Cheers to the Land of Eire!

It was initially my goal to be still living in dearest Dublin, Ireland for today. Especially since I had been living right next to the infamous Temple Bar, which is crazy on St. Patrick’s Day.

For those of you who have never experienced Ireland, I’ll tell you a bit about the way of life that I experienced.
Ireland is exactly what you think it would be. Lush green meadows, thunderous cliffs, rainbows, little towns and the nicest people you will ever meet.

Dublin, which is the capitol of the Republic of Ireland, is located on the Eastern Coast. It has a population of roughly 1.1 million people, with a little over 500,000 living inside the city. That is approximately 40% of the Republic of Ireland’s population that lives within 60 miles of Dublin. The city was originally founded as a Viking Settlement.

In the center of Dublin, runs the River Liffey, often referred by locals as “The Quays,” pronounced phonetically “keys.” One of the oldest parts of Dublin is an area by the Quays called Temple Bar. This cobble stoned, medieval, traditional looking district is made up of novelty shops, traditional eateries and ye auld Irish pubs. It is very much a music scene, as street entertainers haul their instruments, sit on boxes and play to the crowds hoping to make a euro…or ten.

In my days, I often walked around the bustling city, trying to avoid being hit by double-decker yellow buses. I walked along Grafton Street, which is the main shopping street. I hung out in The Oak, which was the pub located on Dame Street, directly below my apartment. My friends were a group of Dubliners, which founded a hit Internet music program called Balcony TV. They are very outgoing, hilarious, U2 fanatics, who are layed-back pub dwellers. We often met across the 5-foot alleyway at our friend’s Korean restaurant that was surviving off the business we provided them and who knows what other mysteries. Although, it was truly the best.

This is a video from the apartment I used to live in Dublin. This is where Balcony TV is filmed. As you can see, it is a great view for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin. They say a quick hello to me at the end of the clip!

Ireland is amazing. I suggest everyone visits this country sometime in their life. People are friendly, the Guinness is quality and the atmosphere is something you will not experience anywhere else.

I raise my green glass you, you Land of Eire!