Bikers welcome

Dublin is no exception to this rule and in fact the city is very biker-friendly. There are lots of places to see, for example the grand canal or the docks. Most times you will be able to park right outside your destination. Renting a bike is not a problem, and you have the choice what kind of bicycle you want to rent. However you should take into consideration bringing along some rain clothes since the weather in Ireland can be pretty rainy from time to time. Because of that many people prefer a mountain bike over other kinds of bikes due to the broad and resilient tire profiles which mountain bikes offer.

As an example, modern one and two bedroom apartments, situated in the heart of Dublin city. From here, the vibrant Temple Bar district is only a 2 minutes’ walk. You can stroll to the Trinity College, O'Connell Street, Henry Street and Grafton Street shopping area. Main Bus station Busaras, Connoly and Housten train stations are nearby. You can stay for a day, or several weeks. The apartment features a well-equipped kitchen, a spacious living room, shower bathroom and cable TV. The hosts will provide fresh linen and towels.

All this comes at 59 GBP per night. You can stay here if you are on a business tour or on a holiday, provided you have booked it on Wimdu.

The Wimdu System

Wimdu (www.wimdu.co.uk) is a central platform for hosts and guests the world over. All types of private accommodation are provided and all guests, whether traveling for business or pleasure, are accommodated. At Wimdu, anyone can offer their house, flat or even a single room in a shared flat to travelers. The host benefits from the income and the guest benefits from the low rates and the personal touch. For the traveler, this is a completely new orientation on the holiday destination. Wimdu also provides background information ranging from virtual guided tours to travel tips. You can login via your FaceBook credentials, and exchange experiences and information about your local travel as well as travels abroad. Both guests and hosts are allowed to give ratings and comment on their experiences, and these are recorded at Wimdu rating system. Reliability and trust are thus built into the trips from both sides.

The Vikings actually ruled Dublin for more than three centuries. They were then expelled from the area in 902 only to return again in 917. Many battles were fought over the years which finally ended up with the Vikings leaving for the last time in 1171.

During the time of Viking rule there was a thriving slave trade taking place in and around Dublin.

In 1988 Dublin had the opportunity to celebrate its millennium using a catchy slogan that was designed to attract folks to it, that was Dublins Great in Eighty Eight. The city has been the center of power for the area since immediately following the Norman Invasion which ran from 1169 to 1171 and it was on May 15th of 1192 when the Charter of Liberties was first written. It wasnt until June 15th of the year 1229 when the citizens of the area were allowed to elect a mayor by popular vote.

In medieval times…

… the population of Dublin ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 people. This made for a very small and close knit town. These numbers were of people that actually lied inside the city and not the ones that had been expelled and forced to live outside of the confines of the city.

In the 16th and the 17th centuries the English began doing what they could to take over the Irish and Dublin was one of the many targets that were on the agenda. In the year 1650 a decree forced the Catholics to be banned from living inside of the city of Dublin. By the time the 17th century came to an end Dublin was the capitol of the Kingdom of Ireland which was English run and the Protestants became the majority party.

In the 18th Century saw many of the people born into Ireland as direct descendants of the English and this made the country more stable and made things easier to get trade started with Britain.

As the 19th Century progressed industrialization occurred and rail lines began to show up in Dublin. Still the number of unskilled laborers in Dublin was high with the brewery for Guinness and the Jameson distillery being the major sources of employment in the area.

After all of the years it was not until 1923 when Ireland became a separate state from the English and Dublin became the capitol of 26 of the 32 Irish counties. Throughout the turbulence of the later years Dublin remained rather free from the many bombings and such that the Irish Republican Army carried out. Tone of the biggest wars that has happened in the Dublin area in the late seventies and beyond has been the war on Heroin.

About Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was not Irish as many might mistakenly believe, nor was he the first Christian Missionary to Ireland, he was however the best remembered. He was born the son of a comparatively low ranking Roman official. He was at the age of 16 captured by Irish raiders. He was transported to Ireland and eventually escaped to return home. He returned to Ireland as a Bishop and hence became famous for bringing Christianity to Ireland. Saint Patrick’s day is celebrated on March 17 the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death. Saint Patrick is known as the Patron Saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick And The Wearing Of The Green

Although it is unverifiable, Saint Patrick was believed to have taught the concept of the holy trinity to Irish by using a shamrock, which has three leaves. The wearing of the green usually means wearing a shamrock on one’s clothing. Whether or not St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach Christianity doesn’t matter, the wearing of shamrocks and green has become an inseparable part of the St. Patrick’s day celebration.

Celebrations The World Over

Saint Patrick’s day is a bank holiday in Ireland. Parades, public entertainments and plenty of Guinness flow during this festival. Over a million visitors come to Ireland for the Saint Patrick’s Festival where entertainment and the culture of Ireland are showcased. Saint Patrick is an important religious and cultural figure for the Irish. The Saint Patrick’s festival has also become an important economic factor for Ireland because of the increased numbers of visitors and revenue generated.

Luck of The Irish As Irony

It has been argued that the term was ironic. When used toward early Irish immigrants in America. This early period was one where Irish were believed to be lazy and unable to succeed so when one did, it was attributed to the luck of the Irish. While discrimination was rampant during that time, there are other explanations for the origin of the term.

Luck of the Irish During The Gold Rush

The gold and silver rush brought a number of Irish and Irish American fortunes. The Comstock Silver lode was hit by a group of Irish miners who later became known as the Silver Kings. Although this explanation holds the ring of possible truth, the term still wasn’t without a derisive undertone.

An Unlikely Myth About Leprechauns and the Luck of the Irish

One other explanation put forth concerning the origins of the Luck of the Irish is that of supposedly finding a leprechaun’s stash was a lucky event that only happened in Ireland. The leprechaun luck story may not be widely accepted by scholars but it makes a colorful story.

On the whole, throughout history the luck of the Irish has not been exceptionally good. Irish history has been one of struggle and turmoil, and the fact that the nation still stands finally independent with people of such strong character can be attributed to their resilience and determination more than to luck.

Mardi Gras Parades

The New Orleans street parades are probably the best known and most publicized. These parades can begin at six am and continue far into the night. Riders on the floats are by law required to wear a mask during carnival season and on Mardi Gras night everyone can mask up. Trinkets are often thrown to the crowd and Mardi Gras beads and doubloons are sought after souvenirs.

Although Mardi Gras is often publicized as a wild and boisterous event, children attend these parades as well. They come home loaded with loot, stuffed animals, and beads and of course tired out. The French Quarter is perhaps the only place best avoided during Mardi Gras for people with children.

Mardi Gras In The French Quarter

The French Quarter is one of the must see sites for any visitor to New Orleans at any time of year. No parades pass through the French Quarter during Mardi Gras but the celebration is evident just the same and the beads and masks abound. Even without the holiday, the area has plenty to entertain and entrance the adults. The stunning architecture in the French Quarter is largely untouched even after the ravages of Hurricane Katrina and street corner mimes and jugglers are just part of the charm during the holiday season of Mardi Gras.

Dublin Capitol Comedy Club Dublin

The Capitol Comedy Club upstairs at the Ha Penny Bridge Inn is an award winning comedy club featuring comedians every Wednesday and Sunday. This is a stop that is bound to appeal to the visitor to Dublin who loves comedy. Dress can be casual and drinks and light soup and sandwiches are available. There is an age limit of 18.

The Merry Ploughboy Pub Dublin

This is a combination pub and live music venue featuring a traditional ballad and folk band called the Merry Ploughboys. Live music is available most nights of the year and very popular with visitors whose main objective is to have a good time in an informal atmosphere.

Trendy Bars in Dublin

Perhaps one of the most gorgeously appointed bars in Dublin is the Café en Seine. The architecture and décor are ornate and impressive and the prices are also somewhat expensive. During the weekend this bar is packed. Dress code is somewhere between well-dressed casual and the suit and tie crowd.

