ireland

Reasons to love Dublin in December, plus free festive things to do

December 4, 2017 by Meg Leave a Comment

Spoiler alert: I absolutely love Christmas in Dublin – sure it might not be the most wintery wonderland of places in all the world, but I love the christmas vibe the city has. I hope this post shows you all the reasons why I love Dublin in December. Plus, in an effort to keep our costs down over the silly season, I have created a list of free festive things you and your family can do in Dublin over the festive season. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed and celebrated – but you shouldn’t put yourself in debt over it!

We arrived in Dublin last year, just in time to see the beginning of our first Christmas in Dublin. Most people would think arriving at the start of winter would be a hard adjustment. Short days, sunset at 4pm, super cold weather… plus being away from friends and family over the holidays, can all be a bad combination and a hard transition into a new country. But our first Christmas in Dublin honestly made me so happy – and I now i love December in Dublin so much because it was something I got to experience with Rob and our furbaby – and we created new family traditions, just the three of us.

The reason why I love Dublin in December is you really can get into the festive spirit, with all the Christmas lights all over town, stores stay open later and Christmas music can be heard everywhere. One of the best things about Dublin in December is that the winter (although cold), is a little milder compared to other parts of Europe. They don’t often get often get snow (not much in the city) but cold weather and the change in season is definitely felt. The days get shorter, and it is true that the sun will set around 4pm. But the benefit to an early sunset is that you get to see these beautiful cotton candy skies. Sunsets here are just so pretty to look at, and in the summer nights you have to wait till pretty late at night to see them. Like most places, at the end of the year, things seem to slow down a bit. People seem happy and festive, and full of hope for a new year coming around the corner. The hope that once Christmas has passed, and the new year is upon us, that soon the weather will get warmer. Christmas festivites makes it easier to bear the cold weather, well that is just my opinion.

Christmas though doesn’t come cheap. It is the time of the year where we all want to spoil our loved ones, and ultimately, we often over spend and get into debt without realising it. But we are seriously trying to keep our expenses down this year. For the first year ever, we are not getting any Christmas gifts (I will share our thinking around this in another blog post). Just because we aren’t buying gifts doesn’t mean we can’t get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy the festive season. We are focusing on finding budget-friendly things to do around our home, and saving our money for the new year which we hope will be filled with a bit more travel and exploring of Ireland and beyond. So in an effort to save money over this festive season, here are some christmassy things you and your family can do for free in Dublin this year:

The Christmas lights all over town. You can go into the city center and walk along the streets for free. There is also a few homes that go a little over the top with their Christmas decorations, this house on Bath Avenue does it for charity, so anyone going to look at their Christmas lights can make a donation too.
Dublin is not really known for their Christmas Markets but there are a few that may be worth a visit this year:
- Dublin Flea Christmas Market on Thursday 7th – Sunday 10th December 2017
- Spirit of Dublin Christmas Fair on Saturday 9th December 2017
- Christmas in Glasnevin at the National Botanic Gardens on Sunday 10th December 2017
- Ha’Penny Christmas Market every weekend until Saturday 23rd December 2017
- Après VILLAGE at the CHQ building is free to enter between 12pm and 7pm (not including the Apres Lodge) until Saturday 23rd December 2017
- Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market from Saturday 18th – Saturday 23rd December 2017 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays only)
The Moving Crib at St Martins Apostolate’s premises at 42 Parnell Square; this is an unusual free activity to do in Dublin. The Moving Crib is the Nativity scene told through handcrafted moving figures that are approximately 1 metre high.
Another place to see Christmas decorations is in a lot of pubs and restaurants all over town. One pub in particular took over two weeks to set up their decorations this year. Visit the Hole in the Wall Pub in Phoenix Park to check out their christmas decorations.
If you are in the city checking out the lights, you may also get to hear the Buskers singing Christmas songs. Every Christmas Eve, well known Irish musicians go to Grafton street and sing Christmas songs. Bono, the lead singer of U2 has also been known to stop by!
Lastly, if you are feeling extra brave, you could always celebrate Christmas Day by going for a swim at forty foot on the 25th December.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR CHRISTMAS THAT DOESN’T BREAK THE BANK?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

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Unexpected Costs To Account For As An Expat Moving To Ireland

November 24, 2017 by Meg 5 Comments

When you make the decision to move overseas, I think most think it is an easy enough decision to make. Do you have a job to go to? That is probably the one consideration most people would think of before moving abroad. But the real question you need to ask yourself before you move to a new country is: Will I be able to afford living in a new country for the long term?

People often make the mistake of assuming because salaries sound better overseas, that they will be making tons of cash when finally move there. Converting to your home country currency is probably the worst mistake you can make because you are then basing that new salary off cost of living back at home without fully realising what the cost of living is like in the country you intend on living. Read this post for better insight on cost of living between Ireland and South Africa.

