Dublin

So it's been a while but that's because I've just come back from a few days in Dublin. What an amazing city, it was so much better than I expected. There was loads to do, the weather was perfect and it was surprisingly cheap although drinks were extortionate! Thirteen euros for a pint of Guinness and a small glass of wine! It was worth it though, even mid week, the city was constantly buzzing. Here's a little guide to what we got up to...

Our hotel was a Jury's Inn with a beautiful view of Christchurch Cathedral. It was in the Cultural Quarter of the city, and we were amongst quirky bars, cafes and shops, as well as a cute little cafe just round the corner called the Green Peacock, which sold over 30 varieties of loose tea!

It was also right next to Temple Bar, which is where to go for nightlife. Our favourite pub was Temple Bar- it was huge, with quirky decor and a courtyard in the middle with a canopy in case it rained. But we also like the Auld Dubliner, which had great music at night. Everywhere had some form of music at all times though- mostly guitars but we also heard an accordion! There was a lot of folky stuff, Irish songs but lots of modern stuff too and the atmosphere was amazing.  For food, we ate at O'Neills, another gigantic pub- I saw four bars just in the bit we were in. They did an incredible Irish stew, which they piled onto the plate, as well as lots of other traditional meals.

If I hadn't been with Andy, I would have done a LOT of shopping! We walked through the two main shopping districts- Grafton street is definitely better than O'Connell Street/ Henry Street. But there is also the Liberties District, which is full of crafts and antiques, and the Cultural Quarter, which is boutiques, galleries and record shops,which Andy loved, my favourite part of the city. We came across Stephens Green Shopping Centre after eating lunch in the park, which is your everyday ordinary retailers, but in a stunning glass building, with a giant clock built into the arched roof.

Attraction wise, we visited Kilmanaim Jail which was very cheap to get in and the tour guides were so knowledgeable. Although a bit out of the way, it is definitely worth a visit and is so interesting, especially when you think a lot of what happened there was only 100 years ago. The main room, which you see below has also been featured in loads of films. 

The Guinness factory is also a must see for any tourist, and you can work your way around seven floors and learn how they make the Guinness, and other things such as their advertising over the years. The building itself is incredible, and designed to look like a pint glass. You can also learn how to pour the perfect pint, which you can drink on the seventh floor bar with amazing views of the city.  The entrance fee was a bit steep, but when you consider the cost of a pint of Guinness it makes sense. 

We looked around Trinity College, and visited the Book of Kells and the library. In all honesty, We weren't that impressed with the Book of Kells- the exhibition about the history of it was a bit complicated and you look at the book through a glass cabinet so you can only see two pages. But the library was beautiful so we were glad we went.

Finally, we went to the Jamesons factory. This was very different from Guinness, but had a great bar where we had a drink before we went on a guided tour. Unfortunately, the cocktails we chose were like paint stripper they were so strong! Our guide had a great sense of humour, and I personally found it easier to understand with someone talking us through everything. At the end, 8 people were chosen to taste three different whiskeys, whilst we all enjoyed a glass of Jamesons and ginger ale. 

My liver is now in need of a detox and I think the only reason I didn't put on a stone in weight is all the walking we did- a lot of people suggested the hop on hop off bus but we didn't really need it, there was nothing that was not within walking distance.  If you're thinking of going, I definitely recommend it, it is not just for stag parties!