Okay, so here's the thing about Dublin...
Dublin was cool. It was nice. It was interesting.
But it just didn't take my breath away as much I was anticipating it to. And I think the fact that I was coming to Dublin from Edinburgh didn't help it's cause either.
Edinburgh had me at hello.
Edinburgh has a face that would launch a thousand ships.
Edinburgh makes me feel so young.
I would hold up a stereo over my head outside of Edinburgh's window blasting "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel.
Dublin?
Dublin was like being set up on a blind date by a mutual friend.
In theory we should have gotten along perfectly, and clicked instantly.
But like any blind date (maybe with the exception being Katie and Darton...) there's bound to be some awkwardness and icebreaking before we can really let our guard's down and open up to one another. But in the end, I think Dublin and I had a very nice time together. Who knows, I might even go out on another date with him in the future. But if he doesn't call me back? Well, I wouldn't be heartbroken about it either.
The scenery was a bit anticlimactic as I made the similar journey from the airport to the city's center. It was lovely at parts, but at other times parts looked rather shabby and run down.
However, when I got closer to the city's center things started to look nicer and I was getting more excited to be here.
When I got off the bus however and started to thumb through my itineraries again to get directions to my hostel, it struck me that Dublin wasn't nearly as easy to navigate around as Edinburgh was. But I was determined, damn it, and I was going to find my way to my hostel on my own come Hell or high water.
And then about 20 minutes later I finally did. It was in a great location in the city, and although I was weary of it's appearance on the outside, my reservations were quashed when I stepped inside to find it's decor warm and inviting. And then I was continually pleased to find that the rooms looked more like that of a hotel than of a hostel. I shared my room with 7 other girls the two nights I stayed in Dublin, and all I'll say is that I'm extremely grateful I was so exhausted each night because there were a lot of different time schedules going on in that room I'll tell ya. But like I said, I was so exhausted by the end of each day I fell asleep and stayed asleep the whole night.
And if any of you know my sleeping patterns you'll know that I tend to fall asleep fast and hard.
So much so that I've slept through multiple summer thunderstorms.
I guess these are good problems to have.
After settling in and organizing my things in my room I set off to find some grub because I was STARVING. I calculated it in my head and I hadn't eaten in almost 20 hours.
You don't want to separate me and food for 20 hours.
Things can get ugly.
But I was so happy that I found where I researched where I wanted to get lunch quickly and easily. I went in, and said:
"Just one please." With a smile.
That's another funny thing about traveling alone. I could tell people were trying to search my face for why I was alone.
I could almost hear their inner monologues in their head about me...
"Okay...she looks normal...seems nice enough...why is she eating alone...who is this girl? I can't read her..."
I think on multiple occasions people took pity on me eating by myself, and I felt like I was being catered to especially at times by people.
Which, hey, like I said, is a good problem to have.
But at times I wanted to just stand on my table and look around and yell:
"LISTEN EVERYONE, I KNOW I'M EATING ALONE. BUT IT'S FINE. I'M HAPPY. AND I'M NORMAL. YOU CAN STOP LOOKING AT ME WITH THOSE EYES NOW. YEAH, I'M TALKING TO YOU OVER THERE."
But I refrained my urge.
Which, in hindsight was probably a good thing. It maybe wouldn't have helped my I'M NORMAL, I SWEAR sales pitch.
Anyway, I got brunch at this place called Elephant and Castle (I have a thing with Elephants and food huh?), and what I ordered absolutely hit the spot after a long morning of traveling.
Bacon is good for the soul, I tell ya.
And you can take that statement to the bank. I'm a nutrition major, remember?
And the best thing about this meal is that it came with a complimentary glass of OJ and coffee.
Sweet, sweet, hot coffee.
In a big ol' mug.
They don't do big coffees in France.
I need big coffees.
They're good for my soul, I tell ya.
So after I wolfed this yummy brunch down my gullet into my the open arms of my stomach (everyone's stomach has arms, right?)I said thank you to my friendly waitstaff who had been ever-so-vigilant to the poor, lonely traveler and headed to my next destination.
But I just couldn't find this place.
I was weaving, and looking, and searching, and looking at my maps and I couldn't find this gosh darn place.
And after I found myself about a mile into the Dublin suburbs, I had a feeling this wasn't the way to the Kilmainham Gaol Prison tour.
So with a heavy heart and throbbing feet I turned on my heel and headed back to the town center to try and figure out what to do next.
Then, by some grace of God, as I was waiting for the crosswalk signal to turn for me to cross an intersection I happened to look to my left, and up the street a little ways I saw a prison/castle-like building.
I followed my gut, and low-and-behold it brought me straight to the Kilmainham Gaol.
So a bit of a rocky start (minus my fabulous brunch) to Dublin, but I made it to my destination, and I was happy about that.
Remember what I said about traveling alone, and some people taking pity on you?
Why yes, that would be child's discount.
Keep the pity coming, folks! I don't mind one bit if it saves me a couple Euros here and there
Anywho, this is the Kilmainham Gaol.
In all honesty, I probably could have done without this tour. But I basically walked 5 miles to get there and back, so I wanted to have something to show for it. But all-in-all it was really cold and pretty depressing. I know, what did I expect visiting an old prison... But there were bits and pieces of it that I found interesting and educational. And we all know I love a good fun fact.
For example, do you know why the Irish flag looks the way it does?
No one really likes British rule I've come to find out. My native country included...
Naturally, I can't resist a good cappuccino or dessert, and the cafe they had at the end of the tour was just what I needed as a little pick-me-up before I ventured back to the center of Dublin.
Once I got back to the center I decided it was probably a good time to see St. Patrick's Cathedral, as the sun was setting and it was turning into a beautiful evening.
Don't you just love that panoramic view? It's such a cool feature on the iPhone.
And no, this isn't a paid advertisement, I swear.
Although, any Apple reps reading this, I wouldn't mind getting paid to advertise -- I'm pretty well-versed in your products that's for sure.
And by well-versed I mean addicted.
But we'll get into that another time.
After stopping to see St. Patrick's Cathedral I honestly just ambled around a bit more. Like I said, Dublin wasn't as easy to navigate as Edinburgh, but I honestly was fine just moseying through the streets at my own leisurely pace.
Leisurely being the key word here, because I actually at this point had really swollen feet from all my walking on the uneven cobblestones and my left Achilles Tendon was starting to hurt from all that walking and I was reduced to a much slower pace.
So before I retired for the night I grabbed dinner at this authentic Irish burger place that got great reviews and use only fresh, grassfed, humanely treated beef for their burgers.
Yup. That all sounds about right to me.
So what did I order you ask?
An authentic Irish burger, of course!
Sweet Mother Mary come to me, speaking words of wisdom LET IT BE.
NOW THIS IS HOW YOU DO A BURGER, PEOPLE.
Help me Rhonda, this sucker was good.
And why yes, that is an onion ring and thick cut of bacon in the middle there.
I don't know what Heaven looks like, but I'm pretty sure these are in easy and accessible supply.
Did I mention this was a good burger?
Needless to say I fell into quite the food-coma after this guy -- which wasn't a bad thing either. I had a fun-filled day of sight seeing to do the next morning.
The first stop? The Guinness Storehouse.
Yes, I most definitely needed my rest for that.
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