It almost doesn’t seem fair to claim that I’ve been to Ireland as I only spent one evening in Dublin. But it was quite the evening! I had a pretty long layover in Dublin before heading back to the United States after a long trip to Dubrovnik and decided that rather than hanging out in the airport, I wanted to explore as much as I could in a short period of time.
So what did I do? I got a cab and asked the driver to recommend a place for me to get a drink. He took me to Temple Bar–Dublin’s Cultural Quarter. I was hoping for more of an authentic experience, but landed in a touristy haven. It ended up being fine though, because the area is not without its charm. I ducked into a bar, first ordered a pint of Guinness (when in Rome) and much to my dismay, my tastebuds still didn’t care for it. Instead, I ordered a Baileys and decided to take in my surroundings. Everyone was laughing and having a great time, and singing along with whatever song was blaring. It was exactly the experience I’d hoped for.
Afterward, I hopped across the street for some Abrakebabra and then listened to the busker on the corner. (Did I mention it was Busking Day?) I decided to take advantage of the rest of the night by just meandering around the city until the sun started to pop up, at which point I knew it was almost time to head back to the airport.
One thing I will say about Dublin is that I felt incredibly safe the whole time I was walking at night. Even passing by strangers, I didn’t feel terribly anxious like I do in let’s say, Philadelphia.
I only saw Dublin by night, but it’s such an endearing city, so full of history and beckoning for me to come back and see what it has to offer during its daylight hours.
