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Published: March 31st 2011
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Lock her up
Right before this she was being a real fuss. We planned out the night before all that we wanted to see and get done. Since we didn’t get as much done the day before we set out early with a plan. We took a taxi to Kilmainham Gaol – numerous people had said it was a must see and from all of the research I did, we knew we wanted to go there. We got there a little early for the tour and had time to look around the museum – I think you are meant to look around the museum after the tour, but we thought it was so helpful to know a little bit about the gaol before we did the tour. Our tour guide was Ciarain was the best, most friendly Irish man we have yet to come across. He was so kind to Zoe, who was not thrilled to be on a tour, especially at the quite parts – and for those of you who haven’t spent time in a jail, apparently voices really carry there…but he was so kind and didn’t even mind. He even made sweet comments to the entire group of 50 about how lovely Zoe was. If at all possible for
anyone planning to go the Kilmainham, try to get into Ciarains’ group.
Next stop on the list, we were both beyond thrilled for, Jameson Distillery. It was after noon and all so we figured what better way to celebrate that then a nice little whiskey tour. We took the hop on hop off over there and got ready for the tour. Now we knew that you wanted to be a chosen person, the chosen ones get to be tasters and get extra whiskey. When the tour guide Jean asked for four women to be tasters I was a little nervous to do it, but Chris encouraged me to be brave and do it, so I did! The tour was great, very informative I learned a lot about whiskey, for example that the age the whiskey in “used” for lack of a better term barrels from Kentucky which previously housed wild turkey. Very interesting. Anyway, so at the end of the tour I was a taster – they even gave Zoe her own juice, very accommodating to the little one. I have decided scotch whiskey is atrocious and should not be consumed. Jameson is still my go to. After
a little buzz we decided to hit the Dublin Writers Museum – which was a bust. Worst museum ever, 15 Euros to look at books that were written by lesser known Irish writers. I was completely disappointed and my whiskey buzz was ruined. From there we walked to the General Post Office to get a closer look at the bullet holes. This city has so much history to it; I guess that is what 1000 years of existence will do. From there we walked through the middle of O’Connell Street which is much nicer during the day and looked at all of the statues and the Dublin Spire.
Next up Trinity College. This is one of the stops that aside from Jameson I was really looking forward to. The book of Kells was very interesting, but what I really wanted to see and smell, was the Long Room. Just as I had hoped it was amazing. The smell, I wish could be bottled. It is just amazing to think of all of these books in such a lovely space. Not to mention I have hung a poster of the Long Room in my dorm room and classrooms since I don’t
know 1998. This made up for the lame Dublin Writers Museum.
Next stop, Museum of Archeology, which closed at 5, we had about 45 minutes to see it all – which we did. It had so many neat things; I loved and was grossed out all at the same time by the bog people. I am very glad to know that there is no chance I will ever come across a bog person in my peat fields. We also saw all of the Irish gold and different artifacts from the Hill of Tara which we go explore next week. Great stop, we really enjoyed seeing all of the artifacts.
For dinner tonight we went to the Porterhouse. I was pumped, since back home Chris buys me bottles of the Porterhouse Red for a whopping $5 a piece. So to be there and get it from the tap was great. It is a neat pub, one of the cab drivers said it has crazy beer and fancy pints. I am a big time fan though. The food was also great. On Thursday night and I believe Friday night all of the shops have a late night…apparently the locals all come
out for this to get their groceries and other goods. For the past two days we’ve been walking past this cute dress shop called Oasis and tonight they were open so we went it and I found two fantastic dresses.
One more beer was needed before we called it a night, our last night in Dublin, so we headed to the oldest pub in Dublin – the Brazen Head. This bar has been opened and serving the locals since 1198, James Joyce even had a pint there. It didn’t disappoint. We walked back through the Temple Bar area along to a Tesco where I purchased a bag of flour to make Irish brown bread…I am hoping the TSA doesn’t confiscate or destroy it since it’s hard to get in the states.
Tomorrow starts our touring of Ireland…should be fun.
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