More to the point about money and budgets is that there are always going to be unexpected costs that seem to creep up when you move overseas. You are in a new country, and you want to explore, but it might be helpful if you have enough saved before you move over to account for some of those unexpected costs that you don’t often think about in the excitement of starting a new adventure.

The cost of visas, work permits, and being legally allowed to stay in the country long term.

Depending on how you are able to enter the country to either work or live abroad, there may be costs associated to obtaining the necessary visa. It’s a good idea to check in advance of you arriving what those costs could be, since they will probably be in the foreign currency.

Certain work permits in Ireland cost money as well. In most cases this may be paid for by your employer but it is good information to be familiar with in case the onus falls on your shoulders to settle.

In Ireland, as an expat with a non-EU passport, you are required to register for a GNIB card within 90 days of arriving in the country. The cost associated with this immigration registration card is EUR300. If you arrive in the country before getting employment sorted out, you will need to pay for this card twice. The first time to notify them that you are intending on staying in the country, and the second to update your employment status. If you are like me, that means that you could pay EUR600 in your first year.

2. Finding a place to rent and deposits.

If you are looking for a rental as an expat, there are certain cases where you may have to pay more than a full month as a deposit to secure a good spot. We have heard of friends who were required to pay a double deposit. Because good rentals in the city of Dublin are quite costly, the difference between be able to secure a place to rent and having to let it go, may come down to who can pay the upfront payment right then and there. Finding a place to rent that is pet-friendly carries additional challenges, read this post for how we managed to find our place.

3. Additional custom costs to shipping your home overseas.

This is another hidden cost that people sometimes don’t account for. You could decide to send some things over from home to your new home abroad. What you might not realise is that you pay a fee to move it overseas, but then depending on its destination, you will pay a customs fee to bring it into the new country. If you can, find out what that cost will be beforehand (a good shipping company should be able to give you an estimate) so that it is not a heavy surprise when you get to the other side. It may also help you decide what is worth sending over, and what is maybe better off leaving behind.

4. Getting a car is not just about buying the wheels.

You are legally required to have car insurance if you own a vehicle. Because you are entering into a new country, you will need to show your car insurance history from back home. If there is a gap in payments (i.e you cancel your car insurance before you move over) there is a risk that you may need to pay a heavier premium/penalty. Furthermore, certain countries are allowed to swop out their drivers license for an Irish one, South Africa is one of those countries that are accepted. However you have to do this within the first year of your arrival, and your home country’s drivers license needs to still be valid. The cost to swop out your drivers license is EUR55.

5. The cost of medical aid.

If you wish to take out medical aid in Ireland, the biggest difference here is that the premiums are paid upfront for the year. Unlike in South Africa where the premiums are deducted off monthly, you need to have the full payment for the full year, ready upfront. This could be quite a big lump sum depending on what package you intend on taking out.

For more info on living abroad, and moving to Ireland, you can find all these kinds of posts here on the blog.

LOOKING TO MOVE TO IRELAND, WHAT INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COVER IN THE NEXT POST ABOUT LIVING ABROAD?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

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A Guide On What To Expect At The 9 FREE Museums In Dublin

November 13, 2017 by Meg 2 Comments

Most people think of drinking in pubs in the Temple Bar area when you visit Dublin, but there is a great deal of arts and culture you can see while you are touring in Dublin. Not to mention all the free things you can do here too. Did you know that there are nine FREE museums in Dublin that you can visit all year round? They all offer unique insights into irish history, arts and culture. Here is the list of free museums in Dublin – what they offer, and what you need to look out for at each spot.

Natural history museum

This is one of the most under-rated museums here in Dublin. It is also known as ‘the dead zoo’, this is because all the displays are replica’s or taxidermied. The best part of this museum is you really get to see upclose, the sheer size of some of these animals. Another fun fact is that if you are a fan of the TV-series ‘Penny Dreadful’ – a part of season three is shot at this museum. We really enjoyed walking around and looking at all the displays, the space is huge and if you get there early in the morning over a weekend, it can be a quiet place to explore.

National print museum

This is a small museum, but definitely not to be missed. You can view all the old print methods, and how printing has evolved through the years. You can also view the 1916 proclamation on a similar print machine that was used to print this proclamation. Another great part of this museum is the coffee shop next store. It is in a glass atrium to the one side of the museum and is the perfect spot for a meal or just a coffee and a slice of home-made cake.

National museum of decorative arts

Decorative Arts & History is home to a wide range of objects, which include weaponry, furniture, silver, ceramics and glassware; as well as examples of folk life and costume. To be honest, this is not a museum we have visited yet. I know we will eventually get there, but it just doesn’t really interest me at present to go, but hey, it is free to enter so why not just check it out for yourself?

