The emerald Isle

General post office in the center of Dublin

-What's the must-do things in Dublin?
-Drink
Arriving at Dublin airoprt we grabbed a taxi to our hotel and asked him the usual question (above), and got an instant reply, which was in line with what we'd been told from everyone before we left.

We did however want to experience a bit more than just their rich pub culture, so after we'd settled in at the hotel we found our way to the trainstation and went a bit outside the center to see the Shackelston photo exhibition.
Arriving the Dun Laoghaire we kind of hoped for the best in terms of finding our way, and it worked quite well. The exhibition did however close an hour earlier than expected, so we were only able to do a quick run through the small room, stealing an even quicker glance of the exhibition.

We even met new friends on the train back home

Figuring out we really hadn't eaten since the flight we stopped at what has to be one of Dublins finer resturants, the steak we did order was at least one of my best meals of 2014, and with it now reading December it does say something. But thenagain, my food-memory is probably located in my short term memory.
A supposed quick stop at the hotel before checking out some bars after this excursion turned into an early night, and as we had to leave the hotel at about 6:00 the next morning it was probably for the best.

Getting up that early was easy as the beds were too hard and we'd wake up every 10 mins, finding our way to the pick-up was a bit more tricky, but still very doable and we were picked up by Joe who was our driver for the daytrip to Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Joe was, as most Irish, a very friendly fellow who was highly knowledgeable about his country's history and the places he took us to.

Carrick-a-rede

There were only two others on the trip, making it even easier to get to know everyone.
Ater a few minor 'eat/drink/toilet'-stops as the drive was quite long we arrived on Carrick-a-Rede a suspended tow bridge over some cliffs. Really not pleasant to walk over and look down, but the wind had increased for our return making it a less comfortable walk. At this stop we also got a nice glimpse of the Irish coastline in all its wonderfull rawness.
Giant's Causeway which was the main stop was only about 15mins drive from here (see video), at this point the weater started to act more as the forecast had threatened with - rain, wind, lower temperature and a bit more rain.
It was thankfully on and off a bit, so it was really just pouring down when we were at the real center of the causeway. The pictures at this point did not get as fresh as I could've liked, but with the amount of rain I did get on my lens I should be quite happy with how most turned out.
The rock formations has two stories behind them, choose yourself which you believe.
The first being lava formations created 50-60million years ago.
The second being the giant Fionn MacCoul created the causeway them when he got sick of a giant in Scotland badgering him all the time, and one day decided to go over to teach him a lesson. The story is quite enjoyable, but it differs from where you read it, and there's no real point in me making yet another bad version of it here.

Basalt formations at Giant's Causeway

Our travel companions had opted to eat before going out to the causeway, and one of them even got lost and didn't find her way back before 45mins after the agreed time.
We picked up the speed and got into Belfast which was also part of the itineary.
We could either choose to stop several places the driver recommended for a few minutes or walk around the city for about an hour, the first option was quickly decided.

BigFish - Kiss it!

First stop being the Titanic-museum as the famous ship was built here. We didn't have the time to go in, but at least we saw the building and some parts in the lobby and giftstore.
Next stop was one by the old customs house were they'd also had a large sculpture of a fish outside
The story goes that if you kiss the fish, and you have to use toungue, you will gain all the fish's wisdom. And if you concider doing it, you probably need all the wisdom you can get.

Third stop was at a large food market close to the city hall, this is a place I'd love to have more time to try a kangaroo burger or one of the many other very tempting edibles they had for sale.

We also got a short drive through the areas of the city where there'd been bombings, riots etc and got to see some of the murals that still showed part of the history.
And then there was the long way home of course, but still a great day trip.

Saturday was spent walking around Dublin, looking in stores and then going to the Guiness Factory. This is top of the to-do list everywhere for Dublin, and I really can't understand why. It was a factory, they had some explanations on how it's brewed and that's more or less it. The plus was a very energetic director in the videos and a bar at the top where you could have a view of the city.
Walking back to the center instead of taking a bus/taxi was very easy and enjoyable, got past a few old churches and found another decent resturant before reaching Temple Bar area at about 16:30, which was just in time to meet the very drunk locals in the streets....

Anchors by Carrick-a-rede

Cliff island by Carrick-a-rede

Castle ruins close to Giant's Causeway