Dublin was the first stop on my most recent trip to Ireland, giving me a chance to stay at The Merrion hotel.  The hotel is in a great location – a few doors down from the National Gallery and a short walk from the shops and pubs surrounding St. Stephen’s Green.  The hotel was created from three adjoining Georgian townhouses, and the elegance of the original buildings translates beautifully into The Merrion.  After settling in at the hotel, I ventured out into Dublin.  Everyone seemed to be out and about despite surprisingly cold weather and even a little snow, and there were flowers to be seen everywhere.  After braving the cold in the city, it was lovely to return to tea at The Merrion.  Over tea, I was able to reconnect with Katie Farrell, the Sales Manager at the hotel, whom I had not seen since travel week in Las Vegas, and Gavin Powers the Assistant Hotel Manager, who was extremely instrumental in setting up some special activities for clients of mine who are visiting this June.  While I sat talking with them by a turf fire, I looked out onto the courtyard garden, which was beautiful with a dusting of snow.  Presiding over the garden is a single statue of James Joyce, reminding one of Dublin’s rich literary tradition.  Dinner that night was at a nearby pub, Matt the Thresher, where I was again fortunate enough to be seated next to the fireplace.  Like everything I experienced in Dublin, the atmosphere at the pub was warm and inviting – and I had a great meal besides.  Unfortunately, I had only one day in Dublin before I needed to head southwest.