My flight landed at Dublin International Airport around 8 am. It was just a hop, skip and a jump from London (45 mins to be exact). After waiting at border control for about 30 minutes, the immigration officer stamped my passport, and I was on my way. Taking a shuttle bus into the center city, I made sure to get front and center. Completely forgetting about the historic vote for repealing the 8th Amendment in the Republic of Ireland. The streets were painted in political posters and the atmosphere was tense during this time in Dublin. Putting political opinions and morals aside, my bus dropped me off at the Connolly Bridge. Where my walk was only 5 minutes from my hostel. I checked into the Ashfield Hostel and placed my bags in the luggage lock. I walked around for the rest of the day checking out the sites. I compiled a list of sites and places that I wanted to see during my first day in Dublin and here are my recommendations to see while in Dublin (which I was able to fit this all in a day's walk):
1. The Temple Bar 2. The Irish Rock and Roll Museum 3. Ha'Penny Bridge 4. Dublin Castle 5. St. Patrick's Cathedral & Park 6. Trinity College - Book of Kells & the Old Library 7. Grafton Street 8. St. Stephens Green 9. Christ Church Cathedral with the Viking Burial Plot 10. The Irish Whiskey Museum 11. National Leprechaun Museum 12. Brazenhead Pub 13. Guinness Brewery Tour 14. Old Jameson Distillery
Things I did not get to see but will at a later date:
1. National History Museum of Ireland 2. Phoenix Park 3. Botanical Gardens 4. St. Michan's Church (for all of those who are a fan of the macabre) 5. Kilmainham Gaol
Day 2 started early, with a guided bus tour with Rover Tours in Dublin to see the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren National Park, the Atlantic Coastway and Galway. We stopped at a gas station between Dublin and Limerick. It was called the "Barack Obama Plaza," and it was wonderfully tributed to the President of the United States. When the President visited the Republic of Ireland in 2011, the Irish did as what everyone would do, name a gas station plaza after him. During the 2008 caucus saying, “There’s a little village in Ireland where my great-great-great-great grandfather came from… I’m looking forward to going there and having a pint.” Finding even a slight ounce of Irish in the newly elected president, the residents of Moneygall were enlightened. And I guess you can say that the rest is history.
What truly resonated with me, is that how proud the Irish are of their roots and even if Barack Obama may only be 1/8th or even 1/16th Irish they were just as proud to call him their own. That is what I loved about this country. The pride and the history for struggling to gain independence from the Brits. You can see it throughout the entire country. I got off track for a second... Anyways we stopped for some pictures at the Barack Obama Plaza and were on our way. Driving past Limerick, we got off the highway and started driving along the country road. It was picturesque and idyllic. The fog began to get heavier as we approached the Cliffs and the optimist within myself was hoping that it would clear by the time we arrived. It did not. However, it was still a fantastic experience, and I was able to walk along the foggy path and hear the ocean crash against the cliffs. Returning inside to the museum you can watch a movie about how these cliffs were formed and even find your ancestors at the gift shop.
We promptly left (after all no one was able to see through the fog) and was on our way to the Burren National Park. It was like another world, it looked utterly foreign. Its the world's largest glacial era limestone forest. It seemed almost like a lunar landscape. Being careful not to fall, I walked along the scene taking in the ocean and the breeze. 30 minutes later we were back on the road going down the Atlantic coast with our tour guide on high spirits (trying to cheer us up from the Cliffs). He was wonderfully Irish from head to toe, every other word he spoke was the Gaelic word 'Craic.' It was delightfully catchy. Driving down the Atlantic Coast, we saw the world's smallest castle and finally reached our last stop of the day: Galway.
Galway was a miniature version of Dublin, charming and beautiful. All day I had Ed Sheeran's song 'Galway Girl' stuck in my head, so it fits that we played it into the city. I made acquaintances with another American expat studying abroad. We all screamed when the driver turned up the volume while driving through the tiny city streets. Our tour guide gave us 2 hours to explore Galway before heading back to Dublin. I wandered around the streets watch street performers and vendors. And worked up myself an appetite. As any daughter of an Irishman, I got myself some Fish and Chips from McDonagh's. It was by far the best fish and chips I have had this year (London I am sorry, but its the truth). After devouring my meal, I wandered around some sweater and ring shops. Looking to buy me a traditional Irish Ring. I looked at the historic Claddagh rings (the hands, heart, and crown) but the merchant told me that someone else has to buy you the ring. Superstition is said that it's bad luck to purchase it for yourself and being a ridiculous human being that I am, I bough an Irish Marble ring that hosts a beautiful Celtic triad around both sides.
My 2 hours were up in Galway, and I made my way back to the tour bus. It was a long 2-hour drive back into the city and the majority of the way home I slept or kept falling in and out of sleep. Once we arrived back at our destination, we decided to partake in a Guinness beer at the pub across the street. What seemed like the longest day turned into the shortest day as we drank and talked about our own travel experiences and stories. Day 2 was one for the books.
The final day in Dublin, I woke up with a dry mouth and a bit of a headache (maybe downing 3 Guinness on an empty stomach wasn't the best idea). But I rolled out of bed and packed my items for my train trip to Belfast. Before Belfast, I had two final places to stop by the Guinness Brewery and Jameson's Distillery. The hair of the dog, my Dad, would always say. So I go on the self-guided tour, and the Brewery is astonishing. With 4 to 5 floors of exhibits and the brewing process, it was incredibly detailed. I arrived at the 'How to properly pour a Guinness" station and enjoyed my free pint. While waiting for an employee came up to me and ask if I would like this second Guinness because someone wanted to pour but apparently did not want to drink at 11 in the morning. The HORROR! I know. I let the woman know that I would delightfully take this beer off her hands and downed my second one of the day. "Lauren, it's only 11 am," said my inner self-conscious but drunk Lauren did not want any of her judgments so she decided to shove that voice deep down and continue on her drinking tour. After a quarter of the day was spent at the brewery, I decided to walk it off to the Jameson Distillery. I chose my best choice was to just take some photos and head back to my hostel to collect my backpack. After picking up my luggage, I made my way to the Connolly Station to head north of the border. It was a fantastic 3 days spent in Dublin, and it won't be my last. Hopefully, I can return and possibly find work and live out the rest of my days in the Irish countryside. A girl can dream, can't she?
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