Pretty much every hour I am awake I’m working, meaning every hour I’m awake I’m analysing every single part of my business, coming up with ways to innovate, to add content, to monetise our content, to motivate my staff…basically my brain is always on overload.
So recently I’ve tried to make more of an effort to switch off, even if it’s only for a few hours. The first time I really relaxed was when I went to Greece a few weeks ago, since coming back I’ve been stuck into a million emails, dozens of meetings and hours and hours sitting at my laptop writing, editing and coding.
But yesterday I decided to take a bit of a break and rediscover Dublin.
Our WE LOVE section is all about discovering new areas, new hotels, new eateries and new experiences, so why not start in the city we live in?
I definitely have the travel bug and everytime I go to a new place I make a huge effort to discover the area. Even if I’m travelling alone (which most of the time I am) I still sign up for walking tours, bus tours and museum tours and spend at least a full day going around the new city I’m in.
And I realised this week that I had never done that in Dublin before. To be honest I go to the same places with the same people all the time, so yesterday I decided to walk around Dublin in a different way.
The first thing I noticed was that I always, ALWAYS, walk with my head down.
My dad told me this years ago that as a child/teenager I never looked up, and it’s something I still do now. And It’s sad because I’m missing out on so much of our beautiful city.
So yesterday I walked around with my head held up high and I tried to fit in as much as I could. I planned to be out and about by 11am, but with work and emails I wasn’t in town until 1pm. So here’s what I did in five hours.
1. Made a stop at Mooch
So I have recently become extremely obsessed with Frozen Yoghurt. (FroYo)
I first fell in love with it in LA, Malibu to be precise when I stopped off at Pinkberry for the first time.
I was all about it again over in Dubai and then when I was in Greece a few weeks ago FroYo was everywhere.
Ireland’s answer (and Dublin’s particularly) is Mooch on Dawson Street.
Model/foodie Roz Purcell is involved in the place and kindly gave me a press card this week so I enjoyed my discount immensely.
My favourite, and what I got, was natural FroYo with strawberries, marshmellows and smarties. YUMM.
2. I checked out the National Museum of Ireland
With my FroYo in one hand I strolled over to the National Museum on Kildare Street.
I work really close by, and again couldn’t believe I hadn’t been in there and honestly didn’t know what would be in there.
Everything I did yesterday was all free entry, which was amazing. By the way I Snapchatted all of my exploring (alir23).
From going back through the Bronze age to learning about the Battle of Clontarf and discovering the history of the Vikings I actually re-educated myself on Irish history.
I was so surprised that the museum was free because there was really so much in there.
My favourite part was probably the Egyptian exhibition…I’ve always been fascinated by Egypt and their history so it reminded me to put down visiting Egypt on my Bucket List.
I spent a good hour in the museum wandering around, and I especially liked the gold jewellery from the Bronze age, it seriously feels like fashion has gone down that style route again, mainly with the chunky gold collar necklaces.
Maybe the Irish are more influential than we thought?
3. I lay down in Stephen’s Green
Another place I constantly walk passed and walk through without really taking it in is Stephen’s Green.
Yesterday had a few hours of sunshine, so I thought it would be the perfect day to lie on the grass and stare up at the sky.
When I went to New York for the first time I sat myself down in front of a huge tree and watched the world go by as I enjoyed a 99 ice-cream, that was probably one of the most enjoyable hours of my life, and it’s easily something I could be doing around Dublin.
Although I didn’t sit by a tree I did lie down in the park with my hood up and people watched. I spent an hour there, some of it with my earphones in listening to Apple Music, and some of it re-reading one of my favourite books: The Great Gatsby.
I spend most of my time in my head stressing out, over thinking things. But yesterday I cleared my mind and just lived in the moment.
I’ve always been obsessed with people watching and no better place to do it than in Stephen’s Green.
4. I strolled through Merrion Park
Again – another place I always, always pass by is Merrion Park.
It’s kind of a hidden gem around Dublin 2 and it’s normally closed and all the gates are locked, but yesterday it was open and reminded me of a secret garden.
So much more quieter than Stephen’s Green and just as beautiful I decided to have a stroll through before I reached my next destination.
I sat down in a benched area and enjoyed the quiet of the park – this time completely taking out my earphones and listening to nature.
Sounds really corny, but it was nice to sit in compete silence.
I Instagrammed everything of course as well as Snapchatting (Instagram: itsalirose).
5. I visited the National Art Gallery
This was my last stop and one of my favourite parts of the day.
Just to prove the lack of culture in my life, I couldn’t find the National Art Gallery just off Merrion Square. But once I got there I realised I had been there for TWO events previously.
I strolled up their huge, gorgeous marble stairs and again I was surprised it was free entry, especially for the amount of beautiful art works inside.
Art galleries are the best place to go on your own because most people are there on their own.
I love nothing more than sitting in a middle of a room staring at a painting, and that’s exactly what I did.
I had no idea they had Monet paintings in there as well as Picasso and Jack B Yeats.
An hour spent in there was a great idea and I left with a huge smile on my face.
I’ve now written a long list of things to do in Dublin and to be honest I think it’s going to take me months to go and do them all, but I want to keep exploring!
Ali
Editor @ Goss.ie
Twitter: @SweetLikeAli
Instagram: itsalirose
Snapchat: alir23
