Day 2 of MasterTrip Ireland Driving Tour

On the second day, we decided to see what we could of the Dublin sights by foot. Turns out almost everything. We started out on Grafton Street, a brick-lined pedestrian walkway described by Fodor's to be the most humming street in Ireland. We stopped for breakfast at Bewley's Cafe, a stunning two story edifice with stained glass windows and a little theater upstairs with lunchtime shows. We continued down the promenade past trendy boutiques to the Bank of Ireland, which is situated in a beautiful 18th century building and which was formerly the home of the Irish Parliament. Then across the street to Trinity College, where the elite of Irish intelligensia receive a free education. The tour takes you through the Old Library, which houses the Book of Kells, one of the great masterpieces of the Anglo-Saxon world and one of the great masterpieces of early Christian art. The main library room, or the Long Room is described by Fodor's to be one of Dublin's most staggering sights. Housing 200,000 books, its barrel-vault ceiling makes it look like a scene from Harry Potter.

Next installment: Discovering ancient civilizations in Ireland