Skip to main content

Dublin, Day 3

Today we triumphed over the Luas. We have moved from being the kind of people who buy individual tickets to the kind of people who have a refillable card. More importantly, we figured out how to buy the refillable card on our own. So, in our best we're-not-Americans kind of way, we tapped our Leap cards and waltzed onto the Luas. Shit, we were even facing the right way today. Peyton wanted me to share the great fabric on the seats. I'm not sure what the buildings are--famous Irish buildings?
Because neither of us has what you might call a commute (I walk to work and am behind my desk in roughly 15 minutes and Peyton works about two miles away), we've been consistently underestimating the time it's going to take us to get into the city. After a through consultation with Google Maps, we determined that the fastest way to the Guinness Storehouse was to take the Luas (12 minutes walk to the stop, 22 minute ride to the City Centre) and then walk an additional 25 minutes. We gave ourselves an hour and a half to make the journey and there was no lollygagging on the way. For you city folks, this is probably an unremarkable trip. For us country mice, it was a trek--our FitBits have been blowing up! But, we made it to the Guinness Storehouse with time to spare. We checked to get out Connoiseur Tickets (very fancy, very elite!) and settled in for the tour. God, we love a tour. 
In terms of tours, this one is really geared for the fully tourist experience--there's some science, but there's more presentation. It's sort of a disney-esque kind of display that includes talking portraits, giant waterfalls, and stops on each floor for refreshments (beer, beer, beer). What was great about our tour is that we had a private tasting and a chance to pour our own beers. Here are a few photos of the room that the rest of the tourist hoards had to stay out of.
 Here's Peyton two pints into the tasting looking very privileged with his connoisseur lanyard.
 Look at that technique!
 I took the beer pouring business very seriously.
 Beers before they've been topped off.
 My perfect specimen.
 For those of you who have been counting, we're now up to 3 pints of been in a 1 1/2 hour tour. This is about 2 pints more than I would typically drink in a similar time span. And, we still had one additional free beer coming to us. Before we had another sip of anything, we had to eat. So, we flopped into a restaurant and tried to sober up.
 Post lunch, we decided to join the tour of the commoners (wink), and that was nice too. We're particularly drawn to the advertising.
 At the rate we're drinking Guinness, we could give Superman a run for his money.
 Still drinking...
 Unfortunately, this photo doesn't capture the fact that this fish is actually peddling the bike.
Our last Guinness was consumed at the top of the storehouse in a 360 degree clear glass bar/viewing room. This place was arsehole to elbow chock full of people. It was also about 85 degrees and smelled of old beer, old and new sweat, and breath. We stuck around long enough to take a few photos and then headed downstairs to drink our beer in peace.
When we finally emerged from the tour we were exhausted--what time was it? What else could we do? How did we get so drunk!?!
Things started looking up though when I saw this sign. Won't someone think about the children!?! Pick up your g.d. dog shit!
 Then, I saw this sleepy kitty sunbathing herself and I started to really perk up!
 My understanding of craic is limited, but I am fluent in cookie
 Every now and then you stumble upon a giant cathedral.
After Guinness, we headed over to Christ Church Cathedral. Yes, I wanted to see this amazingly old cathedral, but I really had my heart set on seeing this mummified cat and mouse. The story goes that they got caught up in the church organ. Here's a few churchy photos before we get on to the good stuff.
 I really loved the skull and cross bone detail of this crypt.
 Finally, the good stuff.
After so much walking around, we finally landed at our last destination--the Irish Whiskey Museum. I was too tired and had so much drinking ahead of me, that I didn't take any other photos. But, here is one last picture of Peyton enjoying a proper cuppa. The rest of the day involved drinking Irish whiskey, marveling at the differences in the kinds of tourists in the world, eating a truly enormous dinner at O'Neills Bar, and making friends with a New Zealander named Darcy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dublin, Day 2

After sleeping nearly 12 hours, we emerged from our warm cocoon and into the arms of this adorable child who is still waving her little American flag. Actually, moments before this she was sobbing because her mother was leaving for work. But, as I always say, there's nothing that an American flag can't fix (#sarcasm).  Figuring out new mass transit systems is always a challenge. I remember riding the subway in Munich for days without paying because we could never figure out how to buy tickets (in the days before the Internet). According to Eleanor, we're probably the only Americans who have ever taken the Luas from Stillorgan . But, conquer the Luas we did and in the process we learned several things: 1) try to sit so that you're not traveling through the country backwards 2) try to both see and listen to the stop names (said in English and Irish--the first in an accent we're struggling with and the second in a language that is utterly befuddling) and 3) move ou...
1 comment
Read more

Dublin, Day 1

While domestic flights will provide you a small glimpse into what makes human beings both delightful and horrific (sweat pants, 20 carryons, various kinds of drunken businessmen), the international flight is better. Peyton and I often lament about Americans, but we really shine when crammed into an Air Bus 330 and then forced to breath each others' air for eight or more hours. However, it turns out that the cure of exhaustion and jet lag to to be met at the house by an adorable Irish child. To ratchet up the cuteness a notch, add an American flag.  After a giant Irish brunch, Peyton, Eleanor (friend of 20 years and local Irish host extraordinaire), and I headed out to Dalkey--an adorable seaside town about 12 miles south of Dublin. Eleanor lured me in by announcing that there was a 10th Century cemetery at Dalkey Castle --that's all I needed to hear.    Once we arrived at Dalkey Castle, Eleanor bought us tickets for the medieval tour. Moments later, we were o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lisdoonvarna to Dublin to Belfast, Days 8 & 9

Our last morning in Lisdoonvarna and one last morning walk before a long drive back to Dublin. All around our rental house were a variety of sweet kitties--this one was peeping at us from the neighbor's yard.  On our way to Dublin we stopped for lunch at the Barack Obama Plaza . This place had the two of us in stitches! Apparently, Obama has roots in Moneygall, which is where the plaza is located. Given the often divisive conversations in the U.S. about the role of the president, it's such an odd experience to witness another country loving our president so much. If Trump gets elected, I can't imagine him getting his own plaza anywhere except maybe Russia or North Korea. Once we got home, Peyton and I sent Eleanor and Dermot out for a date night, and we got delicious Indian take away and stayed home with the girls. The next morning we were up bright and early for a 7:00 a.m. pick up in Dublin for our all-day tour of Northern Ireland. Belfast is a couple hour...
1 comment
Read more