Being part of a business trip in
one third to contribute to the promotion of the DEXON products is a good thing.
Better thing if the destination is a country where you've never been before.
Best thing if this country is on your wish list to visit. Very best thing if
you have time to look around having a real Irish man as a guide.
What's first? About the Greystones
to Bray Cliff Walk? About
the Long Room of Trinity College? About the Book of Kells? About the Guiness experiences?
About Johnnie Fox's? About Glendalough National Park? Business first!...
The business part went very well
and the concept, the organization proved to be successful. We had the chance to
reach some important potential Irish companies directly with the help of our
Irish partner. What if you're overwhelmed with business dinners? Then get up
early in the morning, put on your running shoes, discover the area, breath the
'green' air, meet a fox (!) at close range and hear the early birds' song. It's
guaranteed that you will be recharged.
Driving a car with steering wheel
on the right hand side and oriented on the left side of the road requires much
concentration from those who usually do this just on the contrary. The guys
arrived in advance to assemble the whole system and they were followed by me
one day later. Just upon arrival I could start the sightseeing using the
airport shuttle to reach the hotel which fortunately located at the very last
stop. I never arrive a foreign country without thorough preparations and information
about sightseeing, famous spots, interesting facts, gastronomy, etc... This is
very important if someone has less time to spend on these besides business
but definitely wants to 'get lost' in that country. So I'm always very definite
where to go, what to do and see.
This time we were so privileged because
we were just asked what we would like to see and our host reserved and paid
everything for us in advance in order to avoid queueing. We're truly indebted.
Started our full free day inside Dublin at Trinity College. It was established
in 1592. Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift were famous attendees of Ireland's oldest
university. According to different rankings, the university has not so good
position on a global scale. But its library is amazing, especially the Long
Room. I just saw a picture of that room prior to the trip and thought that I
need to see it personally! The main chamber of the Old Library is nearly 65 metres
in length and houses around 200,000 ancient books. 'Turning Darkness into Light'
- The Book of Kells from the year of 800 AD (!) was probably produced by the
monks of Iona (Scotland) and is on public display here. It contains lavishly
decorated copy, in Latin, of the four gospels. Amazing ancientness!
After hanging around the downtown
and River Liffey with the famous lovely Ha'Penny Bridge, the next stop was the
Guinness Storehouse which is Ireland's number one tourist attraction. It is a
seven storey visitor experience dedicated to the 250 years of history and making
of the world famous beer. You can discover what goes into each and every pint.
"Where better to savour a perfectly poured pint of the
black stuff than sitting high above Dublin's historic rooftops?"
- the 360° views from the Gravity Bar makes the
experience unique. We met more times the 'harp'. The medieval musical
instrument is on display in the Long Room and also part of the Guinness logo.
It is a national symbol of Ireland. 
What was
next, was something that I never experienced before, neither same nor similar.
A restaurant. A really unique restaurant well hidden in the Dublin mountains -
Johnnie Fox's (established 1798), famed as the highest pub in Ireland. For me, famed
as either a fantastic world or a time travel. They say "Yet neither the
height of its fame nor the fame of its height has gone to Johnnie Fox's
head." The stone-flagged floor is daily strewn with sawdust and nightly
hammered by dancing feet. There are lots of ancient bric-a-brac and not an
empty squarecentimetre. The pub has featured prominently in the historic and
social evolution of Ireland and commited to preserve the relics of the proud
history that maintains its charm and nostalgic originality. Eternal gratitude
to Ian for introducing this place to us! Just like in a fairy tale.
And the fairy tale was not over
here! Wicklow region came next which is known as the Garden of Ireland. Beautiful
scenery, mountains and lakes (location for P.S. I love you and Braveheart), green
green an much more green, 6th century Monastic Settlement, complete with Round Tower (without Rapunzel)... And this is
what I always need. Outdoor programs filled with beautiful landscapes,
breathtaking views.
And I already know very well
what's next if I visit the country again. Halloween 2017 here in Ireland (that
was already kindly confirmed by Ian), Giant's Causeway (Unesco World Heritage
Site), Cliffs of Moher (once thought to be the edge of the world), Dark Hedges
(The Game of Thrones), the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (links the mainland to a
tiny island). Hmm, our little world is soooo big!
