Dublin
"When I die, Dublin will be written in my heart." - James Joyce
On the Tour
On the first full day, our local guide led us around Dublin, providing a glimpse into the city's history that was at times humorous and at times sorrowful.
As seen in St. Stephen's Green and other locations around the city that were important to the Easter Rising, the Irish people's fighting spirit is very much a part of the present, not in some distant past. We also learned about the Great Famine and other factors that led to the rebellion.
Ending at the Book of Kells exhibit at Trinity College, we traveled further back in time to see beautiful artwork and artifacts that have survived over the ages.
On My Own
As suggested by the Rick Steves website, I arrived in Dublin a day before the tour started, allowing me to get over my jet lag while wandering around a new city.
One of my first stops was the Kildare Street location of the National Museum of Ireland (with free admission!). It featured a variety of interesting exhibits, including the Cross of Cong and Tara Brooch, as well as preserved bodies retrieved from bogs.
I also spent a lot of time at St. Stephen's Green, a great place to enjoy nature in the heart of the city. I grabbed a sandwich from a local shop and had a very pleasant picnic. If you like to people watch or perhaps even catch a live music performance, like I was lucky enough to do, this is a great place to rest and recharge.
I returned to Dublin by train after the Rick Steves tour ended for one last afternoon before flying home. That day, I explored EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, which honored and celebrated the Irish diaspora.
Tip for Shy Introverts
Keep your Eyes and Ears Open
You never know when you're going to have an interesting connection with someone on your tour, which helps everyone develop better relationships faster. I made a connection with one couple on my tour before it even began: at O'Hare airport in Chicago. I spotted a Rick Steves luggage tag on one of their bags. We were able to get to know each other well despite (and in part because of) the frustration of a flight delay of several hours.
Then, during our welcome dinner, another tour member heard me mention my hometown. It turns out we went to the same high school, even though he lives in a different state now! In other words, you might have more in common with your fellow tour members than you could ever imagine.
Being able to make those initial connections early helped make getting to know other people in the group seem less daunting, even if I didn't have as obvious connections with them.
