For ease of reading, I will give you the pronunciation of Dun Laoghaire. It’s Dun Lerry. You are welcome.
Well, we had a silent night last night! Seems like the switching of the beds was the trick for B-Koog. According to E-Koog he didn’t sleep for even 5 minutes. His very loud snorting told another story. As for me, I’ve now developed a head cold. So, while the night was silent it was not restful. First order of business once we get to Dublin is a pharmacy.
I was up early as my throat felt like I swallowed knives and my nose felt like I’dstuffed my dirty laundry up in there. We have to tender from the ship to the port in Dun Laoghaire. To keep the gangways clear and safe, anyone going ashore has to have a boarding group. The instructions were to be at the main desk no earlier than 7:15 to queue up for the boarding tickets. Since I was awake, I headed downstairs to get ready to queue at 6:50. Good thing I did since they had just started to give out the boarding tickets. We ended up with boarding group 7. That worked for us because our tour of the Guinness Storehouse wasn’t until 11.
Lucky for everyone, the ship cleared Republic of Ireland customs early. Even with boarding group seven, we were on the train headed toward Dublin at 9:30. We got off at Pearce Street per the recommendation of the tourism lady. Pearce Street Station is 2.1 miles from Guinness. And so began our walk around Dublin.
One block away from the train was the pharmacy. They gave me Sinutab and 2 bags of throat lozenges and sent me on my way. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any water to take the pills and the pharmacy didn’t have any to sell. So, I carried my pills until we got to Guinness. We walked the 2.1 miles. At least it was a scenic route. We all got excited when we saw the big wooden gate with the word Guinness on it!
The tickets for the Storehouse tour are timed. We were at least 45 minutes early, but the nice woman at the door waved us in anyway. As we made our way to the very impressive story of how hops, water and barley become Guinness, I started to feel really horrible. Still had not taken the medicine from the pharmacy.
Today there was no concern about the illegal feeding of alcohol to the underaged. I think because when we got our drink ticket the lady said “here’s for a soda, boys!” Once finished with the tour, the last stop is the Gravity Bar. A bar surrounded with windows providing a 360 view of Dublin. Each window had writing to point out what landmark was in that particular view. Very impressive, Guinness!
We got our drinks and sat down admiring the view. E-Koog suggested I take the pill with a Guinness chaser. I opted to ask for water. Yesterday, they were concerned about the proximity to alcohol, today they suggest I mix it with pills. These two!
After a brief rest in the Gravity Bar, and sadly leaving an entire Guinness without being able to take a sip, we headed out through the gift shop. I got one thing and the lady gave me some card where I can get the VAT back as long as I register my credit card. Yes, please and thank you!
It was clear I could not walk the 1.4 miles from Guinness to Grafton Street. Gloriously, we found a row of taxis and jumped in. Uneventful ride, definitely not like NYC or London driving, and we arrived at the top of Grafton Street. I’m disappointed to say my expectation to meet a pretty Czech woman selling flowers who starts singing with me was not met. I saw Once, false advertising, Ireland!
Quelling my disappointment was the pangs of hunger. We found a nice place for lunch, Davy Byrnes and were the first table seated at noon. Probably one of the top three meals over the entire trip. Both boys were in their glory with Wagyu burgers and chips. I had a Steak and Guinness stew with mashed potatoes. Fantastic, really fantastic! I took the opportunity to text my Irish girl, Mrs. Koog, and let her know about the fantastic stew and potatoes. I don’t even like mashed potatoes, but I need these made again by the hands of an Irish woman.
Feeling better now that the pills and the food hit my system, I rallied to walk up and down Grafton street looking for both my flower-selling-piano-playing-beautiful-voiced Czech lady and souvenirs. Specifically, the Irish flag on underwear. I can’t have Wales and Scotland and not have Ireland. It’s discriminatory.
Alas, the Irish do not seem to put their flag on boxer briefs! We looked in every cheesy tourist trap store and no dice, more like no undies. Sorry, Mrs. Koog. There is always tomorrow. We did find a few things, flag stickers for our tablets, magnet for grandma and pens for school.
