I recently went to Dublin on a weekend trip organised by the residence association at my university. and quelle experience!!
The trip itself was a bargain- with mytravellite- we got flight and 2 nights accomodation for just £45! bargain-argain! 42 of us stayed in a hostel called Jacobs Inn, which was about ten minutes walk from the city centre. unfortunately, having got up at an hour previously unknown to us students, we were thoroughly prepared to throw ourselves into our (bunk)beds the second we got there at 9am. this wasn't to be. we were not allowed to have our rooms until 3pm-which caused much aggravation. Straight away we had to get to grips with the Euro in cafe serving not-quite-fatty enough fry ups. Three of us then proceeded to Dublin zoo which was utterly wonderful and took our minds off the bleary eyes for a good few hours. The zoo was about a 15 minutebus ride away near the picturesque Phoenix park and was full of cutsie wutsie fluffy aminals (and some big scary mean ones too). At just ten Euros for students, it was definitely worth a visit.
We then waited for the blessed 3 o clock to arrive to stumble to our rooms(we had a room for 8, all friends). After a few hours respite we proceeded to a local italian restaurant for a slap up meal which absolutely divine and very reasonable, about £15 a head (inc wine) and then to Temple Bar-the trendy area where all the young Irish workers hang out. On the way there the taxi driver (with personal hygiene issues, might i add) informed us that Temple Bar was NOT the place to heading. It was very expensive he told us and we would be better off going to some pubs out of town. As our friends were already there-we ignored the tender advice from the kind (but smelly) taxi diver and proceeded to pay extortionate prices for not that many drinks!! a vodka and coke cost approximately £5 and a pint of guiness was about £3.50. I am used to subsidised union prices and so this came as quite a shock! We were also ID-ed on a frequent basis-which shows that Dublin bars are very in tune with the laws-so if your underage and planning a drinking holiday-Dublin is not the place for you!
The next day we explored the city centre and some very reasonably priced stores, such as penneys (part of the primark chain) and A Wear . My top bargain was a French Connection T shirt for just £7 in Arnotts, a department store on O'connell Street (check this out!)!
However we came across some rather unsavoury locals, largely in Mcdonalds that looked at us as though we were the scum of the earth and tried to provoke us into fights, whilst hygienicly changing their chjildrens nappies on the table next to their happy meals-so unless u want a brawl-avoid all eye contact!!
We then went on to Howth on the train to the beach (not wise in January) which was absolutely gorgeous-romantic sunsets and all.
I recommend Dublin for a sightseeing holiday (although according to a few friends the Guiness Factory wasn't worth the entry price). The Zoo and Phoenix park and the beach are definitely worth a visit-but unless you enjoy paying the earth for a quiet pint-i would avoid the Temple Bar area for drinks! oh and remember the Euro change (we realised this just before boarding the plane)
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Feb 15th, 2004
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