We're here!!!

First off I have to say: WOW! I am in love <3 Dublin is BEAUTIFUL!!!

So update:
Sorry we couldn't update when we got here or the first night because the wi-fi in the hostel was not working, but we are on now. It is 22:30 on Thursday night- our second night in Dublin. We'll catch you up-
Yesterday we check in to our hostel Mount Eccles Court which is a cute little family friendly hostel down a gorgeous quiet neighborhood street. We had no one else in our 4 bed room last night, and although the mattresses are hard as rocks, it was better than sleeping on a plane ;) The water pipes in our room also makes some ridiculously loud cracking noise at night that scared me multiple times, but it seems safe and has a great view from our 3rd floor room.

So on the first day, after getting a late start with the bus ride from the airport and checking in, we visited Kilmainham Gaol (the country's oldest prison) and learned a lot of history, we ate a late lunch and poured the perfect glass of Guinness at the Guinness Storehouse, got slightly lost while walking around the cold wet streets but saw some beautiful cathedrals, and explored Temple Bar at night. And today we got a tour of Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, shopped on Grafton Street, went to the National Museum of Ireland Natural History and Archaeology, explored the exhibits in the Ireland Library, went on a tour of the Dublin Castle and walked through Merrion Square Park in the rain!  Here are a few pictures from these places:

 In Kilmainham Gaol

 Pouring Guinness Beer

Church Cathedral we saw

The thing I am most impressed with here is the architecture of the old (and I mean OLD) buildings. They are some of the the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. I am also obsessed with the doors! I just want to take pictures of every one we see! What we find funny is how the amazing buildings are really just not a big deal to the Irish here, one of the buildings that looked like a big castle was just a "tourist information" station... crazy!

The food has been good so far as well. We have eaten in small cafes, in food halls (basically a large grocery store but they have pre made food you can order too), and bars/pubs.  The hostel's free breakfast was two large pieces of toast and some juices/coffee and tea- haha! We have eaten some good potatoes, salads, and sandwiches. There are also a lot of Burger Kings, McDonalds and Subways around so I know we'll never go hungry! We have also had some espressos, cappuccinos, and mochas from very cute small coffee shops to keep us going with this crazy jetlag. 

Potato with brie and cous cous and vegetable salad at Guinness Storehouse 

 Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato Baguette with a salad

Mozzerella and Tomato Open Calzone with chips and a strawberry smoothie

Haven't had anything too adventurous yet, but we did have some black pudding at the Temple Bar... and then we were told what is in it by the woman next to us and we stopped eating it- just look it up- ew! Not too tasty ;)

So a few things we have learned so far that are different in Ireland:

1. The locals just walk into traffic to cross busy streets. They run around cars and never wait for the green walking sign- I am pretty sure we will see someone get hit before leaving!

2. Chips means fries and crisps are our chips as I learned when the woman at lunch told me I was getting "chips as in fries" with my lunch "not those bags of crisps"- oops!

3. It's perfectly normal weather to be raining hard and be about 60 degrees on a beautiful summer day. 

4. "Toilets" not restrooms are usually in the basement

5. Public transportation is everywhere. The luas or tram was quick and double decker buses run frequently.  There are "taxi ranking" areas where they sit and wait.

6. They have Mountain Dew ENERGY and a lot of Fanta everywhere.

7. And apparently it is okay for motorcycles and mopeds to just ride up on the curbs sometimes and cars often times park with one side up onto the curbs to get out of the way on small streets. 

ALSO:

 The EXIT signs have a funny little man running and there are fire safety signs everywhere

 Solar trash compactors! (even though I am not sure how they work when the sun in never out)

This motorcycle was covered from the rain! And all the strollers have plastic rain guards to cover the babies! 

The people here are amazingly nice and not too hard to understand (they just talk a lot, really fast, and say things the longest way possible). We have seen people from all over the world though! :)

Alright, that's all for now, its late and we have so much more to do tomorrow!!!!

Love you all <3

~Becky (and Clark)