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.