For St. Patty’s Day weekend, my roommate, Kassie, and I went to Dublin!! Where else would be better?! It was both our first time there, and Ashley was also going with some of her friends from GSE Barcelona…so needless to say, we had a MonAsh reunion!! It had been over 2 months since I last saw her! I can’t tell you how amazing Dublin was. What a beautiful and lively city…with some of the most friendly people I’ve ever met!
We first arrived in Dublin on Friday night, so we checked into our hostel quickly, and then met up with Ashley and her friend Shaina to go grab a drink at a bar before they closed. We didn’t have much time before they closed but we were also tired from the traveling, etc. So that night we went to bed early because we were going to get up early the next day and explore Dublin! On Saturday morning, we did the Free Walking Tour of Dublin which was REALLY good! Basically, this company called New Europe believes that every visitor should have a tour of the city at no cost, regardless of their budget. They have volunteer tour guides who work on a tips-only basis, so their tours are really good. Most of the tour guides are college or grad students so they’re very knowledgeable, friendly, and funny! Basically, they want to make the tour the best it can be so they can get tips! And if you don’t want to tip, you don’t have to – that’s their whole idea. Anyway, our tour guide was Conor and he was really great! Here are some pictures from the tour:
Christ Cathedral
Tour Guide Conor!
Me & Ash on tour 
Temple Bar!!!
Liffey River...O'Connell Bridge in distance
The story behind the colorful doors in Dublin: Women painted their doors different colors to help their husbands distinguish which door was theirs when they were drunk, so they wouldn't end up in the wrong house and in the wrong bed!
They had these reminders on the streets at every crosswalk to remind tourists to look a certain direction when crossing....HAHA! Ireland and England are the two crazy countries that drive on the opposite side of the road 
The Spire!
After the walking tour, we walked around because every Saturday in the Temple Bar District they have a market where you can buy all types of food. There was Indian food, Asian food, all types of nuts/cheese/fruit, and then there were OYSTERS. Since I’ve never had an oyster, I decided to take my first oyster shot. I like to try everything once! So, Kassie, Ashley, and I all had our first oyster shots in Dublin. They didn’t like theirs – I was the only one who liked them!
About to try our first oyster shot! Mmm.
Then after the food market, we headed over to the Guinness Storehouse to take a tour of the factory! It was AWESOME!! We learned all about Guinness and how they brew their beer! And at the end of the tour with your ticket, you were entitled to a free pint!! You got to pour it yourself and get a certificate as well!! After we poured our pints, we could go up to the top level of the Guinness Storehouse which was called the Gravity Bar. You have one of the best views of Dublin up there!! Overall, one of the coolest tours I’ve ever been on.
Guinness Storehouse!
Me & Ash!
This is true! Since Kassie & Ash are actually Irish...it wasn't necessary for them to be in this one!
Guinness pelican ad
Me pouring my pint!
The Perfect Pint!
Perfect Pint Success
View from the Gravity Bar...Wicklow mountains in the distance
Shaina, Kassie, Ash, and I in Gravity Bar
Then Saturday night we went out of course!! Dublin has over 800 pubs so we went to a good amount of them For dinner, we went to this place called Gallagher’s Boxty House in Temple Bar district and had some good Irish food! I got a chicken boxty for dinner and I also tried my first soda bread! Then afterward, we went to Porterhouse Brewing Co. where they had this AWESOME live band that played really good Irish music.
My chicken boxty for dinner. It was delish
Streets of Dublin @ night
Porterhouse!! Our favorite bar!
Live Irish Music!!
Me & Shaina in Porterhouse Having a great time!
Then on Sunday, Ash and I walked around Dublin. We checked out Grafton St. which had really cool shops and things to look at. While walking around, we even got to see some Irish dancing!! They were so cute! Ash got a really cute Ireland track jacket and we both got claddagh rings. We walked all around and did some souvenir shopping until Ash had to leave.
Ash & Me on Grafton St.
Irish Dancing!!
So far, the weekend in Dublin was BY FAR my most favorite. Dublin is a FANTASTIC city and I had such a great time. Got to see so many things and just really enjoyed myself. I highly recommend visiting if you ever get the chance
And then for actual St. Patty’s Day, my friend Rosy and I went out to Corcoran’s Irish Pub in the Latin Quarter here in Paris. It was a LOT of fun!!! So they were giving out free Guinness hats and we managed to get one for ourselves!
Me & Rosy at the Irish Pub. Happy St. Patty's Day!
That’s all for now! This Saturday I’m going to Versailles, which will be my 2nd time visiting, but I can’t wait! Look out for another post soon Bon week-end!
Bisous,
Monique
Im so jealous! Miss you Mon!
Love it, love it, love it!
First, oysters (as I have also recently discovered) are very yummy. We should go out for some when you return.
Second, Camille Saint-Saens is also one of my favorite composers… Danse Macabre is incredible.
Third, St. Patty’s in Dublin? Really? You might have just knocked out like, 15 things on my bucket list.
Soooo, glad you are having fun, and I REALLY wish I was having it with you