Now, I’m sweating off my sickness. I went into one store and the lady put me in front of the fan! She physically laid hands and moved me into the air. I really do love the Irish! It was about 2:45 and I was starting to feel crappy again.
So, we walked 1.2 miles to the Tara Street Station to catch a train back to Dun Laoghaire. As we approached the train station it looked like the apocalypse had started and ended in the station. It seemed completely deserted. We could hear the train going the opposite way on the platform upstairs, so I was assured that at least there was traffic in this Mad Max station.
As we were walking up the stairs, E-Koog spotted something.
E: “There is a guy cooking crack and smoking it under the steps!”
Me: “What?!” I take a look and he’s right.
Me: “How did you know it was crack?”
E: “Well, I recognized the pipe and the aluminum foil.”
Me: “What? Recognized this from where exactly?”
E: “Health class. I knew it wasn’t cocaine because there was no mirror.”
Thanks, JPMS? So, my teetotalers can recognize Class A drugs AND can protect themselves from illegally being fed alcohol in an illegal bar by their parent? My tax dollars at work.
We boarded the train and enjoyed the views of the coast and the port as we made our way back to the Dun Laoghaire rail station. The port is just across the street so it’s very convenient. Our round trip tickets were €9.80.
As I mentioned, we had to tender from the ship to the port. Now we do the reverse, but this time no boarding tickets were needed. The line was orderly and only took about 10 mins before we boarded our tender. I was happy we were there early as now the seas were kicking up as the wind started to blow in from the ocean.
I was so happy to be back in our stateroom to take a rest and put my head against a pillow. We rested for a bit, me on the bed and the boys on their tablets. After a shower for me and B-Koog, we reserve our table for 6 pm. Like clockwork, we were ushered to our table at exactly 6. Boys had chicken Caesar salads, with no Caesar dressing and 2 desserts. I had polenta with mushrooms and a cheese plate that I really didn’t touch. Just not feeling well.
Boys have headed to the kids club as I write in bed in the stateroom. It's early to bed for me as it's only 7:52 here.I need to rest as much as I can as tomorrow is our final port call and we have tickets for the Titanic experience.
Until tomorrow…
Well, we had a silent night last night! Seems like the switching of the beds was the trick for B-Koog. According to E-Koog he didn’t sleep for even 5 minutes. His very loud snorting told another story. As for me, I’ve now developed a head cold. So, while the night was silent it was not restful. First order of business once we get to Dublin is a pharmacy.
I was up early as my throat felt like I swallowed knives and my nose felt like I’dstuffed my dirty laundry up in there. We have to tender from the ship to the port in Dun Laoghaire. To keep the gangways clear and safe, anyone going ashore has to have a boarding group. The instructions were to be at the main desk no earlier than 7:15 to queue up for the boarding tickets. Since I was awake, I headed downstairs to get ready to queue at 6:50. Good thing I did since they had just started to give out the boarding tickets. We ended up with boarding group 7. That worked for us because our tour of the Guinness Storehouse wasn’t until 11.
Lucky for everyone, the ship cleared Republic of Ireland customs early. Even with boarding group seven, we were on the train headed toward Dublin at 9:30. We got off at Pearce Street per the recommendation of the tourism lady. Pearce Street Station is 2.1 miles from Guinness. And so began our walk around Dublin.
One block away from the train was the pharmacy. They gave me Sinutab and 2 bags of throat lozenges and sent me on my way. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any water to take the pills and the pharmacy didn’t have any to sell. So, I carried my pills until we got to Guinness. We walked the 2.1 miles. At least it was a scenic route. We all got excited when we saw the big wooden gate with the word Guinness on it!
The tickets for the Storehouse tour are timed. We were at least 45 minutes early, but the nice woman at the door waved us in anyway. As we made our way to the very impressive story of how hops, water and barley become Guinness, I started to feel really horrible. Still had not taken the medicine from the pharmacy.
Today there was no concern about the illegal feeding of alcohol to the underaged. I think because when we got our drink ticket the lady said “here’s for a soda, boys!” Once finished with the tour, the last stop is the Gravity Bar. A bar surrounded with windows providing a 360 view of Dublin. Each window had writing to point out what landmark was in that particular view. Very impressive, Guinness!
