The city of Dublin

We took a shuttle bus from the airport to our hotel. It was a first for us to see cars driving in the left-hand lane. From my seat, I quickly gained a great deal of admiration for the driver, who skilfully navigated his bus through the city streets.

Lively streets

Our first visit to Dublin took place at night. Once we'd checked in, we took to the streets in search of something to eat, and above all to get our feet wet in the famous pubs, whose reputation is well established.

The pictures don't speak for themselves, as they were taken in the early hours of the next morning, but you can take my word for it - the streets are bustling, even on weekdays. We went to the Temple Bar to taste the local beer: Guinness. The atmosphere was more than upbeat, and the scent of hops and laughter-inducing weed wafted through the air. The town's bars were overflowing with revellers sipping their beers in peace to the sound of guitarists and singers on every street corner.

A gourmet at heart, it was also an opportunity to stop off at a local ice cream parlour.

St Stephen-s Green

If you're passing through Dublin, this park is well worth a visit. For me, it was the first time I'd been confronted with the greenery for which Ireland is famous. There's no doubt about it, it's green! It's a very soothing place, and it was so calm! We spent a few dozen minutes there, lulled by the sound of the fountain's water, in which the birds were also enjoying themselves.

The National Museum of Archaeology

Also well known in the area, the National Museum of Archaeology was a great discovery. To be honest, I've never set foot in an archaeological museum before, and this was a first for me. As soon as we stepped inside, we were caught by the smell of the place.

A smell of... history, you might say?

Mummies, tomb reconstructions, jewels, old boats, sarcophagi, you name it, there's it. Each object takes us back several centuries into the past. They take us back to a time when a piece of wood and a bit of leather were used to make shoes, or when man first tamed the forge.

In this place, time has clearly stood still. It will take you a few hours to complete the tour, especially if you're passionate about the subject. It would be a shame to miss out, especially as the tour is free.

To sum up

I had an idea of this city before I set foot here and... I was right. Dublin is a very lively city, where excess rubs shoulders with poverty. It's a city in which there's constant hustle and bustle, and where the honking of horns is legion. We had a lot of fun stammering out our first words of English in this country, it's true, but one thing's for sure: we need some space, and to get away from the hustle and bustle quickly.