You sound like you're from London!: Dublin

I apologise for the prolonged absence from my blog. I've been really busy! I'm a bit stressed about choosing a dissertation topic because I choose a new one almost every day.. and I'll be 100% sure that my chosen topic is what I want to research/write about, and then I read about something else interesting and change my mind. I need to just pick one topic and stick with it but everything is so interesting!

On a less stressful note, we spent the weekend in Dublin, Ireland - very exciting! We were at the airport at 5 am on Saturday morning, in Dublin by 8, and at the Guinness Storehouse by 10 am. We did a tour, learned how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness, and drank in the Gravity Bar (360 degree view of Dublin). We needed a nap after leaving Guinness at 3 pm (we were up at 330 am and drinking didn't make me any less tired!) so we went back to the hotel and took a nap. We went out to dinner and exploring on Saturday night, then got quite an early night.

Sunday we went on a free tour of Dublin. That's right folks, FREE walking tour! It's run by Sandemans (here's their website http://www.neweuropetours.eu ). They have free tours in most major European cities. You'd think a free tour would just be mediocre, but it was incredible! Our tour guide was fantastic - really knowledgeable and really passionate! It was raining and freezing and we had really wet feet, but still a great tour. We had dinner at a restaurant in Temple Bar called Brasserie Sixty6, which was really yummy. We were back to the airport at 630 am this morning and back in London by 10!

Now onto the photos!

First picture in Dublin! This is the old post office. Our hotel was right down the street.

Pretty Christmas tree!

So pretty after getting up at 330 am... SIKE.

Mat is handsome.

Mat and his nice Irish breakfast.

I made the mistake of ordering pancakes and this is what I got:

I wish I was kidding. And this is what they gave me for "maple syrup"

So gross. I've never been more disappointed with a breakfast in my entire life.

Walking to the Guinness Storehouse.

City Council or something? That cool sculpture is made out of wood.

The Four Courts (Ireland's Supreme Court).

I've never seen Mat so excited. I think he'd move into the Guinness Storehouse if he could.

Inside Guinness.

After learning how to pour the perfect pint :) We got certificates and everything!

Mat is so proud of this picture. He claims I look at him like this all the time.. probably because he says stupid things :)

Pretty.

Amateur photographer cut our beers out of the picture! Inside the Gravity Bar at Guinness.

Neeeeed sleeeeep

Such pretty Christmas lights.

We learned on our free tour that Baile Atha Cliath means "Town of the Hurdled Fort" in Gaelic. It's the local name for Dublin.

No more Guinness for me! I learned that I don't actually like Guinness. People say it's better with a splash of blackcurrant in it, but they wouldn't do it at the Guinness Storehouse. I'll have to try it sometime! I moved onto drinking vodka-water.

A few minutes later at the bar.. it's 9:45.......

And I was falling asleep. Pathetic, I know!

Beginning of our free tour!

Tour guide inside Dublin Castle - it doesn't look much like a castle at all.

This part was castley. Dad, want a turret like this in your dream house?

Dubh Linn Gardens. It serves as a posh helicopter pad for people visiting the state apartments in Dublin Castle (not in the picture). Such a pretty place!

I made Mat take my picture with all the Christmas trees and lights (just for you KATE CARLSON!) This was in the courtyard of Christ Church Cathedral.

Trinity College. It was too late for us to go into the library to see all the cool stuff there (like the Book of Kells). Looks like we'll have to go back to Dublin!

It rained the entire tour, so we were absolutely soaked by the time we got back to our hotel. This is me attempting to dry/warm up my feet. I couldn't feel them for a good hour after we got back in the heat.