Residents of Dublin are some what confused as to why people would want to trek round the typical tourist attractions in other Capital cities when you could spend a long leisurely afternoon sampling the world famous Irish bitter in a city pub.



Quite a lot of people say that they go on holiday to the city not to take in all of its sights, but to experience the unique atmosphere of the city, whether it's the rustic holiday accommodation you stay in or just to soak up some of the cities events. There is no better way to sample this unique atmosphere than by visiting one of Dublin's pubs or bars.

Nearly every bar that you go into in the city is guaranteed to give you a warm welcome and a lot of tourists join in with the locals in a boisterous round of singing and dancing. The city has a phenomenal number of bars and pubs tightly clustered together.

The city has managed to catch on with the times and there are now also a new generation of coffee houses for those people either not wanting to drink alcohol or those wanting to sober up from having one drink too many.

Dublin is most certainly a dynamic city, with a mix of cultures incorporating its rich heritage of Celtic myths and legends. Also it's Georgian past mixed with the new trends and traditions appeal to its vibrant youth.

The city is blessed by being in the path of the Gulf Stream and there are many a magnificent garden full of exotic plants. The best months are June to August when the average temperature is 19 -20 degrees. On the down side however is the amount of rain that Dublin receives and tourists should be prepared for sudden downpours, so make sure you pack coats.

It has seen a massive growth in the number of holiday homes and cottages that are now available to rent direct from their owners, in Dublin itself. Many American tourists come over to Dublin to trace the routes of their ancestors, they like to stay in the more traditional holiday accommodation. A large percentage of Americans now stay in holiday cottages which they find more comfortable and relaxing than staying in an impersonal hotel.

A lot of Americans go back home and enthuse about a traditional full Irish breakfast. They marvel at the thick tasty bacon, free range eggs and home made sausages. They may also try the wonderful black pudding, Irish potato cakes, tomato and toast. To help it go down they will drink black Irish coffee laced with a liberal helping of rum. No tourist ever forgets the mouth watering experience of their first full Irish breakfast.

At lunch time they may sample a traditional Irish stew washed down by generous helpings of Irish stout. For Fish lovers Dublin Bay is world renowned for its magnificent prawns. For lovers of salmon, the fast flowing clean fresh water provides some of the finest salmon found any where in the world.

At night many tourists manage to find space to try a succulent Irish steak and then take a small drop of the local Irish whisky. The Irish say that theirs is better than the Scotch whisky because it is distilled three times resulting in a smoother drink. I certainly agree with them

I don't find it difficult to see why the city, Dublin, is so popular amongst tourists for its food and drink. The two things that visitors complain of when getting home from Dublin is that they miss the food and also that they have put on weight!

I would recommend the city to all. There's something for everyone, whether you have kids or are retired the great mix of activities will please all. Just remember that not all holiday accommodation may be suitable for all, and some larger families will probably prefer to rent a holiday cottage of their own.