Irishing in Dublin

On Thursday night I took my flight from Munich to Dublin and luckily made it. I waited for a while at the airport, which was fine, I really didn't have anything left to do in Munich and figured the airport would be fine. I sat around, ate some snacks and relaxed before boarding the flight. The flight itself was good until the end. We were told there were windy conditions in Dublin, never a good sign when it comes to turbulence possibilities. With about 10 minutes to go we began our rocky descent. It was one of the worst landings I've experienced, I'm pretty sure the pilot made some mistakes, which I figured would happen when I saw there was a woman pilot (kidding ladies!). In honesty though it was pretty bad, it felt like we landed on the side of the wheel when we hit the ground and took that big bounce before gaining stability. All the people surrounding me gave the sigh of relief and things were calm from there, at least for them. As for me I stood up and stretched my legs only to be met with intense stomach pains. I knew I didn't have much time to find a bathroom, but knew it may be a while. I rushed off the plane rushing past other passengers and darting ahead. I got to customs and had to enter the non-EU citizen passport line. The first window the customs agent had nobody, but was playing around with a passport seemingly left behind. The 2nd window had a man from an African country begging the customs dude to let him in Ireland, and the third was generous enough to be taking people in line. The first lady took longer than I would've liked, but from a distance it seemed like she was joking around with the customs woman, so I figured it would be an easy sail through get my stamp and go. I got to the lady and the questions began, apparently Ireland is the strictest country in the world. She badgered me for information about my visit, asked me when I planned on leaving, and required I show her my itinerary for my return flight to Munich. This led to an extra 5 minutes of me having to turn on my phone, her looking at it, and finally approving me to enter the country, only until May 11th. Really Ireland? I then ignored seeking my luggage and unloaded a barrage of body waste bombs on the Irish toilet. By the time I got out only my luggage remained on the carousel, luckily I grabbed it before they moved it to another area, grabbed a bottle of water and began to go on my way. That was until my body decided it wasn't time to go, I went back to trusty stall number one and finished the job. Hey, everyone loves a good shit story, get over it...



I had no choice but to take a taxi to the hostel, it was expensive, but the guy was a nice cab driver and who doesn't like the terrifying feeling of driving on the opposite side of the road. He didn't really know the exact hostel location, but he called up a friend who helped out and luckily I got there. We talked a little, but unfortunately I could barely understand his thick Irish accent, however, it was a nice change being some place that at least English is the chosen form of talk. I checked in and headed upstairs pretty quick, I was pretty out of it still fully clothed and passed out for the evening. The next morning I woke up feeling better, even though I slept awful, but I no longer had pains of death engulfing my body. I grabbed some free toast downstairs and began my day. I went on the free Dublin walking tour, it rained off and on for the whole tour, apparently one of the things Dublin is known for, but didn't make it less enjoyable. I talked with the tour guide (when he wasn't guiding) for most of it, he has some book about to be published and is moving to the US when he graduates college in a few weeks. I never realized the American dream still looms large for a lot of people, but I guess so. We got to see the whole U2 beginnings (the tour guide hates them though so it made it more entertaining), all the churches, the trinity college, and Dublin Castle amongst other things.

When the tour finished around 2 I figured I'd walk around Dublin more and slowly make my way to the concert site. It was about a 2 mile walk and with taking my time I arrived around 3, but nobody was waiting, which I was happy about so I could take time and get myself some food. I figured there would be a few people, but as long as the line wasn't crazy that early I'd be alright. I went to the College of Ireland campus nearby and grabbed a quick pasta meal since that was the only place that seemed decent. I then went to a grocery store for some snacks and went back. I got to the arena around 4 where people were beginning to wait, so I figured I'd stick around. Everyone in line was real nice and of course only one was actually from Dublin, while the rest were crazy people who travel to concerts (freaks eek). Though there were a few people that made me seem not quite as crazy as many people want to make me seem. There were people who had seen over one-hundred shows, travel to many more than I have, and just in general probably a bit crazier than me (hard to believe, I know). We waited in the off and on pouring rain and wind, one of the security guards gave us a semi-workable umbrella to fight off the downpours. Did get to see a rainbow though, in Ireland, I almost left the line to search for the gold pot, I mean it has to be here right, but decided not to. Finally around 6 the guards let us inch ahead closer to the gates. Got in around 6:30 and stood with a couple girls from the line as we waited. There were 2 opening acts, which I find irritating, at first I thought the 2nd band added was to sell more tickets since 02 is a big arena and they weren't going to sell it out (and didn't), but it was a band from America that nobody had heard of overseas. They were a decent band, a slower rock type group, even bluegrass/folk rockish in a way. The next band were a bit more known, the Hold Steady. The keyboardist was by far the most entertaining with his handlebar mustache and theatrics. The lead singer is decent, but his act of comedic gestures and awkward yelling gets old after 20 minutes. I don't mind their music, but a lot of it in concert seemed like yelling to go with their harder rock sense, seems they could have been better, but then again always tougher to sit through 2 opening acts when you anticipate the final one. Finally around 9:29 Counting Crows got on stage, I figured this meant I'd get about 1:30 of them (still more than I've seen in the states in a few years with all their co-headlining). The setlist for me was great, a lot of older songs, a couple I had been waiting to hear in concert like Another Horsedreamer's Blues and High Life and not many of the popular hits I had heard numerous times over. The concert ended around 11:10, I thought it was great, though I could hear the disappointment in much of the crowd with Mr. Jones, Round Here, and basically all of their heavily popular songs outside of Long December excluded from the setlist. As a bonus one of the employees at my hostel clearly went to the concert because Counting Crows on pandora has been playing throughout the building all weekend.

