On arrival in Dublin, I had no idea what to
expect. Part of me thought that Ireland would be exactly as it is portrayed in
Movies and T.V. shows. There would be people singing and dancing in pubs that
had been unchanged since the 1800s. Another part of me thought that Ireland
would be modernized with new architecture, only containing remnants of its
charm. I was partially incorrect on both of these things.
Wednesday
night we packed in the Abraham House Hostel with time to spare, thanks to the
shortest flight I have ever been on. After settling in, I immediately hit the
streets of Dublin in search of pub food and a Guinness. I noticed that the
streets were darker here, and I sensed an eerie vibe. At first I was irritated.
How could this be the friendly and beautiful Ireland that I read so much about?
When walking around, a group of friends and I heard the faint sound of Irish
folk music. I know from experience that whenever you receive an opportunity to
follow good music, you do it!
The
sound of a fiddle and guitar was coming from The Celt Bar. It looked fairly
small and packed, but I wanted to experience Irish music in a pub. It was
exactly as I had imagined, quaint and simple with lots of clinking glasses. The
music was spectacular and the bartenders were friendly. Most of the pub was
standing room, and the chairs that were available looked as though they came
with the place.
It
is not to say that people in the UK aren’t nice, I’ve met a lot of good English
and Scots, but they tend to keep to themselves unless they know you. In The
Celt I learned quickly that people in Ireland behaved like people in the
American South. If it weren’t for the accent, I would’ve thought that I was
inhabiting a bar from my Grandpa’s hometown in Kentucky. Not only did lots of
people approach us, but they asked us questions about where we were from and
what we studied. I’m sure the fact I was with females helped the situation, but
they actually talked to me as well!
We
ordered pints and chatted with Irishmen while clapping our hands to some very
talented musicians. Needless to say, we haunted The Celt Bar at least three
more times during our stay. From Scots dressed as Frenchmen, to a full house
yelling Irish drinking songs, The Celt did not disappoint.
Apart
from The Celt, the remainder of my time in Dublin was spent exploring. We
visited the Book of Kells and the library of Trinity College. The library was
extremely cool, but I was honestly surprised at how little build up the Book of
Kells had. I know this isn’t possible but I wish there were ways to turn the
pages.
No
stop in Dublin would be complete without an alcohol tour, so naturally we
stopped at The Old Jameson Distillery. For 19 pounds, we had a full tour with a
few drinks included. Now when I am back in the States I can spout off useless
information about malt and how many times certain whiskey should be distilled.
The
final few days of the trip revolved around nature. We rode on the Paddywagon
tour bus that included a very informative and fun driver. On the first day we
visited Giant’s Causeway and a rope bridge overlooking the sea. The causeway
and rope bridge alone were truly spectacular! Day two included the Cliffs of
Moher. I have always loved nature, and something about giant cliffs mixed with
lots of water is heaven to me. I hiked around in awe for around an hour, which
wasn’t nearly enough time. The Paddywagon trips not only provided amazing
destinations, but stops on the way that included great food and culture.
After
traveling to various parts of Ireland, I now understand why it is so iconic. It
is a place with beautiful scenery and attitudes to match. It is astounding to
me that the Irish have endured lots of conflict and oppression but are some of
the friendliest people I’ve met. Maybe I’m biased because of the American flags
I spotted everywhere, but I feel that Ireland is a must see during European
travel. The culture alone is worth a stop, but as a bonus you receive
breathtaking views. St. Patrick’s Day will take on an entire new meaning for
me, because now I truly know how special Ireland is!
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