The weather this weekend couldn't have been better for trekking around downtown Dublin. I rode the Luas light rail train (like a slower, above-ground subway) to get to St. Stephen's Green. It took about 20 minutes and traveled on the roads in the city a few places, like a trolley, which was a little unexpected and made it much slower than NYC trains. It cost 3.50 euros for a round trip ticket which is about comparable to riding a bus or subway in the U.S. You have to press a button on the doors to get them to open though so I stood there like an idiot for a few seconds waiting for the door to open for me.
I did a hop-on hop-off tour (ticket was good for Saturday and Sunday) that takes you around the city to 23 different stops and you can get off wherever you like and just get back on the next bus that arrives every 10-15 minutes. It was a great way to do some sightseeing and get a feel for the city before venturing out on my own. Some of the stops, like the Guinness Storehouse, I skipped because I am going back to that on a tour over Thanksgiving. There were a few other places I wanted to see but I kept missing them Sunday because the hours were shorter. Places to return to - Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, St. Patrick's Cathedral (to go inside), Kilmainhaim Gaol (line was super long), and other branches of the National Museum and Gallery. I have a few Sundays free coming up so hopefully I can use them wisely, but I have a much better idea for when/where to go now and I learned some fun facts from the drivers.
Saturday I spent time shopping and scouting out the bar I would go to for the Steelers game on Sunday. Grafton St is a big shopping area and it was pretty packed when I was there so I didn't stay too long. Walking around the city is really easy and the Liffey is so much smaller than Pittsburgh rivers so you can easily get to the north or south side. The Temple Bar area is really cool as well - I'm going to have to go back there but I think I'd rather not be alone. Sunday I went to part of the National Museum (apparently it has 3 buildings) and did my version of a museum tour - in and out in half an hour, read a few plaques, saw a few exhibits, good to go. Free admission so I'll hopefully get to check out the other branches. I got to Woolshed Baa and Grill in time to get a great seat and a few pints of Guinness (delicious over here!) as well as make some Steeler fan friends. Definitely going back there for the next few games I can see.
Tomorrow I start at Beacon Pharmacy - it's going to take an extra 20 minutes or so to get there and I have to take the Luas, which kind of stinks, but I was actually supposed to be there all week and I forgot today so at least it's only 4 days! I might go to Beacon Hospital (part of UPMC) this week as well while I'm in the area. Beacon Pharmacy does a lot of prescriptions for IVF from what I understand. This Saturday I'm doing a one day tour through Wicklow and Glendalough, then next week is a 3 day work week followed by a 3 day tour of the Ring of Kerry! So excited for those - also, tonight I just bought a ticket to fly to London for the first weekend in December! I won't be able to be there very long but a friend, Elaine, who I graduated from high school with, has graciously given me a free place to stay and a whirlwind one day tour. The flight round trip was about $125 so hard to turn down!
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