Ireland!!!

Friday we FINALLY left for Ireland!!!  We flew over at 10 pm and got there around 11.  Our hotel in Dublin was MUCH better than the hostel in London.  It was actually cheaper per night and close to city centre, plus we had our own bathrooms and didn’t have to share a bedroom with 15 other people.  Becca and I shared a room, and we had some mishaps (such as the hairdryer catching on fire and breaking the handle off the bathroom door…long story lol, but I promise neither was our fault) but overall the accommodation was pretty good. 

On Saturday morning we set out bright and early.  We stopped and got breakfast at a little place called Café Sophia, which was delicious!  I hadn’t had a home cooked breakfast in a very long time, so I was pretty much in heaven.  We bought 48 hour tickets for a hop-on hop-off double decker tour, which was nice because it took us to all the major attractions and we only had to pay once.  While on the tour we went to Trinity College, the Parliament House, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, MOMA, Dublin Zoo, the Jameson Distillery, Four Courts, and much more.  After we went around the city once we got off at the Guinness Storehouse.  It was SO COOL!  I know it doesn’t sound that interesting, but it really was.  They had 7 levels and each talked about a different part of the brewing process or Guinness. On the top level they taught you to pour the “perfect pint” and you got a free glass of Guinness which was delicious.  They also had a 360 view of the city which was really pretty.  After Guinness we walked around Temple Bar, did some shopping and hit O’Connell Street.  By the end of the day we were exhausted, so we grabbed dinner and went back to the hotel to relax.

Sunday we got up nice and early again.  We decided that although the city was awesome, we wanted to see some of the country too, so we went to a little town called Howth on the shore.  I cannot even begin to describe how gorgeous it was!  There were boats docked near the shore, beautiful hills with house on them and even small light houses.  While we were walking we saw and fed cute little seals that came up to the docks, which was very cool.  I loved being able to see some of the country.  When we went back to Dublin we walked around Temple Bar again then went back to our hotel.  On the way we saw something amazing.  Most of you (well, at least the girls) have probably seen P.S. I Love You.  Well, we actually went to Whelin’s…THE BAR THEY GO TO IN IT!!! Both in the flashback where she hears Gerard Butler singing “Galloway Girl” and when she meets Jeffrey Dean Morgan they are at that bar, and I was so stoked to see it.

Monday Sarah, Becca and Chelsea had to go back at 5 am because they had class, but Hannah and I stayed until the evening.  We walked to Dublina, a museum attached to Christ Church Cathedral about the Vikings and the history of Dublin.  Then we went to the Dublin Literary Museum.  Both were really interesting and I enjoyed spending my last day seeing them.  On the way to the Literary Museum we saw a memorial to Irish men and women who had fought for the country which was gorgeous as well. 

The whole weekend was fantastic and I saw some incredible things.  I had great company, great weather and an overall great experience there.