Ireland

Welcome to Ireland Y'all

Fortunately, to get my butt over here to Europe for my month of studies, we were able to use frequent flyer miles for a free ticket. On top of that, one of the advantages of flying is that you can usually include an extra stop between your two main cities. So I decided to make my stop in Dublin, Ireland.

I left U.S. soil July 3rd and arrived on the ever so green Irish soil on July 4th. My main goal of my stop in Dublin wasn't to find U2 playing in a local park or Pierce Brosnan prepping for his next James Bond film, but to finally decide if Guinness was a beer I really like or really just don't enjoy. Anywhere you go in the world, and I mean anywhere, you will find an Irish bar and Guinness. It is really good beer or excellent marketing. What better way to find out than going straight to the source.

Yes, straight to the source

After a mandatory 2 hour nap to recharge my batteries from hardly sleeping on the flight over from Philadelphia (Philly should really be renamed the "We're not really that interested in your sorry ass city"), I grabbed my backpack and headed in the general direction of the brewery. After going the long way to the Guinness brewery, I was standing within the brewery that helped feed thousands of Irish during the lean and good times. There is nothing like a Guinness to chew on.

Entrance to the Brewery

I joined all of the other enthusiasts in touring the brewery that is in the shape of a pint of the black beer. Each stage revealed the brewing process, ingredients (one Eastern European decided to eat a few of the hops that hundreds of people run their hands through everyday), and the advertising. It was at this point when I was watching an advertisement that I realized that one of the commercials they were showing was of good ol' American football. Upon closer observation, it was high school football from none other than the great city of ODESSA, TEXAS! Let me tell you, there is nothing like being abroad and being reminded of the notoriety and grandness of your home state and town. Hmmmm, I don't remember seeing any commercials about that state to our west.

Yes, that football you see in the video is from Odessa, TEXAS! All the way over in Ireland

Eventually I passed the seven levels/floors of a Guinness and arrived at the top floor, the Guinness Gravity Bar. The Gravity Bar rendered a 360 degree view of downtown Dublin. Usually when people first step into the Gravity Bar, they immediately head to the round bar for their complementary pint of Guinness. I on the other hand, realizing the magnitude of what was about to transpire, took my time, walked around, took in the view, took some photos, watched others drink their pints, and then leisurely strolled up to the bar. The moment of truth arrived, do I like Guinness that's straight from the source? I mentioned my mission to the young gal serving the pints, so she decided to make my first time special. She put the shape of a shamrock in my Guinness.

If you look closely, you can see the shape of a shamrock in my pint

LIterally seconds before my first drink of the day, but definitely not the last one

I grabbed my pint, kindly asked a couple to take the above photo, raised the glass up, and took my first drink. A few minutes later, several drinks later, I had came to my final decision about Guinness - I don't like it. Like any good tragedy, you'd expect me to really love the beer, but sadly, I didn't like it that much. Downstairs, I gave the Guinness family another chance at redemption with their Kilkenney beer, and I have to say that I liked that beer quite a bit more.

After another beer and a turkey sandwich, I figured I should make my first visit to Dublin more than just the Guinness brewery. The problem is, I had a hard time orientating myself on the map and walked around a good hour not seeing much of interest other than local housing. I am sure that the beverages played no part in my misdirection as much as the lousy map I was using. I am sure of it.

I love Magnum bars. Maybe I should make a pilgramage to the Magnum ice cream factory in Great Britain

My trip to Dublin, Ireland was brief and enlightening. I think Dublin would best be experienced with my two girls and friends. So next time, I am going to bring those folks with me.

So the next morning, I jumped on a bus, the incorrect one, but fortunately it was a direct bus to the airport, and I was on a plane to Geneva, Switzerland where I hoped to catch a train to Besancon, France where I would complete my studies for the month of July.

Alright, next entry will be about my first week in Besancon.

The first person that leaves a comment on this blog entry with a special word that I have to use (ex. booger) in the next blog, I will send you a postcard from France.

John

You might enjoy this extra reading