Hear From Caitlin About Her Dublin Trip!
We interviewed one of our great StudentUniverse.com customers about her trip to Dublin. Check out what she had to say about her experience!
Dublin Pictures
On a typical day what did you do in Dublin?
We started off the day grabbing a quick bite. Then we walked through Grafton Street and looked in some of the shops. We headed to Trinity College and grabbed some Starbucks on the way. Next we saw St. Stephen’s Green and spent some time there. Afterward, we grabbed some fish and chips on O’Connell Street. Window shopping was the next thing on my list. Then it was off to Dublin Castle to see the galleries. We went to the gift shop where you can look up your family’s crest and lineage, which I thought was pretty cool. Then, we met up with some friends later after seeing a couple of churches. We grabbed cheesy bacon fries at a local favorite deli and then pregamed at our friends’ apartment and took the bus to University of Dublin for a night of fun. We spent the night at the pub on campus enjoying the company and music. Cleary a great day.
What was the most unusual thing you saw?
Temple Bar was very unusual to see. There are two streets that cross each other and are full of nothing but pubs. The pubs are colorfully painted and some have murals and designs on them. These pubs and bars are open by morning and can be seen full of thirsty patrons by noon, especially if there’s a football or rugby game. The shops around there sell Guinness and Dublin gifts and souvenirs. It was fun to peek in the shops and grab a beer at the bar.
For people planning a trip to Dublin, what’s a must see?
Malahide Castle is really beautiful. It’s a short bus ride from Dublin with a guide and walking tour of the castle. The grounds are really pretty and the interior is full of history of the royal family. Temple Bar is famous and historic. It’s a necessary stop-over to grab a pint and watch a game on the TV. The Guinness Storehouse is of course quintessential for a trip to Dublin. The Guinness draft here I swear is the best of anywhere I had tried it. Even people who don’t really drink Guinness liked it at the storehouse. Also, you will want to check out Trinity College as you walk through the city. And make sure to cross the Ha’penny Bridge Over the River Liffey. There is an old Irish story with this bridge and you’re suppose to toss a penny over the bridge.
What sucked?
Rain! It rained every day we were there off and on. I didn’t have the appropriate shoes for the weather and my umbrella was too small. I really wish someone had told me ahead of time to pack a few sweaters too for the chilly nights.
What was your favorite site in Dublin?
The Guinness Storehouse was one of the best things I saw in Dublin! There is so much history to this brewery. We took a walking tour of the facility and learned about all the different ingredients used and the process of making the beer. There was also a floor full of old advertisements and memorabilia from the last hundred years. And then at the end of the tour we went up to the awesome sky bar where we sipped on free samples of Guinness and looked out over the cityscape. A very cool time that I would absolutely recommend it to anyone.
What was the most exciting thing you did in Dublin?
Walking around the city was so much fun. Everything in Dublin is different then it is back home. Walking through Trinity College and Grafton Street, then over to Temple Bar in the cultural quarter and O’Connell street to see the spire; there was so many things to see here. St. Stephen’s Green is worth spending some more time in, especially if you go while the sun’s out. I would suggest to anyone visiting to walk through the city versus taking a cab or bus because you see so much more and experience the local culture.
What was the craziest thing that you did in Dublin?
I wish I had a crazier story to tell. But one thing I did that was a lot of fun was going over to the University of Dublin one night to spend some time with friends that I was visiting. We hung out in the dorms meeting Irish students who were also studying there. Afterward, we went to a bar/club on campus and I got to see the Coronas, a local Dublin band, perform live. I had never heard their music before, but it was really good and turns out these guys are pretty famous in Ireland!
Was it what you expected?
Yes and no. I knew somewhat what to expect about the people and culture and language. The first time I rode in a cab I was in awe the entire time driving on the “wrong” side of the street. I had to keep reminding myself to look to the right instead of the left before crossing the street. I also didn’t realize how Americanized it felt being in Dublin. After being in Italy for a couple months, I was shocked and excited to see Starbucks and Subways here. My boyfriend made fun of me when I insisted on getting a frappucino and then posed with it. Overall Dublin was so much more than I really expected. Since I had never been before, everything was new and exciting to me.
What was the culture like?
The culture is loud and lively! Living in Florence, for a semester abroad, I thought it was really weird one day when a group of Irish tourists asked where the local pub was and it was one in the afternoon. After coming to Dublin I completely understand now. The atmosphere here is upbeat for the most part. The people know how to have a good time and aren’t afraid to show it. In the afternoons, whenever a sports game is on the pubs around Temple Bar are crowded with cheering fans. People here say “cheers” to mean “thank you” and “see you later.” That in itself sums up the culture of the Dublinos.
What was the city like?
Dublin is a lot smaller of a city than I think I was expecting. Especially when I was told that it is the largest city by far in Ireland. I was thinking to myself, ‘where’s the real city’? Dublin is much more of a large town with a couple tall buildings in my opinion. In some ways this is really nice too though. I didn’t have to worry too much about getting lost or figuring out a confusing metro system. It is also really cool that Dublin is a walkable city. And the best part is how friendly and open everyone seems to be!
Where were the best places to party?
The University of Dublin was a great place to party. It was so much fun to mingle with the local Irish college students. They were very friendly and embracing. The beer was great at the pub there as well as the hard cider. Also the Temple Bar in the cultural district is a great place to party. Dozens of pubs line these couple streets with live music and great drinks. I would even suggest going here first, it was a great time.
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