Dublin wasn't originally on our list of cities to visit on this trip. It was added to the itinerary as a long layover because it was cheaper to fly through Dublin then direct from Brussels to New York. But we were happy to add this city onto our trip, especially as the last stop. It was fun, relaxed, and an easy city to visit. It was so easy to get around. We took the public bus from the airport into the city which was cheap, clean, safe and simple. We walked or took cabs everywhere. It's amazing how easy it is to visit a foreign city where everyone speaks English! And where everyone is very friendly and chatty!
Another reason it was such an easy city to visit was our hotel, Cassidy's. Kate found this hotel on Trip Advisor and choose it for it's price and location. We were able to walk everywhere we wanted to go, including the bars, without having to sleep in the same neighborhood as the bars. A river separated us from the partying. Cassidy's was a nice hotel, especially for the price, with free Internet and a nice restaurant/bar. Chris and Kate's room was even upgraded to a larger room - not sure how we accomplished that!
We had limited time in Dublin but didn't want to squeeze in too much touring. There were only two things on our touring to-do list: the Guinness and Jameson factories. There were many cathedrals, castles, and other interesting things to see but we really didn't have time for it. And after two months of traveling, even Chris needed a break from old buildings. We would highly recommend anyone over 18 go on the Guinness tour. There was more to it then we thought and the tour took up an entire afternoon. The tour covered how the beer is made, it's history, it's advertising, how to serve it and of course, then we got to drink it. The Jameson tour was more simple and what you would expect. It was a hour-long tour covering the history and ingredients of the whiskey followed by a taste. If you're not into Jameson, we'd recommend skipping this tour. Both tours were very close in town - a long walk or short cab ride from our hotel.
The weather in Dublin was really cold and rainy. So cold that Chris had to buy a fleece. In speaking with some of the cab drivers there, this is typical Dublin JULY weather. Needless to say if July is in the 40's then we can't imagine how cold it is in the winter. Good thing to know before you go. Kate's friend Amanda who lives in Scotland and came to meet us in Dublin has gotten used to this weather. She was never without her umbrella.
The food in Dublin was just what you'd expect - warm and hearty. The breakfast was the closest we had found to the American breakfast we missed so much. But Irish breakfast had something we'd never had before: black and white pudding. We were also offered free black and white pudding in Temple Bar so this isn't just a breakfast food. Black pudding is basically oatmeal mixed with pigs blood, while white pudding is basically oatmeal and pig meat and fat. You should try it. It's not as gross as it sounds. Chris actually liked it but Kate didn't.
If you're ever finding yourself going to Europe, we'd recommend mixing it up and connecting through Dublin instead of London or Paris. The town isn't that far from the airport so you can make a quick trip out of the layover. We've also been told that Ireland is a beautiful place to visit and that Dublin is the "tourist trap". We'll have to do an Ireland/Scotland trip sometime to see these green countrysides that we've heard so much about.
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