Top Dublin City Tours - page 4

My wife and I only had two nights and less than three days in Dublin, so we wanted a memorable day-trip, knowing we would have enough time with the remainder to get a good taste of Dublin. We saw several day trips that looked similar and decided on this one (the word "wild" in the title might have swayed us slightly). The price seemed quite excellent considering it was a full-day trip! The itinerary was full but not cramped. There was adequate time to rest in between bits of exertion. Our guide Jim was outstanding: just a relaxed gentleman from Wicklow who was quite happy to talk knowledgeably about the sites we were visiting. He had a nice sense of humor and a good way with people young and old. The stops on the trip were great. I did think that the advertised "Avoca Handweavers" and the opportunity to buy "fine handmade goods" was going to be a bit like a country village instead of an upscale store, but the coffee there was good and it was appropriate to take a bathroom break at this point. So I still liked that stop. I just expected it was going to be more of a cultural experience. The stops for scenic overlooks were perfect, and we had plenty of time at each for photos. Jim knew when to hurry us along, as he wanted us to have more time at Glendalough. Learning about the bogs was absolutely and surprisingly fascinating! The lunch stop was outstanding. I really enjoyed my beef and Guinness stew with a nicely-poured pint to wash it down. The stop at the monastic settlement was a definite highlight. The only thing I might have changed the whole day was to do without the walk along the lake to the further parking lot. It was nice to stretch our legs, but I've seen plenty of lakes before so it was nothing really special. I would have more enjoyed more time at the settlement or at one of the earlier stops/viewpoints. All in all it was a grand day and it makes me want to do things like this more, wherever I find myself!