This year was the first time since I moved to Ireland (nearly 12 years!) that I got to spend Easter with one of my French family members. It made it extra special and I was very excited to welcome my cousin and her boyfriend to Dublin.
They were only here for three days but we packed those days with a lot of fun things to do and beautiful things to visit.
They were only here for three days but we packed those days with a lot of fun things to do and beautiful things to visit.
On Saturday, armed with raincoats and umbrellas, we took the tram and headed to the city centre. After crossing St Stephen's Green Park, we made our way to the National Museum of Ireland to look at Irish archeological artifacts (and the famous bog bodies). When we have guests visiting from abroad, I always try to bring them there and they enjoy the visit every time.
We then grabbed lunch and a pint of Guinness in a pub before a little walking tour that took us to O'Connell Street then back towards Grafton Street via Temple Bar. After a few stops in lovely shops (including the Irish Design shop, Avoca and the Celtic Whiskey Shop) and soaked with all the rain, we decided to head home.
On Easter Sunday, I had set a few delicious chocolate eggs and bunnies on the dining table so my cousin and her boyfriend could have some to bring back (they brought us some amazing chocolates from France!). We had breakfast and served them Irish brown bread and hot cross buns to try, they really enjoyed all of it!
Then, we wrapped up warmly and jumped in the car to start our little road trip to County Wicklow. Our first stop was in Avoca in Kilmacanogue where we got some delicious picnic items to bring with us (rustic baguettes, fresh salads, Irish cheeses, paté, elderflower lemonade, Revolution Bakery doughnuts and freshly baked hot cross buns). We then drove to Glendalough and went for a walk near the lakes before stopping for lunch. We set up our picnic on one of the tables under the trees and ate our delicious food quickly before the wind and rain (or birds!) would sweep everything away (heavy clouds were threatening to burst any minute). We finished and got to the car just in time before the heavy rain started. We somehow managed to always be in the car when it was raining that day and when we stopped at the Powerscourt Waterfall, it was dry again.
On Easter Monday, my cousin and her boyfriend had mentioned they would love to get a bit of sea air and we settled for Howth (they also had to get their flight back that afternoon so it was the perfect location to spend some time before going to the airport, which is really nearby). It was still a bit cold and windy but the sun was shining and it was really pleasant walking along the pier. We ate some fish and chips in the sun (away from the crazy seagulls) and grabbed a cup of tea at a quaint little cafe before giving them a lift to the airport.
It was a short stay for their first visit to Ireland but I think we managed to show them a lot of things and places.
What are your favourite things to do with your guests visiting from abroad?
We then grabbed lunch and a pint of Guinness in a pub before a little walking tour that took us to O'Connell Street then back towards Grafton Street via Temple Bar. After a few stops in lovely shops (including the Irish Design shop, Avoca and the Celtic Whiskey Shop) and soaked with all the rain, we decided to head home.
On Easter Sunday, I had set a few delicious chocolate eggs and bunnies on the dining table so my cousin and her boyfriend could have some to bring back (they brought us some amazing chocolates from France!). We had breakfast and served them Irish brown bread and hot cross buns to try, they really enjoyed all of it!
Then, we wrapped up warmly and jumped in the car to start our little road trip to County Wicklow. Our first stop was in Avoca in Kilmacanogue where we got some delicious picnic items to bring with us (rustic baguettes, fresh salads, Irish cheeses, paté, elderflower lemonade, Revolution Bakery doughnuts and freshly baked hot cross buns). We then drove to Glendalough and went for a walk near the lakes before stopping for lunch. We set up our picnic on one of the tables under the trees and ate our delicious food quickly before the wind and rain (or birds!) would sweep everything away (heavy clouds were threatening to burst any minute). We finished and got to the car just in time before the heavy rain started. We somehow managed to always be in the car when it was raining that day and when we stopped at the Powerscourt Waterfall, it was dry again.
On Easter Monday, my cousin and her boyfriend had mentioned they would love to get a bit of sea air and we settled for Howth (they also had to get their flight back that afternoon so it was the perfect location to spend some time before going to the airport, which is really nearby). It was still a bit cold and windy but the sun was shining and it was really pleasant walking along the pier. We ate some fish and chips in the sun (away from the crazy seagulls) and grabbed a cup of tea at a quaint little cafe before giving them a lift to the airport.
It was a short stay for their first visit to Ireland but I think we managed to show them a lot of things and places.
What are your favourite things to do with your guests visiting from abroad?
