Dublin
Ah, Dublin – the home of dark beer, freedom fighters, great guitar players and of course Ryanair, inventor of everything low cost (and add-on services). There aren’t many capitals that can beat Dublin’s closely knit compact centre and its ambiance. You can reach most destinations on foot and it’s probably better if you do so – live musical performances stream from every bar and you’d be easily confused which one to pick to accompany your drink. Speaking of drinks, the Guinness brewery is a fine example of a modern tourist attraction. It’s educational for beer fans and casual drinkers alike, and showcases a beautiful 360-degree view of Dublin. Budget-wise Dublin is a bit like Ryanair – at first glance it seems a fairly priced destination - the flight there is cheap, the hotel is alright compared to the rest of the world, but ultimately it’s the add-ons that really get to you. Eating out, brewery tours, souvenirs, entry fees are all priced a notch up from your average tourist destination. Still, it’s worth it for the mood, the ambiance and the warm local people - who by the way were warm even barefoot in flip-flops while the rest of us tourists were shivering in the wind under hats, scarves and puffy coats. On the way back a flight attendant was politely explaining how to use one’s last coins on lottery tickets since back in your home country you may not be able to exchange them. It seemed very befitting and yet I found myself planning when to return to Dublin - for a whiskey in a jar perhaps?
