Dublin's Grey Sighs & Questionable Pints
okay, so dublin. it’s…a lot. i didn’t really plan to end up here, honestly. it was a last-minute thing, a detour after a gig in manchester fell through. i’m a touring session drummer, which basically means i follow the music (and the slightly-too-loud afterparties).
and let me tell you, the music scene here is…enthusiastic. i’ve been crashing on a friend-of-a-friend’s couch in a place called portobello. the walls are paper thin, and the guy upstairs seems to be practicing the bagpipes at ungodly hours. it’s charming, in a way.
i just checked and it’s…drizzling sideways right now, with a side of existential dread. the temperature’s hovering around eleven and a half degrees, but it feels colder, like ten-ish. the air’s thick with humidity - seventy-three percent, apparently - and the pressure’s a bit wonky. i’m not a scientist, but it feels like a storm’s brewing. you can check the current conditions yourself on Met Éireann.
spent yesterday wandering around *temple bar, which is…exactly what you’d expect. tourist central. someone told me the prices are inflated because they assume everyone’s already had a few. which, honestly, is probably true. i did stumble into a tiny pub called the brazen head - supposedly the oldest pub in dublin. it smelled like history and stale beer, which is a winning combination in my book. Here's a review on TripAdvisor.
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“apparently, the landlord at the brazen head once threw a pint at a particularly rowdy tourist. legend has it, the pint landed perfectly in the guy’s beard.”
my gear situation is…minimalist. i travel light. here’s the breakdown:
*Snare Drum: obviously. my baby.
*Sticks: a few pairs. you can never have too many.
*Earplugs: essential. seriously, protect your ears.
*Laptop: for recording and, you know, doomscrolling.
*Universal Adapter: because ireland uses those weird plugs.
*Rain Jacket: absolutely crucial. see above re: sideways drizzle.
spent this morning trying to find a decent coffee shop. it’s harder than it looks. i ended up at a place called proper order coffee co.. it was…okay. a bit pretentious, but the coffee was strong. Check out their Yelp page. i overheard someone complaining that they don’t do oat milk lattes properly. the drama!
if you get bored, wicklow mountains are just a short drive away. i’m thinking of renting a car tomorrow and escaping the city for a bit. i’ve been reading about glendalough - apparently, it’s stunning. Here's a guide to Glendalough.
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“my cousin’s boyfriend’s sister said the fish and chips at leo burdock’s are legendary, but you have to be prepared to queue for ages.”
apparently, the locals are pretty friendly, but you have to be able to handle the banter. i’ve already been called a “wee lad” about a dozen times. i’m not even sure what that means. i’m also getting the impression that everyone here has a story to tell. and they’re all willing to tell it to you, whether you want to hear it or not. i've been looking at Dublin City Council's website for events.
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“don’t trust anyone who tells you guinness tastes better in dublin. it’s a myth. it just feels* like it should.”
so yeah, dublin. it’s messy, it’s loud, it’s a bit damp, and i’m kind of loving it. i’m off to find another pub. wish me luck.
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