Tag Archives: dublin

Gettin’ Up Close and Personal With Plants at National Botanic Gardens of Ireland: A Photo Essay

03 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by in Ireland, Photo, Travel

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No fun allowed!

The best part about my host mom when I was studying abroad in Ireland was the proximity of her house to two things: The Autobahn (sweet pub in Glasnevin) and the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. Did you see what I did there?

The first night my roommate and I arrived, while walking to a pub to meet the rest of the students and professors for dinner, we passed the Botanic Gardens. Wanting to check it out, but not having any money, we kept walking – only to find out a week later admission is free!

Established in 1795 by the Irish Parliament, the primary role of the gardens is for research, although it’s open to the public and the layout is set up in a way that is engaging and interesting to visitors. According to the website, the National Botanic Gardens is home to over 300 endangered plants and 6 species that are already extinct in the wild. Who knew?

Here are my favorite photos – as you an tell, I like to get up close an personal with plants. You won’t be able to resist either – look at these beauties!

Since the Gardens are free, I highly suggest checking them out. You can spend an hour here or an entire day, or come and go as you please – there’s definitely enough to look at. If you want to spend an entire day experiencing the lushness of Ireland, consider checking out Powerscourt Gardens as well.

Here’s some practical stuff you’ll need to know:

Hours of Operation:

Winter Hours – October 31 to February 1
Monday – Friday 9 – 4:30 pm
Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays 10 – 4:30 pm

Summer Hours – March to October
Monday – Friday 9 – 5 pm
Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays 10 – 6 pm

Getting To The Gardens: 

There are plenty of ways to get to the gardens, whether it’s by foot, bus, taxi, or car. We  happened to live about a 10 minute walk from the gardens but the other students took buses. The public transportation in Dublin is pretty reliable, so if you don’t feel like renting a car, you’re in luck! You can reach the gardens by bus numbers 4, 9, and 83.

For more options and a map, check out the website.

Have you been to the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland? What did you think? Sound off below!

Powerscourt Gardens 101

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by in Ireland, Travel

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Powerscourt Estate

Whenever someone tells me they’re going to Ireland, I get really excited. Not just because I spent a glorious four weeks studying abroad there, but because the country truly is beautiful.

A Quick Summary

I always suggest to my soon-to-be Ireland travel-goers Powerscourt Estates, located roughly 20 minutes outside of Dublin, a 13th century castle with over 45 acres of landscaped gardens (and a pet cemetery. What? That’s not weird…)

After a fire in 1974 that left only a shell of the castle, the Estates were renovated in 1996 to include a golf course, The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt Hotel, and an Avoca Handweavers restaurant.  The first floor and parts of the second floor are also home to retail stores and restaurants – the castle itself is a little too touristy for my taste, but if you venture into the gardens, it really is something special. We spent quite a few hours roaming the 45+ acres, taking photos, and enjoying the lush landscape.

Statue at Powerscourt

The Italian Garden

The Gardens, Ponds, and Cemetery 

There’s a few awesome things to check out on the grounds:

  • Italian Garden
  • Walled Garden
  • Dolphin Pond
  • Pet Cemetery
  • Japanese Garden
  • Tower Valley (which I happened to miss. Boo.)

If you’re pressed for time, although I don’t recommend rushing through, definitely check out the Japanese Garden and The Italian Garden, which are located close enough to the castle, so you won’t have far to walk to experience them.

The Japanese Gardens

I couldn’t help posing with this guy. He seemed down.

The Walled Garden

The Dolphin Pond

How could I forget the pet cemetery! RIP, Tiny! LOL

The Waterfall

From Powerscourt Estates, there is access to Ireland’s tallest waterfall at 121 meters. Unfortunately, regular bus service was discontinued in 2005, but apparently during high season there are intermittent buses available. Walking is also an option since it’s only about 7km away; however, it is not recommended as the road is narrow and can be dangerous. If you make the trek, there is a separate fee to see the waterfall that can range from €3.50 to €5.