Pub Crawls in Dublin

For the visitor who wants to experience Dublin pubs but is not sure where to go then an organized Pub-crawl might be the ticket. The pub-crawls visit a variety of pubs in the Dublin area, some famous and some simply cozy and of course the visitors sample the ambience and a pint without the worry of driving or finding their own way back to their lodgings. Pub crawls are limited to those of drinking age.

Paris and the Café De Flore

Paris is well known as the city of art, culture, love and sidewalk cafes. Coffee at the Café de Flore is excellent but it is the history that draws so many to the limited seating. The renowned French writer and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir was known to meet her intellectual and romantic partner Jean-Paul Sartre at the Café De Flore. A dash of culture with coffee is what this sidewalk café offers the visitor.

Café Central Vienna

Intelligentsia and coffee seem to combine naturally, and the Café Central coffeehouse in Vienna drew its share since its establishment in 1868. Located in what was formerly the Bank and Stockmarket Building in Vienna it was closed in 1975. However, it was reopened again in 1986. Today the café Central is a popular sightseeing spot for visitors to Vienna because of its history.

La Pergola Rome

Fine dining has reached incredible peaks at the La Pergola. The service is impeccable; the view atop the Monte Mario breathtaking and the food is nothing short of exquisite. This is not an experience to be undertaken lightly nor is it going to be budget conscious but it is likely to be unforgettable for the visitor to Rome.

The Blarney Stone Sightseeing

A trip to Ireland is not complete unless the visitor has seen Blarney Castle and for the very brave; kissed the Blarney Stone. Kissing the stone requires being held upside down from the castle top, so it is not for the faint of heart.

The Guiness Storehouse – Dublin

The famous Guinness Storehouse in Dublin offers tours and is a must-see for any visitor to Dublin. The visitors see the world’s biggest pint glass to start the self-guided tour off, and wander at will from there. A history of the famous brew is presented as well as a sampling of the famous Guiness brands in the bar.

Living History at Dalkey Castle and Heritage Center

This living theater showing life as the “Medieval Experience” permits the visitor to capture a glimpse of everyday life in those times. The role of a barber in that period was very much different from today’s “hair stylist” and even food preparation is shown in the living theater. This cultural event is only a few minutes walk from Dublin’s public transportation.

The Chester Beatty Library Dublin

Although called a Library the Chester Beatty Library also serves as an art museum offering some of the rare collections of Chester Beatty during his lifetime. Miniature paintings, manuscripts and art treasures from all over the world grace this building. This was named the 2002 European Museum of the year.

This barely scratches the surface of the fascinating adventures awaiting the visitor to Dublin.

Medical Tourism and the Wellness Hotel

A new sort of wellness hotel has become popular and that is the facility which although not connected to a hospital supports patients travelling for reasons of medical tourism. The quality of these hotels and the amenities vary greatly depending upon the country they are located in and the available resources. Some are specifically designed to support patients and families recovering from medical procedures. It’s wise to investigate the amenities carefully if planning to spend recovery time at a wellness hotel. Some are rated as excellent while others may offer fewer services to support recovery.

The Wellness Hotel Focused Upon Fitness

Wellness hotels with in-house nutritional training, luxury spa treatments and personal fitness trainers are becoming more popular around the world. Europe has a number of renowned wellness hotels that offer a full service fitness and workout staff to support their client’s drive toward becoming and staying fit. Sometimes the focus of these hotels is as specific as getting tighter abs and other times as general as becoming fitter and losing weight.

Wellness Hotels for Special Interests

Special interests might cover anything from the vegan lifestyle to golfers. These hotels offer a wide variety of services usually including spas, special interest activities, nutritional and fitness trainers and of course recreational opportunities. The special interest or activity wellness hotels can be found worldwide from the wild coast of Ireland to the deserts of Arizona and all offer luxury, activities and wellness focused services.