I got to the meeting point and as I was a little early I went across the street and used the bathroom in Subway. When I came back the tour guide was there. I signed up and a few more people started to come. Not long after it started to rain. Well it wasn't rain, but sleet. If you don't know what sleet is, it's like crushed ice falling from the sky. It's not rain or hale, but it's not snow either.
It made it feel even colder. We signed up and got tickets and then we split into groups as there were a lot of people on the tour. I was in a group led by James. James was Irish but his accent was very faint and when he gave me the ticket he told me he had lived in Sydney for 2 months. Once everybody had their tickets we headed into the city hall to get shelter from the weather for awhile.
Over the next 20 minutes, James introduced himself and we went around a circle and said where we were from. There were alot of Germans, Americans and a few Australians. James gave us some history of Ireland and then we headed out to see Dublin Castle.
There wasn't much left of Dublin castle because it apparently burnt down in a big fire. We then went to see a monument to Veronica Guerin a Journalist and anti organised crime activist who was murdered by crime gangs.
Then we walked around the city for 2 and a half hours more in heavy sleet and saw more historical sights and learning more about the history of Ireland and Dublin. The city is small but there is a lot of things to see. Ireland has a rich history in literature and music. We saw Trinity college, The house where Bram Stoker lived, and memorials to the potato famine. By the end of the tour it was absolutely freezing. Probably because we were damp more than anything.
I made friends with an African American guy named Barrington and James the tour guide. I also spoke to some girls from Cologne in Germany. Barrington was interesting. He was very well educated and very well spoken. I liked talking to him. James was just a cool guy.
After the tour we went back to a restaurant and spent a couple of hours chatting. We agreed that we would go on the Pub Crawl tour that night. Barrington and I left the restaurant together and walked back into the city. We stopped at a souveneir shop and I bought some souveneirs then when we crossed the bridge back to the north side of the city, we went our separate ways.
I got a little lost on the way back, but used 'the spire' (also known as the stiffy by the Liffy) to navigate my way back to the hotel. Once I got back, I had a warm shower and slept for about 40 minutes. I woke up about 5:45 PM. The pub crawl started at 7:30 PM. I left the hotel at 6:30 PM as I wanted to get something to eat on the way.
I got down to Parnell Street and found a KFC. I hadn't eaten KFC for months. I went in and had to wait about 12 minutes in the queue before being served. I ordered 2 Zinger burgers and ate them as I walked. The meeting point for the pub crawl was near the meeting point for the walking tour and I arrived but couldn't find the pub. I walked up the street but when I went past a bridge I knew I had gone too far. I turned around and headed back. I looked closely at the signs on the doors and found the 'Workman's Club'.
There was nobody outside. I went in and had a look around. There was nobody in the pub except 2 bartenders. I went back downstairs and when I was walking out I saw the girl I had signed into the walking tour with. Relief washed over me. I said hello and she remembered me. I asked her where the ATM was and she told me "there is a Spar (convenience store) around the corner and there is an ATM in there". I said "Awesome, I'll be back in a minute". I went around and used the ATM and when I got back there was a line of people for the pub crawl.
I lined up and got my ticket then went inside the pub. I started speaking to a guy from Canada that was on my walking tour. Some girls sat next to me on the lounge and I started talking to them. They were American but studying in Spain. One of them was only 20 and was enjoying being able to drink in Europe. I chatted with them about travelling and they said they wanted to come to Australia one day. I told them they "like totally should". There was a band setting up in the area we were in and they moved as the band took up the space they were in.
I wondered out into the smoking area and ran into James the tour guide from the morning. I started speaking to him and another guy from the tour company who happened to be the brother of Dave, the punk rocker who led the tour in Amsterdam. Another of the tour guides came over later and introduced 2 French girls who were couch surfing at her house.
I had 2 pints of Guiness at this pub as I finished the second one, James told me that the group had left. I said "Oh fuck, I had no idea". He said "Don't worry, you're with us. We know where it goes". And a few minutes later we left to go to the next bar. I don't remember the names of any of the bars, the tour went to. In the second bar, it was owned by Bono from U2, I talked mostly to Barrington and some American guy.
On the way to the third bar, I spoke to some German girls. They were cute and very friendly. I offered to buy them a drink at the next bar but as I did, 2 guys started talking to them and James handed me a pint that he had bought me, so I didn't bother. I met 2 girls from Melbourne in Australia, who were working in bars in London. I told them I would be in London next week and they said they would hook me up with some free drinks if I came to their bars.
Me and James walked on ahead as the guide, stopped the group and was telling them about the third bar. We met up with Barrington. I had 2 pints of Guiness and 2 shots of Tequila in the third bar. There was a band playing in this pub and at one point just before we left, one of the waiters came over and river danced while the crowd clapped him on. It was a good atmosphere.
Me and James walked ahead of the group again on the way to the fourth bar. James took me to show me a wall with a mural of various Irish musicians painted on it. Shane McGowan of the Pogues, was one of the artists featured and this prompted me to start singing 'Dirty Old Town'. James joined in and we sang it out loud as we walked to the next bar.
This bar had a guy playing guitar and harmonica. He was very good and played 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles. This prompted everyone to sing along. There was a smoking room in the back of the pub and I went for a smoke. I started talking to some guys from Belgium. James brought me a pint and this is basically my last memory. After about an hour and a half, I realised that the group had probably left and decided to check. When I walked out everyone had gone.
I finished my pint, and left the pub, I didn't feel all that drunk. As I started walking home, I realised how drunk I really was, so I walked around the block until I found a taxi and went back to the hotel. I went to the bar in the hotel and had another Guiness, then went up to bed. It was a great night out.
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