Tonight’s my last night in Dublin. I’m getting ready to fly to Paris tomorrow (woooo!) but I wanted to give a brief update before I disappeared into vacation again.
We stayed near the grand canal, which was a cute area:
Overall one of my favorite things about Dublin was the architecture:
The other thing I loved about Dublin was the food. I forgot to take photos of some of the stuff I ate (mmmm, giant pot of mussels) and other stuff was delicious but not photogenic (a giant hunk of lamb on top of a giant pile of mashed potatoes that was supposed to be a “stew”). But here’s the awesome breakfast I had at Queen of Tarts:
Some fancy fish and chips:
And Baileys cheesecake. Om nom nom
We checked out the Natural History Museum, aka “Dead Zoo.”
Of course we went to the Guinness Storehouse:
And this made me giggle because I’m immature:
Overall I couldn’t help but notice Dublin bore a remarkable resemblance to Seattle: overcast, raining, not particularly fashionable, and filled with 90’s music. I guess that’s why I liked it so much.
Okay. Where are the pictures of fairies and leprechauns? How do you go to Ireland and not get pictures of these things? Even in Dublin…
I am disappoint…
/snark
Aw, yay, glad you enjoyed it! I find it interesting that you noticed the architecture, it’s something I take for granted after living here most of my life.
Cue influx of Dubliners to Seattle…
I haz homesick.
No black pudding for breakfast?
The Rocky Road to Dublin – by The Dubliners (9/8 time – slip jig)
Yay! Old buildings!
I’m sorry I missed you. My wife and I spend two weeks in Ireland about 4 months ago — our first visit.
Ireland was great. We enjoyed the countryside more than any of the cities (because we’re small town Americans, not city folk) — but everywhere we went the people were terrific.
My only complaint is that the country isn’t very vegetarian friendly. We ate an awful lot of goat cheese.
Interesting that I don’t see any rain in your pictures. We never got rained on once and it seemed to confuse the local Irish folk. Since it was sunny, a lot of them apparently felt compelled to visit the beach — even though the water was too cold to swim. Was the weather as nice for you?
When I lived in Seattle, they used to say that the thing you did in Seattle in the summer was — if it falls on a weekend, have a picnic. My wife and I expected the same sort of weather in Ireland but it turned out that most of the clothes we packed were too warm.
I don’t know when I’ll get a reason to go back, but I already miss Ireland.
Sorry I missed your talk. Glad you had a nice time in Dublin.
Remind Americans you meet overseas that they can/should vote back home: http://www.votefromabroad.org/
Meanwhile, I find it amusing that you were just in Double-in and are now going to Pair-is :D
You’re making me homesick!
During the famine, fairies and leprechauns where used as a food source which led to the near extinction of the species. Some had a mutation that allowed them to become invisible so now the only fairies and leprechauns in Ireland are invisible to the naked eye. Some did emigrate during this time and made their way in show bussiness and breakfast cereals.
Glad you enjoyed Dublin. Did you see the statue of Patrick Kavanagh sitting by the canal?
So weird you laughed at Knobs and Knockers! I went to your talk on Thurs night, and as I walked to the train station afterwards (in the bucketing rain I might add) I walked past Knobs and Knockers and thought “how funny is that name ” (even with having seen it before)
So you didn’t go to Kilmainham? Ya gotta come back then so. :)
Ah, the full Irish breakfast. They do like their meat, sausage, and “pudding” don’t they? I hope you didn’t have to drive yourself around Dublin – my major mistake on my visit. Otherwise, it was great! Looking forward to another trip before too long.
And why exactly does Guinness taste so much better over there?
Did you meet the Skeprechauns? The podcast are usually two very opinionated and funny women.
I’m a little jealous. The closest thing we have here to that sort of accidental comedy is “P & S Liquors.” (Say it fast.)
Great architecture, amazing food, fantastic museums, and exceptional booze…if that’s your standard, then Paris will be a revelation.
The great booze is wine, not beer…but it’s pretty analogous.
Make sure you have a non-dessert (savory) crepe. And onion soup. No need to call it “French onion soup” there — because that’s where you are.
And go into the catacombs if they’re open so you can see dead people. There’s also a neat excavation just in front of Notre Dame dating back to Roman days.
See if you can spot St. Denis at front facade of Notre Dame. (Hint: he’s the one carrying his head in his arm. Allegedly, after he was decapitated by the local authorities, he picked up his own head and proceeded to walk 2 miles, giving a sermon the entire time. Great trick.)
So many things to do-see-eat-drink-enjoy in Paris. Now I’m in the mood to go back.
Mmmm. Onion soup.
The Grand Canal looks a bit petite in your pic.
How small does it get?
I don’t care if ENVY is one of the deadlier sins.
I will risk a few days in purgatory.
Have fun kiddo.
N.
and filled with 90′s music.
I’ve found that to be the case everywhere I’ve traveled in Europe- lots of 80s and 90s music. It’s very entertaining.
I just came back from a London-Dublin-Paris vacation. I loved it, and that cheesecake looks awesome! Did you go to Phoenix park? We had nothing to do on Sunday, so we wondered around in the park for hours, and it was beautiful. There were a lot of old, amazing book stores that we spent time in as well. I hope Paris is wonderful and filled with delicious food (because it is!)
I do miss a proper fry-up breakfast x[
So, at Guinness, did you raise a toast to William Gosset aka “Student” of the Student t-test and a host of other basic statistical techniques relied on today by biologists, brewers and political pundits? He was the brains behind the beer, at least in making large quantities of it with consistent quality starting around 1900 or so.
Have a great time!
My wife and I were there for a few days in mid May. It was freezing and rainy, but we had a great time and took in the same sights you did. Food was great! St. Patrick’s did not fall down in a heap when I went in, as my mother (bless her soul) often predicted. I enjoyed the historical spots where my forbears used to hang (some literally). Have a great time on the remainder of your trip!
Denis?
Is that pronounced like it’s spelled? :P
percent of obese children in usa…
Seconded: needs more black pudding.
Bailey’s cheescake? Eaten in Ireland? So jealous.
You do not happen to know if that was made with farmer’s cheese (ricotta like substance) or cream cheese, do you? Either way, yum.
My inner jr high schooler also snickered at Knobs and Knockers. Then again, where I live is a place with roads called things like Gobbler’s Knob and Short Coxe, so my inner gutter brain gets quite the workout.
Did you get a “Knobs & Knockers” T-Shirt? It is hilarious to see people in the states freak out over that and, especially the religious idiots, because then you get to tell them that it is a doorknob and door knocker shop and see the conflict of stupidity with realization of wrongness (is that a word?) that comes over their faces. Such fun! Glad you enjoyed the food! Going anywhere else in Europe?
The guinness here tastes better mostly because we drink it regularly, therefore none of the stuff is left in the pipe from the barrel to the tap. If that does happen, it can go a bit stale and leave the next pint poured from the tap tasting a bit off. also the black stuff just doesnt travel well.
Credential(s): being Irish person