It’s interesting how different the places around Dublin are from the rest of the city. Traveling on the Dart it can feel as though you have entered a completely different world instead of just a place that exists a few train stops away. On our free day I went to the furthest southern train stop which is home to a little coastal town called Greystone. People were few and far between and those I did encounter still encompassed the friendly attitude of their Dublin counterparts. However, I enjoyed the quiet solitude as I explored the blustery Irish coast.
Tonight I was able to explore another southern town outside of the city called Sandycove. It was similar to the little town of Bray I visited During my independent excursion in that it was filled with older buildings and quiet streets. Once you reached the coast, though, things begin to get a little livelier. Delicious smells and bustling streets line the coastal strip of restaurants that range from adorable cafes to the higher end fine dining restaurants. We ended up deciding on an Italian restaurant nestled between two other places with stairs leading into a lower dining area that was completely packed. The food was splendid (although it is honestly pretty difficult to mess up Italian) and the atmosphere was quant and authentic. After our meal we looked out into the sea where a light house shone in the distance. Painted on a nearby wall was the ? Symbol from Mario and it was a perfect way to end a delicious Italian meal.