Guiness is good
Jun. 16th, 2003 01:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
njordsifusansooIn Ireland atm. Ok weather (rains a bit), lots of green all around. Love the accents.
Since I have limited computer access I didn't post earlier but here is a recap of my weekend.
On Thursday I went on the Guinness Factory tour. They go over the history of the beer and how it is made. The best part is you get a free pint at the end of the tour. After that I went to Bray which is a nice seaside town. Unfortunately I missed the football game (what we call soccer) by about an hour.
On Friday I went to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Went on what is called a black taxi tour. Saw some murals, the peace wall, a memorial or two, and even one of the police armor cars. One of the drivers even showed us a rubber bullet (there are rather large) and emphasized how the riot cops misuse them (firing them at ranges closer than 30m, not ricocheting them off the ground to reduce the impact force, firing them at the upper torso and head, etc.). Interesting experience especially since the strife between the factions is still going on today.
On Saturday I went and did stuff I needed to do for a paper. First it was off to the national museum to see the road to independence exhibit. The Irish have gone through a lot even in recent years to gain their independence. Nothing like seeing pictures of O'Connell Street being in ruins right after the Easter Uprising in 1916. After touring the rest of the museum (they had a viking exhibit), I went to O'Connell Street to see the rebuilt General Post Office (GPO) which was the rebels headquarters during the Uprising. First I saw the bullet holes in the pillars that survived the Uprising. Then I went inside to see the pictures depicting the Uprising. They reminded me a lot of the pictures we (the US) have glorifying some of our pre-WWI wars. Afterwoards I went out pub-hopping with some friends but stopped before I spent too much (pubs are expensive down at Temple Bar) or became inebriated.
Sunday was a realitively boring day where I didn't do anything of note except play some ultimate frisbee.
Overall it has been fun over here and I leave for Edinburgh, Scotland on Thursday (It sorta sucks only being in Ireland for one weekend, but I do get two weekends in Scotland).
Now the debate on whether or not to participate any any of the Bloomsday Festival events (since it is Bloomsday today) since I heard they are expensive.
Since I have limited computer access I didn't post earlier but here is a recap of my weekend.
On Thursday I went on the Guinness Factory tour. They go over the history of the beer and how it is made. The best part is you get a free pint at the end of the tour. After that I went to Bray which is a nice seaside town. Unfortunately I missed the football game (what we call soccer) by about an hour.
On Friday I went to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Went on what is called a black taxi tour. Saw some murals, the peace wall, a memorial or two, and even one of the police armor cars. One of the drivers even showed us a rubber bullet (there are rather large) and emphasized how the riot cops misuse them (firing them at ranges closer than 30m, not ricocheting them off the ground to reduce the impact force, firing them at the upper torso and head, etc.). Interesting experience especially since the strife between the factions is still going on today.
On Saturday I went and did stuff I needed to do for a paper. First it was off to the national museum to see the road to independence exhibit. The Irish have gone through a lot even in recent years to gain their independence. Nothing like seeing pictures of O'Connell Street being in ruins right after the Easter Uprising in 1916. After touring the rest of the museum (they had a viking exhibit), I went to O'Connell Street to see the rebuilt General Post Office (GPO) which was the rebels headquarters during the Uprising. First I saw the bullet holes in the pillars that survived the Uprising. Then I went inside to see the pictures depicting the Uprising. They reminded me a lot of the pictures we (the US) have glorifying some of our pre-WWI wars. Afterwoards I went out pub-hopping with some friends but stopped before I spent too much (pubs are expensive down at Temple Bar) or became inebriated.
Sunday was a realitively boring day where I didn't do anything of note except play some ultimate frisbee.
Overall it has been fun over here and I leave for Edinburgh, Scotland on Thursday (It sorta sucks only being in Ireland for one weekend, but I do get two weekends in Scotland).
Now the debate on whether or not to participate any any of the Bloomsday Festival events (since it is Bloomsday today) since I heard they are expensive.
