Travel Series: Dublin
As I drive down the windy, picturesque roads of the Dublin Bay, I peer out the window only for my eyes to be greeted by the most brilliant shade of blue the ocean has to offer—even clearer than the Pacific west of the California Bay that I’m familiar with.
We originally hoped for the usual Ireland summer day that locals are accustomed to, but we were instead given a partly cloudy mid-July landscape. The car first drops us off on top of a hill at Killiney Hill Park, the southernmost part of the Dublin Bay. Crowned as one of the most stunning viewpoints in all of Europe, the park overlooks the entire coast of Ireland. We sit on the edge of the hill with our feet dangling in mid-air. I glimpse the miniscule ripples in the ocean along the shore as well as the bright green landscape teeming with Willow trees.
A mile down the coast lies the Obelisk, a tower-like structure with architecture inspired by that of the Ancient Egyptians. As I hike towards it, I overhear a tour guide describing the history of the Obelisk, that it was originally constructed to provide work to a once-starving Irish population. As a history junkie, I absorb the information being thrown at me. I take a moment to admire the Obelisk’s beauty. Atop its own hill, its minimalistic architectural style is evident, a contrast to the tumultuous time of its construction. In addition, the hills overlooking the ocean strike me as the perfect place to seek refuge from the energetic city of Dublin.
Finally, as we continue our expedition further along the coast near ground level, we come across an exquisite gate made of cobblestone. Behind those large gates is the house of Bono, the lead vocalist and lyricist for the band U2. Like most tourists, he fell in love with the view and atmosphere Dublin offers.