Dublin - Ireland

Well we made it to Dublin and checked into the hostel with no problems. We had dried out from the rain in London (pouring down) and were keen to hit out and see the city. Shane and Aaron were staying at Aaron's cousins house while Carly, Mathew and myself booked into a hostel. Patten finished work and meet just around the corner. From there it was straight out to Temple Bar area which is full of pubs. The first place had traditional Irish music playing and our first chance to try Guinness in Ireland......yes everything they say about Guinness in Ireland is true...it does taste better!!!!! A few lazy pints later with some good pub grub and we were off to the next bar.

Now one thing that you hear about Ireland and hope are not true are the farts! Well the next pub called Temple Bar (Same as the area) brought this crashing down to reality!!! The moment we walk in it smelt like someone had turned themselves inside out. It all has to do with the no smoking in Bars. Now that is illegal bodily functions do not slip under the radar....and this is a fact!!!!! A few more pints and sore nostrils later and we left Patten who was off home and found our way to one last bar where we felt like school teachers. Everyone in this pub looked about the same age....well lets just say I must be getting older :-(

The next day up bright and early to get in our free bacon and eggs. Not a bad breakfast but hostel staff have yet to learn what hospitality is! The three of us headed off to the main road in pursuit of a bus tour. I was all keen for the Viking tour that has a bus done up to look like a Viking Vessel and all the staff are wielding swords looking like they have had to much Guinness......well that was not to be. Instead we found a tour group that Dee (Carly's Irish Workmate from Sydney) recommended. For 13 Euro each it toured a loop telling us about the city and we could jump off and on as many times as well liked in a 24 hour period.

First Stop Off...the Guinness Brewery. This place is just like a museum, we started off reading a lot of the information then in the end just wanted to get of free pint at the top. Matt and I had lost Carly so felt the best place to meet would be the bar, she would know to look for us there. Much to our surprise as we walk in the door there is little miss Carly already with beer in hand and a cheeky smile on the face enjoying the fact that she beat us to the bar.......nice work :-) After that it was back on the bus but this time with a nice little glow on.

Next stop off was Jamison’s Whiskey distillery. Well we never got in there as our stomachs were screaming out for food. So we went to the next best thing....the oldest pub in Dublin. We managed to get the last 2 meals of Turkey before closing the food service. It was a neat little pub that had money all over the walls. It seems if you visit you write your name on some of your local currency (smallest denomination) hand it onto the bar staff and they will stick it to the wall. We had no NZ or Aussie money and there was no way we were going to put five quid on the wall!!!!!

Later that day we meet up with Shane and Aaron at the first pub we went to the night before. We all moved upstairs where the music was to start in an hour (8.30pm) that way we could get some good seats at the front. Needless to say we all had a great night drinking lots singing and clapping to the music. The singer stayed on all the way through and must have noticed us as most groups in there changed with people coming and going. As closing time approached (2am) we felt rather than get another drink being they closed in 10mins we would call it a night. Much to our surprise the lead singer called out to us 'Are you off already?', 'Yes' we all chorused back. 'Bloody light weights' he fired back with devious smile on his face.

The next few days were very much the same as the last where we spent a lot of time in pubs. Carly scored chocolate Birthday cake when we all snuck into this girls 21st (which is to say Carly helped herself to the BDay girls huge piece). Patten and I lined up in the traditional 21 kisses and got one each (Much to her surprise and ours that we got away with it). We also went out to a costal town call Brae which is just outside Dublin. Carly and I went to the Aquarium and had fun looking at the fish.

All in all Dublin is a very cool place. It is expensive but worth it. I think we need go back but then not spend as much time inside the four walls of pubs.