Yes its another travelblog, this time it's Dublin for Valentines day, what an old romantic i am.
It was only a short trip of 2 nights but that was plenty for us as we got there early morning of the 13th from Bristol Airport and got to our hotel at 10am, bags in and off we go. 45 min flight, perfect.
We were situated in the very heart of Dublin so we could just walk everywhere and boy did we walk, i think over the 2 days we walked about 25 miles or more in all.
We were very lucky with the weather as it held out until the day we flew back on 15th but i'll tell you all about that later.
I had been to Dublin before but this was Sian's first visit so we did as much as we could and drank lots of Guinness, well why not i say.
First on the visit list was the Needle and the GPO building
During the Easter Rising of 1916, the GPO served as the headquarters of the uprising's leaders.
Dark skies were overhead but only for about 15 mins then out came the sun.
The Ha'penny Bridge, it's called this as it used to be a toll bridge that replaced the local ferry.
The Ha'penny bridge itself and yes, it's the sun and blue sky, yay!
After a walk around Temple Bar area we were feeling a bit peckish so i took Sian to a wonderful bar called The Church, why, because it's set inside a church, DUH!
Arthur Guinness, the founder of Guinness Brewery was married here in the year of 1761.
Best Salmon i've ever had, nicely baked and not out of a tin.
We did see allot more on the first day but mainly coffee shops and bars but we were shattered as up early and out as soon as we got there so back to the hotel to chill at 7pm.
Time to rest up for Valentines day.
Woke up bright and breezy, nice and early and off out again. Another dry day and another sunny day.
We didn't have any real plans as we like to just do what we want to when we want to without being tied to times.
Started the morning off with a coffee then a wander around the streets and shops which we enjoy.
Sian then on the spur of the moment wanted to visit the Guinness Brewery so off we went.
It is huge, i mean i've seen a few breweries and this is the largest i've visited.
If ever you go to Dublin and i know it seems a bit touristy but it is well worth a visit as we found it really interesting and you get a tasting course on how to drink a Guinness along with a scent room where the 4 different aromas of a Guinness are there for you to smell individually, you get to pour your pint and taught how to pour it and best of all you get to drink it, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
I think we were in the brewery for about 2 1/2 hours which is great value for money.
So here is a shortened version of the tour we took and the good thing was it was a unguided tour so you could mooch around at your leisure.
The original 9000 year lease signed by Arthur Guinness for the land the brewery is on.
Did you know he had 21 children but only 10 survived.
A copy of the famous Guinness Gates, the original gates are still outside on the side of the building and still in use.
The bubble room replicating the 30 million bubbles in every pint.
This is the best time of the day. At 10am every day expert taste testers check every single brew of Guinness for quality consistency.
This is the area where you can see original silent black and white film of how the barrels were made.
It was such a craft and took them allot of time and effort just for one barrel.
A Guinness train that used to transport the barrels of Guinness.
This is an artists version of a pint of Guinness.
The mini dinky Guinness used in the tasting room.
And once you have been taught to pour your pint you can take it up to the Gravity Bar at the top of the brewery to drink your pint and look out 360 deg over the whole of Dublin.
Sláinte! (Cheers)
Now what do you do after such an experience like that? DRINK MORE GUINNESS!
Off to O'Neills and no, not the fake ones like in the UK, the real one on Suffolk Street.
Sat in here and just chilled in the warm. Even though the day was sunny the temp was quite chilly.
We were only there for 2 days we did and saw so much which is what we like, we prefer to do that than to just laze about not experiencing the town, city or country.
Time to head home, DEAR GOD!
The weather on Feb 15th was the worst day of storm Dennis.
We got to the airport and there was the odd delay but as we waited the delays got longer and the weather got worse. We were meant to take off at 12.30pm but didn't board till 1pm.
As we sat on the plane the wind was shaking the plane and we hadn't even moved from the docking bay. 90 mins later we taxi'd in to position. The Engines built up, we started rolling and then we just coasted all the way to the end of the runway and turned back and parked again.
The Captain told us cross winds were to strong for take off so we'd be waiting 20 mins.
30 mins passed and the rain became heavier, the clouds were so low i'd say 20 metres off the ground and the wind hadn't dropped.
We were then told we were moving to a different runway.
This runway was heading in to the original crosswind.
We took off and to be honest i was expecting a terrible take off but it wasn't to bad, i've had worse in nice weather.
Flight was 40 mins but a bit bumpy, but again i've experienced worse, now for the landing.
As the Captain announced to prepare for landing we entered thick cloud. We seemed to be in the cloud for ages and wasn't looking like we were going to land. Then all of a sudden due to low cloud we broke through and the land was coming up on us quickly and just as the plane was about to land the wings tipped 45 deg, a quick adjustment and the wheels hit the tarmac quite cleanly and smoothly.
Now that was the worst landing i think we have ever had. When the wheels touched down almost everyone on the plane had that nervous laugh followed by a well deserved round of applause for the Captain. He must have really struggled with the controls and to land it so smoothly at the last second it was amazing.
PHEW! We're alive, YAY!
As we only travel with cabin luggage we got straight off and went straight for a coffee, beer would have been better, Jim Beam Red Stag would have been perfect, neat! A coffee will have to do.
As we sat with our coffees i noticed the Arrivals and Departure boards.
At the top of the arrivals you can see our flight but all inbound and outbound flights were being cancelled due to the storm.
By the time we finished our coffees our flight and the Paris flight were the last to land as the others all got diverted or cancelled. Along with all the arrivals cancelled there were no more flights allowed to depart. so we were very lucky to have even got back but we did, THANK GOD!
This whole board had changed to orange by the time we finished our coffee.
So was this one.
So there you go folks that's Valentines over with for another year but we had the most amazing time which we both thoroughly enjoyed, now on to Canada.
This weekend we're off to Canada and then on our return we're stopping off in London for a few days, so this is a nice long extended holiday which we are both sooooooooo excited about.
We have planned so much that we want to see and do, we planned it all in advance so we're not wasting any time while there, it's gonna be a amazing holiday.
We're not going to Canada to follow Harry and Meghan because we're being hounded out, we're going to watch two Calgary Flames ice hockey games, eat elk steak (Moose steak is a no, no), visit High River the home of "Tin Star" the programme, eat at Sky360, watch Wales V England in a bar having breakfast with a beer at 9.45 in the morning and go to the zoo, PENGUINS!
Then on to London on our arrival and the only thing we're doing there over the few days is chilling and watching the final day of the 6 nations, 3 games in 3 pubs (coronavirus permitting).
So folks that's your lot til the end of March when we get back from Canada.
So until then..........
Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!
