Part of the Ireland experience is visiting Dublin to explore what the city has to offer, including a taster of the beverage kind.
We arrived in the afternoon and started our adventure at the whiskey museum. We did try to book the option to blend our own, but it was sold out, so we did the premium tasting experience instead. The museum takes you through a journey of how the drink is made, but stops off at different places in history to share stories of shebeens and prohibition, a few miths and legends, and then of course, the tasting. After our taster, we were not quite satisfied that we had all that was on offer, so we visited the museum bar to try another one or two, and I am happy to report they were all very lovely.
From there we thought that food might be a good idea, but we had no idea where to go, so I suggested we go to the Long Hall, a place recommended by an acquaintance who is a local. It turns out they didnt serve food, so we each had a Guinness instead.
The Guinness was everything I expected it to be. Creamy, hearty, authentic and definitely not food. So we decided to continue our quest, stopping only to admire the sunset, and wandered through the Temple Bar district to the Brazen Head. Now, this came recommeded by Tinus, a trusted friend and an intrepid traveler, and I was a bit nostalgic about the fact that there was a bar with the same name in Stellies when I was a student.
The bar was pumping! We managed to find a table outside, and, while we tried to order food was informed that they only serve food on the inside tables. It was getting late, and by the time the people shifted we heard the kitchen was closing. So we ordered an Irish Coffee instead.
Our lack of food was slightly compensated by the fact that they had a band playing live music, and so I could tick off my travel bingo list not only 3 iconic beverages in one day, but also dancing to Irish music in a Dublin Pub. We danced until our muscles ached and somewhere, much later that evening, we stopped off at the local Spar for a bacon and cheese sandwich.
After the adventures of the night before, we decided to make the best of a proper Irish hotel breakfast and lots of coffee before heading out. On today’s agenda was a bit of general sightseeing, St Patricks Cathedral, and Trinity College, including the magnificent library and the Book of Kells. The latter I didn’t take any proper pictures of, but if you ever get the chance, it is absolutely amazing.
mcharlottesmith 