Visiting Ireland - The Essence of Ireland

Apparently, in some parts of Ireland, the soil is rich enough to grow grass, but not trees. In other areas there used to be a heavy forest, but the trees were cut down centuries ago. The image is quite astonishing. Can you picture miles and miles of wall-to-wall green carpeting? This is just one of the many unique aspects of Ireland.

In fact, the quirky and unexpected is typical of Ireland. For example, let's consider Dublin. It is both modern and progressive, yet true to its history. Take a taxi, and your cab driver will probably be quoting James Joyce. Unlike other countries, where a love of classic literature is associated with class and education, in Ireland, James Joyce is part of every citizen's birthright.

My Dublin Visit
I still remember my first visit to Dublin. Half the people I met claimed to have been present at the General Post Office for the Easter Uprising of 1916. Wikipedia: Easter uprising

Then, I met a gentleman who remarked, "Well, you know, there are a lot of people who claim that they were present at the General Post Office. I was there, and it sure didn't look that crowded to me!" You can get the full story of the Easter Uprising and other aspects of Irish history in any history book, but for a more exciting approach, I would suggest reading Leon Uris' Trinity.

If you go, you'll of course want to visit Trinity College and all the other famous attractions. But don't forget the simple pleasures, such as Bewley's Tea House on Grafton Street. Established in 1927, it is Dublin's oldest tea houses. Once the hangout for famous Irish writers such as Brendan Behan, Brian O'Nolan and Patrick Kavanagh, today's visitors still marvel at the stained glass windows, as well as the authentic Irish atmosphere. And yes, they do serve coffee.

Flckr: Beautiful Ireland, roblisameehan
Flickr: The wonderful Herbert Park in Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland, U-g-g-B-o-y