More Dublin, my explorations from my last post, and the beginning of Howth
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2449944&l=86af3&id=6838190
More of Howth pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2451852&l=e53e3&id=6838190
and the inside of the Transport Museum
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2451898&l=0b17e&id=6838190
So I guess I should make an update, especially before I go to Northern Ireland this weekend. (We leave for Belfast on Friday morning and get back on Sunday afternoon. An update will come with all of those fun details next week.)
Last Friday, I took a day trip to Howth (rhymes with both), Ireland. This is a little fishing village just north of Dublin. To get there, I just got on the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) in Dublin City Centre and rode it to the end of the line.
I had a lot of fun in Howth. It is very picturesque and the weather was great. I managed to go on a day it was sunny, warm, and no rain.
Although Howth is very small, they have are very optimistic with a tourism campaign "Howth is Magic."
I wouldn't describe Howth as magic, but it was very charming. The harbor was very pretty and had a great view from almost any location.
Howth also has the attraction of 5 seals which live in the harbor. I got to see four of the five of them after some kids tossed strips of salmon in the water for them. As soon as one strip hit the water, a seal was there to pick it up.
After hiking around Howth (hiking being an accurate statement, because it is VERY hilly) and getting lunch, I decided to see some of the other sights that Howth had to offer. So I walked around the edge of Howth to St. Mary's Church, Howth Castle and the National Transport Museum.
St. Mary's Church which was built by Sitric, King of Dublin, in 1042. It was replaced around 1235 by a parish church, and then, in the second, half of the 14th century, the present church was built. It is a good distance from the center of Howth, but not far from Howth Castle and the Transport Museum.
Howth Castle is a traditional castle, however it is unique because the original family still lives in the castle. According to locals, this is the sixth generation that has lived in the castle.
Last but not least in my journey to Howth was the visit to the NATIONAL TRANSPORT MUSEUM...
I am glad that the guy who gave me directions told me that it is in a big barn that was once a working farm, because I never would have found it otherwise. To call it the NATIONAL anything was a very large overstatement. It did have some vintage transportation vehicles contained in it. Kinda cool... I am not sure how it came into existence, but I expect it went something like this... Wow we have this barn full of old vehicles. What are we gonna do with them? I don't know... put a piece of paper detailing what they are on their windshields, open the doors to the public and call it a museum... and that is my ideas on the transport museum.
Overall, Howth was yet another adventure.
Look forward for an update next week about Northern Ireland. I expect to have a lot of pictures.
~ Dannielle
2 comments:
Dannie,
WOW! Your pictures are beautiful. The scenes of the harbor looked so beautiful - I wish I could've been there to see it.
(I guess it's my turn to be slightly jealous and live vicariously through YOU - ha!)
I'm so excited that you're getting to see all of this cool stuff though. Especially the castle - how fun would it be to live in a castle?!
Things around here are still same old same old. Getting ready for the 4th. Are you going to do anything to celebrate while you're over there?
Much love and jamm,
Kelly
My friend Melissa from IU is coming to visit. She is spending the summer in London, so she is hopping over for the weekend. For the 4th we are going to a free outdoor movie... hopefully the weather is nice... otherwise we will be changing that plan.
Glad to hear you like the pictures... I have more than 350 from this past weekend, too. I think I will prolly post them up tonight.
~Dannielle
Post a Comment