Hey All,
So in my usual style, I didn’t update after Dublin. It’s been a while. In the course of a weeks, I’ve flown to and fro Dublin, gone to Windsor Castle, toured Westminster Abbey, and stood at a play at the Globe Theater. With stuff in between of course.
So, Thursday, I was up at 5 am so that I could be at the airport by 7 am. It was a 45 minute tube ride to Heathrow. So after a long ride, with me trying not to fall asleep, I got to the airport terminal. Then had to walk around a mile to actually get to the check-in. Between the walking, the stairs, the escalators, and the moving sidewalks, it was an ungodly walk to check-in. It was ridiculous…. and then my parents weren’t even there yet. They ended up getting there like 10-15 minutes later, but when you’re alond and trying to stay awake, they’re very long minutes.
The flight to Ireland was about 50 minutes, which was a nice short flight, thank god. I don’t think I would’ve lasted through a long flight. So, we get there, grab our bags, and step outside, and go “Now how do we get to our hotel?” Oh, we take the 747 bus (which there was like 4 of). We jump on one, and then go “When do we get off?” Andwhat was the answer? “I have no idea,” from my Dad. We get off at this random stop, and realize we’re at the wrong stop… it was the next one we wanted. So we end up walking in this HUGE circle, trying to find landmarks on a map that doesn’t even have our hotel’s street on it. It took us a little while and a few too many blocks to find it.
As we headed down the street once we found it, there was an obnoxiously long line that came out of our hotel, went down the street (about 1/2-3/4 of a block) and around the corner, going so far down that street we lost sight of the line. We asked the lady at the hotel why were so many people lined up, and know what her reply was? “To see me,” and we’re like really, we’re being completely serious, and you give us this smart ass answer? It bothered me. And then, my parents seemed to refuse to ask anyone else. I think it was a movie being shot though, looking for extras. There was some remark to John Cusak, so thats what my mind jumped to.
What happened next? We ended up on a touring bus for 10 minutes, got 4 blocks, got off, and then got lost. We just couldn’t take the traffic anymore, so we got off. And of course my Dad thinks he knows where he’s going, but he didn’t and (of course) refused to ask directions. We ended up walking through an area that looked like Philly… and not in a good way. But we finally made it to the Guinness Brewery, the same time the bus we were on did.
At the brewery, we had lunch (one of the best we had there) and took the tour. It was kind of lame, not gonna lie. It was self-guided and boring. It was like “oh look at this waterfall. We use water to help make the beer,” or “This is how we transport the beer,” or “Read a wall with the history of the Guinness Brewery on it!” The best part was the free beer at the top (although I found that I’m more of a can/bottle person than a draught) and the view of the whole city. Of course we bought plenty of souveniers.
After the brewery tour, we got back on the bus and rode it around town, listening to a guide spout information about random buildings that we passed in the city. We got off when we got near the Jameson distillery though. This was my favorite tour we did in Ireland. It was a guided tour that took you through the history, how it’s made, and silly random facts (like how they store it in used liquor barrels or that each worker had a nickname so that there weren’t two with the same name). At the end, we got a free Jameson and they had a tasting contest. It was pretty awesome. What wasn’t awesome, was when my Dad drank the small bottle of Jameson I got in a gift set. That pissed me off, but I’ll come back to it.
After the distillery tour, we headed to Brazen Head bar, which claims that it is the oldest bar in Dublin. It might just be, cause it takes a while to get your food that perfect. Once dinner was done, we took the long walk back to our hotel (cause the tour bus stopped running at 5:30) and relaxed the rest of the night.
On Friday, the Republic of Ireland had their Lisbon Treaty voting (if I knew exactly what it was, I’d tell you, but you’ll have to look it up– it has something to do with whether to get more involved in the EU). A lot was closed. So we awoke late, got lunch at a pub called The Celt (which I got an amazing bowl of carrot and ginger soup at) and headed out to the burbs of Dublin for Malahide Castle (in Malahide, Ireland of course). It was pretty amazing.
In order to get to the castle, we had to walk through a mile of forestry, and it was gorgeous. You could see where rivers had previously run, and it looked like a story book castle– forest, diverging paths, acres and acres around, and the stone fortress sitting among it. The castle itself was pretty breath-taking.
We got a semi-guided tour (per-say) with a guide that would meet us along the way and aske questions, but mostly it was done by an audio tour that was done over speakers that were set up in the house. It was a little weak. But I did get an awesome Ireland shirt and an even better blueberry scone.
That night we went to Gogarty bar (maybe pub?) that was bar and restaurant up above. The food was pretty good, but I lost interest in my food when it was staring back at me. I ordered prawns, and what came out took my appetite away (and I had been starving). They bring it over and on the plate is a dead prawn, that is meant to be eatten, and I was like REALLY? Do I look like I want their little eyes staring blankly at me, making me feel guilty? Do I give you a chicken plate with the feathered head on the plate? My Dad tried to make it better by sticking it on another plate and covering it with a napkin, but the damage was done, I was not getting through that whole dish. I ate half and felt like I was almost ready to barf.
After that, we walked the Temple Bar area for like 5 minutes (and realized it wasn’t our scene) and went to the Hard Rock Cafe for drinks before heading back to the hotel. Once we got to the hotel, we stopped by the bar for another drink before bed.
Saturday was ballot counting day. Dublin Castle was closed so the counting could be done there. We were very disappointed. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. That morning we woke early so we could head to the Meetinghouse Square market we’d heard about. It was about 15 tents set up with food (mostly meat and veggies). It was kind of sad, but a good place for breakfast.
Next, we headed off to Dublin Castle, which was closed. We watched as news crews gathered outside of the castle and guards patroled the court yard. Once we had walked the perimeter, we headed to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was a little too commercialized, but amazing all the same.
