DUBLIN

Is it true what they say about the Irish? Yes... they definitely drink. They drink a lot!!!

I arrived in Ireland Friday morning in my typical west coast get up - shorts and a T-Shirt. Even though I have traveled a ton - it is always nice to be the foreigner and Friday - I was. It was pouring rain and 45 mph winds. 2 umbrella's and a few flooded streets later I arrived in Temple Bar (downtown Dublin) soaked, cold, and wet! After emptying out my shoes and a new change of clothes I set off to Trinity College - right down the street. Home of the infamous Book of Kells. Basically it contains the 4 Gospels in the New Testament (in latin). Transcribed around 800 by Celtic Monks the entire book is made of vellum (calfskin). The pictures were amazing and the grounds of Trinity College and there is always something mesmerizing about walking the grounds of an institution that is more than 400 years old. Something romantic and invigorating about the literature and knowledge that has come and gone. It often makes me wonder just how original and independent our thoughts truly are. Can we really think of something that is truly original?

I then road the bus to the Guiness Storehouse... and yes... I had my first Guiness. People have always said it tastes different in Ireland - perhaps it is a bit lighter - but lighter or not - it is still a meal and I pretty much lived on it the rest of my time in Dublin. Guiness is everywhere - in fact they have stainless steel tankers that deliver it by the gallons! The Churches are amazing but more than any of the sights in Dublin - I have to speak about the people and the atmosphere.

The Irish - they drink. And they drink a lot! From Friday to Sunday there was never an absence of bodies, music, or people flooding out of the pubs. Except for maybe 9 am when I awoke from a wicked night of 16 beers. I saw traditional Irish dancing and singing - barely understood a word of it - but the rhythm of guitars, fiddles, and accordians rocked my world and left me with a never ending smile. I saw a football match - some rugby - and watched a Championship Hurling game (kind of a cross between lacross and rugby) all from the intimacy of my local pub. I made friends (an old Irishman named Nolan - no joke) and we drank, drank, and drank some more! Pretty much... I drank and ate Kababs and rode the tour bus from 11-5.

I also visited the Jameson Irish Whiskey distillery. Being the good sport that I was - I volunteered. And received an honorary Whiskey tasting diploma. That is right - Nolando is an expert and certified. I never really new the secret to Whiskey nor was I a huge fan of Jameson but the stuff is pretty darn good. Being distilled 3 times over probably helps - Jack Daniels is distilled only once. They even had an entire collection of Premium Whiskey 1984-Present on sale for 50,000 EUROS.

Europe - oh how I have missed you. It is great to be back!