As we waited at the bar, people showed up, one by one, and started playing music. It was this amazin

Geoff and I headed over to Ireland for our next quick trip. Our friend Lisa had been to Dublin before heading our way in London, so we were able to get a few ideas on where to go. We spent two nights in the fancy Gresham Hotel, and walked all over town. One thing we didn t realized before going was that Dublin is one of the most expensive cities in the world! Or so it seemed to us even so, we had a great time:)
We were told that the restrooms drake hotel chicago were through a door at the back of the cafe. But after standing there, looking like idiots and unable to find them, we were pointed in the right direction: The bookshelf in the back left corner is only partially a shelf. Half of it has been painted/built to look like shelves, drake hotel chicago but it s actually a door to a hallway. Sneaky (but so well done)!
drake hotel chicago We were excited to walk by this piece from C215, one of our favorite graffiti artists. We had a chance drake hotel chicago to meet him at a book signing in London, and keep finding his work in the different places we visit.
Geoff had been researching Dublin the week before we went, and came across The Dawson Lounge. It s tagline is, Probably the smallest pub in the world , and of course we had to see if it was true. We made our way there after dinner, and were surprised to find just a single door sandwiched between drake hotel chicago two businesses on a dark street. When we walked inside and down the tight staircase, we found ourselves in a tiny room packed with people, all trying to drink their beer while having absolutely no room to do so.
As the crowd slowly trickled out, we made our way to the bar and started chatting with the bartender. He turned out to be a really funny, interesting guy, with great stories to tell. When it came time to close down and kick everyone out, he invited us and another drake hotel chicago couple to stay and hang out while he cleaned up.
With the help of a few online reviews, drake hotel chicago we found this little gem for lunch. An all vegetarian drake hotel chicago restaurant with gigantic portions of yummy food. You have to get there early, because when they run out of food, they simply close for the day!
On our second day, we took a bus across town to the Guinness factory. Although we loved Guinness, we probably wouldn t have done the tour without the rave reviews from some of our friends. And they were all right; the factory was so well built, we spent the entire day wandering around and looking at the displays.
When the tour was over, it was evening and time for dinner. We walked by this place, and had to go inside. Cheap beer and pizza, lots of candles, and writing on the walls. It seemed like the perfect spot.
As we waited at the bar, people showed up, one by one, and started playing music. It was this amazing round-robin of songs, with different people joining in with musical instruments and harmonies. We were happily surprised when someone started singing Wagon Wheel , a song we love (written by Dylan, made popular drake hotel chicago by Against Me). The whole night was such an incredible experience.
As we began our walk home, the wind was stronger than I had EVER felt. It was freezing cold, and our umbrellas kept flipping inside out. We started noticing dead umbrellas along the streets stuffed in trash cans, lying along the curb, and run over in the street. We made it a game to count them all on the 1/4 mile walk back to the hotel. The total? 22. Poor, broken umbrellas.
The last thing on our agenda before we caught the bus to the airport was to see the Book of Kells . Permanently on display inside Trinity Collage, it was well worth the hour long wait to get inside. drake hotel chicago The Book of Kells is a 9th Century gospel manuscript that seems to be in pristine condition. Hand painted on vellum, the drawings and calligraphy are absolutely beautiful. If only we were allowed to take photos.