11th - 12th March, 2000
This tour is organized by Salford University's Singapore Society. According to the planning, we leave at about 2330 in 10th March, and return at about 0200 in 13th. That means we will make use of the whole 2 days!
Everything went well on the way to Dublin. We took the car
ferry across the channel at Holyhead, North Wales. The ferry is a
"twin-hull small water-line cross-sectional area"
design, which give her high stability while enabling her to run
at a relatively high speed.
We arrived in Dublin at about 0400 in 11th. After catching
some rest, I went for a free tour with some Hong Kong people in
the tour. We follow the route of the Dublin bus Tour on foot,
which take us round an area smaller than Kowloon.
The first place that really caught our sight is the Turnity
College. Although not very big, the old building itself is quite
beautiful. We saw quite a lot of building of this kind, in which
it is quite rare in Manchester.
Than we went to the Dublin Castle. The only thing that really
looks like a castle is the round, guard tower like building in
one corner of the area.
We than went to the St. Patrick's Cathedral. The park next to
it is really beautiful. Something quite remarkable is that, there
are quite a lot of cathedrals of difference size in Dublin. I'd
wonder if it were too much or not. By the way, the tourist
information center in Dublin (which I haven't taken a photo for
it) is actually converted from an old cathedral.
Dvblinia is another museum converted from a cathedral. "Dvblinia"
itself referring to a small household from medieval age, and the
museum features the Vikings and medieval history.
Than we found ourselves in the Guinness Hopstore. (Again, I haven't taken any photo there.) It features the history of the beer as well as how it is made. I am not particular interesting in the history, however, but I aware that, as their introductory said, Guinness and Ireland has established an unbreakable link. Guinness is Ireland, and Ireland is Guinness. But well, do Hong Kong people recognize this link when they are drinking Guinness?
After enjoying our lunch with a cup of free Guinness, we carry on our tour. We found that the Ireland National Museum seams not intended to be visited. It has no signpost around the area at all! The building itself was a barrack date back something like17th century. It was opened as a museum in 1997, in which, according to the floor plan, less than half of the buildings are occupied. We leave the museum without paying further visit.
On the way back to the assembly point, we saw the pulling-boat
racing in the river, which I don't know its name. Later that day,
we head for Wicklow where we stay overnight.
Before we leave the town the next morning, I paid a visit to
this small town. It is a nice sunny Sunday morning, and tour
around the town and the beach is really interesting.
Our next stop is Glendalough. After a lunch in the hotel, we
paid a visit on the old city and the countryside next to it. The
city was established at 6th century. Some stone-built houses are
still standing strong, while some of them, including a cathedral,
are ruined.
After that, we found ourselves in an unknown coastal town.
Although under some rain, it stills worth a visit. I found that
there are quite a lot of difference between the Irish bagpipe and
the Scottish bagpipe which we always see. The most significant
difference is that all the tubes are pointing downward when
playing. On the other side of the town, I found a small harbour
for yacht. Swans, gulls and ducks rest in this peaceful small
harbour.
With nothing remarkable afterward, we 'experience the night
live in Dublin city', and than head for home. I finally get home
at about 0300 in 13th. Unfortunately, I have a lecturer at 0900
that day!
