Straight after breakfast, our first task was to return our hire car. As old as it was, it was OK and it went back with another 885 km on the clock. After completing the paperwork with Budget, we were free to explore Dublin. So armed with an all-day bus ticket, we jumped on a bus for O'Connell Street in the centre of the city. It was all a bit strange when we got there as it only about 10 o'clock on a Sunday morning and the shops weren't open yet. So while it was rather busy, it mostly tourists like ourselves, all wandering around with maps open trying to work out where they were.
With the shops not opening until Noon, we headed off to Trinity College. Safely held at the college since 1661 is the Book of Kells, an illustrated manuscript Gospel book dating from around the year 800. Before going into the Library where it is on display, we went on a walking tour of the College which has it's own amazing history. After the tour, we joined the queue to see the Book of Kells. Once inside, it was just stunning to be looking at a book that was hand produced 1000 years before Australia was discovered by Captain Cook.
It was the afternoon by the time we finished our visit to Trinity College and Dublin was buzzing. It was a lovely warm day and it seemed like all of Dublin was out and about, mostly shopping. We wandered around the city visiting all sorts of places including Dublin Castle, St Stephen's Green, Clery & Co department store on O'Connell Street and the Grafton Street shopping district. After a tiring day in the city, we took a bus back to our B&B. Later on we walked down the road to The Cat & Cage for dinner. As pubs go, it was OK but Fagans is a better choice.
The Post Office in O'Connell Street, one of the locations of the Easter Rising of 1916
Grafton Street shopping district before the locals are up
Trinity College Library - the home of the Book of Kells
The River Liffey runs through the heart of Dublin
St Stephen's Green is a popular destination for Dubliners on a sunny day
O'Connell Street from the top of a double-decker bus
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