PictureDavid and I off to Dublin!
Dublin, Ireland - a perfect spot for a birthday celebration with David!!  This trip was intended to be a surprise gift for David's 40th birthday last year.  But after visa and passport complications, the trip got delayed.  As all good things that are meant to be eventually work out - David got his US citizenship this summer and with his passport in hand we finally got to Dublin this August...a couple weeks before his 41st birthday!  So no matter what we really ended up celebrating...fun was had by all!!

Oh yeah - and at the last minute I almost thought the trip would be canceled as I was stuck in Houston with the Hurricane Harvey floods!  My house was OK, but all freeways leading up to Dallas, where our flight departed from, were flooded.  With our flight at 4pm, I left my house at 7am determined to find a route out.  By 9am, knowing I made it past the worst roads, I called David to say "We're going to Dublin today!!"    Read below for some of our trip highlights.

Trip Highlights

Shake off Jet Lag with an afternoon walk and Guinness! 
  • Our hotel, the Westin Dublin, was near both the river Liffey and Templeton bar area.  Perfect location!
  • On day 1 we grabbed some lunch and beer tasters at Porthouse Templeton Bar, took an afternoon walk along the river, and finished off the day with some guinness at Kehoe's Bar.   Just a little "warm-up" for the week!
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EJ at the River Liffey
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EJ and David at Kehoe's Bar
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First beer in Dublin - David is excited!
Put the beer down for a few hours and go learn some history of Dublin!  
  • Take a guided tour of Dublin Castle.   Enjoy walking around the medieval tower, chapel and state apartment.
  • Want to be amused at a very strange museum?!  Go to the Dublinia to learn all about the vikings and medieval era.  
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Dublin Castle
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Dublin Castle St. Patrick's Hall
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A view through the State Apartment window
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Dublin Castle Royal Chapel
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Progression of shoes at the Viking museum
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David secretly wishing he was a Viking
Lunch time!  Grab some take-away fish and chips from Leo Burdock's and have a picnic in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral.
  • Delicious (but heavy) lunch.   I suggest splitting an order.
  • The church is beautiful - enjoy the view.
  • Be smarter than David and don't feed the birds!  lol
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David feeding the birds!
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Leo Burdock's Fish n Chips
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Christ Church Cathedral
Ok - you've earned it...  Guinness Time!!
  • It's a nice walk over to the Guinness Storehouse.
  • We went in without a pre-purchased tour.  The line wasn't bad, but I do think you get a discount if you buy ahead of time, so I recommend that. 
  • This place is huge!  Good self-guided tour, and you get rewarded with a pint at the end.  Plus you can stick around all afternoon and buy more beers at the numerous bars they have.
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Guinness Time!
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Precise heating temp for Guinness
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Enjoying our pint at the Gravity Bar
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Learning how Guinness is made - Bubbles!
Book a tour to see the Cliffs of Moher - you won't regret it!!
  • Yes...its a very long day on the bus.  But it's worth it for the time spent at the Cliffs - getting out of the city and enjoying some fresh air.
  • We lucked out big time with unbelievable weather - wow!
  • We also got to see the Burren Geopark and walk around the city of Galaway for a bit.  
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EJ at the Cliffs
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EJ and David at the Cliffs
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Don't fall David!!!
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Cliffs of Moher
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Behind the Scenes Feet Photo
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Too close to the edge?!
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EJ at Burren Geopark
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Walking through Galaway
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David found his favorite spot at the Geopark
Ready to have some fun...experience the Dublin nightlife!
  • Walk up and down the Temple Bar area - awesome people watching.
  • Pop in and out of as many bars as you can.
  • Order a shot of whiskey and a pint.  Repeat...
  • Best of all - enjoy the live music!!  (Our favorite was upstairs at Gogarty's)
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The crowds on Essex St
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Live Music at Oliver St. John Gogarty
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Cheers!

​And now for a leisurely start to the day...with some nature and history
  • Enjoy a beautiful walk through St. Stephen's Green
  • Be wowed while walking through St. Patrick's Cathedral
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St. Stephen Green
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St. Patrick's Cathedral
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St. Patrick's Cathedral
Leisure day?  Ha.  Who are we kidding - it's Whiskey time!
  • Get ready for a great day at Jameson Distillery
  • The Whiskey Makers Experience was recommended to us by a friend (Thanks Barb!).  If you love whiskey...it's a definite must!
  • ​First...go eat this ridiculous burger at Jo Burger (in the distillery courtyard) before drinking that much whiskey.
  • Then just sit back in the "classroom/bar", pick your jaw up off the ground at how much whiskey is in front of you, be engaged and learn a lot...and just enjoy!!
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Yum...
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Our "station" in the class
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Molly - our awesome teacher!
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Did I mention you get to make your own whiskey!
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David and I proud of our whiskey concoctions!
Ready to be blown away...step into the Old Library
  • Walk through the beautiful Trinity College campus.
  • Check of the Book of Kells - very impressive
  • And then wait for it...just walk into the Old Library.  So amazing!!
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Trinity College Old Library
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EJ in the Old Library
Savor one last taste of whiskey at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery
  • Out of things to do on our last day, at the last minute we decided to check out Teeling Whiskey.  
  • The only operational distillery in the city.  Great tour, and great tasting (Jameson is better...but this was still surprisingly nice.)
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Touring Teeling
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The three copper pots
And finally - finish off your Dublin Experience with some more Live Music!

​Cheers David - to an awesome Ireland adventure!!  Slainte  

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