Cheers!
The first day of our adventure overseas began with an overnight flight from Chicago to Dublin. When we arrived, Our first task was to figure out how the heck to get to our hotel. As if it wasn't bad enough to be driving on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the car, in the middle of a big city...throw in a few roundabouts, a few busses, and a few tollroads and you have one hell of a mess on your hands! Not to mention the serious lack of road signs!!! We eventually got our GPS working, and things began to go downhill from there. By the time we made it to our hotel room in Dublin at 10am, our adrenaline rush had taken a SERIOUS nose dive. Our hotel room wasn't ready yet, so Jim and I cuddled up on the couches in the lobby with our arms and legs entertwined with our luggage to ensure that they'd still be there when we woke up! I think that the nice gentleman at the front desk of the Regency Hotel took pity on us and found us a room as fast as he could.
The River Liffey
After sleeping away most of our first day in Ireland, we hopped a double decker bus which let us off at the downtown area (Connor St.). We spent the evening in the Temple Bar area and had a blast! For those of you familiar with Chicago, the Temple Bar area reminded me a bit of the bars on Rush and Division. Cars weren't allowed down the street in the evening, allowing tourist to roam the streets freely. Pubs were lined up one after the other down the street with tourist shops scattered in between. Vendors on the side of the street were playing music, and selling trinkets and flowers. We had dinner and drinks at Quays Restaurant, and then wandered around shopping, sight seeing, and, of course, stopping for a drink every now and then.
The Temple Bar
We ended up spending most of the night at The Temple Bar, and had a really great time. The bar was VERY busy, but we managed to find a seat perfect for people watching...right near the front door! The bar had a great atmosphere--very fun and friendly--and was featuring a local band playing traditional Irish music. It was the perfect way to spend our first night in Ireland! Before we headed back to our hotel, we made a drunken pit-stop to a place called Hungry Harry's for a slice of pizza. Phew...now that I think about it, I wonder how we ever made it back to our hotel? Although we didn't see much of Dublin, we still had a great time. However, in my opinion, the hustle and bustle of Dublin City can not compare to the awe and beauty of the Irish countryside.
Pleasantly Surprised...
I didn't really have any expectations leading up to our stay, but I would have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The outside of the building could use some updating, which was the cause of my initial hesitation, however the inside of the hotel was a very unique mixture of classic and modern decor. The lobby had crystal chandeliers and marble flooring, which impressed me right-off-the-bat! The hotel in general was very "green"--motion sensored lights in the hallways, and rooms where the electricity did not operate unless the occupants were in the room. The rooms and bathrooms were clean and comfortable and the staff was very friendly--they went out of their way to get us a room right away, even though it was only 10am and check-in wasn't until 3pm. The city centre is only about a ten minute bus ride, and the bus picks you up and drops you off right in front of the hotel. The hotel has a few restaurants and a lounge within that were very convenient--especially when we got back from the city in the evening and weren't quite ready to head up to bed ("just one more drink")! The only real negative was the renovations that were taking place in other parts of the hotel. Some of the hallways leading to our room had exposed wires and rooms in mid construction (drywall dust and debree in the hallway); however, our wing was construction free! All in all, I'd stay there again!
The Regency Airport Hotel, Dublin