Hours of and Cost of Admission

Lucky for you, Powerscourt Estates is open 7 days a week from 9:30-5:30pm, so you’ve got no excuse if you don’t make it there!

According to the website, Adults are €8.50 and student/OAP are €7.50. Children(U12) are €5.00 and Childrend (U5) are free.

If you’re traveling with up to 3 kids and another adult, a family ticket is right up your alley at €25.00.

Getting There

There are plenty of ways to Powerscourt, including bus, rail, taxi, and car. There are also day tours and coach buses available for groups, which is how we got there.

Check out their website about how to get to the gardens if you need more options.

Interesting (and Random) Facts About Powercourt Thanks To Wikipedia

  • The house was used as a filming location most famously in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, which was filmed there before the 1974 fire.
  • The estate was used as a backdrop and ancestral home of the “Artist” and Moll Flanders love interest in the film Moll Flanders.
  • The 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo was filmed there.
  • David Copperfield was filmed there in 2000.
  • Where’s Jack? was filmed there in 1969.
  • The gardens were used to record Celtic Woman‘s Songs from the Heart DVD and TV special.

Have you been to Powerscourt? What was your favorite part? If you haven’t been, which garden seems the most interesting?

I Travel Because I’ve Got Gypsy’s Blood

26 Sunday Jun 2011

Posted by in Travel

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A Beautiful View of Gvozd’s Countryside

In love with life, I live the subtlest of passions. Live like a gypsy – each day a different house, each night under the stars.” – Rumi

I feel this quote is an honest reflection of who I am – the world is my home no matter where I am. There isn’t a place I don’t feel at home, and I would say it’s because of my love for the world – my gypsy blood.

Most of you have felt some sort of homesickness – whether it be longing for your bed, your friends, your family, and the familiar everyday routine. Of course it’s common to feel that way, especially when you’re a first time traveler and haven’t been away from your hometown for more than a week for Girl Scout Camp (good times, though!).

But then there’s people like me – people who never even think twice about home while they’re out and about, scouring the world for new experiences, cultures, and ways of life. I’m always asked, “Well, don’t you get homesick when you’re gone for that long?” (albeit, I’ve only traveled extensively for about a month at a time, but I was still across the pond in Europe…), to which I respond, “What’s that?”

When I first set foot on European ground, I was headed for Gvozd, Croatia, a war-torn town in Eastern Europe. Even though I was told what to expect (broken roofs, houses with shrapnel holes, and just overall destruction), I was still shocked. This would be a perfect time to give into homesickness – this is NOT something I’m used to seeing everyday. But what I saw when I got to Gvozd was not all the blown out windows, dilapidated houses and factories, but the vibrancy and love coming from all the people who lived there.

A small building with bomb shrapnel damage in Gvozd

Or even when I was living with a host mom in Dublin who really didn’t care to get to know my roommate or me, we still made the most of it. Sam (my roommate) and I had both assumed that our host mom would be so excited to have us, get to know us, and be there to help us feel at home. Instead, she was more interested in being with her boyfriend. Oh, and I did I mention that we were living in her house with not only Sam and me, but three other students?! And we all shared one bathroom. Thrilling. But hey, we still took advantage of the time we had in Ireland, and spent all our weekends traveling to Belfast, Cork, and Galway.  We knew our time was limited, and there was no time to be wasted thinking about going home. We’d be there in four weeks, wishing we were back in Dublin!Hanging out at Giant's Causeway! Am I even thinking about home? Nahhh....

Your Challenge:

So, next time you travel – challenge yourself to bring out the gypsy in your blood. The world is your home – the woman next door IS your neighbor, not just a person who lives there – and that little cafe down the street? Well that is YOUR favorite cafe, not just the locals favorite cafe. Make it your own. The world belongs to all of us, and it’s a shame to travel and not assume this. Of course, be sensitive to the culture of where you’re traveling, but be bold! Be excited! Take risks! When you realize the world is your home, homesickness will cease to exist. Simple as that. Love the world, and it will love you back…