National museum of archaeology

Warning: this museum is HUGE. You need a full day to really explore it from top to bottom. There is so much to see here. The main reason I wanted to visit this particular museum is to visit the bog bodies exhibition. In 2003, Iron Age bog bodies were discovered at Oldcroghan, Co. Offaly and Clonycavan, Co. Meath. A bog body is a human cadaver that has been naturally mummified in a peat bog. An excerpt taken from the museum’s website says: “The exhibition is based around the theory that human sacrifice and the deposition of the victims in bogs along tribal boundaries is related to sovereignty and kingship rituals during the Iron Age.” I found the exhibition was packed with information, and found it very interesting to learn more about the reasons why these bog bodies came to be.

Irish museum of modern art

Another large museum that deserves a bit more time to explore is the Irish Museum of Modern Art. We visited it after we went to see Kilmainham Gaol – since the two are right across the street from one another. In hindsight, we needed more time to explore this museum. There are several exhibition areas allowing you to experience contemporary art, and these change every few months or so. Give yourself at least a few hours to walk around, plus the onsite cafe downstairs serves up pretty good food if you get a bit hungry.

Pearse Museum

We learnt about Patrick Pearse when we did the cemetery tour at Glasnevin Cemetery. Patrick Pearse had quite an interesting life. He was first an educationalist, who believed there was more to education than just focusing on exams and tests. But he is more commonly remembered as a nationalist who was executed for his part in the 1916 Rising. The museum is a story about his life, as well as his brother William, and I found it a very interesting place to visit. It is also where Robert Emmet’s execution block is on display.

James Joyce Tower & Museum

This was one of the first museums we visited, and it is in Dun Laoghaire. The museum is free to visit, and as museum’s go – it is small. I mostly enjoyed getting to see what the inside of a Martello tower looks like. The British built 50 Martello towers along the Irish coastline as part of their defense against Napoleon. It is about as tall as two floors and has a tiny staircase inside that winds it’s way to the top. The view at the top of the tower is a real treat. On a clear day you can see Howth.

Science Gallery

Where science and art collide – this museum has a new exhibition every 4 months. It is a small space, that offers visitors an interactive and thought provoking journey combining science and facts with art and creativity. We went a few months ago to the ‘Humans need not apply’ display which talked about the current progress artificial intelligence has made, along with what the future could look like as AI evolves and grows. I enjoyed the exhibition space, and it was small enough to navigate and explore within a few hours, and still leave time to explore other parts of Dublin on the same day.

Chester Beatty Library

Don’t let the name confuse you, this is no ordinary library. It is described by Lonely Planet to not just be the best museum in Dublin but one of the best in Europe. The library is free to visit, and holds things like manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and decorative arts. It is behind Dublin Castle, next to the Dublin memorial garden -which is perfect for a coffee and chat while taking in the garden view.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUM TO VISIT?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

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The best way to see the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway in one day

November 7, 2017 by Meg 3 Comments

A couple of months ago we took the Finn McCools bus tour up to Northern Ireland. We loved the tour so much, we decided to use the same touring company to explore the west coast of Ireland, mainly to see the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are on every ‘Must -see’ list when visiting Ireland. Since we have nearly been in ireland for a year, it seemed crazy that we had not yet gone across and ticked that off our list. I know bus tours go against most avid travel bloggers code of authentic tourist travel, but I honestly think that what is most important is choosing the right bus tour to take. We don’t yet own a car, and so it makes it a bit of a challenge to rely on public transport to get to these places. It’s easy enough to get from Dublin to Galway on a bus, but getting out in the country and having the flexibility to stop at the various sight-seeing spots is not so feasible when you are using public transport alone. If we had a car, then for sure I think taking it slow and driving it would be a great way to explore Ireland. But the great thing that tour busses offer is that they give you extra info as they drive you through to the various spots, and you can go and see them all within one day because your time is managed for you.

Here is a comprehensive list of what to expect if you take the Dublin to Cliffs of Moher trip with Finn McCools:

The only way you get to fit so much into one day, is if the bus takes off from Dublin early, at 7am sharp. So it’s an early wake up call. I recommend doing it on a day where you don’t have an early start the following day because it is a long day!

#ProBusTip: If you arrive early you can pick the best seats, plus the Finn McCool team offer free tea and coffee that you can grab before getting on the bus.

Because you are travelling from the east coast to the west coast of Ireland, the tour does a good job of breaking up the drive by stopping a few times along the way. The first stop is a quick stop to give you a chance to grab some food and use the bathroom.

#ProBusTip: Bring a picnic lunch from home – will save you cash, plus it’s hungry work travelling on a bus all day – pack extra snacks!

