Leaving for Dublin in three ... two ... one ...

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In a few hours, I'll be on board the United red eye out of Dulles International on a non-stop flight to Dublin. It’s my first trip to Ireland, and it’s going to be in and out — 48 hours in Dublin, 48 hours in London and then back home.

My girlfriend is already there. I made her promise to send me a photo once she got there. She sent me the one posted here that she snapped from inside the Dublin convention center. She left Saturday night to attend a conference all week. So that means, I’ll have most of Wednesday and Thursday to myself, while she hob nobs and networks with the lawyer crowd.

Not really sure how I’ll spend my time, other than a tour of the Guinness Storeroom (bought my ticket online last week). Granted, 48 hours is not enough time to get to know a place, so the more research I can do ahead of the time, the better. I Googled “24 hours in Dublin” to get some ideas (I know I’ll be there 48 hours, but 48 hours at my pace is like 24 hours for most people).

Most of the suggestions I saw include walking around Trinity College, visiting Dublin Castle and checking out the scene at St. Stephen’s Green. Our hotel is across from Trinity College, so it's safe to say that will make my list.

I confess that planning and keeping to itineraries is not my strong suit. That’s because I usually feel the urge for an unplanned nap. However, I do try to plan at least two parts of the day — sunrise and sunset photo shoots. To do that, I’ll usually head over to Flickr and search through images tagged “dublin” to see if anything inspires me.

Well, actually, I just did that between writing the last paragraph and this one. There are some nice fall foliage shots from St. Stephen’s Green, a nice sunrise shot of a statue on O’Connell Street of someone named Big Jim Larkin and a lot that include views of the River Liffey and the Temple Bar. I’ll have most of Wednesday to wander around scouting locations, so it will probably be something I decide at the last moment.

But the one thing I couldn’t leave to chance was dinner on Thursday night. That’s when we’re going to celebrate the girlfriend’s birthday and I’ll be in deep shite if I mess that up.

I consulted the Googles and found “10 of the best Dublin restaurants” on Ireland.com — how can you go wrong with that?

Scrolling through the list, I got to #3, a restaurant called The Pig’s Ear. Look no further, I’m sold on the name alone. Here’s the description from the article:

“No longer is Irish cuisine seen as bland and rudimentary, we’re now producing celebrity chefs who are renowned around the world, and carving our own niche in international gastronomic circles. One such chef combining traditional Irish food with modern cooking methods is Stephen McAllister, owner of The Pig’s Ear on Nassau Street ... The Pig’s Ear has made its name serving good, honest, Irish fare, and indeed was recently rewarded with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. On the menu, you’ll find interesting takes on classics like Beef ‘tongue n’ cheek’ Guinness Pie with Rosemary Roast Potatoes, or Vanilla Cheesecake with Hob Nob Biscuit & Homemade Jam.”

Done. Reservations are made. We’re there.

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Photos

Dublin
From the Dublin Convention Center.