I didn’t really plan to go to Dublin. About a month ago I got an email from a friend that said, “We just bought tickets to Dublin for 40 quid. We’re leaving the day we hand in our first essay. Wanna come along?” I glances through the door and asked Vanessa “Want to go to Dublin with Yvette, Yula, Pedro and Philip after we hand in our essays?” She said yes and we bought the tickets on line all in a matter of minutes.
We then reimbursed ourselves in essay research and writing. We also had the Rotary Peace Seminar to distract us. So all of a sudden my finished essay was handed in and I was in a taxi with my five friends headed for Ireland.
We arrived at the Ashfeild Hostel (very nice and affordable) late Thursday night. First stop the next morning was Trinity Colleague to see the Book of Kells. The book is an illustrated copy of the gospel story created in 700 AD by Irish monks. The calligraphy and Celtic patterns are remarkable, as are the still preserved colours. As we walked the ancient library corridor I could almost smell the history radiating from some of the oldest books in the world.
Later we wandered the streets and we just happened upon a castle and a number of ancient cathedrals. Our stomachs began to growl and we learnt our first lesson we learned about Dublin - cheap food does not exists. Dublin is by far the most expensive place I have ever been in my life.
That night we headed out to the famous Temple Bar, a region famous for the night life. As we bounced through the bars we met all sorts of lively characters from Ireland and abroad.
We then reimbursed ourselves in essay research and writing. We also had the Rotary Peace Seminar to distract us. So all of a sudden my finished essay was handed in and I was in a taxi with my five friends headed for Ireland.
We arrived at the Ashfeild Hostel (very nice and affordable) late Thursday night. First stop the next morning was Trinity Colleague to see the Book of Kells. The book is an illustrated copy of the gospel story created in 700 AD by Irish monks. The calligraphy and Celtic patterns are remarkable, as are the still preserved colours. As we walked the ancient library corridor I could almost smell the history radiating from some of the oldest books in the world.
Later we wandered the streets and we just happened upon a castle and a number of ancient cathedrals. Our stomachs began to growl and we learnt our first lesson we learned about Dublin - cheap food does not exists. Dublin is by far the most expensive place I have ever been in my life.
That night we headed out to the famous Temple Bar, a region famous for the night life. As we bounced through the bars we met all sorts of lively characters from Ireland and abroad.
The next day we headed for the Saturday markets which were honestly a bit tiny and disappointing. That night we headed out again to the Temple Bar area, where we first listen to some rather bad hard rock band, and then later much better Irish folk music, and had a few pints.
On Sunday we went to church at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The giant church’s vaulted ceilings and stain glass awed us as we sat shivering in the drafty cold. Luckily the priest quickly warmed our hearts. It was Remembrance Sunday (like Remembrance Day for you Canadians) and his topic was ‘the abolition of war.’ It was the perfect rallying cry for a bunch of Peace Studies students like us.
After church we decided to see some Irish country side and headed out of the city on the train to the suburb where the guide book said Bono (the lead singer of the famous rock band U2) lived. However, when we got there we were told he did not. The disappointment continued. The map clearly marked a castle but everyone we asked for directions raised their eyebrows and said ‘castle?’ so we gave up. Oh well, with the poring rain and swirling wind it was the best kind of day to drink tea in a café anyways. That evening we heard some great Irish folk music (mixed in with modern classics like ‘Summer of 69’)at a lovely pub.
Monday was our final day in Dublin and there was only one important thing left to do – visit the
Jameson Whiskey factory. (I had passed on going to the Guinness storehouse since I don’t like the beer.) At the old factory we heard the story of John Jameson and had a science lesson in how whisky is made. Then they needed volunteers for whisky tasting and so of course I had to offer my services. I had to taste and compare three whiskies. I decided to tell a white lie and say Jameson was the best, even though I preferred the scotch, and as a reward was given a Whiskey tasting diploma – I’m now a certified whisky drinker : )
It was late and cold when we arrived back in Bradford, but every once of exhaustion was 100 % worth it. Dublin is a remarkable city and I’m very grateful to my wonderful traveling companions for making the treat a true adventure.
Peace Out!
On Sunday we went to church at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The giant church’s vaulted ceilings and stain glass awed us as we sat shivering in the drafty cold. Luckily the priest quickly warmed our hearts. It was Remembrance Sunday (like Remembrance Day for you Canadians) and his topic was ‘the abolition of war.’ It was the perfect rallying cry for a bunch of Peace Studies students like us.
After church we decided to see some Irish country side and headed out of the city on the train to the suburb where the guide book said Bono (the lead singer of the famous rock band U2) lived. However, when we got there we were told he did not. The disappointment continued. The map clearly marked a castle but everyone we asked for directions raised their eyebrows and said ‘castle?’ so we gave up. Oh well, with the poring rain and swirling wind it was the best kind of day to drink tea in a café anyways. That evening we heard some great Irish folk music (mixed in with modern classics like ‘Summer of 69’)at a lovely pub.
Monday was our final day in Dublin and there was only one important thing left to do – visit the
Jameson Whiskey factory. (I had passed on going to the Guinness storehouse since I don’t like the beer.) At the old factory we heard the story of John Jameson and had a science lesson in how whisky is made. Then they needed volunteers for whisky tasting and so of course I had to offer my services. I had to taste and compare three whiskies. I decided to tell a white lie and say Jameson was the best, even though I preferred the scotch, and as a reward was given a Whiskey tasting diploma – I’m now a certified whisky drinker : )It was late and cold when we arrived back in Bradford, but every once of exhaustion was 100 % worth it. Dublin is a remarkable city and I’m very grateful to my wonderful traveling companions for making the treat a true adventure.
Peace Out!
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