Dublin; Tuesday, 08 April, 2008

Another tour today, though this time the pick-up was just around the corner from the hotel. We set off, just before 10 into the Dublin traffic, and 10 minutes later arrived at Trinity college, a couple of hundred yards further down the street.

A long drive South out of Dublin and into County Wicklow, first stop at about 11.30 was high in the Wicklow mountains at the Wicklow gap. From there it was a short drive down into Glendalough for a stop to look at the ruins of the monastic settlement.

From there it was back on the bus and on to Avoca to the hand-weaving mill for a brief tour, and then a late lunch, plus the opportunity to visit the gift shop. Back on the bus again to start the return journey back into Dublin.

We arrived back into Dublin at a little after 1630, so I had more than enough time to walk down to the Liffey to catch the 1700 river tour, unfortunately nature had conspired against me. The tide was very low, and there was insufficient water in the river for the tour to run, instead I wandered back to my hotel, dropped my stuff off and the headed back out, catching the tram out to Heuston station and then wandering up into Phoenix park.

I had a long wander through the park and left just as the sun was setting. I caught the tram back into the centre and then walked up to the castle to join the ghost walk.

If nature had conspired against me earlier with the river cruise, it was rapidly clear that it was becoming a vendetta. The threats of snow during the evening had put all bar one other person off, so the guide decided that this wasn't enough for the tour to take place and cancelled.

I walked back through Temple Bar, grabbing a late bite to eat, and then headed back to my hotel.