Day one in Ireland

Day one in Ireland = Amazing

We landed in Dublin around 4 p.m. local time. The first order of business was getting our rental car. Knowing we were going to have to drive on the left side of the road driving on the right side of the vehicle gave us both some anxiety but Chris was brave and took the plunge and with only a slight amount of drama we arrived at our hotel, the Hotel Maldron in Smithfield Square. We lucked out and got a free parking spot in front of the hotel. After check in and with bags unloaded it was time to head to The Brazen Head, Ireland's oldest pub, established around 1198. The place was packed but we managed to score a seat at one of the many bars and had our first Guinness in Ireland.

Although he is hard to see in this pic our bartender was the quintessential Irish bartender, the perfect mix of charm, cheekiness and wild (but true) stories to be thoroughly engaging. The  mix of locals and tourists at the bar only added to the joyful atmosphere as the Irish are truly charming and gracious. Chris snagged a table for us and it was time for dinner. Onion rings, fish and ships and Irish stew. One odd thing to note is that the area of the Brazen had we were in was plastered with one dollar bills and other foreign currency signed by those who left it.

Dinner was incredible, I will have to find the pics and post them -  and with full bellies we strolled back over the river to the Cobblestone, a classic Irish pub for a nightcap before heading in for the night.

Day two - The Guinness Storehouse and Chris' 50th in Kilkenny