As I had to stay in Dublin last Monday we decided to add some days before and enjoy old places… The weather was great as was the craig – so we had a wonderful time.

Back in the good old St. Helens hotel – very old, very stylish, very Irish – charming…

Nearly blowing the ball away

Refilling before the trip

Dun Laoghaire coastline – the funny thing was that we met a family from Burgos (Spain) there as loads of Spanish people started to work in Ireland

Look towards Martello tower (James Joyce’s Ulysses plays exactly there)

Loads of jellyfish – climate is changing for sure

Low tide – old memories

the metal urchin

it’s alive…

Then in Bray (some 20 km down the coast) the locals congregate for the annual 1 mile swim in the open sea

And we were heading for our music venue of choice – Mermaid. If you ever have a chance to be there – go! It’s and art centre with some of the best quality music you will get in Ireland

We enjoyed a wonderful evening with mixed Irish / African tunes.

For sure he is deeply immersed into the music

The next day we made an excursion towards Wicklow Mountains – one of the most loved areas in Ireland (for us).

The heather was blooming so it looked totally unknown

Whole hillsides in bloom

the entire backdrop of the valley

Covering the slopes

and some beautiful rock formation

Catalunya is everywhere

we always called this wall the dragon’s tail

Yes, you are in Ireland…

And no – sheep don’t like intruders

The beauty of the area is outstanding

Especially at this time of the year

just enjoy…

seems endless

That’s the plant

Who says the Irish have no passion? Even strawberry…

Heather & mountains…

Afterwards we were heading for Glendalough – an old monastic site from the 8th century. What we didn’t expect where the 1,000,000 (at least it felt like) other people who had the same idea…

Usually it is a rather peaceful place with just the occasional visitor

The typical Irish tall house and a complete church from the 8th century

At the upper lake a small river emerges which usually is very pretty – especially now with the falling leaves

The upper lake

and the northern end of it

Strange – they have been here as well…

Old lead mines

new mining – the tourist way…

The same river – just much lower down the valley…

the old graveyard of Glendalough – nowadays only for very, very famous people of ones who really lived there…

These Irish – no straight line…

Heading towards the hotel we stopped in Dun Laoghaire harbour to walk down the pier

Dublin in the background

Heading home…

Beautiful sight

An English beer… Quite interesting taste… Yet the worst was the can

Sunday we decided to take a stroll down in Wexford where there are endless beaches…

As we still had a beer left (and very spicy and heavy Indian food before…) and drinking is not allowed in public places – that’s your solution… In the dunes

No, not Spain – sun yes, warmth moderate… 17° + chilly wind

They must have had a crab buffet on a cruiser…

All empty

A very big buffet…

After coming back we decided to have a final pint in Bray

in our former “standard” pub – the Martello

Blissful waiting for the Guinness…

Our independent buffet – who wants to go to restaurants every night…

The hotel at night

Monday after my appointment and before the flight we made it to Howth (North Dublin) for a pick nick at the pier

The eye of Ireland

the view

The cliff of Howth

Summer bloom

Very lush

and again magnificent rocks

Farewell Dublin…