Dublin

by WBlackwell on November 15, 2017

I had hit Dublin pretty hard in November of 2015 and so now it was simply an access point from the UK. There was nothing new I wanted to see having seen so much on the prior visit, and I even spend most of one day resting in my wee apartment, Dublin Viking Place, with it’s fast Wifi, no TV, comfy bed, good shower and kitchenette. And close to buses (which are both frequent and much more expensive than UK. Maybe that is why I saw more people on bikes here than any UK city) and shopping. And the €17 off of the cost of a liter of the smoothest of all Irish whiskeys brought the price to €25/$30. Considering how expensive the city is, where a comparison of UK/Irish prices at the grocery store TESCO online found Dublin about 37% more expensive comparing like items at like weights after doing the currency conversions, with beer being about 40% more and a same bottle of gin 78% more. This was a very good deal and hopefully will last more than a few days.

So I basically just walked around observing the city. I’m sad to report that my overall impression is that Dublin has become a filthy city, covered in litter with cigarette butts piling up at the bases of buildings. It seems that they mustn’t have the money for street cleaning even in the bigger tourist areas like around Trinity College and Temple Bar and when that happens people tend to be less mindful of their own trash. But when one looks past that, it still is a pretty good place to visit.

This building is the original facade of one of the most historically significant Post Offices in the world. During the Easter Rising of 1916, the GPO served as the headquarters of the uprising’s leaders. The building was destroyed by fire in the course of the rebellion and not repaired until the Irish Free State government took up the task some years later. Bullet marks can still be seen in the walls.

The River Liffy is the heart of the city.

A socialist leader of the Irish Rebellion, James Connelly was executed for his role in the 1916 uprising and is a hero of Irish independence.

I thought the building called Irish Life was a cultural center. It’s a life insurance company. But I liked the fountain

So take this all in. The very modern suspension bridge on the right, the old sailing ship and a building that looks like a beer barrel on a hand truck on the left.

A simple waterfront laborer. I wonder if he, like apparently most people here can not say a word with “TH”. Thought becomes taught, this becomes dis, thirty is tirty, and so on. A key if you’re trying to fake the accent!

Two of the city’s biggest tourist traps. These two bars, with all day and night entertainment, are a must visit. But unless you like the most expensive beer (Guinness at €6.00/$7. a pint) and elbow to elbow crowds, they are not designed for a long stay.