As the instructor, I am free to break the rules I’ve set. So I’m going to offer two favorite places, one in Dublin and one in Belfast. Both are great places to go with a cup of coffee to read the newspaper or just people watch.
In Dublin, I love St. Patrick’s Park next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a relatively quiet spot amidst the bustle of the city.
The park has green grass beautiful flowers and plenty of benches. You’ll find people reading, talking and enjoying the sun. There are also likely to be children playing. In one corner of the park, a plaque marks the spot where (according to legend) St. Patrick drew water from a well for baptisms. If you venture inside the Cathedral, you’ll find both a beautiful sanctuary and a lot of history. Among those entombed at St. Patrick’s is Jonathan Swift, author of, among many other things, Gulliver’s Travels and “A Modest Proposal.” Swift was a long time dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He was buried under the Cathedral floor, standing upright (not as a gesture of defiance, but because he was worried his body might fall in the river that flows underneath this part of Dublin).
In Belfast, I recommend Belfast City Hall. Though Belfast as a city is smaller and quieter than Dublin, the lovely green space surrounding city hall is often busier and louder than St. Patrick’s Park. City Hall is situated in the middle of the city, surrounded by streets full of small shops and restaurants. The building itself is imposing, complex and striking, with a variety of monuments and memorials of various kinds. As in St. Patrick’s Park, though, there are beautiful small gardens and, most importantly, benches — so bring your coffee and newspaper!