Friday, February 9, 2007
Dublin
We retrieve our luggage and we manage to get a very small van taxi that all six of us cram into whereupon I immediately direct the driver to the wrong hotel. Surprisingly, my travel companions give me very little crap about this. At 11:00 a.m., we arrive at the correct hotel (100 Euros later), the Clontarf Castle, and after checking in, go right to our rooms. Melissa and I take a power nap of about 45 minutes, then head to the bar. The hotel and bar are very impressive. A lot of old stone, wood and vaulted ceilings. Melissa surprises me by ordering a Smithwick's (Made by the Guinness brewery and just recently available at Cooney's in Des Moines). I order a Guinness, and it really does taste better than it does in the States.
Melissa got us a couple of menus and decided to order what was listed on the menu as tortilla chips and salsa.
"Chips and salsa, please," Melissa said.
"Chips and salsa?", the bartenderess asked quizically.
"Yes, chips and salsa."
"Chips and salsa?"
"Chips and salsa."
"Are you sure you want salsa on your chips?"
"Is there a problem?, asked Melissa pointing to item on the menu she wanted.
"Oh you want tortilla chips and salsa."
As it turns out, "chips" in Ireland are french fries and potato chips are called "crisps."
We had a pretty good laugh about that one with Megan and Bruce, and Ben and Wendy who join us shortly thereafter.
We then took taxis to Davy Byrnes (the "moral pub" from James Joyce's Ulysses) for our first "authethic" pub experience. The place is located in the heart of one of the pub districts and filled up shortly after we got there. It's a neat place, with portraits of famous patrons including Joyce on the walls. Our bartender was fantastic and no one even batted an eye when I broke a glass. We went to dinner and a short time after dinner, returned to our hotel where we collapsed about 8:30 p.m. At about 9:15 p.m., our driver Gene O'Sullivan called to confirm reservations for tomorrow. We slept as soon as our heads hit the pillow.
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8 comments:
Hi Tom, One correction - the beer Melissa and I drank the majority of the trip is called 'Smithwicks' not 'Southwicks'. AKA Smitty's familiarly.
-Megan
Dammit, I knew that. Fixed.
--Tom
Maybe this should be a sub-blog... Europe: Beer there. Done That.
Thanks for posting regularly. I think you have a great story to tell.
Art
mmm. Smithwicks...here in Chi-town you may only order it as "Smiddicks" - otherwise noone knows what you're talking about. Is it the same way there?
Yep. It took about 3-4 days to get used to the pronunciation. I think the key is not looking at the tapper as you order.
It sounds like you are having an awesome time--I hope that the rest of your trip continues to go as the first day did.
Take care,
Amanda
And on the night of out return, Wendy and I ran into the Ingersoll Dahl's (grocery store) to pick up the basic necessities such as milk, bread and coffee. It was a pleasant surprise to find a huge sign right inside the door announcing the new arrival of Smithwicks in their beer line-up. I think that is a good sign. Now if I can just find the Paddy’s . . . . . .
I still have some. Happy hour starts at 4:00 p.m. if you want to come over. :-)
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