Dublin
If you had three extra days between a Tauck land tour of Ireland and a small ship cruise of Scotland - how would you split your time between Dublin and Edinburgh, and what would you make sure you saw in each (beyond the sights that Tauck has included)?
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There's lots to see and do in both cities, but since I'm 95% Irish (and 5% Scottish) according to Ancestry.com, I'll add things for Dublin: Take a tour of Trinity College that includes the Book of Kells. You can arrange a tour through Trinity. Tour Kilmainham Gaol. Tour Glasnevin Cemetery to see the graves of Irish patriots (but not those involved in the Easter Rising; they aren't buried there). I had booked a tour of the cemetery that began at 2:30, and to start the tour, we joined up with the 1:30 tour at the grave of O'Donovan Rossa (a 19th century patriot) and were treated to a performance of the oration that Padraic Pearse (one of the Rising leaders) delivered at Rossa's funeral. Take a tour of the Abbey Theatre and go to a performance there. The EPIC Museum is very interesting. Have lunch or tea at Bewley's Cafe on Grafton Street and have seafood chowder everywhere. Just sit and talk with locals. I admit that I have also enjoyed both the Irish Whiskey experience in Dublin and the Scottish Whisky experience in Edinburgh.
Tough choice, but for extra time in Edinburgh - don't miss The Real Mary King's Close, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, The Georgian House. In Dublin - Trinity College and The Book of Kells.
Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Christ Church is very interesting, Epic Museum, the Chester Beatty Museum and I also went to the Irish House Party dinner and great Irish entertainment.
The best pub in Dublin for traditional Irish music is The Cobblestone. It is on the north side of the River Liffey and not in the touristy Temple Bar neighborhood. They have sessions every day, but I strongly recommend arriving half a hour before they open to insure you get a good seat at the bar near the front where the musicians gather. I, too, was fascinated by the Killmainhaim Gaol, but tickets are tricky to secure. Online sales open four weeks prior. The Westbury Hotel is centrally located near Grafton Street and St.Stephen’s Green. Their Sidecar Bar is like stepping back in time to the Art Deco era. Lovely, personalized service at The Westbury. Dublin is a very walkable city and charming in every way.
Thanks to those who responded and welcome to more input.
We took a train ride to Houth, a village on the coast , walked around had a lunch right on the water. We took DART to get there which was very convenient and fast.