What up party people???
So here's what's up: My bags are pretty much packed and I'm heading out of here mañana. I'll have my last really awesome brunch (the only meal they do well here) and then grab a cab to the bus station. Then, take that bus on down to Edinburgh (nice!). In Edinburgh, I will meet up with my mom and sister! (double nice!!) I'm so stoked, neither of them have been to Europe before so that will be fun. We'll stay in Edinburgh until the 23rd then hop on over to Venice which will be legenwaitforitdary. We'll stay in Venice for about a week and then fly back to the states on the 31st. More on all that to come.
Also, it snowed here. It's really, really pretty, but my buddy Patrick's flight didn't make it out today so I'm hoping my mom and sister get in alright.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Dublin is an awesome city. The Irish are really nice. This all boils down to Ireland is awesome and I wish I'd had more time there.
So here's the skinny (why is the term "skinny"? That seems size-ist...):
I woke up Thursday morning around 8, showered and finished packing. Then I walked to campus and turned in a paper that was due Friday. Then I caught the bus. Then I walked 4 blocks to Guild St. (THE GUILD) Bus Station and caught another bus. Then I got off at the airport. Then I had to wait half an hour before I could check in because apparently the desk doesn't open until 2 hours before the flight takes off. At this point, well somewhat before this, I realized how ridiculous that I was at the airport 2.5 hours before the plane took off, but I really had no idea how long the bus would take to get there. So I waited. I finally checked in (the guy behind me was really hung over. I didn't see him on the plane...)
Now I had a 2 hour wait. I hadn't eaten anything yet, so I bought a sandwich, chips (crisps), and a coffee. All for under £6. I want to take a moment to comment on how AMAZING that is. That is cheap for food anywhere and this was in an airport. And the sandwich was awesome. Really great.
Fastforward--> Airplane to Dublin, get through customs no problem, catch the 16A to Camden. That took about 40 minutes, but at least I had a seat. I got off and had no real solid idea of where the hostel was from where I was standing. I had sort of just guessed based on a crappy map I'd picked up at the airport. The thing about the UK and apparently Ireland is that they don't really do street signs. Sometimes they'll put them up on the sides of buildings, but not always. It's actually more reliable to look at the business names around you because they're usually named after the street they're on. So I started walking. After a few blocks I asked in a coffee shop where Camden Place was. They told me back the other direction. BACK THAT WAY! Then, I FOUND MATT! He had just left the hostel to eat, so he took me back and I checked in and we found somewhere to eat.
We wandered looking for somewhere to eat. Let me tell you this: Dublin is expensive. Especially in the city centre. A meal is generally no less than 12 euros. We eventually found a pizza place and got pizza for about 5 euros.
Then we got lost. Really lost. We finally asked directions and found out we were about a 10-15 minute walk away, which is a lot farther than we started. We finally made our way back and then decided to go out. Since we didn't have a great track record so far, we went just across the street and went in here:
Turns out they had a venue upstairs where some bands would be playing. We stayed for them and the first band was just phenomenal. Three young guys with a female lead singer. She had a voice sort of like really early Gwen Stefani meets Sleater-Kinney. It was awesome. The next few bands were pretty good too, but not that great. We hung out for awhile and talked to a lot of people. The Irish are really friendly. I like them.
Friday we decided to wander around town. Walked through St. Steven Green's Park:
It's very pretty there.
We walked through the Christmas-y area where this sweet band was playing:
They were having a great time and the little kid in the Santa suit was really good. He wasn't even really paying attention either.
We eventually found our way to the National Gallery which was freakin huge. We definitely didn't even go through half the exhibits. The Yeats gallery was really nice and I liked the Scottish art through the centuries.
That night we mostly just hung out, went back to Whalen's for a little bit with Matt's three Australian roommates, but called it a night fairly early.
Saturday was the day we went to the Guinness Storehouse. We decided to walk because it wasn't far, just about 30 minutes from the hostel. We stumbled on St. Patrick's Cathedral on the way by following some tourists who looked like they were on their way somewhere. It's very impressive:
Then past Christchurch:
Also very huge. It goes on for another block or so to the left.
