It's no wonder that Dublin totally made such an impression on Katlin and I the first time we visited. Its old and wonderful with all the history that goes along with it while still maintaining an air of youthfulness about it. After arriving yesterday, we checked into our hostel and went out for a walk and to get something to snack on before dinner (we settled on a loaf of garlic bread and bottled water and hot tea). The hostel, Ashfield House, was very clean and comfortable and all the people were so friendly! When we walked into the room we were staying in (it was an 18 bed mixed dorm, meaning 9 bunk beds with girls and boys) some people we napping but they soon woke up and we made fast friends from Australia, Canada, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Spain. We went to dinner and had a drink at a pub where live Irish music was playing..it was really the best first night in a hostel that we could have imagined.
Today we switched hostels (because of St. Paddys day, everything was booked and it was hard to find rooms for all the nights we needed) and explored the city on foot. We visited Kilmangin Goal jail, had delicious cottage pie, took a walking tour of the city centered around St. Patrick (did you know that he wasn't born Patrick but changed his name when he went through catholic conformation? Also, the national color of Ireland is blue, not green. Is your mind blown yet?), watched the boys choir rehearse in St. Patrick's cathedral, had fish and chips for dinner, went to a pub, then had tea and dessert back in the hostel. Full day! Jetlag may finally be catching up to us a bit but we're making it all happen. Walking all the time is exhausting too, so we blame that when we are tired at nine at night. By our estimate, we probably walked about 6 or 7 miles today at least. Did I mention that is was in the high forties? and raining? and dreary?
Even so, today was really very grand. We learned that the Irish are exceptionally proud of their country and of the admittedly rough history they have had over the past few hundred years. It's encouraging to see them embrace their past and want to educate the people about the trials that it took to be independent in the hopes that it will valued and protected. The Irish do love to celebrate the good in life, that's for sure, so we are anticipating tomorrow's Paddy's day celebrations to be intense! I can't believe that we are spending it in Dublin, the mother city for the holiday. Ah!!
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