As soon as we arrived in Dublin, I knew this would be the beginning of an amazing trip. We crossed the iconic Ha’penny Bridge, the oldest iron cast bridge in the world, and arrived at our first stop – the infamous Temple Bar in the heart of Dublin’s most famous pub district. Five toasties and Guinness’, please! And let’s not forget the Irish Coffee as a digestif before hitting the cobblestone streets again. Since it was a typical gloomy, drizzly Irish day, we decided that it was the perfect opportunity to head over to Trinity College Library and immerse ourselves in this immense cultural treasure. The Long Room is a must! It is home to the Book of Kells and over 200,000 of Trinity’s most ancient books.
picture perfect spots full of history and beauty
Teeling Distillery is Dublin’s only operational distillery and the first to open after 120 some years. The tasting was incredible and we learned so much about the history of Irish whiskey as well as the whiskey making process.
Fun fact: Whiskey is spelled with an ‘e’ in Ireland and the US and spelleD Whisky without the ‘e’ in Scotland and Canada.
You should definitely visit the The Quays Bar for their delicious beef stew!
Stop by The Brazen Head for great, live music every night and a good ol’ time. It’s actually the oldest pub in Dublin, so it’s as traditional as it gets!
BIRTHDAY FUN
After a delicious, traditional breakfast, the first thing on the birthday itinerary was to visit The Guinness Storehouse. I can still remember the smell of the mash as we walked around the streets of Dublin – it literally filled the air with a delicious, boozy cloud. It has 7 floors full of Irish history and the story of how Guinness became Ireland’s iconic beer. The tour ended in Gravity Bar, Dublin’s highest bar, where we jammed to The Cranberries’ Zombie with a beer in hand while we watched the flurries sprinkle outside and cover Dublin’s spectacular view in white (by far one of the most special and surreal moments for me). At night, we went to the traditional pub, Merchant’s Arch, where the 5 of us ate, drank and danced my 20’s away, in true Nati style.
SIGHT-SEEING
Dublin enamored us all, but now it was time to visit the majestic scenery The Emerald Isle is known for. Visiting by train was our best option to visit all of the spots on our list in 3 days and I’m still astonished at everything we saw in such a short period of time. Without a doubt, Ireland is the place of ultimate, picturesque beauty. It will forever hold a special place in my heart. Not only did it leave me speechless most of the time, it made me feel thirty, flirty and thriving amidst a gorgeous backdrop.
* The spectacular Cliffs of Moher
* Visited the majestic, 15th century Bunratty Castle
* Walked uphill for the iconic and historic Rock of Cashel
* Kissed the Blarney stone in the Blarney Castle and visited the neighboring Cork city
* Saw the largest landscape of bedrock at The Burren
* Drank one of the best Irish Coffees in Galway
* Sang The Cranberries at the top of our lungs in Limerick
* Found the heart and soul of Irish music in Doolin
