Dublin is such a great city! After breakfast, I just went out and explored. I didn’t want to pull out a map or any directions, so I just left the hostel and wandered in the city. I walked through the temple bar area, but just kept walking. I love doing this- I always try to get lost. Then when I do, I’ll usually just pull up the directions on my phone to get found. That’s what I did this morning.
When I was searching for dinner, I walked into a restaurant and found some guys playing traditional Irish folk music. I stopped and recorded one of their songs on Periscope. They did such a great job!
(I will upload my Periscope video when I have a better internet connection.)
After the performance, I found a great restaurant for dinner. The one with the players was so full and they didn’t have any tables available. I had some lamb shanks… at least I think that’s what I was eating. At any rate, I know there was some part of a dead, cooked lamb on my plate. It was very good!
Now it’s time for an unexpected turn. Back in October, I was perusing the internet, looking for a cheap ticket home (I’d already found a smoking’ deal on my one-way flight to Scotland). When I found a great deal, I quickly grabbed my credit card since I thought the deal wouldn’t be going on for long (it was THAT good!). It wasn’t until I received the confirmation email that I realized that I’d accidentally purchased the ticket from Belfast… yes- Belfast is in Ireland. No biggy- I just booked a flight from THE WRONG COUNTRY!
As luck would have it, I hadn’t yet booked the last part of my accommodations, so I decided that I’d spend the last part of this trip in Ireland. It’s been 11 years since I was last in Ireland, so it’s about time! Welcome to this next chapter of my journey. I am going to call it “Ireland 2”.
I managed to get a relatively cheap flight from Edinburgh got Dublin on Ryan Air. I can’t’ remember exactly how much it cost me, but I do remember it was a good deal. On future trips, I’m going to keep a better accounting of how much everything costs, that way I’ll know exactly if someone asks me.
Dublin is a great city! Since it’s been so many years since I was last here, it’s almost like I’m here for the first time. This is great because I plan on going out tomorrow and being a total tourist. It’s been raining today, and I had to go buy another umbrella because my last one was left at the flat in Edinburgh.
So far, I’ve had a chat one kid who is from Indiana. He is traveling internationally for the very first time, and he’s by himself. I think he’s a little bit overwhelmed because he’s decided to do the U.K., and parts of Western Europe as well. I told him to just relax and try to take one day at a time. I also told him he needs to start keeping a blog or at least record his experiences in a journal of some kind.
When I first got here, I was so hungry! The desk clerk told me that I needed to go eat at O’Neill’s Pub & Kitchen. This restaurant was a buffet style of service, but it wasn’t really a buffet at all. You walked to the line, and you could see all the food in front of you, and you just ordered. I had some shepherd’s pie and it was absolutely amazing!
21:08
Tonight I walked over to Temple Bar, which is not only a bar, but it’s a section of Dublin. I will admit that it’s a very tourist-packed area, especially if you like to drink. I don’t, but what I do love is the brick streets, and the lights at night, and the crowds that gather. People-watching is a whole different ballgame when the people you’re watching have had some alcohol.
Since I didn’t have any dinner (was still fine from O’Neill’s Pub & Kitchen), I thought the healthiest option would be to have a milkshake made with Kinder candy bars.
DavTravels 