19. Have a pint of Guinness in Dublin

This is an overdue entry but better late than never!

 

The view of Dublin from the top of the Guinness Storehouse. You can see the Aviva Stadium on the right hand side.

 

On Friday 15 November myself and Laura Fenwick (who is becoming somewhat of a regular travel companion) flew from Newcastle to Dublin. The opportunity for the trip came about when we learnt that our friend and fellow archaeology graduate Mandi Henderson was being swept away by her husband Neil to Dublin to celebrate her 30th birthday. This came up in conversation and you express an interest that it's somewhere you'd always like to go so Mandi suggested we come along too (much to Neil's initial horror) so we did.

 

From left to right; Laura, me and Mandi

 

Everyone I've spoken to have said how friendly the Irish are but I actually think that it ius THE MOST FRIENDLY place I've been too. When you land at an airport you're prepared  for the miserable but at passport control who barely grunts at you...not it in Dublin. [Insert gorgeous southern Irish accent] "Well good morning Kathryn, welcome to Ireland. How are you today, did you enjoy your flight?"

 

We also had a very friendly cab driver who took us to our hotel (he gave us his mobile number in case we needed him over the weekend...) And then met up with Mandi and Neil for a few, which turned out to be a lot of drinks and one of their best burgers of my life. I had never considered putting smoked cheese on a burger before but I'd do it again. I resisted having as pint of the black stuff because I wanted I to 'save myself' for the Guinness Storehouse.

 

 

 

I think Saturday 16 November will definitely feature in the top 5 days of 2013 and here's why;

• Amazing all you can eat breakfast to start the day
• Visiting Trinity College and the Book of Kells
• Indulging in bog bodies and Ireland's prehistory at the Museum of Archaeology
• Eating nachos and drinking bulmers in the Hairy Lemon
• Visiting the Guinness Storehouse and experiencing a pint (and a half, because that's all I could manage) of the black stuff
• Watching Ireland v Australia in a pub packed full of Irish men

The library at Trinity College

So in one day I had culture, archeology, rugby, nachos and beer coupled with brilliant company and another thing ticked off my list. I think Dublin was a fantastic city, yes a little pricey but I will definitely go back. I wasn't to fussed with the Guinness Storehouse, far too many tourists for my liking, but the views from the top bar were incredible and the Guinness was smooooth.

 

 

 

x

12. Travel first class

This needed to be done. I don’t like trains (the fact that I work in a train museum is irrelevant) and if I’m going to travel on the last day of term after a week at work then why not book a first class ticket to rock up to Laura’s in style?  On my next list I’m going to include travelling first class on an aeroplane!

So. . .my first experience of first class is that PEOPLE ARE RUDE! – No one (and there were at least 5 ‘men’ sat in that carriage helped me to get my case up onto the luggage rack. Normally I wouldn’t have minded but it was really heavy (probably from the two bottle of Champagne in there?! At least those won’t be carried back up to the Toon) Oh and my sportswear Laura Wilson requested us to bring – God knows what she has planned but you know it’s gonna be filth! (It turns out that it was a boxing bootcamp session. In the words of Lyndsay Airey “I have never been so ravaged by a man. I’m hot, sweaty, covered in mud and gagging for more” or words to that effect.

Anyway back to my first class experience, not only would no man, woman or child come and help a damsel in distress with her bag the ‘man’ I was sat opposite (I didn’t think I’d have to look at someone else’s ugly mug the whole journey) said to me in ‘oh no there is a pole up my arse so I need to talk like a tit ’ English “Oh I think I’ll just move over here to give us a bit more room” – you know the type., you just do that sweet cakes and get out or my way. Because I have no intention of moving. Those of you that know me well know how I refuse to sit on a train than in the seat I have booked in advance.

I’ve just been brought a complimentary tea – alright then!

I’ve just been brought a complimentary cider (I had to ask for ice though) wahh!

I just looked up from my book, looked out the window and saw a field full of sheep prancing around in the evening sun – now that’s what I’m talking about.

“Would you like another drink madam?” – attendant “Hmm, yeah why not. Another cider would go down a treat, thank you.” – me AND it is not some cheapo Strongbow cider its Rekorderlig, Sweden’s finest.

Now people can I just ask, at what age is it acceptable for someone to refer to a woman as ‘Madam’? I personally don’t mind it. It makes me feel respectable and sophisticated than old and past it. But maybe it is just a polite way of calling someone an old bag, wahh.

“Would you like something to eat madam?”

Onion tartlet, side salad, rosemary and sunblush tomato roll and a slice of ginger cake, washed down with another Rekorderlig.

“Would you like another drink?”

Well after 2 hours 28 minutes of pure naughtiness I rock up to King’s Cross half cut, in need of a wee and on a mission to find St Pancras and locate the train to St Alban’s. 

Onwards and Upwards!

I did eventually find the train btw.