Dublin: the land of ONE Starbucks
I am behind on blogging...for this I apologize.
On April 8, Erica and I were "leaving, on a jet plane..." destination: Dublin. Our flight was scheduled to take off at the wee morning hour of 6:25. We needed to be there 2 hours prior for check-in and the bus from central London to the airport took approximately 75 minutes. Long story short, Erica and I spent the night in the airport not actually sleeping although several travelers were sprawled out on the ground. We were highly amused at the mass of individuals who lined up at least 45 minutes before check in gates opened. Erica and I kept looking at eachother and being like, should we go get in line? And then we'd be like...nah... Best part is, when we finally went to get in line, our flight didn't have a line. Below is a picture of our line in comparison to other flights. A great start to the trip.
Home sweet Hilton...
I've got to be honest. I don't know if I was more excited that I was going to Dublin, or that I was staying at a Hilton hotel. If you refer to post "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn..." you can refresh your memory as to the accommodations that I have become accustomed to. I really am easily pleased as this is my list of what I loved about the Hilton. First, it was quiet. I am the lightest sleeper ever...we would walk down the halls and I'd turn to Erica and say "It's so quiet". Second, there was an ice machine. Third, TV. Fourth, the bed was amazing and we both had two pillows. Fifth, I got to take a shower where the water was above my head. Sixth, the work out facilities.
We thought it couldn't get better...it did. In the hotel shuttle en route to the hotel from the airport, Erica and I (at the same time) spotted the largest Tesco store we had ever seen. Erica and I love Tesco (grocery store). We then realized that it was right across the street from our hotel AND it was open 24 hrs. Pretty brill (short for brilliant). Only downside, they don't provide grocery bags for free. The guy was going to charge me and my response was, "are you serious?"
Our first night we stumbled upon a traditional irish dinner at a pub. This was my favorite thing we did in Dublin. The tables were picnic style with at least 30 people to a table. In addition to fabulous food, there was a live Irish band and Irish dancing. Everyone in the room sang along...clapping, pounding the tables... it was a hoot.
Erica and packed our last day (Monday) with tours and sight seeing. We started our morning with a Viking tour which took place in an old war machine that can travel on ground and also in water.
Our tour guide taught us the "Viking Roar" which we were to use when instructed. The "roar" was our way of attacking our enemies (mainly double decker bus tours). Erica and I did a better roar than the kids on the tour...am not sure if we should be proud of that or not.
Oh look, we get to wear hats... again, it's official...I don't look good in hats. I didn't look good in my dutch hat in Holland and I'm not lookin all that great in my Viking hat in Dublin. Erica, however, looks adorable as a Viking.
The following pictures are going to be somewhat random. We saw pretty much all of the important sites on that day and I don't have fun stories for all of them... we were on a mission.
Churches....
Dublin Castle....
Trinity College (Book of Kells)...
The famous Temple Bar...
We just couldn't get away from boats on Monday...
Thankfully someone came by and took our picture so that we could be in the boat together...
Side note: if you look closely, you'll see that I'm holding a green bag from a store called Carrolls. It would be fun for you all to guess how many times I went there while I was in Dublin...and then guess how many times I went in to the store in one day. Let's just say Erica is a real trooper.
On Sunday night, Erica and I took the hotel shuttle to a small town called Malehide which was about 15 minutes from the hotel. We were dropped off by the water (gorgeous) and had dinner at a pub.
As the title suggests...there was only ONE, count them ONE, Starbucks in Dublin. We were shocked to say the least as we have found multiple Starbucks in every city that we have visited. I don't drink coffee so it isn't a problem in that regard, but it is a problem when I want a Skinny Raspberry Peach muffin.
When all was said and done, Erica and I thought...
WAS
On April 8, Erica and I were "leaving, on a jet plane..." destination: Dublin. Our flight was scheduled to take off at the wee morning hour of 6:25. We needed to be there 2 hours prior for check-in and the bus from central London to the airport took approximately 75 minutes. Long story short, Erica and I spent the night in the airport not actually sleeping although several travelers were sprawled out on the ground. We were highly amused at the mass of individuals who lined up at least 45 minutes before check in gates opened. Erica and I kept looking at eachother and being like, should we go get in line? And then we'd be like...nah... Best part is, when we finally went to get in line, our flight didn't have a line. Below is a picture of our line in comparison to other flights. A great start to the trip.
Home sweet Hilton...
I've got to be honest. I don't know if I was more excited that I was going to Dublin, or that I was staying at a Hilton hotel. If you refer to post "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn..." you can refresh your memory as to the accommodations that I have become accustomed to. I really am easily pleased as this is my list of what I loved about the Hilton. First, it was quiet. I am the lightest sleeper ever...we would walk down the halls and I'd turn to Erica and say "It's so quiet". Second, there was an ice machine. Third, TV. Fourth, the bed was amazing and we both had two pillows. Fifth, I got to take a shower where the water was above my head. Sixth, the work out facilities.
We thought it couldn't get better...it did. In the hotel shuttle en route to the hotel from the airport, Erica and I (at the same time) spotted the largest Tesco store we had ever seen. Erica and I love Tesco (grocery store). We then realized that it was right across the street from our hotel AND it was open 24 hrs. Pretty brill (short for brilliant). Only downside, they don't provide grocery bags for free. The guy was going to charge me and my response was, "are you serious?"
Our first night we stumbled upon a traditional irish dinner at a pub. This was my favorite thing we did in Dublin. The tables were picnic style with at least 30 people to a table. In addition to fabulous food, there was a live Irish band and Irish dancing. Everyone in the room sang along...clapping, pounding the tables... it was a hoot.
Erica and packed our last day (Monday) with tours and sight seeing. We started our morning with a Viking tour which took place in an old war machine that can travel on ground and also in water.
Our tour guide taught us the "Viking Roar" which we were to use when instructed. The "roar" was our way of attacking our enemies (mainly double decker bus tours). Erica and I did a better roar than the kids on the tour...am not sure if we should be proud of that or not.
Oh look, we get to wear hats... again, it's official...I don't look good in hats. I didn't look good in my dutch hat in Holland and I'm not lookin all that great in my Viking hat in Dublin. Erica, however, looks adorable as a Viking.
The following pictures are going to be somewhat random. We saw pretty much all of the important sites on that day and I don't have fun stories for all of them... we were on a mission.
Churches....
Dublin Castle....
Trinity College (Book of Kells)...
The famous Temple Bar...
We just couldn't get away from boats on Monday...
Thankfully someone came by and took our picture so that we could be in the boat together...
Side note: if you look closely, you'll see that I'm holding a green bag from a store called Carrolls. It would be fun for you all to guess how many times I went there while I was in Dublin...and then guess how many times I went in to the store in one day. Let's just say Erica is a real trooper.
On Sunday night, Erica and I took the hotel shuttle to a small town called Malehide which was about 15 minutes from the hotel. We were dropped off by the water (gorgeous) and had dinner at a pub.
As the title suggests...there was only ONE, count them ONE, Starbucks in Dublin. We were shocked to say the least as we have found multiple Starbucks in every city that we have visited. I don't drink coffee so it isn't a problem in that regard, but it is a problem when I want a Skinny Raspberry Peach muffin.
When all was said and done, Erica and I thought...
WAS
posted by Kathryn.mills @ 1:56 PM
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