We have been here for over a week now … and its been a fabulous time
Driving in Ireland 101 …. don’t do long trips (the roads here are skinny, no shoulders, there are rock walls and of course you are on the wrong side). Make sure you get an automatic. The GPS is not overly helpful but it can be an asset. Driving takes lots of concentration. So we recommend – short trips of 1/2 an hour or easy drives (on the main freeways). For the longer trips … hire a driver so you can relax and enjoy! We hired a fabulous driver while we were there for long trips, Tim. He is a great guy with a great sense of humor and we used him last time we were here. Check him out at www.irelanddaytours.com .
Taking the train somewhere? It seems that if you just walk up and by a ticket – its expensive. Just a little planning can save you lots of Euros! For instance we took the bus from Shannon this time (last time it was a taxi 40 euros) 13 euros for the two of us. It stops at the train station perfect! I bought our train tickets a few days earlier for a specific time and saved even more. 25 euro 80 for the two of us, right into downtown. From there with the help of some wonderful locals we quickly found our hotel. The hotel was right downtown and within walking distance of everything we wanted to do in Dublin. Even if you stay out of the main part of town the bus system is very inexpensive and everyone is very helpful with what bus to take where. Just be careful of asking for specific directions.
We had reservations for dinner and wine tasting one night at a FABULOUS restaurant called La Cuvee and asked the Hotel desk for directions. Once when we arrived and then again when we started to leave for the restaurant. Both times they told us the same directions. Just go down the street and turn left at the second set of street lights and it will be right there on the left.
Well first off it looked like it was going to rain so we brought an umbrella, just so we would be prepared. We walked out of the hotel dressed on our fancy go to eatin’ clothes and before we crossed the first intersection we pulled the umbrella out and crossed the street. Now mind you it wasn’t a very big umbrella. We stopped and huddled under the Umbrella trying to stay dry but couldn’t so…back to the hotel and I went to the room and got a rain poncho for Patrice. and off we went again.
To help condense this story let me summarize what we did;
Walked following directions.
Walked an extra four blocks past where we were told and then five the other direction.
Asked a Taxi driver – he didn’t have a clue other than we should be in the right area.
Asked two ladies huddling under a buildings awning and they called the restaurant on their cell phone.
Flagged a cab and gave him directions but he wasn’t sure so we gave him the phone number and he called for directions.
As it turned out the restaurant was in the heart of the financial district and no where near where we were originally were told. But it was so worth it when we got there. We posted a review of it look in places tab to see the review. There are some great restaurants in Dublin and we tried a few. The main ones we tried are in the places tab and we did a review of them. We do recommend them next time you are in Dublin.
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