Motaz Othman

Ireland

Islamic Tourism Media

Ireland welcomes you with love, friendship and warm hospitality, these words are not copied from Ireland Tourism Brochures, it's what I felt from all places that I visited and Irish people that I met during my five days visit to the city of Dublin and the northern country side towards Donegal city and its wild islands Arranmore and Tory. 

I will try to show and present in written, how Ireland really welcomes you with Love, friendship and warm hospitality, although it's not easy to reflect your feelings on papers. 

To start my first story, a normal question in all European Airports, but here in Dublin Airport the question comes with smile, what is the purpose of your visit to Ireland? , I answered the officer, I'm invited by Ireland Tourism to write about your country, with another smile, she stamped my passport and wished me a happy days also she asked to write a good story about Ireland. 

Ireland Airport has added a new Terminal, more than 5.3 million passengers have travelled through Dublin Airport in the first four months of this year 2012. Dublin Airport is connected with Airport Express bus every 15 minutes to the city for only 6 Euro's. 

Mr. Frank was waiting for me in arrivals hall, in his car, I asked him do you smoke?, he said No, but I'm sure that you had a long trip, shall I park the car to have your cigarette outside. Off course, I said No, thanks, I can wait. 

In 20 minutes time, I arrived to Westbury Hotel, five stars, located in the center of the city of Dublin, in particular in Grafton Str., the main street in Dublin for shopping, restaurants and entairtemnet. A welcome pack from Ireland Tourism, include maps, tickets for local transport and a ticket for the green touristic bus.

Two days in Dublin: 

Dublin is Ireland capital city, Dubliners have prepared everything for you to enjoy their city, museums, art galleries, cafes, restaurants shopping malls etc.., one of the most wonderful thing is the Irish food, wherever you go, whatever the restaurant you choose, you can be sure of a very fresh and homemade meals offered to you with great hospitality. 

Dublin is a luxury and very clean city, people are so elegant, and because of the landscapes, green and water you always smell fresh air, the law here in Ireland do not allow high buildings, most are 4 to 5 floors only, this give you open sky all time. 

In Dublin, you can choose your tour, for example The City Sightseeing Dublin Tour, Liffey River Cruises, Rail tours, Walking Tours, Gardens Tour or Viking Splash Tours which I took on the first day, with this open deck bus, the driver start the entertainment and drive through the city, then the same bus became a boat and after putting your life jacket, you became in the river having a tour. 

Another Tour is The Dublin Bus hop-on hop-off, carefully designed to give you the freedom to explore the history and culture of Dublin at your leisure. The tour last 1hr 30 minutes operates daily from 9am and can be joined at any of 23 stops, allows you to hop-on and off as often as you wish, each of the 23 stops is located near one of Dublin's most popular attractions such as the Grafton Street, College green, Merrion Square, Dublin Castle, Museum of Modern Art, Dublin Zoo, National Museum, Guinness Storehouse and others. 

One of the best places that I enjoyed is the Chester Beatty Library, European Museum of the year 2002, located in Dublin Castle, exhibiting the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. You can see here the Egyptian papyrus texts, beautifully illuminated copies of the Qur'an, the bible, European medieval, Turkish and Persian miniatures and striking Buddhist paintings. 

For shopping, The Grafton Street and streets around is all what you want, a very clean and organized street for walking, shopping and dining, some shops and malls such as Kilkenny Shop, Cleo Design, Avoca Hand weavers and hundreds of shops. In Grafton street, flowers sellers are offering very reasonable prices for different kinds of flowers, also people are singing, others are dancing. Architects are there also drawing and make status to attract you to see their art.   

Recommended Restaurants for lunch and dinner, such as Café Noir in the Westbury Hotel, Fallon & Byrne in Exchequer Str., Silk Road Café in Dublin Castle, Bang Restaurant in Merrion Street. 

Fruits and vegetables are so fresh, clean and tasty due to the green landscapes, water and fresh air. 

Dublin is also a convention city, the convention center and Hotels are well prepared to host meetings and conferences, the incentive programs that available in Dublin, gives the participants a great time to enjoy the city. 

Lot of festivals are being held here in Dublin during the year, such as Horse Racing, Sports, Books, Winter, Film, Saint Patrick, Dance, Music, Oxegen, Viking, Culture, Puppet and Light festival.  

Irish people are highly educated, and as everyone knows, when you are a guest of educated people then for sure you will enjoy, also Irish people are well known through the history of their family caring and they took very care for their children. 

Dublin is a wonderful and peaceful city to spend few days, to enjoy meeting the Dubliners and start a new friend ships, enjoying their food, the tours, and entertainment.

Etihad airways and Emirates are flying daily direct to Dublin Airport, but the good advantage that if you are visiting England this summer, Dublin is very close to you and you don't need a Visa, your U.K Visa will work in Ireland. 

Some recommended words in Irish Language: 

Dia duit, means Hello, Cad e Mar Ata Tu, means How are you, Go Raibh Maith Agat, means thank you, Oiche Mhaith, means good night, Slan, means Goodbye and A Stor, means my darling which you might need for sure as you will meet with really lovely people. 

This is my first article about my visit to Ireland focusing about Dublin, another three articles will focus on Donegal Islands, the country side and Hotels & Accommodation. 

For more information about Ireland, please visit www.discoverireland.me for Arabic Version and www.discoverireland.com/ae for English Version. 

Ireland welcomes you with love, friendship and warm hospitality.