Seeing Green...

A quick, cheery hello from Dublin! Sitting here in the pub attached to our hotel, The Bram Stoker, and the cheerful smiles of the staff don't make the WiFi any stronger, so this will be brief with just cell phone pictures (for now)...

A pop-up food market at Christchurch Cathedral.

Once again, Vicky and I seem to be acted like a magnet for sunny, unseasonably pleasant weather as we cut our swath across the British Isles. Despite a long, eventful and uncomfortable trip across England from London to Manchester to Hollyhead to Dublin via bus and ferry, we managed to make it into town with smiles on our faces and maps in our hands, ready for more adventures. It being St. Patrick's Day weekend in Dublin, there is no shortage of places to go and things to see.

As I write this, it is the eve of St. Patty's day, but we have already walked around the city many times over, been part of a city-wide treasure hunt, eaten another 'full something' breakfast (this time, Irish), been to the largest park in all of Europe, watched music played in the streets on stages big and small, drank Guinness from the source, and even seen a great movie floating on the Liffey River...

WHEW. IT HAS BEEN THREE DAYS.

Not bad for a placeholder, cellphone picture, huh?

That being said, as great as Dublin is, there is so much more Ireland has to offer than just the city center itself. Unfortunately, our time here in this great country is limited (on this trip, anyway), so great sights like Belfast and the Giant's Causeway will just have to live on without us for a while. Considering the many millennia of magic and history under her belt, I think Ireland will get along just fine. Us on the other hand... We'll see. Back to what we could see...

Dublin, more so than any other city thus far, has welcomed us with open arms and did it with a goofy grin and wonderfully quirky sense of humor. From our boisterous bartender/bellhop, Barry at the Bram Stoker to the wonderful gentleman we met outside Phoenix Park who showed us the way to not only a toilet, but 'one of the best pubs in Dublin,' there is something to be said for a population that get the most out of life not just through finding joy, but by sharing it with others. It could be friends, family, the people attached to the two closest barstools, or even weary travelers, the people of Dublin thus far have been nothing but helpful, kind and, above all, appreciative for our presence. The least I could do is raise a glass of Guinness in their honor.

The next to least I could do, is do it over and over and over again. Which is exactly what we plan to do tomorrow. Thank you, Dublin.

Sláinte!