Ireland > Cycling tour through Dublin

This morning, we are going on a bicycle tour through Dublin. The tour starts at half past ten. On the way to the starting point, we order coffee and a sandwich. At the bicycle rental shop, we meet Omar. Omar is Dutch and has been living in Dublin for ten years. He takes us on a tour past the city’s main sights. When the tour begins, it takes some getting used to riding on the left side of the road. The first stop is St Patrick's Cathedral. We admire the building from the outside while Omar tells us about its history. Further along the route, Omar explains that Ireland was oppressed by the British for about 800 years. The Irish suffered greatly under this rule, and it also fueled a deep resentment towards their neighboring country. We pass through St Stephen's Green, the parliament building, and via the Grand Canal we reach the River Liffey. We follow the river for a while. Omar warns us that the streets will become busier as we approach the Temple Bar district. “Pay close attention,” he adds. At the famous Ha'penny Bridge, we leave the river behind. In the past, people had to pay half a penny to cross the river here. Via Temple Bar, we arrive at Dublin Castle, located in the same street as our apartment.

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Dublin Castle is a historic complex in the heart of the capital that served for centuries as the center of British power in Ireland. The castle is not a classic medieval fortress, but rather a collection of buildings from different periods, mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries. The bicycle tour ends in the castle gardens, from where the old historic tower is clearly visible. The Record Tower is the only remaining part of the original 13th-century medieval castle. We thank Omar for guiding us. He also points out that on the corner of the street stands Whitefriar Street Church, which houses several relics of Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers. Near the church, we order sandwiches at a terrace café. In the afternoon, I want to visit Dublin Castle. My fellow travelers choose other activities. When I arrive at the castle, it turns out admission is free. I do not entirely understand why no entrance fee is being charged. One of the attendants explains that the entire castle will temporarily close for renovations at the end of May, although he also mentions a visit by European government leaders.

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The State Apartments, the castle’s ceremonial rooms, are impressive and richly decorated with chandeliers, paintings, and gilded details. The Throne Room was used by the British Viceroy. St Patrick's Hall is the most prestigious hall and is nowadays used for Irish presidential inaugurations. Back at the apartment, I meet up with the others again. At the end of the afternoon, we walk together to the Teeling Whiskey Distillery for a guided tour. The Teeling Whiskey Distillery opened in 2015 and was the first new distillery in the city in more than 125 years. Nevertheless, it draws upon a long family tradition, as the Teeling family has been distilling whiskey since 1782. During the tour of the distillery, we see the distillation hall, the fermentation room, and the barrel aging process. At the end of the tour, we are given the opportunity to taste the whiskey.

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We can try four different varieties. I am not much of a whiskey fan, so I prefer the lightest variety. The rest of the group does not share this opinion. By now, it has started to rain outside. Until this moment, we have had excellent weather, especially by Irish standards. We take an Uber taxi to a Mongolian hotpot restaurant on the other side of the river. Despite several attempts during our world trip, we never managed to order traditional hotpot in Mongolia itself. Here, however, we finally succeed. We order several dishes to prepare in the hot broth. On the way back to our apartment, we stop for a beer at The Stag's Head. By then, the rain has stopped, and the temperature is perfect for enjoying our drinks outside the pub. The streets are crowded, and quite a few people already seem rather intoxicated.

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