We spent about an hour there, mesmerized by stained glass, pointed arches, and rib-vaulted ceilings. Next, we stumbled upon Marsh’s Library, which was the first public library in Ireland. Since books were so precious, they actually caged people in so that they couldn’t steal the books. There are still cells inside the library. Unfortunately we didn’t get in though. Also, apparently Marsh’s daughter is said to haunt the library for some reason.
After that sighting, we headed over to St. Stephens Green, which is a gorgeous park in the middle of the city. It has ponds and streams, at least 5 gazebos, and seagulls. We walked that for a bit before going to TGI Fridays for food and drinks, and then headed back after. Once we had wondered that, we headed up to Trinity College and the Book of Kells. It was interesting to see all the old manuscripts, and the long room, where there are 1000 of Trinity College’s oldest books (and the original Irish Harp). Besides looking at a few hand-crafted books from before the middle ages, it wasn’t too exciting.
Then, as we headed to Temple Bar, my Dad got us lost again. Not to trump my own horn or anything, but they’d be really lost without me. My parents were ready to head in the complete opposite direction of Temple Bar. So we ended up going in this huge circle, and running into the Temple Bar (the real bar and beer garden). We had a few drinks… which was funny. I got a second drink by accident. The bartender gave it to me when he served my mom her second drink, even though I hadn’t asked for another (and wasn’t going to). Of course I drank it anyway.
After Temple Bar, we headed back to the hotel, for an early day; it was obnoxiously cold and damp out. We got back, watched some TV. When I had reached the room, minutes behind my Dad, I discovered that he had opened up my gift box from Jameson and drank my whiskey. I was livid; not only had he finished his own bottle, but he had now ingested mine too, after he had seen me debating over which whiskey to get (small bottle or box set). Then he had the gaul to pretend he didn’t know he wasn’t allowed too. His whole thing was that he’d buy me a new bottle in London. Instead, I dragged him at 9:30 am the next morning to the Jameson distillery to buy me a new one (which didn’t go according to plan). After that debacle, we went to dinner at the hotel restaurant. It was pretty good. I got salmon, but it didn’t nearly reach the high quality of the one I had at the Guinness brewery.
After dinner, we watched the new Star Trek movie in our room (which I think was a slight gesture to appease me, since I was barely talking to him). The new movie is brilliant; it sticks to the original plot, but it’s hillarious. Then we headed back to the bar for another drink before bed.
Sunday was leaving day. But as I said before, I dragged my Dad to the distillery to buy me a new bottle of whiskey at 9:30 am. He was going to buy me one in London, and I was not ok with that. There’s nothing special about Irish whiskey sold in England, but Irish whiskey directly from Ireland, that’s something different. Plus I wanted to shrink that ego down a few sizes and show him there were consequences to being an ignorant ass. Really, it’s one of those ‘how rude and ignorant can you get?’ things. I was very upset by his lack of consideration for others (especially his own family!).
So I dragged him across town (and we walked) to the distillery; we got there and it wasn’t open yet, so we sat outside in the cold for a half hour. Then, when they opened, we still couldn’t buy it. Apparently Irish law is even stricter than PA law on selling alcohol on Sundays. They couldn’t sell any whiskey until 12:30 pm, and it was only 10 am. So I got chocolates instead.
Once we got back, we had breakfast and headed off to the airport. We arrived so early (4 hours) that we couldn’t even check-in for the flight yet. So we had some drinks and coffee. Then a few hours later, we finally checked-in and headed for the terminals. Once we got through security, we walked through the shops and stopped at a pub. Then I went in search of the whiskey… and I found it! So I got my irish whiskey in Ireland after all.
The flight back was 55 minutes of turbulance pretty much. Definitely not as great as the ride over.
Sunday night when we got off the tube, we headed to my parents hotel. I was so happy to be back in London. As lame as it sounds, it feels like my town now; I feel safe and there’s just a different feeling when I’m here, like it’s a second home after only a month. I don’t feel like some tourist the cashier is mocking.
Once my parents were checked-in and settled, we went down to dinner. It was kind of lame; they had barely any vegetarian main dishes, although plenty of salads. There wasn’t even any fish, just the basic pork and ham choice. After dinner, my parents walked me back to my flat cause they were too paranoid (and I had too much stuff) to let me walk back on my own. So they met the 4 people that were in the flat this weekend (out of 15). My parents left very soon after that, and I spent the rest of the night booking hotels and flights.
Monday, my parents and I headed out early to Windsor Castle. It was absolutely amazing. We toured for about 3-4 hours, and I got a Windsor Castle shot glass to match my Buckingham Palace one I got earlier. I also got a chocolate bar and rain jacket on the behalf of my paranoid parents.
That night, I unfortunately had my Poli Com class until 8 pm. Luckily, I then met my parents at the Queen’s Arms, and got dinner on them. It was the best (and only) Lentil and Spinach burger I’ve ever gotten. I thought they’d accidently given me the wrong burger at first it was so good. We also had a few drinks before I headed back to my flat and my parents went off to their hotel. The rest of the night, I did school work.
Today, was a busy and bad weather day. It was rainy all day, and I was going from 9 am to 10 pm. First, we had Westminster Abbey at 9, then I had class at 12:30 (which I gave a presentation on radio that my professor pretty much ripped apart), then we had Lost Labour’s Love at 7:30 pm, which we stood for the 3 hour performance at the Globe Theater. So it was a busy day.
Tomorrow, I have class in the morning, and then off to the Tower of London with the parents and my one roommate. I also have pictures from this weekend, but seeing as it is 2 am, I am going to wait until tomorrow afternoon to upload them. So tomorrow they’ll be up. Then, Thursday it’s off to Scotland until Sunday night!
Hope you’ve enjoyed,
Caitlin
