I can’t even believe that in less than a week we will be back in Dublin! The past almost three years since we left have seemed to just fly by and I am excited beyond words to return to our former home, revisit my memories, share our history with the girls and make brand new memories as a family.
There is so much I’d like to do, see and show my kids while we are there, but this is my top ten must dos in Dublin:
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See as many friends as possible.
Our time abroad would not have been as wonderful without the friendships we made there and I can’t wait to reconnect with the amazing mommies that were my world for 2 1/2 years and see all those kiddos, most of whom have more than doubled in age since we left! (picture below was our last day in Dublin, Honeybun was a few days shy of 4 and Sugarplum was not yet 2!)
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Go to Insomnia and get a Vanilla Steamer.
The coffee shop that is more prevalent than Starbucks was one of my favorites and their vanilla steamer tastes like a warm, liquid marshmallow and is the only thing that got my through that first looooong spring when I was pregnant with Sugarplum and avoiding caffeine! (I wonder if they still do their awesome drink+muffin combo…)
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Take the kids on the train and maybe even the bus.
It may seem like a small thing, but I loved taking the train and buses everywhere when we lived in Dublin and with Doodle’s obsession with all things that move, I can only imagine his excitement! (And no car for almost a whole week!)
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Go to Roly’s Bistro for eggs and Herbert Park to see the swans.
Roly’s seriously has the best scrambled eggs I’ve had anywhere in the world and situated right next to Herbert Park, we’ll have to stop in to see the swans and sucks (and probably for a play at the large playground, too!)
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Go to the Dead Zoo.
The Natural History Museum in Dublin is lovingly referred to as “The Dead Zoo” by locals and it certainly is a sight to see! Two floors of taxidermy, both skeletons and preserved whole where you can walk right up and touch an elephant! (or at least you use to be able to, they recently restored and reopened the museum so it will be a whole new experience for us!)
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Walk by the Red Door and go to Mulligan’s.
The little village where we lived was an amazing place to raise our girls. Just three train stops or a 20 minute walk from the city centre, it was our quaint little home for those 2 1/2 years including Mulligan’s pub where we spent many Sunday afternoons as a family and the red door which we called home! (Fun fact: Dublin is known for their streets lined with doors of varying colors. Honeybun knew our house, which was nestled in a row of 20 look-a-likes, not by the number but by the color of the door and learned her colors by telling me all the door colors she saw as we wandered around the city.)
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Go to Penneys. And Mothercare. And Next. And…
The bane of hubby’s shopping existence during our time in Dublin, Penneys was my most favorite place to shop for the kids. Inexpensive but awesomely cute clothes and shoes that have lasted from Honeybun to Sugarplum (and maybe on to baby #4!). Mothercare and Next, though more expensive, were my next go-to shopping destinations for kid’s gear.
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Have a sip of Hubby’s Pints of Guiness and Bulmers.
Unfortunately I won’t be ordering my own pints this trip, but trust me…I will be having a sip or two of hubby’s. There is nothing like Guiness in Ireland (especially compared to the sludge they try to pass as such here in the states!) and nothing better on a warm summer day in Ireland than a cool, refreshing Bulmers Irish Cider (which is sold as Magners outside of Ireland and, again, not nearly as delicious!)
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Have afternoon tea at the Westin.
Most people will tell you to go to The Merrion Hotel or the Shelbourne, but my heart belongs to the Atrium Lounge at the Westin. When researching places to take my mommy, the Atrium’s “Most Peculiar Afternoon Tea” was the only one that listed clotted cream on their spread and I can’t imagine afternoon tea with scones if there’s not clotted cream and jam! (Roly’s bistro mentioned above also serves homemade clotted cream with their scones).
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Take it all in.
I don’t want to rush around and schedule every second. One of the great things about living in Dublin was that it was a bustling city with a laid back style. There is tons to do but you don’t have to be in a rush. I just want to take it all in, remember the sights, the smells, the moments. And make enough memories to last us until we get back again!
