Dublin – blending the old with the new.

This was my first visit to Dublin and I must say that the longer I was there, the more I enjoyed myself. It is a location that grows on you every step you take, every corner you turn and of course every pub you visit.

The Irish have an unbridled passion for music, song, and dance that is guaranteed to infect any visitor to Dublin. There is music everywhere from the late-night pubs to the remarkably good impromptu performances appearing at the drop of a hat. Dubliners like to throw down a pint or two of the hometown brew – Guinness. And for some reason Guinness tastes a wee bit better when you are laughing and singing at one of the many clubs or pubs that line the pedestrian friendly Temple Bar area. Needless to say the night life shines here where you are guaranteed to experience that famous warm Irish welcome.

Dublin is a city on the up. Everywhere there are signs of new building and urban rejuvenation, a recent explosion of glamorous new hotels, restaurants and shops. The city centre is actually very compact and lends itself perfectly to seeing all the sights on foot. Don’t just stay in the city, the beautiful countryside with plenty to see and do. History abounds hidden just behind the green clover. Come along!

roger@donanderson.com

Irish Golf – Links in time.

The joys of links golf on the Irish Sea! If you’re a golf lover and have never experienced links golf along the Irish Sea then add a round at Portmarnock Golf Club it to your list of things to do before reaching the clubhouse in the sky.

Portmarnock is living history to golf in Ireland. Universally acknowledged as one of the truly great links courses, Portmarnock is situated to the north side of Dublin, about 12 miles from the city centre. Its quality and location have made it a splendid venue for some of the game’s great events, including the Walker Cup (amateur version of the Ryder Cup) and 12 staging’s of the Irish Open.

Founded in 1894, the championship course offers a classic, traditional challenge. Invariably rated as Ireland’s best course by the Irish Golf Institute, Portmarnock takes justifiable pride in its 27 holes, which are maintained to the highest standards. Within the curve of the coastline formed by Howth peninsula, it offers stunning views of Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island. But above all, there is the charm of its delightful turf, the wildness, the solitude of the sandhills and the sea, and the ever-present challenge of the wind.

If thinking about a trip to Dublin one must include time for a round at Portmarnock Golf Club. Make sure to take caddie with you to fully enjoy the Irish camaraderie and to assist in navigating this challenging links course. For more information on Portmarnock as well as Dublin please contact Roger Rickard at 916 625-0608 or roger@donanderson.com.

Recent London Times

LONDON - Tips for navigating the town!

Most capitol cities are havens for tourism and London falls neatly into that category, but visiting everything you want to see in a short period of time can be tricky. Here are some tips for navigating the town.

We provided all our attendees with a cool Inside Out™ popout map and 64-page city guide equipped with a compass to direct people to sites of their choice. A Tube Zone-Day Pass or an Oyster Pass is also a helpful, and inexpensive, provision that gives people their freedom to see places on their own. Inevitably with groups you’re forced to hire the motorcoach so always plan for an extra 20-30 minutes of travel time due to London’s traffic – especially if you’re doing West End theater nights. We found delightful restaurants near each theater we used; and broke the groups into small manageable sizes so each group could experience a different restaurant before theater.

Enlist trusted Tour Guides, who proudly wear their credentials (a metal tag worn around their neck) and provide attendees with a wealth of historical information and local gossip! Forget the long tourist lines to any major site….just follow your trusted guide to know the secret back entrances or exactly when to be at a location to beat the normal rush. We experienced this on two occasions during our recent visit to London. First, when two of us wanted a quick 1-hour overview of Westminster Abbey. The entrance line was daunting – but we navigated back alleys to a small office in the back where two people were cozily snacking on Crispy Cremes – and the within 5 minutes we were in the back entrance of the Abbey. The second time was when our entire group visited Windsor Castle. Our guide was adamant about arriving to the ‘ticket barn’ by 9:30am on a Sunday. Thankfully we did, because the hordes of summer visitors that arrived just 30 minutes later were clearly visibly going to wait awhile before entering the Castle. For those who have not visited Windsor, nor toured the Castle, should! It is an incredible Castle…and I’ve visited many worldwide in my career, with a glorious display of art, collections, architecture and hundreds of years of history.

Need more info on London - contact me at terrie@donanderson.com