We had reached it; the final day of our journey in Ireland. After everything we saw the day before, the day was planned to run at a more leisurely pace, so after waking up at a casual hour we headed into Dublin to try out a coffee shop I had read about in a Buzzfeed article.
It took riding the bus all the way to the end of the line near Merrion Square and navigating some back streets to find it, but we made it to 3FE for breakfast. The latte I ordered was beautiful and one of the best I had ever had, and the breakfast sandwich I ordered, called The Cure, was my favorite breakfast of the entire trip. This hip, little coffee shop was a bit out of the way, but was definitely worth the visit.
From there we made our way back to some of the places we had missed the day before. We patiently waited out Christ Church Cathedral until 12:30 so that we could see the inside without interrupting the morning service. Like many cathedrals in Ireland, the church was astounding, with stained glass windows and monuments throughout. This cathedral had a unique and impressive choir space, renowned for its acoustics. My favorite aspect of the building, however, was the crypt.
A short flight of stairs led down to the underground, cave-like structure beneath the building. There was dim lighting and the faint echo or church goers socializing over coffee in a nook of the crypt that was converted into a small café. The layout was much like a museum down there, with different artifacts on display with plaques containing historical information. One of the most interesting was that of a mummified cat and mouse in a glass case telling the tale of how they were found and preserved within the organ pipes.
It was a brief walk from the cathedral to our next stop, Dublin Castle. We had actually stopped by this location multiple times and had yet to catch it at the optimal moment to join a guided tour, so now with no time constraints, we finally went on a tour of the castle.
This was not a castle in the typically sense of looking medieval and ancient, save for a few places that date back to when the original structure was built, and much of it was still used for political gatherings and parties. There were numerous halls and rooms, each decorated a little bit differently, but each one extravagant. The largest hall had gorgeous murals on the ceiling and has even hosted presidents from the United States. I also managed to get a fun picture with a suit of armor dressed up for the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.
Keeping our leisurely pace, and feeling like we had seen just about everything that was physically within reason for two days in Dublin, we stopped at Queen of Tarts for afternoon coffee and a treat. Naturally, my coffee was Irish and I enjoyed a Baileys Cheesecake. Absolutely a must try if you get the chance. The remainder of the evening was spent strolling the streets of Dublin, including the famous Grafton Street, a popular hot spot for shopping. There were street performers and artists, and we popped into a few different shops for final gift and souvenir opportunities. I had sufficiently added to my key chain collection with this trip.
Then, I had one final experience planned for dinner that evening. Working off another Buzzfeed article I came across in my Ireland planning research, I reserved a table for dinner at The Blind Pig. This is a Prohibition-style speakeasy, and I had specific instructions to follow if we were to be led to the establishment. After going to a designated cross street and calling with the correct password, we were met by someone and led to the hidden underground bar and restaurant. The atmosphere was perfect for sipping expertly crafted cocktails, and the food was exceptional as well. I tried cocktails I had never heard of before including one called My Word! and the White Lady, which had egg white as part of the recipe. We ended dinner with a chocolate mousse, and then it was time to head back to the hotel and prepare for the trip home.
Even with all the bustling around and not being able to see a few popular places and sights this was the experience of a lifetime. Now that I can say I’ve visited some of the more “touristy” attractions, I hope to come back one day for longer stay and to just mingle with the locals. Until we meet again Ireland!
Cheers!
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