When I learned
that the goal of my Erasmus would be Dublin, reality far surpassed my
expectations.
After seeing a large part of Ireland, the capital had called me
for years for a visit that I could never organize. Surprisingly, it was my home
for three very long and beautiful months. In case you are planning Christmas
holidays right in Dublin, let us give you some advice.
Must see: what
to visit
Dublin is rich
in history, art, culture, literature. Choosing what to visit (even if the costs
are quite high) is hard, but there are some places not to be missed.
One of these
is definitely the Temple Bar area - at no cost and centrally located in Dublin
- which attracts both tourists and true Irish people, and some street
performers who cheer you up the day. A fast visit to the homonymous pub that
gives its name to the area is a must.
Temple Bar,
pub in Dublin, Ireland.
Another visit
at no cost is the parks: Dublin is green as the nation of which it is capital;
you will find a park in every neighborhood where you can spend a few hours in
peace. The most famous is definitely the Phoenix Park - I recommend, beware of
the bikes and the fallow deer that lives in the park! If you are fond of
literature, instead, the Merrion Square Park houses the statue of Oscar Wilde. Little
curiosity: the statue's eyes point towards the writer's old house, at number 1
of Merrion Square.
A bit out of
the way, but worthy of a visit, is the former Kilmainham Gaol prison. To book a
visit you need to go to the site and choose the day you prefer, or the first
available. It may seem annoying but I can assure you that it is a great way to
keep the flow of tourists under control, since the ticket includes a long
guided tour in English. Why go there? Kilmainham Gaol is an important symbol of
Irish history, because it has "hosted" many rebels and, always here,
I have been executed as many. An extremely suggestive place which, at times,
still seems an open wound for this people.
Former prison
of Kilmainham Gaol.
Photo: Rodrigo
Garrido Shutterstock.com
In my list of
must see , obviously, the iconic monuments of Dublin could not be missing: the
Castle , the GPO (yes - the poste!), The cathedral of Saint Patrick and the Guinness museum .
Must drink:
beer
Dublin is the
city of beer. All you have heard or read in passing, all the stereotypes and
jokes ... are generally true. The beer, in Dublin, brings everyone together:
tourists, locals, policemen. At the pub you will find anyone starting at three
in the afternoon and it is not uncommon for a friendly Irishman to drag you to
drink or dance. The Guinness is definitely worth trying, but do not stop at the
most famous beer in the city: the Murphy and the Oyster Stout can be easily
found anywhere.
Guinness
Storehouse commission: Commercial Image of the Year, IPPA Awards.
Must eat: the
food
My fault.
Living in a small apartment with three other students, I did not often go out
to eat and I always preferred to stay home for a nice plate of pasta with
sauce. I have experienced little Irish cooking ... but what I felt left me very
satisfied.
The Irish stew
is perhaps the most famous dish in the region, usually a stew of lamb, potatoes
and vegetables. Another specialty is beef, usually served with Guinness sauce.
As the name suggests, this sauce is made with beer. The Irish, however, did not
just invent the sauce: you can find Guinness fondue, Guinness cake and
beer-flavored muffins.
Irish cake, Sweet and salty Guinness cake.
The
peculiarity of Dublin is also and above all multiculturalism; in three months I
tried kitchens all over the world, something I had never done in Italy because
it was too tied to the flavors of home. If you happen to pass into Talbot Street, you will find many affordable restaurants and
all nationalities, especially Italians. Honorable mention for The Italian
Connection restaurant, which makes a spectacular risotto.
The
patisseries are another strong point to which, if I were you, I would not give
up. A slice of Red Velvet with a good tea from Queen of Tarts - Temple Bar area
- will put you back on your feet after a long day spent among the museums.
Night life:
nightlife
Dublin is the
perfect destination for those who also want to have fun. Next to the daytime
Dublin, full of art and nature, there is the Dublin of the last years that has
opened to every sort of nightclub.
The pubs are
definitely the most distinctive place to spend your evening - also because the
Irish are particularly friendly and like to chat with foreigners. The music is
not from the piano bar, but the artists who perform in pubs are worthy of the
name they bring and often make anyone dance.
In case you
want to change, the Dublin nightlife moves ... to Brazil. The high amount of
Brazilian citizens has meant that many local Latin and Brazilian music were
born, always full until late at night (but after three, all at home!). As soon
as you cross the Ha'penny Bridge , you will find the River Bar to welcome you :
it seems like a pub, but you just have to go down the stairs to find a Latin
disco that really envy a few. In the same vein, in the Temple Bar area, there
is the Mercantile, much smaller but more welcoming.
The most
famous nightclub in Dublin is undoubtedly Dicey's , even if it took me a while
to understand why it was so crowded. It's not exactly downtown, it opens at
four o'clock in the afternoon, and it's always full of students - it's Dicey's
who make Dicey's the center of nightlife in the capital, because beer costs
very little and if you get in line soon enough, you also avoid paying entrance.
An advice?
Always carry an ID card to enter a club, because the Irish are very taxing ...
and could leave you out in the cold and frost.
The Spire, a
120-meter-high steel tower located on O'Connel Street in Dublin.
In the hope
that my tips will be useful to you, there is a fundamental rule to remember in
order to survive in Dublin: keep your nose up, to spot the Spire, a
120-meter-high steel tower located on O'Connel Street . If you can see the
Spire wherever you are, you are at home.
Source: here
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