Day 7, June 2, 2003

On the seventh day, we travelled to Dublin, where a two-day stay was planned. Given the size of the city and the sheer number of things Dublin has to offer, two days are actually too short. Anyone wanting to see more should plan for weeks.

We stayed in the Glasnevin district, with Noeleen Bryan. Again, good accommodation with a very nice landlady. Another advantage of the accommodation (in my opinion) was the parking space for the motorcycles; in such a large city, we were able to park our bikes behind the house in the enclosed garden, which was completely private due to the height of the wall.

On the way there, we drove through the Wicklow Mountains, a truly scenic area worth visiting. If one were allowed and wanted to, one could live here in absolute peace and quiet. As far as I know, however, this is not permitted; no further building permits have been issued for this beautiful valley. We continued on to Glendalough in the national park. There are extensive hiking opportunities, and you can see old and some newer burial sites with very personal headstones.

It's astonishing how highly deceased family members are regarded, and this is reflected in the inscriptions carved into the stone. The arrangements are very personal, sometimes with entire families buried together in a single crypt. There's so much to see here that time simply isn't enough.

On our way to the exit, we encountered a bagpiper who captivated us and thus delayed us further. Moving on was simply impossible; his playing was far too enthralling. Eventually, however, we made it and finally arrived in Dublin to refuel, enjoy a delicious Guinness, and discuss the next day's plans.