Posted by Diarmuid on October 31, 2000 at 05:32:34:
In Reply to: To friends from Ireland and Wales (England) posted by Gigi on October 30, 2000 at 08:30:09:
I assume you're going via Holyhead to Dublin. You should spend some time in Bangor, Wales. It's a lovely little college town and (I think) quite historical.
It's a half-hour from Holyhead by train, you'll probably pass through it on your way to the ferry.
About the ferry: there are two main ports; Dún Laoighire and Dublin Port.
If you're on foot, DL is better than the port, as you can get a fast train into the City Centre. I think there's no transport from the port to the City. I suggest you try to change to a ferry to Dún Laoighire. Sealink serve Dún Laoighire, Irish Ferries serve the Port.
I would heavily urge you to bypass Dublin as much as you can. My hometown has got really horrible. Every foreigner who knew the place 10 years ago laments the way it has lost its charm with the new prosperity.
Pubs are ugly, flashy and noisy. Sure, some people like that, but if so, you should go to London or NY, wher they've been doing it for ever and they are better at it.
Everything is overpriced and the quality has collapsed.
Dublin is like LA in that it's very wide and sprawling, with a bad public transport system, so you need a car to get around. Taxis are very rare, after 9pm you have to queue for over an hour to get one.
The streets have become very violent and cruel, a foreign visitor was murdered here recently by a mob shouting racist insults.
Have I convinced you to stay the hell away from Dublin yet? If so, tell me and I'll tell you about all the beautiful, charming places you *should* visit.
They include: Kerry, Connemara, Cork City, Galway City, Derry, Newgrange and more.
: Hi!
: We are traveling to Ireland driving from London through Wales and crossing with the ferry (of course), this December. It might not be a good time of the year, but never mind!
: Can you please recommend places to stop over in Wales and Ireland, more in Ireland I would say? Shall we cross to Dublin or somewhere else? We have ten days between the flights.
: How about nice b+b places? Scenic etc.
: I have traveled through Cornwall and loved it. Never seen Ireland.
: Thank you.
: :*) Gigi