So, I've been AFK for quite some time, but there's a reason for that: I've been busy with training, work, and travelling. A friend and I travelled to Dublin at the beginning of December, because the two of us had a holiday at the same time for the first time in a while. And we've always wanted to go see Dublin.
And what can I say, it was all we had hoped for and more. Why? Because of reasons. The Luck of the Irish being just one of them.
1. Irish people are among the friendliest I've ever been in contact with. I know, it sounds cliché, but most people we encountered on our trip were happy-go-lucky people, who didn't take themselves or life too seriously. They helped whenever they could and had the greatest accent ever.
The Liffey at night
2. Our accomodation: we had a great hotel room looking out on the river Liffey, where staff was nice and the room cosy. And cheap. We even had a kettle and several Starbucks and Costa branches within walking distance. Well, to be completely honest, almost everything of interest was within walking distance. Check out the Clifton Court Hotel.
View from our hotel room
3. The Irish luck seems to be contagious; after a few hours, you start to get more relaxed as well, and notice that most things just work out, even if you don't stress them. Or maybe that's just why. You just trust that everything will work out for the best, and if not, then you deal with it when or rather if it doesn't. I was able to take some of that Irish chill back to Berlin and I'm feeling a lot better than before.
Anyways, it is (almost) impossible to get stressed in Ireland.
4. Nature. Everything is just incredibly green. Even in December. Trinity College and the park around St. Patrick's Cathedral were great representations of "the Emerald Isle".
St. Patrick's Cathedral
5. Guinness. Do I need to say more? Well, pub culture and Guinness seem to go hand in hand, and it's just an experience in itself to visit a real Irish pub. There's live music, happy people, red cheeks, and laughter all around. We headed to the Temple Bar pub and The Church, an old church that serves as a pub these days.
Temple Bar, probably one of the most photographed spots in the city
6. Nando's. I know, I know, you can find Nando's in London, too, but the staff were grand (and one of the waiters was named Taco), friendly, and it was our first Nando's experience. We love Nando's. And it's just across the street from The Church.
Quinoa salad at Nando's
7. Boots. The drugstore. To make this one short: my friend and I are into British cosmetics. I for one have had to travel to London or Britain every other year, to get my favourite scrub, Soap & Glory's "The Breakfast Scrub". You get all or at least most British cosmetics in Ireland as well. And you don't have to change money, seeing that the Irish use the Euro.
8. Sights. We only had two and a half days, so we had to leave out a few of the more time-intensive things in order to get a feel for the city and see the most important things, like the Georgian Doors, Oscar Wilde's birthhouse, Oscar Wilde's lounging memorial, the Ha'Penny Bridge, etc. Next time we vist, we have to see the Guinness Experience, maybe the inside of Trinity College's Old Library with the Book of Kells (which had an unexpected 10e entrance fee, after we read on the net that it is free...), the Writer's museum, etc. There's a bunch of writers hailing from Dublin. And if you've been there, you know why.
Oscar, lounging in style
movie set feeling because of all the details
