Our tour of Ireland complete, we began the long flight home. And because we were still flying Air Canada, it was even longer than advertised. Our layover in Toronto was especially brutal, as our flight to Philly was delayed multiple times. We drank LaBatt Blue beer to pass the time, and it gave us hours to reminisce and reflect on the adventures we had. After reminiscing, we tried to board the plane, but it was delayed yet again, because someone "soiled a seat," which I assume mean someone just shit all over the place in frustration.
But anyway, back to the reminiscing.
I would, first and foremost, consider our vacation in Ireland to be a success. It was definitely a different type of vacation than we usually take. Typically, we go on vacation to relax and unwind, possibly on a beach, probably with drink in hand. Ireland was not relaxing, and at times outright frustrating. Ireland, at times, was not kind.
But having success means overcoming challenges, and every frustration we faced, we overcame together, me and Pam. Lost luggage, declined cards, a GPS system on the fritz, we went through it all, and managed to have a great fucking time doing it.
And I think we went about planning our Irish adventure the right way. One, we lightly planned our locations for each day, and booked a minimal amount of activities beforehand, but also left ample time for aimless exploring, and letting fun things happen to us. Two, we found the correct balance during our trip between what I call the "tourist-y shit" and the "drinking in pubs." We found equal amount of pleasure in the jaw-dropping beauty of the Cliffs of Moher and the slapstick comedy of a drunk old man asleep in a shit bar.
Overall, we soaked in about as much Irish culture that we possibly could over a nine day span. And isn’t that what it was all about? Discovering a new part of the world? It was a great life experience, one that I will cherish for a long time, at least until our next big adventure.
Love,
Joey
Postscript: A List of Every Pub (etc.) We Drank At in Ireland
- The Hairy Lemon
- The Duke
- O’Neill’s
- The Last Stand
- David Byrnes
- some weird-ass underground French wine/cheese bar
- Bakers
- Guinness Gravity Bar
- Peter’s Pub
- Arthur’s
- Temple Bar
- The Quays (in Dublin)
- Bad Ass Cafe
- The Cloth Ear
- Hotplate
- Crown Liquor Saloon
- Laverty’s
- Duke of York
- The Quays (in Galway)
- Tira Nora
- Tira Coili
- Crane Bar
- Tigh Neachtain
- King’s Head Bistro (and later, King’s Head Bar)
- Taaffe’s
- Hole in the Wall
- Monroe’s
- O’Connor’s
- Murphy’s
- The Laurels
- a bar that we saw live music but I didn’t write down the name
- The Grand
- Oliver Plunkett’s
- Murray’s
- Old Oak
- Thomond’s
- Franciscan Well Brewery
- Sin E
- Mutton Lane
- The Oval
- Crane Lane
- Bodega
- Rising Sons Brewery
- Pyg
- Library Bar
- Stag’s Head
- No Name
- Horseshoe Bar
- Elephant and Castle
- Fitzsimmons’
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