Ireland Trip: Day 2

Post by: Brigid and Carter
Although we were still exhausted when we woke up, we ate a filling hot breakfast and boarded the bus for a full day of sightseeing. We drove through Phoenix park, the largest enclosed park in Europe, and were able to see the houses of both the President of Ireland and the American Ambassador. While in the park, we stopped and saw the Papal Cross and got a beautiful view of the entire park. The Papal Cross is where Pope John Paul II said mass to over 1 million people in 1979. Afterwards, we went to the Christ Church Cathedral, the oldest Cathedral in Dublin and where the vikings founded the city, and saw the crypt where they house special treasures. Here we also participated in a peace prayer. After that we drove to the North of Dublin to Malahide, a rich part of the country. Along the road, we experienced some technical difficulties with the bus and had to pull over for 30 minutes. Not to worry, we were rescued by a new bus and continued to Trinity College! While at Trinity College, we saw the Book of Kells and learned about it. Afterwards  we went to Grafton St. for dinner and some shopping. One group had a classic Irish dinner at T.G.I Friday's while another group enjoyed pizza and gelato, some other true Irish delicacies. On the long walk back to the hotel, we stopped by the famous Temple Bar area, a tourist attraction for its shops and restaurants. We made it back to the hotel for an early night to get ready for our next journey.

Group in front of the Papal Cross

Christ Church Cathedral

Long Hall at Trinity College