Dublin, Ireland

When I told my mom that I'd be traveling to Dublin, Ireland, she was extremely jealous. She told me that she's always wanted to go there. I can't remember why...but it's definitely on her bucket list. 

It wasn't necessarily on my bucket list. However, being a massive Bob Dylan fan, I found out that he'd be touring Europe when I was there. The last stop on his tour (and the only one I could make given the dates I'd be in Europe) was in Dublin.

So, naturally, my most-looked-forward-to city of this particular European trip was to Dublin.

Dublin is a great city. Rich in history (if you like stories of potatoes and booze). 

Since Ireland is an island, you can imagine that there would be lots and lots of rain. Luckily, in my few days there, it only rained enough to get me fairly wet once - returning home from a tour of Northern Ireland where I saw the Dark Hedges, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the famous Giant's Causeway, amongst other stops.

I had no idea what to see in Dublin itself. Thank goodness for Google. TripAdvisor recommended several sights.

The most interesting of them, perhaps, was the Guinness Storehouse. Now, personally, I don't drink. But it's the most famous man-made thing in perhaps all of Ireland.

My, how the Irish crave their beer. 

I wandered past the building. Even went inside to use the restroom (free of charge! - not a commonplace occurrence in Europe). I wasn't, however, about to pay some extraordinary sum for a tour of the building and free drink afterwards. It just wasn't in the cards.

I had stopped by there just before opening and after I left - there were masses of tourists lined up waiting to get in. I have no idea how they all got there so quickly. I was in and out of the building within five minutes. Wow. Just wow.

After wandering around the city, I made my way to the 3Arena for the Bob Dylan concert. And what a crowd it was. Absolutely sold out. Compared to the only half-way sold-out crowd four years ago when I saw him in Salt Lake City - it was a marvel to behold. There were people outside the arena practically begging for tickets. I scene I will never forget. 

The Irish sure do love Bob Dylan. And booze.