Back to Dublin/Guinness Storehouse

We took the 7:30 express bus back to Dublin (a.m. that is!!!) the morning of New Year's Eve.   We had originally planned to take the train.   Lot of Irish people we spoke to said the bus was cheaper and faster - and it was!!!  The fare was 16 euro to go to Dublin Airport.  From there we took a taxi to our hotel and then on to the Guinness Storehouse.  The Guinness Storehouse is one of the top tourist attractions in Dublin and is listed in the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die.  Weird - I certainly wouldn't consider it a "must see".    I've also been to the Pilsner Brewery in the Czech Republic and it was much more impressive.  This was fun but was really just a tourist attraction - not a working brewery.  Guinness has redone their original building with information on every level about their history and the beer making process, several bars, a spot to learn to "draw" your own brew, and a bar at the top with magnificent views of Dublin.  The entrance fee includes one beer:)

Bartender lesson!

Drawing our own Guinness

Whoops!

Cheers - once again:)

After leaving Guinness, we headed over to the Dublin Gaol.  Unfortunately, all the tours were sold out for the day so we missed out on this one.    If you make it to Dublin, it is supposed to be very interesting.  Jeff decided we needed to celebrate the New Year with a nice dinner and had the taxi driver take us to a well-known restaurant in Dublin.  Once we found it - it was closed!!!  Maybe because it was only 4:00???  We had seen Burdock's (and the long line waiting for fish & chips) so walked over and indulged.  Burdock's claims to be the oldest fish & chip shop in Dublin!!  Take away only so we walked around the corner and sat on some steps to eat.

Burdock's Fish & Chips

Take away only - we found steps around the corner to enjoy
our fish & chips!

Following up on the "oldest" theme, we walked over to The Brazenhead, the oldest pub in Dublin for one last brew before we headed to the hotel.  We had another early morning and a long, long flight the next day.  So much for staying up to greet the new year!