We made it even if our bags were 9 1/2 hours behind!
It’s great to catch up with Matt and Kat and to be staying at their new place right in the heart of Dublin’s financial district. Kat showed me round some of the important area (shopping precinct) yesterday afternoon and then we all had a lovely dinner out at a nearby restaurant
Today we enjoyed a Hop on – Hop off tour of Dublin and sheltered from the rain at the Guinness Storehouse! Interesting tour of the old St James Brewery, an internal steel structure, which has now become a museum as technology has marched on and the old building was no longer suitable or able to keep up with production required – 400 million litres per day – half of which is drunk here! The top of the building provides a great 360 degree view of the city – noticeably no skyscapers! Also provided is a pint of the best! We enjoyed lunch here also and some very nice dark Guinness bread.
A bit of trivia – the Guinness Book of Records came about to solve the problems of Guinness bartenders continually having to referee between patrons and their bets as to who was the best at what!
The River Liffey effectively divides Dublin into north and south, both rich in history especially rebellions! and there are several monuments and Kilmainham Goal that stand testament to this. Also interesting are the different links from the different countries perspectives to people of European history and the roles they have played – eg. Napolean. There are of course beautiful old cathedrals and buildings about the city (1 1/4 million people.) Most of the buildings are Georgian style and characteristically all have different coloured doors- very pretty and distinctive- the story goes that when the Irishmen come home seeing double they are reminded to think single!
