on our agenda so we walked. Actually, the weather was cold and drizzly at first, but dried out and became warmer, then the sky delivered light rain and cool temps again later. But we were enticed into t...

Phoenix Park is wonderful. We are learning that when a city is creating a park, it helps to have a big bunch of land owned by a Duke, an Earl, a Viceroy, or some other dignitary who no longer has a need for a military establishment or royal palace and ultimately bequeathes it or sells it to city, state, or country. Phoenix Park was originally established in 1662 as Royal Deer Park, was improved and opened to the public in 1747 by the Earl of Chesterfield. The Che...

Just take a look at the photos. Dublin is old; it's new, and although Ireland is said to have one of the world's most depressed economies, Dublin itself seems to be thriving if judged only by the number of shoppers, tourists, bar patrons and diners! I find it very encouraging. We took our morning walk in Phoenix Park which is the largest walled-in park in all of Europe. We were lucky to have had a warm and dry day to visit it. The park features lakes, Europe's b...

We have not seen much of Dublin yet, but if we had to go home tonight, I'd say Dublin is magic. After arriving at the airport we, as usual, had to go through the grueling routine of getting to our apartment. We are far too stubborn to simply call a cab. Between us, we have a double case of "challenge-itis" that we give-in to regularly. The address of our apartment is 151 North Circular Road -- that should have been a hint. Yes, it circles Dublin, with a north an...

No fiddling around allowed when you have to be on a plane at 6:50 am that leaves from an airport that's 50 miles from the city. No, no, no--you gotta to move it! Move it! It all starts with a 02:30 alarm, a 03:25 taxi, and a 04:00 bus ride to the airport. Slick! Thankfully, all went perfectly as planned. We are on that plane now, and if our luck continues we will land in Dublin in about 25 minutes. The last two days have been filled with day trip excursions. We...