So I'm Not Going To Ireland Anymore - Going To Paris & London

I really thought you were making fun of me on Facebook. The parallels -- "Ireland or Italy" vs. "Iceland or Israel"? Uncanny. But I'm glad you're for serious

I'm a total narcissist ZOMG

That said, I'll always opt for doing it myself versus hiring an escort. (See what I did there?) I'd take a tour of a castle, but not a town. Though that really seems very much a matter of personal preference and how... I don't know... "comprehensive" (perhaps?) you want to be.

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I've been to Ireland a lot - it will likely be freezing and wet whenever you go, though you can be lucky in summer.

If you have all the guidebooks I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know, but Connemara is really the place to go for lovely scenery...for a theatre fan, you may be interested in going to Leenane, with it's beautiful Killary fjord. Look for the movie The Field, which was filmed there.

Dublin is great for nightlife.

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Updated On: 1/19/12 at 11:51 AM

Boo, I wrote a response and it didn't post.

Take full advantage of your luxury of time! Spend the next 8 months rewatching some of your videos perhaps (lol "videos") and make a list of the things you've got a burning need to see and the things you feel like you "should" see and conflate them into some sort of sensible geographical itinerary, and perhaps that will help you figure out what sights might benefit from a guide and what might be more fun to do in the spirit of adventure.

Do you have any idea yet how long you'll be going for?

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Red crotch can be wonderful! Hope you get some on your travels, Jordan!

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Are there berries?

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LOL, Growl! Believe it or not there is a B&B in Dingle called the Dingleberry Inn. We died laughing.

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I heard the men are cursed.

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Only been to Dublin, which is lovely in warm weather, especially if you like to drink, but you only need a couple of days there.

I've self-driven a lot abroad and would think doing so in Ireland would be great. I also have friends who've self-driven there and enjoyed it a lot.

I've been there in October, and the weather was not unlike New York's -- a little colder perhaps but definitely not freezing. It was also instantly changeable -- raining one minute, clear skies and sunny a moment later. For the most part though, it was beautiful, crisp fall weather.

And we drove all over the country -- it was spectacular (driving on the left notwithstanding.) Just be aware that the sheep have the right of way at all times.

Connemara is definitely breathtaking, and the Cliffs of Moher are a must.

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Do the "hop on, hop off," buses in Dublin. Those bus lines are in all the major cities in Europe, and they circle around on a route that hits all the major "must see" sights. Cost is about $20 (or it was a few years ago when I was there).

Your bus ticket comes with a map, showing you the sights and stops. The bus driver will usually give you a guided tour on board. Hop off wherever you want. Stay as long or as short as you want, then wait for the next bus. They come along about every ten minutes.

In Dublin, make sure to see Dublin Castle and take the tour. Visit St. Pat's. Guinness factory for sure. Many other sights along the way. Also go pub crawling. Duh.

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Most of my time there I was too young to drink, so I don't really know, but they're famous for all sorts of drink - Baileys, Cork Gin etc., and where better to try a Guinness than in the actual brewery?

Another little place maybe not mentioned in the guidesbooks I just thought of - in the ground outside the Gaiety Theatre in the centre of Dublin they have famous Irish actors' handprints and autographs, including Tony winner Anna Manahan. Worth a look, and the theatre is lovely too.

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Updated On: 1/20/12 at 08:01 PM

You don't have to try any beer, but I would still visit the Guinness factory. Your admission includes a free pint at the sky bar (at the top) anyway. The plant is cool, but it's as much to do with marketing beer as it is with making it. Borders on a modern museum inside a 19th century factory.

Dublin Castle has parts of it that are 1,000 years old. It has a throne room and a ballroom where President Kennedy spoke on his one trip there.

Walk around St. Stephen's Green, the big open park at the end of the main shopping thoroughfare. There's a huge mall at the end, and pubs all along the side streets. We went to O'Donohue's, which is known for the music. You can have a diet coke if you want, but the music is great. Dublin also has a big university, and parts of it have a big college vibe. Typical of NYU area or even UCLA area. You get that same sort of energy.

VM Linnie (sp?) who used to post here, lived (or still lives?) in Dublin. He would know way better than me what to do and see.

I also visited Waterford, which was a nice town. The crystal factory has since closed down. Other than that, there are shops (funky ones with names like "EAT IT" and "FUNK IT." Churches, hotels, all with crystal chandeliers, naturally.

This also may sound like a total "geek" think to do, but pick up Rick Steves' travel book on Ireland. I used his books on London and Paris, and they gave me some incredible tips. They always include self-guided walking tours, so you can plan in advance which one (or more) you want to take, and go on your own. That won't cost you a cent (other than the price of the guidebook). Those books offer great suggestions on saving money with travel, hotel, and food expenses, too.

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