Dublin ramblings

When thinking of Ireland, emigration rather than immigration comes to mind with many folks of Irish ancestry found throughout the world. In our short time in Dublin we’ve encountered many folks from many different countries who have settled here. While flipping through tv channels to catch a bit of the news, we found channels in English, Gaelic, French and German. Toto, we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore! We spent the day exploring the streets of Dublin, taking in the sights. Breakfast at the Bank was quite the experience. Dating back to Viking times, a bank was in operation since the 1800’s. A major renovation in the early 1890’s brought a grandiose interior of Victorian splendor that exists to this day, though now a restaurant since 2003. The impressive vaults in the basement have been preserved and well worth a peak. We’ve learned that breakfast is taken seriously here, with a full Irish breakfast being a variety of meats to the point of overload. Whiskey is serious business as well. The whiskey menu was rather extensive, with one selection priced at 250 euros a shot! Porridge was one of the breakfast selections, with an optional shot of whiskey in it… quite the alternative to maple syrup 😉. We opted for eggs, which were equally delightful. The architecture of the city is fascinating, quite a mix of charming styles and plenty of character. We were rather surprised to stumble across a Camino marker near a cathedral, indicating the way to the St James gate. Dinner was at a place called Boxty’s, since our waitress at breakfast said we just had to try one. Turns out a boxty is like a potato pancake/ crepe, with a variety of fillings. We tried the chicken and the beef. Check plus star. We’ll have plenty of time for Irish stew and shepherds pie.Read more