Happy St. Patty's Day!

Top of the morning to ya!

After a long week in Barcelona, and very little sleep, it was time for St. Patty's Day.  We hopped on a plane Thursday morning, and we were once again off on another trip.  When I arrived in Dublin, we immediately went to the hotel (we stayed at the Hilton Kilmainham).  One suggestion, if you know you are going to St. Patty's Day next year book your hotels now! Suggestions: Temple Bar Hotel or the Westin, both have great locations because cab rides can get pretty costly, especially on St. Patty's day!  Mattie, Abbe, and I ate lunch at the hotel, and by eat lunch, we feasted!  Finally our room was ready, and I got upstairs, put my stuff down and passed out.  It was a much needed nap.  By the time I woke up, Hilary and Katlowitz were on their way to the hotel.  Because Dublin is not like Barcelona, we struggled to find a place to eat.  We got into a cab, and made our way to the Temple Bar area.  Our cab driver, who might have been the nicest man ever, suggested we go to Thunder Road cafe, which was kind of like the Hard Rock cafe, but better.  Hilary, Kat, and I tried Ireland's famous Bulmer's.  Immediately, we were actually enjoying this half cider, half beer taste.

We were told that the coast was beautiful, so Friday morning we got up early and took a train to Howth.  However, when we got there it was pouring.  Luckily, we found the last four umbrellas, and walked around for all of 30 minutes, before realizing it was time to go back to Dublin.  We went back to the Temple Bar area for lunch, and ate at The Auld Dubliner.  After lunch, we tried to go to the Jameson factory, but failed, and then made it to Guinness.  Amanda Katlowitz wins the award for best cutting job ever.  The line was around the corner, and she literally cut the entire line.  We waited no time at all, but felt badly, so in the Guinness factory we threw coins into the fountain and wished our bad karma away. After the factory we went back to the Temple Bar area and we went to Foggy Dew, where everyone who was anyone went. It is amazing that out of all the bars in Dublin, every abroad student ended up at the same one...

Friday night we went to Elephant & Castle for dinner.  The food was great, and I highly suggest it.  After we bar hopped for a little, before returning back to our hotel.

Saturday morning we woke up at 8am, did not actually get out of bed until 9 am, and began our St. Patty's Day celebrations.  We once again made our way down to Temple Bar area (I swear this is the only part of Dublin I can navigate my way through now) and we tried to schmeggle our way through to front row seats at the parade with Bari and her friends. No, we could not pull a chat and cut for this one, and unfortunately, it began pouring so we ran to the one and only Foggy Dew.  Once again, everyone was there.  Instead of Bulmer's, I discovered Strawberry Beer! It was so yummy.  For someone who hates beer, this was a great alternative.  We sat in the bar for the day and drank, people watched (a lot), and had so much fun!

We got back to the hotel room and sat on our iPad's trying to watch the Cuse basketball game.  We then took much needed naps, and by the time we got up it was dinner time.  We found this restaurant called Fire.  Highly suggest this restaurant too!

I cannot believe it was already time to go... I took the 6am Aer Lingus flight thinking no one would be on it, only to find out, everyone was on it.

St. Patty's Day was amazing, who knew a Jewish girl from New York would be celebrating her first St. Patty's Day in Dublin, not even in New York City!