Picture it: Dublin: the weekend before St. Patrick's Day. Definitely one of my favorite trips, Dublin combined history with fun and tradition with alcohol. I'm getting really used to the early-morning traveling experience. Our short plane touched down at 8:30am and we began the day at the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery.
Even though whiskey isn't my favorite alcohol, I was interested in the making of the famous Irish whiskey. What separates Irish whiskey from Scottish or Jack Daniels is the number of times it is distilled. Americans filter their whiskey once, Scottish twice, and the Irish three times. I got picked to taste-test the difference between these three whiskeys. I was tipsy.
Even though whiskey isn't my favorite alcohol, I was interested in the making of the famous Irish whiskey. What separates Irish whiskey from Scottish or Jack Daniels is the number of times it is distilled. Americans filter their whiskey once, Scottish twice, and the Irish three times. I got picked to taste-test the difference between these three whiskeys. I was tipsy.
Next, we went to Kilmainham Goal, Dublin's famous jail. The jail was used to house the Irish freedom fighters who constantly rebelled against England.
Up to 5 people were in these tiny cells- even children were imprisoned for things as small as stealing bread. The serious criminals were shipped to Australia.
Joseph Plunket, Edward Daly, and Eamon de Valera's cells were still in the jail.
The jail was used in movies- the Italian Job, the Escapist and a U2 video.
Its most significant role in history was housing the rebels of the 1916 Easter Rising, who were later executed. This is where they were shot.
The Guinness Storehouse. When he started the brewery, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease because he was so confident in his product.
View from the Gravity Bar
Christchurch Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral
This cat and rat was mummified in Christchurch cathedral and referenced several times in literature especially by James Joyce.
The gardens at St. Pat's Cathedral
Dublin castle. The British were were stationed in this castle and took it from the Irish. The statue is supposed to represent Justice. But there are three reasons the Irish think this is a joke
1. Justice is supposed to be blind- this chick has no blindfold
2. The lady is facing away from the city, and in towards the castle- turning her back on the Irish
3. The scales were real and one filled with rain- tipping them and making them uneven
These buildings were painted because the architect liked pretty colors... no joke
Dublin Castle
The oldest remains of a Viking settlement
Trinity College
No comments:
Post a Comment