Hard out of the gate....St. James Gate that is

There is nothing like the feeling of getting your passport stamped with a new country. For my sister and I, that occurred around 7 AM this morning (Dublin time, 2AM NY time).

Today was rough but amazing! After arriving, we hopped on a double decker bus to take us into the city. Well not so much hopped. More like crouched. Being a double decker, the ceilings are a bit low and I am a bit tall. Added with the fact that my pack sticks out over my head and it made for an interesting experience trying to navigate my way up the stairs to the top floor.

After a short bus ride in, we were dropped off by the tallest sculpture in the world, the Millennium Spire or Spire of Dublin. I found it particularly interesting that the spire was named for the turning of the millennia but wasn't built until three years later in 2003.

We proceeded to walk into the heart of Dublin and Temple Bar. We dropped our packs off at Barnacles Temple Bar House hostel and consulted a local on the street for a good cheap cafe.

Once rejuvenated by our coffee, we felt ready to tackle the 3 hour long free walking tour of Dublin hosted by SANDEMANs New Europe. Aside from seeing some amazing sites such as Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, and Trinity College, our tour guide was hilarious and gave us a run down on the entire history of Ireland along with some interesting trivia. For instance, did you know that it was legal to shoot a Catholic as long as you used a crossbow and did it on a Wednesday. The tour was over around 2 and we figured when in Ireland do as the Irish, so we went to get a Guinness straight from the source. 

The factory was huge. The price of admission was a bit steep for a self guided tour but was worth it considering the free pint and amazing view from the Gravity Bar at the top.

We were thoroughly whipped after the tour and went back to the hostel, cooked up some dinner, and headed out for a drink at The Auld Dubliner in Temple Bar. After a Bushmill's on the rocks, Kate was ready to coma. She went to bed and I grabbed my tripod and went back out to get some night shots of Temple Bar. I ran in to Dalissia and Cathy, fellow backpackers we met on the flight over, and we went out to The Quay Bar and Temple Bar. By midnight I was spent and called it a night.

Until tomorrow, Tìoraidh!

...and beyond

If you are interested in checking out more about what we're experiencing, Google the following:  Fuzzy Brushes, Jedi Library at Trinity College, 2nd largest collection of Korans in the world, Barbara Walters Potatoes, the Titanic and the Liffey Bridge, and Fr. Pat Noise.

*pictures will be up soon