Where on earth did we get the idea Paris was the city of love and romance? Did you not know that the remains of St. Valentine are held in Whitefriar Street Church, donated by Pope Gregory XVI, and are paraded on Valentine's day in a church ceremony for young lovers? How could you not have known that? Where better to unleash your inner 'snogger' that on the banks of the Liffey in any ways?
If it is a sunny day, buy yourself a coffee and a sandwich and do as the Dubs do. Lie out on the dog-free lawns of Merrion Square or Stephen's Green. This applies once the temperature starts to breach the ten-celsius ceiling. If it is any colder than that or even raining, don a warm coat, hoist a brolly and a smile and wander these unique Georgian city parks - open all year dawn 'til dusk. By the way, the Victorian band stand in the Green hosts free summer music of all kinds from June to August, while every year Merrion Square is home to several brilliant festivals among them "Dublin Pride" and the "International Street Performers Festival". You do not need any special event however to enjoy the magnificent, but often overlooked, Iveagh Gardens between Harcourt Street and the National Concert Hall - Dublin's secret garden (Sshh!! - don't tell anyone).
If you need an alternative break from the rain, or just you regular dose of a bit of high brow, then lunch-time recitals and short concerts at the National Concert Hall make the best in Irish and international music offerings very accessible with tickets from as little as €10.00 (www.nch.ie)
Dublin has a wealth of discoverable little gens one of which is the Dublin Jewish Museum in Portobello (open weekends only) (http://www.jewishireland.org/museum.html)
Nearby, you can feed the swans on the Grand Canal between Portobello and Lower Mount Street (and take a break beside John Coll's excellent figurative sculpture of one of Ireland's legendary literary figures, Patrick Kavanagh (and all the better if you have some of his poetry to hand).
On Clanbrassil Street, take the time to pass through the marvellous hallowed halls of 12th Century St. Patrick's Cathedral (the National Cathedral and burial place of Jonathan Swift amongst many other notables) and after your startined your neck looking up - don't forget to marvell at the unique and brilliantly colourful floor tiles and mosaics.
It is hard to believe that Dubliner, Bram Stoker, was not inspired to write his ground breaking opus "Dracula" after a visit to the spectacularly under appreciated (and regretably poorly maintained) "St. Michan's Crypts"; where else in the world will you get to see the open coffin mummified remains of a Crusader and the several other mummified corpses of medieval nuns and monks? Find out, too, how the British dealt with the rebels Sheares Brothers in 1798 (I would have a light breakfast if I were you).
One of the finest history and prison tours you are likely to encounter, will be to the legendary Kilmainham Gaol - the building which is firmly entrenched in Iirhs history as one of the pivotal edificies of the Irish struggle for independence form the United Kingdom and the site of the ill-judged executions of the leaders of the Easter 1916 rising.
The Irish War Memorial Gardens in Kilmainham are a spectacular haven of tranquility and reflection on the western edge of the city centre. In Spring and summer, the blooming flowers and roses add an extra attractiveness to immaculately maintained gardens.
No visit to Dublin is complete without a visit to Bull Island, Howth Pier or Dun Laoghaire Pier. You will merit an honory citizen of Dublin award if you manage to do the Howth walk from Sutton Cross along the coats to Howth Village, or if you grab one of Teddy's legendary 99 ice-cream cones after a brisk strut out on Dub Laoghaire pier.
Dublin is a haven of architectural gems that have inspired buildings and structures the world over. The Marino Casino, the Bank of Ireland on College Green, Dail Eireann, The Four Courts, The Customs House to name but a few, are some of the finest examples of their kind in the british Isles. Other marvels are the great Georgian Squares at Mountjoy, Fitzwilliam and Merrion and of course the living diary of architectuarl periods that is the Trinity College Campus. On the other side of town (de nort-sigh-ud), stroll up Henrietta Street for a superb old Georgian landscape, where worthy preservation works are always on the go. See a bit of an untouched 19th Century Dublin at Little Ship Street in the grounds of Dublin Castle and while you are there, do not miss the very excellent Chester Beatty Musuem, with its incomparable collection of asian art and frequent passing exhibitions. (www.cbi.ie) and (www.dublincastle.ie)
Speaking of museums, the National Art Gallery holds some truly outstanding works of national and international art with the collection boasting Carravaggio's Taking of Christ, Goya's Portrait of Dona Zonata, Vermeer's Woman writing a letter with a maid and several Metzu among its prized prices. There are also terrific works by Constable, Titian, Van Gogh and Monet (http://www.nationalgallery.ie).
Ireland has a well established reputation for producing terrific artwork. The best examples of contemporary works are viewable at the Dublin City Art Gallery on Parnell Square, the adjacent Hugh Lane Gallery (www.hughlane.ie) and the Irish Museum of Modern Art at Kilmainham (http://www.irishmuseumofmodernart.com/)
Dublin boasts one of the finest examples of Victorian era natural history museums, this one housed adjacent to the National Parliament building on Kildare Street and the museum's collection of arachnids is one of the finest anywhere globally.
By now you will be hungry. Dublin has got great food all over the place and something of quality for every budget from Gourmet Burgers in joints like GBKs and BoBo's, to food stalls in the Georgian Arcade, great Asian choices around Ranelagh, which also boats a plethora of fine dining, bistros and eateries like Tribeca, The Butcher's Grill and Danninger's offering everything and anything from risottos to trotters and pork belly and roast rabbit to glazed monkfish. Back to town however, where the best wings on the planet are to be got in the impossibly busy Elephant & Castle in Temple bar. The gong for delicious Indian goes to the almost hidden Kolkan near Harold's Cross bridge. The oscar for mid range quality Irish and European restaurant in Dublin centre has got to go to One Pico, although the bustling Pearl Brasserie is definitely in with the competition. On the top shelf, for food, ambiance and service the michelin starred Chapter One is simply outstanding.
At one point in its maritime history, Dublin used to occupy the position of most important port in the British Empire (have I said that before?). Apart from generating a significant sex industry in the 18th century then, the said port city was also a city renowned for its coffee and tea houses. These died away and for most of the 20th Century Dublin was all about the other black stuff. Gladly, the Irish capital is finding its coffee soul again and the city is now bursting with cafes of all kinds. For some of the best on offer, check out Metro Cafe on Duke Street, the delightful Twisted Pepper on Abbey Street, the cakey favourite Queen of Tarts on Dame Street or the brilliant Cobalt Cafe on North Great Georges Street and there are tons of others too . . .
And after all that, if you manage to find time for a pint (of course you should), then there are few better spots than Fallon's Capstan, a corner bar opposite St. Patrick's with a worn rustic decor, reeking of aged wood, pints and porter and its essential hairy mix of student revellers, auld dubs, locals, shoppers, judges and hawkers . . . settle in early though - seats are at a premium.
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