I took the 2 mile walk back with the girls I had met, I'd like to think I was escorting them for saftey on the streets of Dublin, but clearly I had no idea where I was going. They finally left me to get a taxi when I knew where I was (aka the same street my hostel was located on). I went back to the hostel, relaxed for about 5 minutes and scoured the area for late night food. I ended up at the "American burger joint" Eddie Rockets (apparently Johnny's cousin). It was a bit expensive, but I've come to realize everything in Dublin is expensive, quite possibly more so than any city I've been in thus far especially when it comes to food of any sort. Eddie definitely delivered, he was much better than Johnny's back home (either that or I was so starved and longing for a real hamburger anything would've tasted great) and having actual heinz ketchup to use with my meal added to the satisfaction. It was about 1 at that point so I headed back and read until I passed out around 2.

I woke up pretty early the next day with a new mission in mind, I'd head over to the Old Jameson Distillery for their whiskey tour after getting a bite to eat. I grabbed a bagel with lox and then headed towards the place. It was pretty hard for me to find since I didn't really read the street signs to point me in the direction, but finally arrived around 12:30, bought my ticket and waited for the tour to begin. At the beginning they had 8 people volunteer to do a whiskey taste testing in the end to compare Jameson to a scotch whiskey and American whiskey, my hand couldn't have been in the air quicker. She immediately handed me the tube to anoint me one of the participants and the tour began. We went through the different stages of the whiskey, how they put it altogether, the history of Jameson, etc. It was decent, though I don't think the tour guide really loved her job and was just going through a script she had memorized. Finally though we got to the best part. I sat with the other 7 around the table where they had the whiskeys labeled and wanted you to describe the differences and see how smooth Jameson is. First we went with the Jameson to feel the smoothness and get a sense for the flavors, then cleansed with water. Next came the Johnnie Walker black label, seeking the smokey taste it's known for and then comparing to Jameson again. Finally we came to the American whiskey and as anticipated it was my good friend Jack Daniels. I smelled the sweetness and took my sip, once again asked to compare to Jameson. Now although Jameson may have a bit smoother feel than regular Jack (I was hoping they'd be ballsy enough to put it against single barrel) I don't think it exerts as much flavor. We were then asked to try them each again and put your favorite forward. I was now left with a choice, do I stick with my roots, both familial and patriotic or do I give them what they want. I tasted them all again and looked around at my fellow participants. A few quickly put Jameson in front, I finally decided I had no choice. I proudly grabbed the Jack Daniels and placed it ahead of the other two to gasps and moans of the crowd. The others then placed Jameson ahead and I was the only one who went against the grain. The tour guide played it off to American pride and wanting to stand out, but I really do like Jack Daniels better it's what I've been bred on. We then received Irish whiskey tasting diplomas for our deeds and an extra glass of Jameson for participating. I proudly stood up after, listening to whispers of others, some who admitted the Jack was better to them as well and walked out with my chest held high. I can't deny and this may sound sad in the end I really did feel an extra sense of American pride. I walked out on to the streets and as I headed back and even past a few fellow participants I got the smile and nod, reaffirming the only choice I really had.

I then decided to celebrate with some food, I was feeling good, though not drunk and grabbed some fish and chips around the corner from my hostel. It's one of the more famous fish/chips places in Dublin, Leo Burrdocks, I looked at the wall of fame before entering and realized one day my name will be added to that list (okay, maybe I was a little drunk) and then got my fish and chips. It was very good, though I couldn't finish the whole thing, just way too much food. I had dreams of heading to guiness after, but it was getting later in the afternoon and I wanted not to have to rush through there. I ended up walking around the city, finding the Guinness storehouse for reference for the next day and exploring much of Dublin. I then walked to St. Stephens Green where I enjoyed the awesome park. I laid down on the grass for a while, but apparently it was the wrong grass since police quickly asked me (and others) to move to other sections of the park. I decided to walk instead of sit and gazed at the kids chasing peacocks, the beautiful swans being fed in the ponds, the flowers and the numerous statues spread throughout. I really enjoyed it and made the mental note to come back there the next day.

