It is strange how you can live somewhere for an extended period of time, yet still feel like you know nothing about the place. I like to believe I know a thing or two, but after two weekends of traveling and a relatively quiet week on campus, I was in a need of a few solid days in Dublin. Saturday in particular was a beautiful day to be here as Ireland took on Italy in the opening match of the RBS Six Nations rugby championship. The idea seemed simple enough; head to city centre in the middle of the day, catch the match in a pub, and try not to head home until after the buses stop running. I apologize in advance for the change in writing material with this post, but it went something like the following:
Eoin and I left Belgrove around noon and missed the number 10 bus by 10 seconds; waited thirty minutes for the next one. Push started a car for an elderly gentlemen, and decided then and there that it was going to be a good day. Walked around Trinity for a bit looking for a bathroom before meeting Ricardo, and Italian student also studying in Dublin. Ended up at O'Donoghue's on Baggot St. after trying four other pubs to watch the match; Ireland wins 29-11. Highlights there included the crazy mumbling guy, meeting Lauren's friend Liam from Australia, and trying to convince people to shut the door that kept letting in cold air. Enjoyed a footlong from Subway for dinner while the others went to Porterhouse, which we then discovered was actually the Port House. Headed to Hairy Lemon to kill some time and met Gareth and Laura, two local Dubliners in their late twenties. Gareth buys Eoin a pint, brilliant. Next stop: Hogan's. Went to get some chocolate from Dunnes and decided (good/bad idea) to get a hip flask. It made sense at the time, but after I bought the cokes to mix with the bartender followed us to the bathroom and Eoin and I were promptly kicked out the side door; all I got was a stiff push and the words "times up chief". We both got back in and Eoin bought a pint, but an hour later when I tried to they would not serve me and I was again escorted out by a bouncer. In my mind the entire staff was after me. Eoin got the boot next, but put up a bit more of an fight than I had and ended up spilling his new pint on the bouncer; arguments ensue. Have it be known, at the same time Ricardo was working on his own hip flask... . Quite disappointed, the rest of my loyal friends decided to leave as well and we headed to Féile on Wexford St. Ricardo and Eoin disappeared for an hour thanks to my awful directions but eventually got back. Highlights there included being serenaded by a man who we thought worked in the pub but then got kicked out himself for being obnoxious, the dance off between Eoin and Bridget plus an old man who tried to get in on the fun, being cornered by the same old man in the bathroom and having a spirited conversation about American politics, and finding a non-existent alley way to finish off the hip flask we had attempted two hours earlier. Convinced we had enough craic for one evening, we headed to Eddie Rockets where we met a random local named David who had a milkshake with us; Eoin scored a free bowl of chips, but a battle broke out between Bridget and Eoin when she knocked them to the ground outside. The battled continued verbally in the van on the ride back, but everyone made it home in one piece.
The big question is, what did I learn this weekend: Ireland is a force to be reckoned with in the 6 Nations, never buy straight coke in a pub and expect the bartender to think you are just the designated driver, and Féile is the place to be for cheap pints and a great evening out in Dublin. Hogan's? Maybe I will try again in a month. In other news, back to the grind with classes this week but I am looking forward to it. Perhaps next weekend I can get to the museums I planned on visiting and to Phoenix Park. It is hard to believe I have been here for almost a month now. Part of me feels like I got here yesterday and the rest feels like I have been here for a long time. I guess I am just trying to hold on for the ride. Cheers.
Eoin and I left Belgrove around noon and missed the number 10 bus by 10 seconds; waited thirty minutes for the next one. Push started a car for an elderly gentlemen, and decided then and there that it was going to be a good day. Walked around Trinity for a bit looking for a bathroom before meeting Ricardo, and Italian student also studying in Dublin. Ended up at O'Donoghue's on Baggot St. after trying four other pubs to watch the match; Ireland wins 29-11. Highlights there included the crazy mumbling guy, meeting Lauren's friend Liam from Australia, and trying to convince people to shut the door that kept letting in cold air. Enjoyed a footlong from Subway for dinner while the others went to Porterhouse, which we then discovered was actually the Port House. Headed to Hairy Lemon to kill some time and met Gareth and Laura, two local Dubliners in their late twenties. Gareth buys Eoin a pint, brilliant. Next stop: Hogan's. Went to get some chocolate from Dunnes and decided (good/bad idea) to get a hip flask. It made sense at the time, but after I bought the cokes to mix with the bartender followed us to the bathroom and Eoin and I were promptly kicked out the side door; all I got was a stiff push and the words "times up chief". We both got back in and Eoin bought a pint, but an hour later when I tried to they would not serve me and I was again escorted out by a bouncer. In my mind the entire staff was after me. Eoin got the boot next, but put up a bit more of an fight than I had and ended up spilling his new pint on the bouncer; arguments ensue. Have it be known, at the same time Ricardo was working on his own hip flask... . Quite disappointed, the rest of my loyal friends decided to leave as well and we headed to Féile on Wexford St. Ricardo and Eoin disappeared for an hour thanks to my awful directions but eventually got back. Highlights there included being serenaded by a man who we thought worked in the pub but then got kicked out himself for being obnoxious, the dance off between Eoin and Bridget plus an old man who tried to get in on the fun, being cornered by the same old man in the bathroom and having a spirited conversation about American politics, and finding a non-existent alley way to finish off the hip flask we had attempted two hours earlier. Convinced we had enough craic for one evening, we headed to Eddie Rockets where we met a random local named David who had a milkshake with us; Eoin scored a free bowl of chips, but a battle broke out between Bridget and Eoin when she knocked them to the ground outside. The battled continued verbally in the van on the ride back, but everyone made it home in one piece.
The big question is, what did I learn this weekend: Ireland is a force to be reckoned with in the 6 Nations, never buy straight coke in a pub and expect the bartender to think you are just the designated driver, and Féile is the place to be for cheap pints and a great evening out in Dublin. Hogan's? Maybe I will try again in a month. In other news, back to the grind with classes this week but I am looking forward to it. Perhaps next weekend I can get to the museums I planned on visiting and to Phoenix Park. It is hard to believe I have been here for almost a month now. Part of me feels like I got here yesterday and the rest feels like I have been here for a long time. I guess I am just trying to hold on for the ride. Cheers.
O'Donoghue's
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