Jeff's Whirlwind Dublin Adventure

When Jeff told me that he was coming to Dublin I was really looking forward to it, even if it would only be a few hours on a stopover. He said he would be just as happy if we only sat drinking in the airport bar until his flight had to leave. We decided to go into town and see something if at all possible.

So we dumped his bags off and jumped on the bus. On the journey into town, it was as if I had known Jeff a lot longer than the 4 days that we had known each other over in Paris. In the last few days we really got on well and this time round was no different at all.

We jumped off the bus along O'Connell Street so I could show Jeff the amazingly crappy Dublin Spire, I was able to make the disappointing spike a little more interesting by explaining the history behind it and how Nelson's Column once stood in its place until the IRA blew it up.

Also along this road I showed him the GPO which gave me a good chance to discuss the 1916 Easter Rising that helped to bring about our Independence.

From there we jumped on the LUAS. Thats the Irish metro system that has two lines, how advanced is that? We took the LUAS as far as St James Hospital so we could go to the Guinness Brewery.

While we were walking there I suddenly realised that I have never done the tour. Sure I have had my work Christmas party there last year which was amazing but I suddenly became very excited about becoming an accidental tourist in my own hometown. It was a really odd feeling but was so much fun. I actually ended up taking almost as many photos as Jeff!

Walking around the Guinness brewery was cool. I used to work for a company that rented some of the premises so technically I have worked there before but not really.

As you walk around you get some idea of the production process, the history of the company and its advertising campaigns. Not to mention the taster you get and that thye show you how to properly pour a pint, which any Guinness drinker will tell you is one of the most important aspect of the taste. After all that you get to go to the Gravity Bar which gives you a 360 degree view over Dublin...in fact I was able to point Jeff to my house haha. You also get a free pint of the black stuff, where better to drink it eh??

We walked up Thomas Street which is not the nicest of streets but it brings you right up to Christ Church, although first I showed him a view of St Patricks Cathedral but didnt bother walking up. Christ Church is really impressive, essentially 2 buildings linked my an arch.

We walked down a few sides streets then to Dublin Castle where I was able to tell Jeff about the birthplace of the Irish Free State or what is now known as the Republic. Didnt really stick around for much as we had to get along and neither of us had any breakfast.

We walked through a few more side streets to get around to Grafton Street, the main pedestrian and shopping street in Dublin. We walked up to the end. Since I work in town, I took Jeff to a place where we would go for lunch either on special occassions or when we want something big! We went to Sinnotts, costs €11, cant go wrong with a carvery that serves 4 different potatoe dishes!! Mmmmhhh! I also ordered a pint. I have never been there for lunch when I could do that as would always be off back to work.

We strolled around St Stephens Green park for awhile, showed him where my office is and randomly strolled towards the Canal down towards Baggot Street. I told him about the Baggot Mile pub crawl which I traditionally do for the 12 Pubs of Christmas (or July). The pub crawl starts in the Landsdowne Den and finishes where we had lunch in Sinnotts. Next time.

Then walked through Trinity College but didnt have time to see the Book of Kells. We strolled some of Temple Bar just to see it and over the Ha'Penny bridge so we could take the so called "Boardwalk" down along the Liffey to catch his bus home.

I had a great time showing Jeff around. It was especially good that it felt less about what to see and more that we were just talking and basically just shooting the breeze together. Welcome back anythime Jeff.