I then headed back to my hostel and figured it about time to find some dinner. I went to the Temple Bar area right by my hostel and searched for some Irish food. Every restaurant I entered I was refused. Some had legit waits and were nice about it, others blatantly lied so they wouldn't "waste" a table on a busy Saturday night to one person. I was pissed, hungry and didn't like the solo discrimination I had encountered. I stalked around the places that clearly could have sat me watching to see if the magical customers were to appear, they didn't and that was satisfying enough. I then walked around a little bit longer until I was so famished that no choice existed, but to find any sort of restaurant to eat at. Luckily the place next to my hostel was open, a decent enough Irish place where I enjoyed some Irish lamb stew. I even got to hear a fight with some drunk on the street and the restaurant manager as the guy tried to stumble in. I then headed back to the hostel around 11 and decided I'd see if I could meet anyone since it was a Saturday night in Dublin and I should take advantage of the city. This, however, turned in to passing out immediately when I went to my room to lay down for a minute and not waking up until 9 the next morning, apparently I had finally hit a wall.

On Sunday I decided it be about time to go to Guinness. I woke up at 9 as I said, but didn't really realize it until I found a place to eat breakfast. I rushed to go some place since a lot stop serving at 11 and I really wanted an Irish breakfast. I got there, ordered my food and looked at my watch realizing it wasn't even 10 a.m yet. I got my poached egg, breakfast sausage, canadian style bacon (I know, 2 more pig products, however, different varieties than Germany so it actually excited my taste buds), some potato thing, some toast, and some other random crap as well as free tea and orange juice. I ate it all and even drank both the tea and orange juice (I despise orange juice, but I need a cooler drink, didn't want to ask for water and it wasn't awful until the pulp irritated me). I then began walking around taking my time since it was so early and finally headed to Guinness.

I had pre-ordered my ticket since there was no service charge and I could still get the "student" discount online without a problem. It saved me about a 15 minute line wait and I got right in there. It's a huge building with seven stories. It takes you through the beer making process with some cool rooms and examples including a tasting room. I think the tour itself, which is self guided, is slightly overrated as to what they take you through. I understand why being the volume of people the places sees on a daily basis, but outside of the first 2 floors not much interaction exists and it's a lot of reading. Of course they make up for it all at the very end of the tour where you have a variety of options of where to enjoy your pint. I wanted to do the pour your own pint, but there was nobody at the stand and there was a line, so I decided not to wait and just went straight to the gravity bar where they do it for you. It's on the 7th level and it's an awesome place with a 360 degree view of all of Dublin, which makes the price of admission worth it right there. I took some pictures and then got my "free" pint where they poured it to perfection with the clover on the head of the beer. I enjoyed the visual for a few minutes and went to work on the pint. I drank it relatively slowly, but the final result ended up in me definitely feeling tipsy by the end.

I left the Guinness storehouse and enjoyed the first day with no rain at all around Dublin by just walking around. I got hungry around three and knew it was time to satisfy my Mexican urge. Many Mexican restaurants are in the area and I had read about one, so I headed over there for a reuniting with myself and the world of burritos. It was pretty good, the tortilla sucked, but overall the chicken, salsa, sour cream, beans, jalapenos, all hit the spot pretty well. I was glad I finally made the plunge for it. I then headed back to the park from the previous day to sit on a bench, people watch, and relax. I did get to see one of my favorite things as well there. I like to watch people take pictures, but not to see what they are taking of or who, but to watch the people who try avoiding "ruining" the picture as if there is no turning back. I'm at fault for doing this too, but when you see someone taking a picture and it's too late you have a few options. Lot of people stop and let them take the picture with the awkward you can go through, no just take the picture exchange. Then there are people who run through quickly hoping that didn't ruin the shot, respectable. And then my favorite, the people who feel that the camera will kill them so they either block their face in horror or duck real quick so the "bullet" doesn't hit them. I then headed off as the sun went down and it was cold.

I got back to the hostel, did a bunch of a laundry, grabbed some cheap pizza since I had been spending tons of money here and with Italy coming up only more will be spent. I pretty much laid low the rest of Sunday night, as did most people in the hostel it seems. I never really met anyone in this hostel, I talked to a couple people, but I think with me not being around much the first couple days I was behind on the curve so they probably thought I was anti-social, ah well. I went to my room around 12, surprisingly everyone was already a sleep in the room when I went in there, fell asleep around 2 and here I am before my flight back to Munich in a few hours. I'll spend one night in Munich, leave on a train early the next morning for Venice and start my Italian tour. It'll be weird going back to languages I don't know, just as I was getting used to some sembelance of English again. Only 16 days left, well 15 really since I leave at 7 a.m May 27th, good luck to me making it to the airport that day.

Flyin away

BK