THEN FINALLY:
The self-guided tour was really interesting. I find that I generally prefer self-guided in places like that than guided. I have a short attention span so my mind tends to drift when people talk. I mean...uh...people other than my friends...
Anyway, once we got to the 4th floor, we got ready to pour our own pints. While we waited we talked to Mark, the guy at the door. He was very nice. He told us about a bar that stays open until 4am or so because it's where all the cops go, so they don't need to close when everyone else does. We didn't end up going, but we realized the next morning it was literally 30 seconds from our hostel door. And in this case, I really do mean literally.
PINTS AWAY:
In all seriousness, that was the best pint of beer I've ever had. The tour actually lets you know what flavours to look for when you drink it, you even get to sample the roasted barley. Tasting that really helps you bring it out when you drink the Guinness. And it was just about as fresh a pint as you can ever get. We drank them looking out over the industrial part of Dublin.
This was definitely a highlight of the trip.
After the tour, we went back and hung out at the hostel for a bit. I made some burgers for dinner and they were awesome, tell you what.
That night we went to hands down the best bar I have been to in Europe. Not that there have really been that many, but it was really great. I wish it weren't quite so far from home. It would be quite the night out. It's called the Bernard Shaw Pub. I'd read about it on Lonely Planet, but forgotten about it. That night, we were talking with the girl at the desk of the hostel when her boyfriend offered to show us to the "really awesome pub" that he worked at and had to get to. Lo and behold, it was the Bernard Shaw Pub. Coincidence or fate? Let's go with coincifate.
It was great. Live dj playing good music, lots of space in the covered sort of back patio where the music wasn't quite as loud so you could actually talk and the best part:
Pizza bus.
I'm ashamed to say I forgot my camera and thus have no pictures, hopefully Matt will put his up soon, but I'll tell you what. I want one. The bus is a double decker bus that had the seats all pulled out and tables and chairs put in. The front where the driver would sit is the kitchen area. We weren't hungry, so we didn't end up eating pizza that night, but it's my new life mission to go back. It was just the greatest. They also apparently take the bus to festivals and the sort. So awesome.
In conclusion, Ireland was a success.
Love,
Clur.
So here's the skinny (why is the term "skinny"? That seems size-ist...):
I woke up Thursday morning around 8, showered and finished packing. Then I walked to campus and turned in a paper that was due Friday. Then I caught the bus. Then I walked 4 blocks to Guild St. (THE GUILD) Bus Station and caught another bus. Then I got off at the airport. Then I had to wait half an hour before I could check in because apparently the desk doesn't open until 2 hours before the flight takes off. At this point, well somewhat before this, I realized how ridiculous that I was at the airport 2.5 hours before the plane took off, but I really had no idea how long the bus would take to get there. So I waited. I finally checked in (the guy behind me was really hung over. I didn't see him on the plane...)
Now I had a 2 hour wait. I hadn't eaten anything yet, so I bought a sandwich, chips (crisps), and a coffee. All for under £6. I want to take a moment to comment on how AMAZING that is. That is cheap for food anywhere and this was in an airport. And the sandwich was awesome. Really great.
Fastforward--> Airplane to Dublin, get through customs no problem, catch the 16A to Camden. That took about 40 minutes, but at least I had a seat. I got off and had no real solid idea of where the hostel was from where I was standing. I had sort of just guessed based on a crappy map I'd picked up at the airport. The thing about the UK and apparently Ireland is that they don't really do street signs. Sometimes they'll put them up on the sides of buildings, but not always. It's actually more reliable to look at the business names around you because they're usually named after the street they're on. So I started walking. After a few blocks I asked in a coffee shop where Camden Place was. They told me back the other direction. BACK THAT WAY! Then, I FOUND MATT! He had just left the hostel to eat, so he took me back and I checked in and we found somewhere to eat.
We wandered looking for somewhere to eat. Let me tell you this: Dublin is expensive. Especially in the city centre. A meal is generally no less than 12 euros. We eventually found a pizza place and got pizza for about 5 euros.
