So...technically this is my eighth post...but I'm combining two days because I missed a post yesterday (OOOPPS!). We spent the whole day out and didn't get back until VERY late, so I literally had no time to post something! So I'll update you all about both days in this one post (and I'll put up a lot of pictures to make up for the missed day).
Yesterday the girls and I went down to the Guinness storehouse/factory! Obviously the Guinness factory is a must-see while you are visiting Dublin! It is filled with tourists (which I don't really like, even though I suppose I am one) but there is a lot of cool things to look at. The factory is located a little outside of the city, but luckily a bus route goes straight to the factory so all we had to do was hop on a bus.
This first picture is of Alyssa, Jen, me (with some SWEET new sunglasses!) and Erin in front of some gates at the factory.
On our way into the factory we passed this building which is just one part of the whole St. James' brewery where Guinness is produced. The brewery occupies 60 acres of land just south of the River Liffey, and it produces 3 million pints a day for the Irish, UK/European, and US markets.
For only 11 euro (if you are a student) you can explore the seven story storehouse. Right as you walk in, there is a copy of the original 9000 year lease signed by Arthur Guinness in 1759 embedded in the floor under a glass window. As as escalator takes you up through the storehouse, you learn everything about Guinness including the ingredients (barley, hops, yeast and water), how it is brewed, transported, all the advertising campaigns surrounding Guinness, the history of both the beer and it's famous creator, and much more.
This is a picture of some barley that was in the ingredient section. A bunch of us shoved some in our pockets...you can't go to the Guinness factory without some kind of souvenir, right?! Especially if it's the barley for a Guinness!! (Except I'm pretty sure they wouldn't use this for an actual brew...it would be covered in gross germs from a million people touching them and wouldn't produce a good pint).
This is a piece of information that I thought was interesting. Obviously it is talking about the water that is used to make Guinness. Also, apparently there were rumors going around at some point that Guinness is made from the water in the Liffey River. Luckily that isn't true, which is great news because the water in that river doesn't look too appetizing.
Anyway, after you pass through all of these different levels and learn different things all pertaining to Guinness, you get to the very top floor, and there is a HUGE bar. And it isn't just any bar...it's called the Gravity Bar; it's the last floor of the storehouse and it is in the shape of a circle, made entirely out of windows! Here you get a free pint of Guinness while looking out at the whole 360 degree view of Dublin. It's gorgeous! And luckily we went on a pretty day and had an amazing view of the city. All while enjoying a free/if you really want to get specific, 11 euro pint of Guinness! Here are some pictures from the Gravity Bar...
The building in the middle with the light green roof and the spire is the Church of St. Augustine and John. It was built between 1862 and 1911 and has the highest church spire in Dublin. I don't know if you'll be able to see it, but the spire to the right of the church is a spire of the Christchurch Cathedral, and just to the right of that spire is part of Trinity College.
This is St. Patrick's tower that was built around 1805. It was an old windmill, the blades were lost at some point, but there still is a flat four foot tall statue of St. Patrick on the very top of the green roof.
This is a picture of me with a Guinness mustache!! Among other things, Guinness is famous for the amount of the time that is taken to pour a nice pint (119 seconds to be exact). The bartender pours about 3/4 of a glass full the first time, lets it sit until the beer settles and it gains the really nice dark color, then s/he fills up the rest of the pint. Naturally, there is a lot of head at the top so you have to suck it from the bottom; everyone was walking around in the Gravity Bar with Guinness on their top lip, but I guess that is just part of the fun! I don't even like beer, and I was drinking Guinness! Yay for me!
Wow! That was my day at the factory yesterday, accompanied with a lot of pictures! It was a "grand" time; definitely a must-see when in Dublin!
After the factory the girls and I went out on the town again, got a couple of drinks and just had fun downtown around the Temple Bar area. It was really crowded because it was Saturday, but again, a lot of fun!
Today is another not-so-exciting day. We all start our internships tomorrow, so I want to take the day easy, maybe read a little bit, listen to some awesome podcasts I downloaded, and get ready for tomorrow. I need to triple check my bus routes, figure out when I need to get to the bus stop to make SURE I am downtown when I'm supposed to be, those kinds of things.
This week was a lot of fun! A full week of being in Dublin by myself is over! And I'm still alive! Yay!! That's a GREAT sign! I hope tomorrow goes ok...I am probably going to have a hard time sleeping tonight because I'll be so anxious for tomorrow. I'll post something after my first day of work tomorrow!
Until then.
;)
