i'm hell on heels.

When I learned there is no open container law

thetimeistudiedabroad:

#2

I cannot believe I’ve been in Dublin less than a week, it feels like so many things have happened since I’ve been here.  When I last left off, we were getting ready for our second night out on the town where we began our night in the heart of Temple Bar, the district surrounding Temple Bar itself referring to all of the different clubs and pubs on this one main street.  Sarah and I decided to consider ourselves buddies for the night and so we walked into one of the bars off the main strip with loads of people singing, dancing, jumping around and having the time of their lives just like you would picture in an Irish pub.  The guy on the guitar was playing Mumford and Sons “Little Lion Man” when in walks the shady American from the day before… hmmph! Certainly gave him a piece of my mind, finished the song, and Sarah and I exited the building.  Too bad because it was really enjoyable, but at the same time so is every bar in Dublin.  Afterward, she and I stumbled across a little restaurant where she got some kind of french fries covered in like a garlic-y dip.  Yum!  We then met up with our new friends from the night before to take us over to a bar called Sine (pronounced either Sin-ay or She-nay, can’t remember which was correct) where there was live music that was reggae!  Instantly better.  From there, we went to Turk’s Head, another bar in Temple Bar that was again, very similar with music and singing.  Loads of fun.  

Friday morning we had yet even more orientation and afterward, we went to lunch in the restaurant on campus and I had the most delicious on fresh-baked bread and with really good Irish cheddar cheese.  I know it sounds goofy but it really was so good.  Afterward, we had meetings with our internship placement people who had instructions for us on how to get to our job interviews this week and what we can expect from the experience.  It was all pretty much straightforward and just as I expected.  My boss’ name is Alyson, just like last summer, which was kind of a funny irony.  I’m working at the Ballsbridge Hotel on the very ‘posh’ south side of Dublin doing corporate meeting and conference planning.  I’m looking forward to getting started at work.  I work like 9-5 Monday through Thursday with class from 6 to 9 pm on Wednesday and then again on Friday morning from 1030-1, I believe.  

Friday night we decided to go to Church…Bar.  It’s a gigantic old cathedral that’s been emptied in order to now serve as one of the hottest spots in Dublin, and it was overwhelmingly fun.  The upstairs is the portion that looks like you’re sitting in a church, but downstairs is a super fun dance club.  We stayed there all night and had the time of our lives.  

Saturday afternoon we went to the Guinness factory!  It was honestly way too cool.  I was expecting it to be more like a tasting room since that was the experience that I had last year at L. Mawby, but it was actually more like a museum that a guided tour/experience.  It was pretty cool but there were way too many people.  The tour moved up through a huge building shaped like a pint glass and at the very top, there was a bar with a 360 degree view of all of Dublin.  It was absolutely breathtaking, and they give you a free pint of Guinness!  Mine had a little shamrock drawn in the tap per the bartender.

Saturday night we went to a place called Flannery’s, and the bars here are way too cool.  This one was two floors and on the second floor, there is a room that’s open-air via a huge hole in the top called the “Beer Garden”.  It’s there for the atmosphere and so that people can smoke inside.  There were tons of dancing and it’s been so fun getting to know the locals.  Not too much else to report about that night in particular.  After the bar closed we walked through the streets of Dublin scoping out places to go to eat and hang out in the future, and I definitely saw a schawarma place!  Yesss :D  I cannot wait to go. 

Yesterday, we did a total of absolutely nothing.  It was so nice.  I did get my first workout in, which felt really good, and last night was probably my most fun in Dublin.  Ireland was playing Croatia in the first game of the tournament and we ended up at the most fun bar in town.  It’s called the Living Room and there were tvs the size of the wall.  We got dressed up in all orange and green, flag bandanas in our hair, flags painted on our cheeks, and joined the rest of the town in watching Ireland lose to Croatia :( But the crowd was still so fun.  The cheering, the chanting was just a riot.  We’re starting to pick up on all the different cheers.  There’s so much pride in the country and to be honest, I really loved watching the game.  Apparently, Irish people don’t like trash talking the other team as much as American does… and definitely not as much as my roommate does!  The bar was a little expensive but when we decided to try this beer that was advertised as ‘tequila flavored’, it instantly became worth it.  

AMERICA TAKE NOTE: GO FIND DESPERADO BEER.  EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT FLOWN INTO THE COUNTRY.  IT IS THE MOST DELICIOUS THING YOU WILL EVER TASTE.

Just add lime.

Anyway, after the game was over the crowd broke into a huge dance party and Ari lead us all up onto the stage to be the center of attention and the life of the party with the other cool locals where we danced the night away.  When things started dying down, we headed over to Temple Bar after stopping for a quick snack.  There was a group of people in the street singing Irish songs and dancing, banging on drums, it was the coolest!  We headed into one bar called “Madona’s” which was absolutely horrific and the Irish equivalent of Jersey Shore.  Then, we went into the true “Temple Bar” and had a drink with one of the locals I have met since I’ve been here and his friends.  They all broke out into a round of “Galway Girl” and my heart melted… it was just like in P.S. I Love You.  Temple Bar also has the open-air set up and it is one of the most famous but most expensive bars in Ireland.  I can absolutely understand why though, it was beautiful.  It’s way too funny though because when the bars close in Dublin… they give you a to-go cup!  Very different from America.

That’s enough remarks on the party scene!  There just hasn’t been too much else to do since we’ve been here.  Today, though, we’re going hiking and tomorrow we’re going to be starting in class. More culturally relevant posts to come starting tonight and tomorrow!  

Much love x