We  met a couple from Utah at breakfast today.  They are doing a 1 week blitz of Ireland.  One night in Dublin then off to Killkenny.  We are very lucky to have so much time, even though we feel we are missing a lot.

We take our hosts instructions for the city bus and head into town.  We buy a 48 hour Hop On Hop Off ticket from a woman in the office who is clearly tired of tourist season.  Not helpful or friendly on top of a bad lip job.  🙁   We leave the shop and hop on our first bus.  We are on the “Blue Line”  as opposed to the “Red Line”.  There are a few variations in route, but the most distinguishing feature is that it has a Live Guide.  We are on the upper level with the live guide.  He is pretty funny.  Probably a frustrated stand up history buff.  He tells us that we are on the Blue Line, but don’t worry all lines lead to Guinness!!  Sooo true.  Not many people hopped off the bus until the Guinness stop, us included.

We purchase our tickets (22 Euro each, seniors rate, 3 euro discount!!!  Almost a half pint in a bar  🙂 )  This is a self paced tour with lots of interesting Guinness history.  We learn how they roast the barley, add the hops and the yeast.  How important the water is.  We see an old video on how the coopers make the casks, all by hand without automation.  Scary looking woodworking tools!  I’m sure many fingers were sacrificed in the making of these casks.

We hop back on the bus and as it is just after 3 pm, to get of near the Temple Bar area.  As we walk across the bridge over the River Liffey we hear loud cheering.  We think there must be a game of some sort going on a the good guys scored.  Minutes later we see this vehicle driving by while cheering loudly.  Damn Vikings!!!

Here are a few Dublin city photos.

 

I have heard of Temple Bar, but I thought it was the name of bar.  Not so.  It is a large area that is full of bars and restaurants.  It is quite amazing.  We walk down one of the streets and here are some of the sight we see.

We wander around Temple Bar for a while and decide to go into a bar called the “Auld Dubliner”.  There is a young man performing here and we are fortunate to get a seat near the door and the stage.  It isn’t long before seats are at a premium.  The young performer has the bar a rockin’.  He is singing songs that I am not familiar with, but everyone else seems to know all the lyrics and all sign along.  The atmosphere is amazing.  It is between 4 and 5 pm, Friday night and many people are in good form already.  Can’t imagine what 9pm will look like  🙂

We leave looking to have a bit of dinner.  We find another place with live music, the Merchants Arch.  We share a Beef and Guinness pie with seasonal veggies.  A bit different style of music here.  More Dublin Fun.  This is the awesome staircase in the Merchants Arch,

Fun day in Dublin!!  We’ll see what tomorrow holds  🙂 !