Then we got lost. Really lost. We finally asked directions and found out we were about a 10-15 minute walk away, which is a lot farther than we started. We finally made our way back and then decided to go out. Since we didn't have a great track record so far, we went just across the street and went in here:
Turns out they had a venue upstairs where some bands would be playing. We stayed for them and the first band was just phenomenal. Three young guys with a female lead singer. She had a voice sort of like really early Gwen Stefani meets Sleater-Kinney. It was awesome. The next few bands were pretty good too, but not that great. We hung out for awhile and talked to a lot of people. The Irish are really friendly. I like them.
Friday we decided to wander around town. Walked through St. Steven Green's Park:
It's very pretty there.
We walked through the Christmas-y area where this sweet band was playing:
They were having a great time and the little kid in the Santa suit was really good. He wasn't even really paying attention either.
We eventually found our way to the National Gallery which was freakin huge. We definitely didn't even go through half the exhibits. The Yeats gallery was really nice and I liked the Scottish art through the centuries.
That night we mostly just hung out, went back to Whalen's for a little bit with Matt's three Australian roommates, but called it a night fairly early.
Saturday was the day we went to the Guinness Storehouse. We decided to walk because it wasn't far, just about 30 minutes from the hostel. We stumbled on St. Patrick's Cathedral on the way by following some tourists who looked like they were on their way somewhere. It's very impressive:
Then past Christchurch:
Also very huge. It goes on for another block or so to the left.
THEN FINALLY:
The self-guided tour was really interesting. I find that I generally prefer self-guided in places like that than guided. I have a short attention span so my mind tends to drift when people talk. I mean...uh...people other than my friends...
Anyway, once we got to the 4th floor, we got ready to pour our own pints. While we waited we talked to Mark, the guy at the door. He was very nice. He told us about a bar that stays open until 4am or so because it's where all the cops go, so they don't need to close when everyone else does. We didn't end up going, but we realized the next morning it was literally 30 seconds from our hostel door. And in this case, I really do mean literally.
PINTS AWAY:
In all seriousness, that was the best pint of beer I've ever had. The tour actually lets you know what flavours to look for when you drink it, you even get to sample the roasted barley. Tasting that really helps you bring it out when you drink the Guinness. And it was just about as fresh a pint as you can ever get. We drank them looking out over the industrial part of Dublin.
This was definitely a highlight of the trip.
After the tour, we went back and hung out at the hostel for a bit. I made some burgers for dinner and they were awesome, tell you what.
That night we went to hands down the best bar I have been to in Europe. Not that there have really been that many, but it was really great. I wish it weren't quite so far from home. It would be quite the night out. It's called the Bernard Shaw Pub. I'd read about it on Lonely Planet, but forgotten about it. That night, we were talking with the girl at the desk of the hostel when her boyfriend offered to show us to the "really awesome pub" that he worked at and had to get to. Lo and behold, it was the Bernard Shaw Pub. Coincidence or fate? Let's go with coincifate.
It was great. Live dj playing good music, lots of space in the covered sort of back patio where the music wasn't quite as loud so you could actually talk and the best part:
Pizza bus.
I'm ashamed to say I forgot my camera and thus have no pictures, hopefully Matt will put his up soon, but I'll tell you what. I want one. The bus is a double decker bus that had the seats all pulled out and tables and chairs put in. The front where the driver would sit is the kitchen area. We weren't hungry, so we didn't end up eating pizza that night, but it's my new life mission to go back. It was just the greatest. They also apparently take the bus to festivals and the sort. So awesome.
In conclusion, Ireland was a success.
Love,
Clur.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Land o' Guinness
Tomorrow I'm off to hang out with Mr. Matt Sizemore in Dublin, Ireland. We don't have any real plan past flying there and staying in the Camden Place Hostel. Oh yeah, and going to the Guinness factory. The Bernard Shaw Pub and National Gallery are only a few blocks from the hostel so they may be in the future. I'll let you know if a few.
TROOOGDOOOOOOOR! HE COMES IN THE NIIIIIIGHT!
TROOOGDOOOOOOOR! HE COMES IN THE NIIIIIIGHT!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
