A La Mode: Kiss me I'm Irish

Catching up on blog posts. Spent first weekend of December in Dublin, Ireland. And all I really can say is I LOVED IT and have to get back to Ireland soon. Not only did all the food and beverages agree with me (aka, bangers & mash, fish & chips, Guinness, Jameson, Bulmers and coffee), but the Irish are just so friendly and wonderful, plus Ireland is gorgeous - even if we didn't make it outside of Dublin.

Tried to go to Dublin Castle - but it was closed for a big government meeting. Went to St. Patrick's Cathedral, which was jaw dropping gorgeous! Didn't make it into Christ Church, but did manage to find the Dubarry store (which was next door to the Ambercrombie) but sadly, didn't walk out with a pair of boots. Did the Book of Kells museum - which was so amazing, it is hard to explain how impressive of a book and preservation of it, it is. Wandered up and down Grafton Street, which is like the Dublin version of Champs-Elysées. Visited the Temple Bar - yay Guinness & Bulmers!!

So a trip to Dublin isn't complete of course with out the required trip to BOTH the Guinness Storehouse and the Old Jameson Distillery, with of course, tours and tasting and shopping!! First stop was to Jameson. In order of preference after tasting the big name whiskeys: 1. Jameson 2. Johnny Walker Black 3. Jack Daniels. As smart college students, stopped for a hearty breakfast at the oldest pub in Dublin, the Brazen Head, a perfect pub that I would call a second home - very small and filled with never ending charm. Then it was off to the Guinness Storehouse where we did a tasting and then the Guinness Academy where we got to pour our own pints. I guess if this college thing fails, I can always be a bartender.

Finished that night off with a trip to the National Leprechaun Museum. Go ahead and laugh all you want - it was AWESOME. Actually, the real highlight of the night was watching a REAL AMERICAN FOOTBALL game at Quay's bar - didn't know I missed ESPN/sports that much until I was actually watching intently a game of football. For the first time in a VERY long time, pulled an all nighter - so went from the bars to the bus for the airport and slowly made our way back to Paris.