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Today was all about exploring the city of Dublin. Had a full Irish breakfast consisting of bacon (aka country ham), eggs, buttered toast, tomato, sausage, and something called black and white pudding. It wasn't anything like your snack-pak pudding; it tasted like meatloaf in the shape of a patty.
We booked our Guinness Storehouse tour for fairly early in the morning since it was cheaper than the peak times. It was such a cool museum/tour/storehouse! I loved all the interactive exhibits and learning the process of how Guinness is made. Some fun facts: A proper pint of Guinness takes about 2 minutes to pour, set/simmer down, top off, set again, and finally be ready to drink. The head of a Guinness must be between 10-15mm, and the server should always present your glass with the Guinness logo facing you. At the end of the self-guided tour, we were awarded with a wee pint and 360° views of the city at the top of the building.
Then we simply wandered around the rest of the day. Saw St. Patrick's cathedral, Christ Church, Steeven's Gate, the Dublin Castle, and lots of birds. Ate an early dinner in an old church that had been converted into a restaurant. Then made our way back to the hotel, enjoying the night views and the Christmas lights that were (gratefully) still on display. I'm really glad we came at Christmastime, because there were so many cool decorations that wouldn't normally be here.
Tomorrow we'll have a half day in the city, then fly to Edinburgh at 5pm. Steven gets to celebrate his birthday in two countries - something not many people get to do, I'm sure!
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Travel tips:
- HOHO: Hop-on, hop-off buses are great ways to get familiar with a city. They take you to some of the most famous attractions while the driver tells you all about each spot. They only go in one direction though - so depending on your destination, you may have to ride the entire 1.5-2 hour route. Sometimes it's faster to walk. But your feet will thank you for the break if you choose to ride.
- Offline: Before you travel, or when you're connected to Wifi, download an offline map of the city through Google Maps. That way, you don't have to use your precious mobile data to navigate the city.
- Early bird: Tourist attractions get really busy after everyone's been awake for a while. Wherever you visit, try to get there first thing when it opens in the morning. It's way less crowded, the queues are shorter, and you can sometimes get a cheaper ticket for visiting at an off-peak time.
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| If you don't visit the Guinness Storehouse, did you even go to Dublin? |
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| Lovely day for a Guinness! |
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| Great views of the city from the top of the storehouse |
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| City streets have a dedicated bus lane |
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| Dublin Castle |
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| Christ Church Cathedral |
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