Brú na Bóinne!

Wow, what a great weekend!

Guess I’ll start with friday. After work, it was so nice out I couldn’t bare to go home so I walked up to stephen’s green park and walked around then popped in topshop where i found two great shirts and ran into Martina (imagine that). We went and grabbed a quick bite to eat and then I met up with Kieran (my flatmate) and his friend Tom at Trinity College for a few cans on the grass. Headed home just after nine.

Saturday, I woke up early and hit the bus station for a trip out to Newgrange. I usually don’t like tour bus’ but it is one of the only ways to get out to Newgrange if you don’t have a car. So at 10am I climbed on the bus with all the other tourists. On our way we stopped by Mainistir Bhuithe, an early christian settlement. Now mainly a graveyard with a remaining round tower. Then back on the bus and off to Mellifont Abby, dating back to 1142! We had about an hour tour and then back on the bus again.

Celtic Cross

Cup o flowers

Mellifont Abby

Next stop our main attraction, Newgrange. Let me also point out that it was HOT outside, well into the 70s and clear blue skies, therefore, the airconditioned bus was actually quite enjoyable. When we reached newgrange we had an hour break for lunch and then waited out turns to catch a minibus out to the site. It was pretty amazing, it was constructed 500 years before the pyrimids! Of course no one is quite sure what it was used for but, it aligns with the sun for the winter solstice. They’ve built in a similation of the solstice while you’re inside. It’s pitch black and then slowly a pencil thin light begins to creep in and illuminiates stones with spirals carved on them. Pretty cool indeed! We remained at newgrange for an hour or so, then back to the bus for the ride home.

Newgrange

I was walking up the path to head back to the bus, and who comes trotting down the path towards me? Kieran and Tom! Crazy coincedince. They were out for a drive, saw signs, and decided to check it out. I got my stuff from the bus and told the driver I wouldnt be continuing home with them, which was fine, he was a super nice guy and a great guide. Unfortunatly the boys had arrived too late for the last tour out to newgrange but we were able to book the next one out to Knowth.

Knowth

Around 5:30, tired, and sunburned we headed back to dublin, stopping at an overpriced golf pub on the way for some grub and watch a little Back to the Future.

Long day huh? Well it wasnt over yet. Got home cleaned up and then met up with Martina and Aishling for a nite on the town. We were all in great form, full of laughs and beers. We ended the nite shaking our booties at Whelans pub.

Again today the sun was out. I absolutly love dubin in the summer, as do the dubliners. Everyone just gathers in the parks to lounge all day. I grabbed my book and headed down to stephen’s green for some reading. I was dreading having to go find a dress to wear to Erick’s wedding, but I completely lucked out and bought the first dress I tried on in the first shop i went (i swear by this shop, it works everytime). Then I met up with Aishling for some sushi! And now I’m home.

Great weekend!

As always see my Picasa Page for more photos