Guinness and Jameson Experiences

 Here we are, our first full day in Dublin.  We decided to do the Hop On Hop Off tour bus, which gives an overall view of many of the sights.  So we rode around on the bus for about an hour or so and decided to get off at the Guinness Storehouse museum because it was probably the furthest away.  Here we are.


We toured around inside, but we have to say this experience was a letdown compared to the Smithwick’s one we did in Kilkenny.  This was a large scale “cram them in” tourist trap.  You just walked around, had to read everything yourself, if you wanted, and that was it.

The symbol of Guinness.

Hops - and some previous advertising (fish peddling a bike).


The really nice thing was the rooftop lounge where we could have a pint and view the city in a 360 deg. glass enclosure.

We left there, hopped back on the bus, and headed for the oldest pub in Dublin, or at least we thought.  It’s actually the oldest in all of Ireland!  Established in 1198.



And here we are inside.

Next was the Jameson Distillery.  This is the original stack from that distillery, but it’s not in use any more, of course.  In fact, the distillery that started here has now moved down to County Cork where there is lots more room for expansion.


John, the whiskey-drinker in the group, would love this chandelier.


The tour was great though!  Our guide led us through the history, then the process, and at the end we got to taste 3 different types of their whiskey while describing what to look for, and what we’re tasting.  Here we are, doing just that.

It was a good tour - worth doing.

Next we headed over to Christ Church Cathedral.  It was getting late by this point and it would be closing soon, but we got in.  It was established in the early 11th century.  Hard to imagine things that old.  It’s certainly grown since then.


These are from inside - from the back of the nave, and of the altar area.



We headed back to our place after stopping for an Irish coffee on the way.  We had had enough touring around, so John and Darlene went down the street and picked up some pizzas at the little Ristorante we had stopped at the night before.  They were delicious!










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