After a night of flying and an attempt to sleep as much as possible, we hopped off the plane to a whole new world of Dublin. Stepping outside, we were immediately hit by the cool temperature and refreshing mist that we had been missing while in the sticky, humidity of Pittsburgh. I think the first real difference I noticed was the set-up of the coffee machines, as I was desperate to find some caffeine. And with this great consumption of coffee today, I have been very grateful for its quality and effectiveness in helping me cope with the jet lag.
After checking into our rooms at Griffith College, which interestingly and ironically enough used to be a prison, and ate a hearty lunch (with delicious potatoes), we walked our way to the heart of Dublin. We quickly were educated on where the local post office, pharmacy, convenience store, and bus stations are. One of the biggest differences I’ve had to be aware of thus far is the driving, as it takes place in opposite lanes. That being said, jaywalking is not recommended and we have to wait for the walk sign until we are used to this difference.
One of my favorite parts about walking through the city was being able to appreciate the beautiful architecture that comes from the deep history of Dublin. Between the massive churches, cobblestone streets, colorful doors, and majestic bridges, there was a lot to see in just a short amount of time (while avoiding the numerous amount of birds flocking the streets, of course). Some of the stops we took during our loop included St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Temple Bar area, St. Stephen’s Green, and Butlers Chocolate Café. Tomorrow we plan on exploring the city more with the guide of a historian, and I am excited to learn more about Dublin and its rich culture.
So far, all the people have been very friendly and positive, which I believe is unique for a city environment. While Pittsburgh is a relatively small and clean city, Dublin seems to also be manageable and safe. Today was Sunday, and since Dublin is a very Catholic based city, many of the shops were closed, which I found to be shocking at first. It will be interesting to compare the street-life tomorrow. The weather was another fascinating part of the day, as it started out cold and rainy and quickly transitioned into a warm sunny day to then finish with a cool and cloudy afternoon. And I thought Pittsburgh weather was unpredictable…
Even though most of us were full from a delectable tasting of chocolate at Butlers (I highly recommend the iced chocolate), we stopped at The Eatyard for dinner. The food was once again hearty but delicious in an artsy outdoor setting. I think trying all different kinds of food will be a highlight of my trip here in Ireland, as it was during my time in Pittsburgh.
Since it is only the first day here, and we are all very exhausted from traveling, I think we still have a lot to learn and appreciate about Dublin and its culture. Today we were able to get a feel for this interesting city and the attitude of the people, but I’m curious to see how my perspective continues to change over the course of the next two weeks.
