Last Day in Dublin

So guys, this will be my second to last post in this blog. I'm only here for 12 more hours before my flight takes off in the morning. I've got an early wake-up tomorrow so I won't be up for that long tonight. Last night I tasted two lovely new craft beer sorts, but I had to head to bed very early.

Today I got up at nine and had breakfast at the hostel. Then the saddest part of the day: I took my bicycle for a last spin. Instead of heading straight to the bike shop, I thought that I just might go on for a few more kilometers. I made my way to the Phoenix Park. It's one of the biggest walled gardens in Europe (707 hectares, 1752 acres). A comparison: if you've ever been to the Central Park in New York and thought it to be huge, the Phoenix Park is more than twice its size. The perimeter wall is 11 kilometers long. The size is not the only amazing thing about the park. The nature (a herd of Fallow deer live there since 1660), archeology and the architecture of the park are very interesting. For more details, see the link above.

I cycled around the park, but I didn't see the deer. I saw some other nice things though. Take a look at the pictures in the Dublin after tour folder.

From the park I then headed to take my bike back to its home, the Belfield Bike Shop. Before I went in, I did some last minute polishing and maintenance. I wanted to get as much money back for it as possible. I think I did quite well. The end sum for four weeks of bike "renting" went up to 219 euros. That was 19 euros more than I was hoping for, but I took the offer. If I had had more time here, I might have tried selling it elsewhere, but I decided to enjoy the rest of my hours in Dublin instead of getting stressed with searching buyers.

I had lunch after getting bikeless and then planned to go and have a look at the Book of Kells in the library of the Trinity College. When I got there it was 4 pm and the last tour had already started. I was a bit disappointed, since exactly the same thing happened four weeks ago. I remembered seeing somewhere that the last tour starts at five, but I was wrong. Well that's another reason to come again I guess.

I took a walk in the city on the north side of the Liffey river instead. I didn't really have a plan, except to enjoy the nice sunny weather and the Dublin ambience. After about two hours of walking, I went for some groceries and bought a couple of nice looking rolls and a pack of Irish cheddar (I've eaten a lot of that here by the way).

I still saw one craft beer on draught in the Porterhouse last night that I might go after soon. Might even have another Hop Head to finish the beer tasting tour with my favorite so far.

So, for the last time from Ireland (on this trip) bye bye!