Day 2

Day 2:

We started the day slipping and sliding our way to the Dublin Business School. It's currently the coldest winter the city has had in over 30 years, so they are out of sand and the ice on the sidewalks is like a death trap, haha. More on that later.

Once we found the main DBS building on Aungier St. we walked as a group to Grafton St. (one of the main touristy shopping centers, like the 5th avenue of Dublin) to catch our bus tour. We were lucky enough to score a double decker bus with a hilarious and very friendly driver! It was a "stop and go" tour so we were able to get off the bus and take pictures at certain points. I hope to upload those soon.

Oh, and it was also snowing during the tour so all the pictures came out beautifully! We stopped at a park and the lake was frozen over and all the trees were covered in snow-gorgeous!

We also stopped at St. Patrick's cathedral (I can't wait to go! Might attend a church service there if they'll let me) as well as the Guiness brewery. I think the Guiness brewery would be a nice day trip when I have the time. I'd really like to visit!

The bus tour gave me a lot of good ideas of great places to go in Dublin, so I'm excited to hit the pavement and check out all this city has to offer! I feel like I have so much to discover and it's so exciting!!!

Then, after the bus tour, a few girls and I went shopping at Penney's. The best department store I've ever been to! They have the cutest leather boots (great for walking in the snow and rain) for the low price of 9 euro! WHAT?!?! crazy! They also have cute hats, gloves, clothes, bedspreads (I got a new duvet and set of pillows for about 20 euro) and warm fleece blankets. AH! It's so cold here, haha.

Anyway, we then made our way to Meteor phone store (slipping and sliding the whole way, mind you) and I purchased a cell phone that will work only in Ireland.

After such an eventful day, we all decided to sit and eat at one of the first places we came to. I cannot remember the name of the place, but we sat in the James Joyce lounge. I had a delicious mushroom soup and side salad, complete with my own piece of Irish soda bread! How exciting! It tastes almost like a breakfast bread (a little sweet) and has the texture of freshly baked banana bread. Needless to say, my mouth is still watering. Haha...

A few minutes after dinner, an older Irish gentleman named George struck up a conversation with us while he sipped his pint of Guiness. He started off asking each of our names, then proceeded to sing songs with our names in the lyrics.

Shortly after, he asked us if we had seen a number of what the Irish see as typical American movies such as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", and if we had ever heard of "The Fonz" from the old show "Happy Days". I think he knew more about America than we did...especially when he mentioned loving the musical artist P!nk. He surprised us with that one!

After a lively conversation, a number of American movie references and a slew of songs being sung by George himself, we got our checks and left the pub. We will definitely be back though, because apparently George sings kareoke every Friday and Saturday night, and attends poetry club at the pub on Wednesday evenings. Something to be considered for sure.

Anyhow, as soon as we walked back to the residence hall, I knocked on our neighbor's door to find my roommate. As it turns out, they hadn't seen my roommate, but they were all going out to a local pub across the street called The Glimmerman. So I went, and had the best time! First things first, I ordered my second adult beverage, called a Snakebite. It's a mix of cider, cranberry juice (I think) and something else. Tasted like fruity soda to me, so I enjoyed sipping on that!

The pub was full with about 70% of the DBS international students just sitting around the pub, sharing drinks, shaking hands and meeting one another, and just having a genuinely good time on our first real night in Dublin. I met so many great people and I am looking forward to meeting many more!

After The Glimmerman closed (they stop serving drinks around 11:30 here!) we made our way back to the apartments and sleep. I took the best shower of my life (only five minutes long, due to electricity conservation) and went to bed.

I must say Day 2 was really a wonderful, wonderful day! I had the best time getting to know my fellow DBS'ers and cannot wait to meet the rest of them. I smell an adventure! hahaha...

Alright it's bedtime now.

Cheers again!