New Years in Dublin

Since we haven't ventured out to amazing Russian block countries or 1000 year old cathedrals in the last few weeks, I figured we'd update the blog with our pics from new years.

When we got back home from our whirlwind journey to the west of ireland, we did a lot of walking around the city and laying low. This is at Trinity College, we went to see the book of Kells on December 31, but the exhibit was closed from Dec 21-Jan 3, my advice is do not visit Dublin during christmas, as NOTHING is open. Rightfully so however, as its the time of year when everyone is with their families.

One tourist staple that was open however, was the Guinness brewery at St. James Gate. T'was the perfect start to a great new years eve with my dad and wife! As everyone says, it is a very touristy experience, however, it's very well presented, gives a good history on the brewery and what goes into making the black stuff. You wander through the brewing process from malt to water, to hops, then go through the brewery's history and get a glimpse of the brewmasters.

There is also a section about their history of marketing campaigns and the different kinds of beer. This is definitely my all time favorite ad!After the marketing and logistics of the brewery, you head up to the sky bar and have a pint overlooking the city, it was pretty crowded when we got up there, but the views were indeed nice. The pic is at sunset in Dublin, at 4:15pm!

We then hitched a cab back home and got ready for dinner. We ate at Peploe's, an amazing restaurant on St. Stephen's Green. It was literally one of the top 5 meals I have ever had, starting with a lobster pasta and then a truffle-crusted halibut for my main course. Dad had wild boar and Er had pheasant. Most delicious wine as well!! Pic is outside Peoloe's!

After dinner we parted ways with Dad. Erin and I went to the Cellar bar, anamazing bar in the basement of the Merrion hotel. The cavernous arches and walls set a great ambiance. We had a bottle of champagne and then hung out with a couple from Dublin, who were very generous with their Tattinger Rose, c'etait mainifique!

Erin feeling festive on the walk home!


Everything else is going well out here, working the busy season grind, but keeping my tank held high! Erin's very anxious to start work, we are hoping her permit arrives shortly. The romance of a housewife has lost its appeal to her. We are planning our summer vacations and weekend excursions as well, with our honeymoon coming in a couple months!! We are also going for a weekend in Brussels the last day of February, gotta take advantage of that extra day this year!!

Miss you all!!

Wandering the West

Lou and I were graced with our first visitor for the holidays - Dave Doth! We celebrated Christmas in Dublin at home with a feast of lamb shanks and traditional Irish Christmas pudding. We then took off on a four day driving tour (Lou did all of the driving as he has become somewhat of an expert navigating the left side of the road) through western Ireland, making stops at the Rock of Cashel, Kinsale, Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula, Galway and Connemara. The landscape was everchanging....some areas were filled with mountains, kelly green hills and lakes while others were barren and so rocky it looked like we had landed on the moon. We also stopped to see the infamous Cliffs of Moher. To say we got wet running up to view the cliffs is an understatement. The wind and rain soaring up the 630 foot cliffs were so strong that at one point I was crawling on hands and knees to get down the path and the wind held Lou running in place to get to me. It was a good laugh! Here are some good pics that captured the trip!! Miss everybody and happy new years!


The Rock of Cashel - it was closed when we were there so we walked around the castle walls (about 20 minutes from Kilkenny, 2 hours from Dublin).
A pint of Guiness in one of Dingle's 52 drinking holes (pretty good for a town of about 6,000)
We then made it to a bar called Dick Mack's, which was formerly a shoe store, then started serving drinks, then recently shut down the shoe operation and didn't really clean up that part of the store. Important to note that there are two bars, Curran's and Foxy John's, which still operate as an antique store and hardware store during the day before opening the taps at night. Dick Mack's was amazing; its the only bar that doesn't hire its live music and instead relies on local musicians to stir the criac. The guy playing the harmonica chatted us up all evening and sang Irish (Gaelic) during the improv. It was a very rare and amazing experience. Our Dingle pub crawl nearly began and ended there that night.
It ended here for this lad as well.On the Dingle peninsula with the famDingle fisherman's port, a true fishing village.Dingle peninsula - the landscapes were utterly beautifulOur castle (manor) hotel in Tralee, we had a very relaxing night here to catch up from the two furious previous nights.Evidence from the previously described Cliffs of Moher experience, I am screaming while Erin managed a smile!We did manage to get a half-decent photo of the huge cliffs before our cameraman fell off the cliffs;-)At Ashford castle, in Connemara, absolutely beautiful!USA popsicle colored sheep. You need a big freezer to hold a 12 pack of these guys. It was a great time spent with our dad, can't wait for our next visitors, James and Marissa!!! Thanks for everything Dad!!!!