First, there is not sign marking the border. The only way we could tell was the road signs in the republic are written in both English and Irish. However, our biggest hint was when the bus was pulled over on the side of the highway and Irish immigration officers came on board and checked everyone’s passport.
Dublin, meaning Black Pool in Irish, is the largest city in Ireland. It has a long history of Norse and Celtic invasion with evidence of Vikings surfacing every time a new building goes up or road is constructed. We walked around the city for a few hours before boarding a tour bus with a driver giving live commentary.
There were many more tourists on the streets of Dublin than there are in Belfast. The locals can be spotted by their rubber boots. Everyone seems to be wearing them.
We walked past a busy market where the stalls are run mostly by women. The license is passed down from mother to daughter and stays in the family for generations. The produce in Dublin looked better and cheaper than that we have see in St. George's Market in Belfast.
Having seen the film, Michael Collins, I was thrilled to stand in front of the General Post office that is so prominently featured at the start of the film. Bullet holes are still visible in the Doric columns of the neoclassical building.
We toured two old churches full of history and quirky features. Originally Catholic, they are now both Anglican. St. Audoen’s Chuch, built in the 12th Century has the Lucky Stone that once stood in the town square. The covered bridge spans the street leading to Christ Church Cathedral where an old ruin of the old priory. Both structures provided interesting rocks to add to my stonework back in the USA.
We finished our day at The Brazen Head. This pub was established in 1198. Just over 800 years old, it is the oldest pub in Ireland.
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