A Drunken Couple of Days in Dublin

I mean, it's Dublin! The home of the iron livers and quick comebacks, what other convincing would you need to have to go there? There is the Guinness Factory, the Jameson Distillery, O'Connell Street and the famous Temple Bar. Plus, there is nothing like an Irish breakfast with and Irish hangover.

Quick Tips:

Bring extra money, Advil and leave extra space in your bags for all of the Guinness and Irish memorabilia. Please bring a camera and grab a pamphlet from your hotel/hostel for local info and things to do.

Best Way To Get Around:

The bus from the airport is the best thing to do, since it is only a couple of Euros roundtrip, opposed the dozens or so a cab will cost you. While in the city itself, a cab would do you well, otherwise, a gingerly walk is a great way see it all. Be careful, the cars drive on the other side of the road, so beware when crossing!

The Isaac’s Hostel (www.hostels.com/noavailability.php?Weekend=1) is located in the city center of Dublin near the bus station and Connelly train station. The location is great (just blocks from Temple Bar area) and the price can’t be beat, at about $22 a night for a mixed dorm. The only problem with this place is the beds. The beds are pushed tightly together and are a bit on the uncomfortable side. However, the lounge on the first floor and the game and common rooms in the basement are great. With a soda machine full of Guinness, a TV room full of comfy couches, a plethora of games (such as pool and the like), a row of Internet capable computers (that you have to pay for) and a full restaurant and outdoor patio.

The ambience was great and the people there were hilarious. The restaurant next door was a bit on the pricey side, but the food was decent. Also, there is plenty of information on what to do in Dublin via the tourism bureau and the packets are worth it, so pick some of those up. Also, if you need to make international phone calls, there is an Internet café down the street with great prices for both the Internet usage and the phones. So, if you find yourself in Dublin at some point and need a place to crash without affecting your wallet too badly, Isaac’s Hostel could be the place for you.

While in Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse must be a stop on everyone’s trip! This place is great. The aroma of fermenting beer can be smelled for blocks on end and as you get closer and the smell gets more powerful, you know that you are in the land of Guinness’ St. James Gate Brew House. Admission for this place is 14 euros at the door (or a 9.50 euros for students) and you get your money’s worth. Upon admission, you are given a little paper weight with a pull tab on it. Inside the paper weight, there is an actual drop of Guinness in it. After getting your tickets (they are cheaper online so try that out - www.guinness-storehouse.com) you walk into the world that is Guinness and the adventure begins. The entire history is explained to you from conception to finished product through visual presentations. The first room explains how Guinness is made with hops, barley, and of course love. Just kidding. The main ingredient that the Storehouse promotes is WATER. With a giant indoor waterfall and that overpowering smell of barley and hops, this place really envelopes you. As you ascend the Storehouse, the history of how Guinness came to be becomes very apparent. From the first can design, through the multiple changes to the design, the introduction of the Toucan drawings and the like and the memorabilia.

The next floor consists of the needed information of over consumption and personal habits. There is one room set off to the side that has a grouping of interactive televisions that show testimonials and information about alcohol and its effects. Some of these stories are too funny and others hit a serious note, so be wary. Then, the ever ascending escalators bring you up to the Source Bar and the Brewery Bar. Try not to stop at these because you have to pay for your drinks at these places, when upstairs they are free.

Now, the top floor is where the magic of the Storehouse comes to life. The entire room of the Gravity Bar is surrounded by glass and overlooks the entire city and can see for miles on end. Do not forget to bring your camera to this place. You can see the Spire and the mountains off in the distance and then of course the brewery in all of its glory. Now, remember that paper weight with the pull tab on it? Well, the bartenders here take your paper weight, pull your tab off, give you a fresh Guinness and here is the kicker. They put a Shamrock in the head of the beer. This Shamrock stays in the foam all the way down to the bottom of the glass.

So, when in Ireland, do as the Irish do (or something along those lines) and enjoy a Guinness, but I hope that at least one of Guinness’ is consumed at the Storehouse. Enjoy!

