Ireland - Dublin

I packed for brutally hot weather. What we got in Ireland instead was "showery", which is the appropriate BBC Weather nomenclature for just about every day here. It's nice when it's sunny (maybe 2 hours a day?) but really cold the rest of the time. I bought a spiffy new North Face jacket (thanks mom!) and off we went.

Trinity College:

This is one of the most amazing college campuses I have ever seen. It doesn't stand up to Harvard obviously (I mean, obvi) but has it's own particular monastic charm. It also houses the Book of Kell, Ireland's most magnificent illuminated manuscript, an absurdly detailed treatment of the four gospels which was definitely worth the entrance fee. It was the life's work of several monks and still isn't finished. The color of the illustrations and illuminated text remains vibrant to this day (it was completed circa 800AD) except where the copper color has eaten through the velum. I felt particularly in touch with the monks given my tonsure.




I am too sneaky to be a monk.

Christ Church:

This church dates back to the 11th century with a really creepy old crypt underground. I understand that churches, temples, and monuments are standard tourist fare but every place seems to push these as their main attractions. There's cool history there but 15 minutes was plenty.

What is going on in this stained glass window?



Holy Knight with Yellow Halo: "Dude, I wanna touch your sword."
Holy Knight with Red Halo: "I swear to God, if your hand gets any closer, I'll stab you in the eye. And dude, how are you levitating?"

Guinness Brewery:

This was by far the coolest part of Dublin. It's like Disneyland but all about beer! You work your way up floor by floor learning about every process of making Guinness until you hit this incredible bar on the 7th floor with floor-to-ceiling glass walls offering a 360 degree view of all of Dublin. One of the floors was even about responsible drinking! ...which was empty. Did I mention you get a free Guinness just for taking the tour? It definitely tastes better at the factory. Truthfully, it was just different than the Guinness I'm used to but it does taste sweeter and truer to the roasted barley. The roasted barley tastes similar to a roasted coffee bean. Delicious.



Temple Bar:

This is the trendy bar area of Dublin, full of bars and "cultural events". Just about every traditional Irish pub features traditional Irish music and serves pint after pint of Guinness. It's quite touristy but many of the locals hang out there as well. It's also a popular backpacking destination given the many hostels and unshaven 20-somethings (see, I'm just fitting in). They need more foreigners here. Without the foreign eye-candy, I would have gone blind by now. The hottest Irish broad I've come across is Molly Malone:



Random Thoughts:

It's sad how much Boston wants to be Dublin. Did you know there really is a Grafton Street?



It's always full of people and offers some of the better street performers I've seen. On a whole, the musicians here are better than anywhere else I've been with the exception of New Orleans. People are playing everything from Beatle's covers to accordion to an acoustic metal set (weird but cool).

I've seen more lip piercings here than I thought possible. On that same note, there seem to be more young people here than most places. They loiter everywhere. It's weird. There are even signs in the bus that promote "anti-ageism week" Apparently, 60 percent of 55-65 year olds find "ageism" a problem in Ireland (the numbers could be slightly off, but you get it).


Currently listening to:
For those of you into the same music as me (you know who you are), check out Psyopus. Dillinger-esque with a mellow aftertaste.