Good Times in Dublin

We just got back from spending a couple of days in Dublin, Ireland and had a terrific time.


Dublin is gritty, feisty and full of life! The city looks tired but there is a strong energy that burbles out of its faded buildings.


Dubliners are friendly, helpful and HILARIOUS! I could not get enough of them!

From the sweet waitress in the pub who made me a sandwich with her own hands, to the hotel clerk who hugged us when we checked out, to the guide on our 'splash tour' whose running commentary kept us in stitches, to the server at the Jamieson Distillery who was a stand-up comedian, to the tour guide who offered us a piece of his chocolate bar as we waited for the bus on the sidewalk. I loved them all.


Our flight to Dublin was early and we had to be at the Bristol airport at 6:00am. That meant getting up at 4:15am! (Whoever is booking these early morning flights can you please stop now, thank you.)


Our first order of business was to find breakfast. I had heard about Slattery's from Anthony Bourdain's TV show 'The Layover' so we walked there. It was the first time I've had a beer with my bacon, eggs and blood pudding. Not a bad combination!





We then hopped on an open air bus to get a tour of the city and a lay of the land.


Our upbeat energy didn't last long. After the bus tour, we found a patch of grass in Saint Patrick Cathedral's park and caught 40 winks. (Thank goodness people are allowed on the grass in Dublin's parks, unlike some cities I know...PARIS!)


Feeling refreshed from our impromptu nap we carried on. We grabbed a bite to eat and went in search of the apartment we had rented. We walked across town and found it. The apartment wasn't in the greatest neighbourhood, but we figured it would be fine because we'd only be there to sleep.

Joe had made arrangements for someone to meet us there at 4:00pm. For the first time in our travelling history we experienced a glitch. Whoever was to meet us never showed up! We waited on the sidewalk from 4:00pm-6:00pm very tired and very hungry.


Joe sent the property managers a few messages but received no answer. We hailed a taxi and got dropped at The Hilton. Best decision we ever made.

The next couple of days were full of sight-seeing.

We went to the Guinness Storehouse where we learned how to pour a glass of Guinness. We met a couple of guys from Winnipeg and we drank our perfectly poured pints with them.








We visited Kilmainham Gaol and learned some of Dublin's tragic history.





While Joe and Kevin toured the Jameison Distillery, Chrissy and I took the 'Viking Splash Tour'. I never realized Vikings played a role in Dublin's early history.


We were given plastic helmets to wear, encouraged to yell at the people on the sidewalks in angry Viking voices, and learned interesting facts about the city as we drove on land and sailed through water. Like I said earlier, the guy driving the bus and providing the commentary was F-U-N-N-Y!





At one point, the driver yelled to us, "Who here is a Chelsea supporter?" Before anyone could answer we heard a shout from from the sidewalk. "I am!" The next thing we knew, our driver had tossed this man a complimentary Viking helmet.


We went to Saint Patrick's cathedral.


I toured Trinity College where I saw the Book of Kells (800 A.D.) and visited the Long Room in the Old Library. Molly would have LOVED it.


We roamed Temple Bar at night. Lots of people, lots of buskers, lots of music, lots of laughter.








Thank you, Dublin. You are a great city. We had a lot of fun within your walls. We will definitely be back.

*As always, please click on the photos to enlarge them.