Drinking and Hurling — Dublin, Ireland
I'm back in Dublin and set my sites on seeing the sites this Sunday. Sunday in Dublin is an interesting experience. About the only thin open besides the corner stores are churches and bars. I'm not sure what that says about the Irish, but it was about what I expected. The city was fairly sleepy as one would expect of most cities on an overcast Sunday. As I made my way from the city centre out to Heuston station by light rail, I was looking forward to a leisurely tour of some of the city's sites I hadn't taken the time to see on my first trip to Dublin. I reached Heuston and it was an entirely different experience than I had been expecting. A I previously mentioned, they were replaying the all Ireland hurling final at Croch (said croak not ****** hehe) park which is in Dublin but a ways from the city centre. The estimates of attendance were 85k, with people coming in from all over to watch. I took a picture I will include of me line for the light rail tickets. The entire city was filled with people sporting either gold and black (Kilkenny) or maroon and white (Galway). Seeing all the team spirit I decided to make an effort to make it back to the city centre to catch the match in the afternoon, but the morning was for Guinness. I trekked out to the Guinness storehouse, which if I didn't have a map and was sure it was there, I would never be able to find. The exhibits are very modern and automated, not at all as charming as the Old Jameson Distillery tour I took in Midelton. The upside? Free Guinness "tasting" as well as a voucher for a free pint at your choice of pub in the facility. I made a point to try Guinness earlier in my trip, and for someone who doesn't like beer, I really enjoyed it. So, I gladly accepted my voucher and after winding my way through the exhibits I took the elevator up the Gravity Bar which is built into a glass floor of its own at the top of the facility and boasts 360 views of Dublin (I included pics if the view). After the storehouse and a passing rain shower that left me nicely soaked, I walked my way back towards the city centre hitting some sites on the way. After all my time in the country, I'm a little disappointed to be back in a city. I easily could have toured more of the rural counties and been completely content. Live and learn. Who knew I had a hidden bumpkin in me?