The first time I went to Dublin, I was overwhelmed by the things this city had to offer, so I went down to O'Connell Street and bought myself a tour bus ticket. Then I got on the bus, parked my ass on the upper deck with my headphones, plugged them in and awaited the outcome of my tour. The bus started slowly and the automated voice came on explaining the area of O'Connell Street and the history behind it. Then the bus zoomed around the city stopping every couple of blocks to allow you get on or off, if you so desired. My first stop I had decided was the Guinness Factory, the last stop on the bus. I got off, and explored the wonderment of the adult Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Upon reentering the bus, I allowed myself to be whisked off to the river's edge and walked over the newly constructed walking bridge. While back on the bus, the automated voice filled my head with knowledge of Dublin's past and the way that planned to go in the future. The bus tours, no matter what city you are, is a great way to get a tasters portion of the city if your time is limited. But, if you are like me and don't like to be recognized as a tourist, theise buses scream tourist, so beware of who is around. Pick pockets love tourist. But this bus tour was great and I would suggest it to anyone down Dublin way. Its great crack.

I know, Guinness, rowdy Irishmen, more Guinness, more rowdy Irishmen and then some Sheppard’s Pie. What else is there to do? Well, there’s a lot to do, I think, but the presence of Guinness and rowdy Irishmen is plentiful. Upon arriving in to the Dublin airport, there are many ways to actually get into the city center. I would recommend the city bus. It is a 4-euro round trip fair and it brings you into the city via O’Connell Street. You could also take a cab into the city, but that can set you back a pretty penny. I think the quotes that I got were around the 45-50 euro fair for a cab. Why spend all of thank valuable drinking money on a cab will run you up. Some friends of mine took a cab from the airport and didn’t know where they were going (they knew the hostel’s name, but not the location) and were driven in circles while the meter ran up. They ended up paying 65 euro for their 20-minute ride. So, be wary about cabs.

The hostel that we stayed at was the Mount Eccles Court (www.hostels.com/en/availability.php/HostelNumber.105) just off of O’Connell Street, north of the famous Temple Bar region. This area was great. The price was cheap, I think about 20 euros per night for a four-bed private room. It wasn’t bad at all. The amenities were a bit bare, but the Internet was free and drinks were cheap. Anyway, the first thing that we did was unload our bags and walk our asses down O’Connell Street towards the Temple Bar area.

The Temple Bar area is the area of Dublin where the partying is the most intense. There is literally a bar every couple of feet. With the old, cobblestoned streets and oddly placed streets, the whole area is a drunkards’ nightmare, yet it is always packed. The cops are out in full force seven nights a week, so if you are the fighting type, please stay away from this neighborhood. A main staple that all should do is head to The Temple Bar. Temple Bar is the quintessential Dublin bar with great, cheap Guinness and some great live music when they offer it. After that, I would suggest just walking around the area, floating in and out of bars like some drunken vagabond. It’s a unique experience because I can guarantee that by the second bar, you will have an entourage. The Irish are very friendly and love a crowd while drinking. If you get a chance, head out of the Temple Bar and walk over the walking bridge as a way to regain yourself, then head back to the Jameson Distillery. I missed my opportunity to do that because I was too drunk, but try it because I heard it is great.

As the night crept up on us like a stalker at midnight, we couldn’t do it any more. We crawled back to the hostel, literally, and caught up on rest so that the next day we could tackle the biggest thing that Dublin has to offer; The Guinness Factory. This is something that all people should do. The price is fair and the sky bar is unparallel. Also, that walk over there is full of old castles and factories, giving the feeling of what the past once was while feeling the presence of modern day Dublin with passing buses (some able to go right into the Liffey River) and cars and bustling amounts of tourists. After the brewery, there are plenty of bars that seem to come out of the wood works after you have been on the beer tour. I would highly suggest floating through each bar, experiencing all of the different styles, locals and drinks, while still absorbing the ever-present aroma of the brewery.

The next morning, we woke up with the biggest hangover that the world has ever seen and decided that a traditional Irish breakfast was in order. On the other side of O’Connell street, on Middle Abbey Road, there is a little offset Irish restaurant with a great 7-euro breakfast deal (I can’t remember the name, but you will see it because it is the only place with outdoor seating). Then, we went to the giant mall located further down Middle Abbey and explored for a while until it was time to catch the bus back to the airport and then finally, home. Boo!

But Dublin was a great city and I can see why people save for years just for a glimpse. An remember, that when you go, leave room in your bags for the Guinness merchandise that you will definitely buy. Everyone comes home with something. Wait and you’ll see.