Our flight on Aer Lingus gave us the perfect excuse to stopover for the night in Ireland - a country high on Greg's list! Although it was non-stop and arrived early, and we all managed to grab stints of shut-eye, the flight was still exhausting. I was both disturbed and disappointed as I walked off the plane with the realization I had no energy to traipse around Dublin for the day - a thought I banished as quickly as I had it.
We mutually decided that tour guide mom was the best option for the day - allowing us to see the sites at our own pace, and make necessary stops for food and Guinness. At the Saturday Food Market, with stalls offering a selection of local delights, we tried cronuts (merge of croissant and donut with filling) and Paddy Jack sandwiches.
The Saturday Food Market is near Ha'Penny Bridge, one of Dublin's best known landmarks
Finally after being on Irish soil for over 2 hours, we randomly picked one of the 666 licensed Dublin pubs to sample perfectly poured pints of Guinness - worth the trip alone!
Afterwards, at Dublin Castle, we nearly died laughing when Chris, focused on taking pictures and obviously feeling the beer's effects, obliviously ran straight into me. "I didn't know you were that close - from the lens it looks like you're far away."
The perfect pour
Afterwards, at Dublin Castle, we nearly died laughing when Chris, focused on taking pictures and obviously feeling the beer's effects, obliviously ran straight into me. "I didn't know you were that close - from the lens it looks like you're far away."
Dublin Castle
We walked out to the Guinness factory which has a fascinating history. Its St. James Gate was an entrance to Dublin during the Middle Ages as well as the traditional starting point for the Dublin pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago (still high on our list). Guinness leased the water rights for 9000 years for $90 a year.
St. James Gate - the entry to Dublin in the Middle Ages
Greg loves fish and chips so we tried Leo Burdock's version. After scarfing down the whole thing he decided, "It's ok, but I still think the best place is in Folsom."
Arriving at St Patrick's cathedral, the shaded grass of its park beckoned us to sit down and join the locals relaxing there; we obliged. Greg was snoring the minute his head hit the grass, literally!
St. Patrick's Cathedral and its inviting lawn
For dinner we found a pub in Temple Bar, where we were treated to delicious Irish food and live Irish music - including an unexpected Irish stepdance performance. Looking around the room full of people enjoying themselves, I recognized that the scene was so different than anything we have experienced back home. When they started singing Whiskey in the Jar, Jeremy announced he could play it - "It's like my favorite Irish song!"
Temple Bar has preserved its medieval street pattern, with narrow cobbled streets. Full of pubs, clubs restaurants and cafes, it’s the liveliest area in Dublin and a great place to spend the day or the evening.
Old Storehouse Bar - a traditional Irish bar and restaurant in Temple Bar
At that point, we were all exhausted and despite sitting on bar stools and listening to the loud music, Greg and Chris could hardly keep their eyes open. It was absolutely time to call it a day!
I discovered today Jeremy's motivator behind his willingness to partake in another long trip to Europe. No, he didn't break up with his long-time girlfriend. No, it's not his love for being the legal drinking age (though after today, you would be hard to convince otherwise). He was in no hurry to get home to his hard, manual labor, full time summer job!! Oh man, I wish I had the forethought to know that last time!
A rundown of sights we saw today (we didn't go in any):
- O'Connell Bridge, Daniel O'Connell monument, the Millennium Spire
- Ha'Penny Bridge
- Temple Bar (area)
- Dublin Castle
- Christ Church Cathedral
- Guinness - St. James Gate
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Grafton Street
- And tomorrow: St.Stephen's Green and Trinity College
