Dun Laoghaire

We took the ferry from HolyHead, Anglesey, Wales around noon on the 17th. The ferry goes to Dublin Port and we made our way with little difficulty to our wonderful B and B - Windsor Lodge - in Dun Laoghaire (pronounced “Dun Leery”), a south suburb of Dublin. Our hosts were gracious enough to welcome us a little early, so we were able to have a nap. We went for a long walk in the town along the coast, including a most interesting stop at the James Joyce museum in Glasthule. It’s in a round tower near where he stayed, and some lines from Ulysses are descriptive of that place. Joyce and Ulysses are everywhere around Dublin. His depiction of Leonard Bloom’s day is so precise to the area that businesses and communities post the lines on walls and street corners, on business fronts, and on restaurant menus. My favorite is the Nichols’ funeral home on Pearse Street in Dublin which proudly boasts the quote that names it in brass letters on an outside wall. I’ve never read Ulysses (and am disinclined to do so), but it seems to have a lot to do with death. We scoped out restaurants on our walk and ended up in an Italian place that was pretty good.

Windsor Lodge

The second day of a trip I always ask myself why I’m doing this. Why travel? What’s the point when you have a perfectly good place to be at home, friends and family to be with, and good and useful occupation? It’s a good question, I think, and worth asking as we set out. I don’t know if I yet have an answer, but am exploring the question on each day.

The Windsor Lodge in Dun Laoghaire is really nice. Mary Farrell has been doing this for a long time, and she’s good at it. It’s a very pleasant house in a lovely neighborhood, with good access for the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) to get into Dublin. We were there two nights. It’s a Rick Steves’ recommendation, so there were lots of Americans!