The next stop is a stop that is not offered by other bus tours, you get 30 minute photo stop at Kilmacduagh Monastery. The 11th century monastery ruins are nestled in the countryside of Ireland, and I loved the windy roads we travelled to get there.

It was also an opportunity to see another round tower. There are over 100 round towers dotted all over Ireland. The were built in the 12th century, and it is unclear on their purpose. They were built to be tall and skinny, and some think the reason for them was so that monks could climb in and hide during the viking raids. Others think that perhaps they were used as bell towers. No one really knows for sure, and since we moved to Ireland, I have become strangely fascinated in visiting all of them. There are over 50 that are still standing tall to this day.

So far we have seen 3 of them: one close to home in Clondalkin (interesting exhibition that really tells you a lot more about them plus you can visit the Happy Pear vegan restaurant and store), the other in Glendalough, and now this one here in Kilmacduagh.

Sometimes you can pay good money to take a tour bus all the way to the other side of Ireland to see the iconic Cliffs of Moher, only for the weather to screw up your plans. But if you go with it and enjoy yourself anyways, you could watch the mist clear and your view gets better with time. A symbol for what life is like perhaps? – – – – #discoverireland #ireland #irishlife #luckoftheirish #irishblogger #Eire #irelanddaily #irelandgram #instaireland #visitireland #tourismireland #wanderireland #irishpassion #cliffsofmoher #mohercliffs #westireland #wildatlanticway #westcoastireland #thebestisyettocome #goodthingscometothosewhowait #livinginthemoment #simpleliving #slowtravel #slowtraveller #traveltuesday #tuesdaytravel #traveltips #traveltiptuesday

A post shared by Meg | Minimalism & Slow Travel (@thisisus_living) on Oct 31, 2017 at 1:10am PDT

The next stop was to see the iconic Cliffs of Moher! Unfortunately the day we went it was a bit misty, but the stop was over 1.5 hours, and thankfully the mist lifted and we were able to still catch a glimpse of the cliffs in all their splendor. We walked along the cliffs, and then walked the other way so that we could get a better view of them. There is a small restaurant and an exhibition area at the visitors center. But I think the best thing to do at the Cliffs of Moher is to actually get out there and walk along them and see them with your own eyes. But don’t be too risky – we saw people jumping over the barriers to get the perfect selfie. In wet and windy weather, you are putting your life at unnecessary risk, not to mention there are signs everywhere telling you not to do it!

#ProBusTip: entry to the Cliffs of Moher is included in the price of the bus tour!

After the Cliffs of Moher, you get to travel along the wild atlantic way. This part of the tour is really picturesque and on a clear day you can see the aran islands.

We did a quick photo stop at the Burren, where you can see the Cliffs of Moher is the far distance. The Burren is a part of Ireland that looks nothing like the rest of Ireland. It is a huge area of hard limestone rock that looks like you are walking on the moon. Just be careful walking along the edge, it is a sheer drop!

After this stop, we headed to the last stop, Galway City. Galway has been high on our list to get to. Rob stayed there as a student over 10 years ago, so he was keen to show me around this town he called home for a few months. I have to say that an hour is not nearly enough time to see everything Galway has to offer, so we decided to spend the time wisely by heading to a local pub and grabbing a pint. Perhaps we have been here too long – sitting in a pub feels like home. 🙂

We left Galway at 4:30pm, and then made the long trip back home. It was a long way back home, I almost think the trip requires another rest stop. We arrived back in Dublin at 8pm. A bus tour is a great way to get out and see a lot in a short time, but I definitely think it will be worth going back and seeing things a bit more slowly on our own.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE CLIFFS OF MOHER? HOW DID YOU TRAVEL THERE – BY BUS OR BY CAR?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

Reasons to love Dublin in December, plus free festive things to do

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR CHRISTMAS THAT DOESN’T BREAK THE BANK?

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

Unexpected Costs To Account For As An Expat Moving To Ireland

LOOKING TO MOVE TO IRELAND, WHAT INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COVER IN THE NEXT POST ABOUT LIVING ABROAD?

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

A Guide On What To Expect At The 9 FREE Museums In Dublin

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUM TO VISIT?

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

The best way to see the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Galway in one day

HAVE YOU SEEN THE CLIFFS OF MOHER? HOW DID YOU TRAVEL THERE – BY BUS OR BY CAR?

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

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WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR CHRISTMAS THAT DOESN’T BREAK THE BANK?

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

LOOKING TO MOVE TO IRELAND, WHAT INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COVER IN THE NEXT POST ABOUT LIVING ABROAD?

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUM TO VISIT?

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HAVE YOU SEEN THE CLIFFS OF MOHER? HOW DID YOU TRAVEL THERE – BY BUS OR BY CAR?

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