IRELAND - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 320

six-day: adult €105, child €54. Purchase at tourist offices, at Dublin Airport, or on-
line at www.dublinpass.ie .
One of Dublin's sights to see is O'Connell Street. A block away on the river's
south bank stands Parliament House (now the Bank of Ireland), which faces the
entrance to Trinity College, founded in 1592. The Book of Kells, considered its
greatest treasure, is housed in the Collonades. Tourist trails lead from that point
to St. Stephen's Green, at the top of Grafton Street, where its 22 acres are sur-
rounded delightfully by splendid Georgian houses. Most shops in these areas are
open Monday through Saturday from 0900 to 1730 or 1800, with extended hours
on Thursday and many shops are now open on Sunday from 1200 to 1800.
For an insight into Irish life, visit a Dublin pub. In general, the Irish treat their
pubs as a second home. The French seem to spend a relatively short time in a cafe
before heading off. The English go to a pub for a chat with friends and the barmaid
and perhaps a game of darts before heading homeward. But the Irish, when they
have the time (and they generally seem to), are in the pub for the entire evening.
The main pub activities are drinking and talking, although many serve appetizing
meals and snacks and provide entertainment in the form of traditional music and
song. You are free to sit and watch or join in. To take the latter option, merely turn
to your neighbor and mention the weather. With that, the ball's in play. What is re-
vealed then is fascinating. You'll find that everyone has positive but sensible opin-
ions about a myriad of subjects. Make certain that what you say about a topic is
relevant, for unlike most bar conversationalists, the Irish listen when you speak.
Listening is an art that can be developed to a fine degree in a Dublin pub. Unless
you are a Scot, try not to match the Dubliners' drinking ability or verbal athletics.
Suburban Dublin Day Excursions
Travelers can stay in Dublin, their “base city,” and easily make day excursions
to visit other areas outside of Dublin. Or they can use the “flip side” of the base
city-day excursion concept by taking advantage of less expensive accommoda-
tions outside the city and making day excursions into Dublin.
One Dublin suburban-area day excursion is to Dun Laoghaire
( www.dunlaoghaire.ie ) , a charming, lovely port on the Irish Sea that can be
reached in only 15 minutes by DART from Dublin's Connolly Station. The ferry ter-
minal and DART station are much more convenient for travelers than the former
underground facility. The Stena Line's HSS (High-speed Seacat Service) cata-
maran provides inexpensive passage to and from Holyhead (England) in only 1
hour and 39 minutes. A variety of hotels, bed-and-breakfast establishments, hos-