We got our drinks and sat down admiring the view. E-Koog suggested I take the pill with a Guinness chaser. I opted to ask for water. Yesterday, they were concerned about the proximity to alcohol, today they suggest I mix it with pills. These two!
After a brief rest in the Gravity Bar, and sadly leaving an entire Guinness without being able to take a sip, we headed out through the gift shop. I got one thing and the lady gave me some card where I can get the VAT back as long as I register my credit card. Yes, please and thank you!
It was clear I could not walk the 1.4 miles from Guinness to Grafton Street. Gloriously, we found a row of taxis and jumped in. Uneventful ride, definitely not like NYC or London driving, and we arrived at the top of Grafton Street. I’m disappointed to say my expectation to meet a pretty Czech woman selling flowers who starts singing with me was not met. I saw Once, false advertising, Ireland!
Quelling my disappointment was the pangs of hunger. We found a nice place for lunch, Davy Byrnes and were the first table seated at noon. Probably one of the top three meals over the entire trip. Both boys were in their glory with Wagyu burgers and chips. I had a Steak and Guinness stew with mashed potatoes. Fantastic, really fantastic! I took the opportunity to text my Irish girl, Mrs. Koog, and let her know about the fantastic stew and potatoes. I don’t even like mashed potatoes, but I need these made again by the hands of an Irish woman.
Feeling better now that the pills and the food hit my system, I rallied to walk up and down Grafton street looking for both my flower-selling-piano-playing-beautiful-voiced Czech lady and souvenirs. Specifically, the Irish flag on underwear. I can’t have Wales and Scotland and not have Ireland. It’s discriminatory.
Alas, the Irish do not seem to put their flag on boxer briefs! We looked in every cheesy tourist trap store and no dice, more like no undies. Sorry, Mrs. Koog. There is always tomorrow. We did find a few things, flag stickers for our tablets, magnet for grandma and pens for school.
Now, I’m sweating off my sickness. I went into one store and the lady put me in front of the fan! She physically laid hands and moved me into the air. I really do love the Irish! It was about 2:45 and I was starting to feel crappy again.
So, we walked 1.2 miles to the Tara Street Station to catch a train back to Dun Laoghaire. As we approached the train station it looked like the apocalypse had started and ended in the station. It seemed completely deserted. We could hear the train going the opposite way on the platform upstairs, so I was assured that at least there was traffic in this Mad Max station.
As we were walking up the stairs, E-Koog spotted something.
E: “There is a guy cooking crack and smoking it under the steps!”
Me: “What?!” I take a look and he’s right.
Me: “How did you know it was crack?”
E: “Well, I recognized the pipe and the aluminum foil.”
Me: “What? Recognized this from where exactly?”
E: “Health class. I knew it wasn’t cocaine because there was no mirror.”
Thanks, JPMS? So, my teetotalers can recognize Class A drugs AND can protect themselves from illegally being fed alcohol in an illegal bar by their parent? My tax dollars at work.
We boarded the train and enjoyed the views of the coast and the port as we made our way back to the Dun Laoghaire rail station. The port is just across the street so it’s very convenient. Our round trip tickets were €9.80.
As I mentioned, we had to tender from the ship to the port. Now we do the reverse, but this time no boarding tickets were needed. The line was orderly and only took about 10 mins before we boarded our tender. I was happy we were there early as now the seas were kicking up as the wind started to blow in from the ocean.
I was so happy to be back in our stateroom to take a rest and put my head against a pillow. We rested for a bit, me on the bed and the boys on their tablets. After a shower for me and B-Koog, we reserve our table for 6 pm. Like clockwork, we were ushered to our table at exactly 6. Boys had chicken Caesar salads, with no Caesar dressing and 2 desserts. I had polenta with mushrooms and a cheese plate that I really didn’t touch. Just not feeling well.
Boys have headed to the kids club as I write in bed in the stateroom. It's early to bed for me as it's only 7:52 here.I need to rest as much as I can as tomorrow is our final port call and we have tickets for the Titanic experience.
Until tomorrow…
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