DART Destination: Malahide

Malahide combines exactly what I need on a day off: tranquility, an infinity of pale sandy shores (with real sand instead of pebbles), History and a quaint village for that small town vibe we sometimes oddly long for. The rows of pastel-coloured houses reminded me of Notting Hill, only there weren't any tourists taking photos of them. From fancy eateries to cute bakeries, and a few drool-inducing crabshacks, I fell in love with this place right away.

Malahide Beach is a little peace of coastal Heaven where you can walk for ages until you reach Portmarnock, another scenic stretch of sand. There's something about the crackling of broken shells as we step on them, the seaside wind, the sun reflected on the cold water, the smell of wet seaweed... Maybe it brings back some memories from home or from a long lost Summer. You see, when the sun shines in Ireland, magic happens. Sky and sea suddenly become bright blue instead of the usual shades of monochromatic grey (or brownish taupe - I've seen some swampy marinas). Lambay Island can be seen in the distance, with its own private harbour, seals, wallabies and a herd of fallow deer. Yeah, that's right, it's a private island.

Malahide is the perfect place to go for both sand castles and real castles. The castle itself looks quite Game of Thrones-esque actually. There are kids and dogs everywhere, however, peace is not easily disturbed. Me and Ana strolled around the gardens, admiring the emerald foliage and not in a hurry to go back home just yet. Me in my Wes Anderson-inspired outfit, eating marshmallow ice cream like a swine, how I wished to pause those moments so I could enjoy them in slow motion whenever I wanted. Inhaling the iodine breeze, contemplating a neverending seascape, absorbing hundreds of green and blue hues... Well, I can always go back there on a sunny afternoon.