Time in Dublin

  Dublin, Ireland
Monday, November 27, 2006

I have some photos from Dublin coming soon - just my trusty Starbucks here didn't have wireless connection (but they did have a great eggnog late!). Thanks for all the messages they are great to read when we are away. If there is anyone that would like to be added to the list just let me know.

We arrived in Dublin on Saturday around midday. Our Hostel is in the Temple Bar area which is the main tourist part of Dublin. The place was buzzing on Saturday. Ireland had played Australia in the Ruby earlier in the week and local people are talking up their chances in the World Cup. The girls bumped into the Wallabies in Edinburgh so they have been keen to follow the progress. They have quickly learnt that the Irish don't really care about cricket as it is an Englishmen's game. Dublin has been great. It is quiet mild during the day - the girls have been able to walk around without hats, scarves and gloves. The Saturday afternoon we went for a walk around Dublin. They located the two main shopping centres and were quite happy looking around those. We found our friend - Marks and Spencer's Food Hall and sorted what we were to eat for dinner. Mums you would be proud of the girls - we have had a couple of groups working together to cook up a magnificent bolognese. Marks and Spencers Food Hall has sandwiches, soups, and lots of variations on prepacked food - it is serving us well.

Yesterday we went on a Viking Splash Tour of Dublin. Ex WWII amphibious vehicles are used to transport the group around the sites of Dublin - the photos will explain that one further! The tour starts off on land - going past Lansdowne Road, Bono's brother's icecream shop; St Pat's Cathedral and other major landmarks. We then moved onto the water and caught the U2 recording studios; Colin Farrel's appartments and the site of the original Riverdance routines (along with the appropriate jokes). It was a good way to see the city. Part of the Viking deal was to try and scare the ' Celts' outside the vehicle so at appropriate times the tour guide had us doing scarey yells at people on mobile phones or reading maps. This morning a lot of the girls went to see the Book of Kells and the Awesome Library at Trinity College.

We are about to go and play games this afternoon ... so will be back soon with match reports.....It has just started to rain so it may make for some wet hockey (and hopefully the netball games will be indoors!)


We went out to Rathdowne School and played 3 games of netball and 1 hockey. Really nice new turf that was water based (hockey mums would appreciate that one) The girls played really well but went down to Rathdowne School 3-0. (the Match Report is on its way!)
The Netball played three games - winning all three with some tough contests. Poor Jess rolled her ankle in the last few minutes of the final game. We had a few other good clashes but our girls faired OK.