Visiting the Homeland!

     Dia dhuit or Hello in Gaelic! I just got back from Dublin and it was AMAZING!!! The Irish are so friendly and helping. At the first glance of confusion there is someone that stops and asks what you're looking for or if you need some help. I went with one other girl that is on my program and we packed in a lot in 3 days. We left Thursday night and checked into our hostel. The hostel was actually really clean and nice for the price we paid. Sadly I did not get any pictures of our room the first night, but it was a very fun atmosphere with free breakfast every morning! After checking in we went down the street and found a bar and just hung out and talked to some locals. Sad part is that since Ireland is in a bad financial states drinks were a weeeee bit expensive this weekend!


     On Friday we got up decently early to head over to the Guinness Brewery and did the tour. We also shelled out the extra 7 euro to learn the history about Guinness, get tastings of all their beers, and of course to become experts at pouring the Guinness draft from the tap! There were about 9 of us total learning from these 2 experts who talked about how Guinness was started, how the beer was made, and how you are supposed to drink Guinness. Yes there is a specific way you are supposed to drink the beer to get the full flavor of the beer. Fun fact, the Irish used to give those who gave blood a pint of Guinness after they donated blood because the Guinness draft helps the iron content in your blood is has natural vitamins! I would recommend if anyone is ever in Dublin to shell out and do the extra private session, especially you Pat. We got 3 sample tastings then a complimentary pint of Guinness draft that we poured on our own after learning the 6 step method of the proper way to pour it from the draft. After become experts on Guinness we did the self guided tour of the area and learned all about the brewing process (most of which I knew in a general basis thanks to Pat). The entire place was huge and best part of all with our admission we got to go up to the Gravity Bar atop the factory which has a 360 degree view of Dublin. Since it was a decent day out it was simply amazing to look out onto Dublin with no impeded views!! After Guinness we went back to the Hostel took a nap then headed out for the night.


     Saturday we woke up and decided to have a relaxing day and went on a tour of Dublin castle, then walked along the river Liffey to the docklands area. It was simply gorgeous out, sun shining, small amount of clouds and warm! It was a wonderful break from the always gray and windy London. We learned a great deal about the origins of Dublin and how the name actually came from a series of cultures not understanding what the previous one was saying. The vikings who originally founded the city called it Dufflin which meant Black Pool, due to a pool of water that was black near their castle. When the English came they heard the name and thought the vikings were saying Dublin. Thus the name stuck and it has forever been called Dublin. After the tour of Dublin Castle we went into the gift shop and of course I found things all around the store with the McLaughlin family name on it. Best of all you could purchase certificates that gave the history of the name, motto, famous lineage in it (as in kings and etc.) and coat of arms. While it was quite expensive to buy that, the best part was that the example that was on display was of course the McLaughlin last name. It was like I was meant to go through the store. In the end I bought a shot glass with McLaughlin on it along with the family crest! Along our walk of the River Liffey, we saw Christchurch, St. Peter's, Temple Bar area, and monuments to the Famine.

St. James' Gate

Me pouring my perfect pint

The SURGE! The teacher was impressed with how well I did

Guinness buys/used 3/4 of the grain grown in Ireland

View of Dublin from the Gravity Bar

Couldn't believe that our family name was the one used for an example

Should have bought it!

Christchurch

View of Dublin down the River Liffey

Every street name was in English and Gaelic

Tribute to the Famine

     All in all the trip was simply amazing and Dublin is one of my new favorite city. The atmosphere was just so relaxing and things never seemed to be in a rush! Hope you enjoy the pictures and until next time (which might be Windsor Castle) take care everyone!