12-02-2017, 02:02 PM
Last night was rough again, but I got in two solid sleep cycles and today, my sore throat has vanished thank goodness. I'm still super tired, but getting into that Dublin zone and feeling more comfortable on the streets. I'm not sure what's in these otc cough drops, but they really did the trick. Last night, I was sure I'd be totally sick today, but now my throat is fine and my headaches are gone (sleep is so helpful). Actually I do know what the active ingredients of these drops are because it says on the box but I'm not going to look it up until I get home just in case it's a placebo or prescription-only in the U.S.
I thought I was going to woken up by breakfast because I can hear everything in the lobby very well from my room, as well as when everyone walks up or down the stairs (also right by my room) but my when my alarm woke me and I rushed downstairs so I wouldn't miss breakfast, I was only the second person. The place was packed soon after because breakfast was almost over. Breakfast was good - fruit & yogurt, tea, OJ, salmon, poached eggs & brown bread. The yogurt was phenomenal - even creamier than the stuff we get at our farmer's market. But I finally found the weakness in Irish cuisine - the fruit was canned (saved by the yogurt) and the OJ was terrible.
Today was grey and wet as if it rained, but it didn't. I think it was just cloud condensation. I mapped out my personal walking tour last night because I was so awake, but abandoned it as I started walking, taking many detours when I saw something off my course, and exploring. Went past St. Patricks & Christ Church to get to Jamesons. Took the tour and it was very slick - lots of history and information in an animated presentation with a live narrator who was spot on and quite funny. There was a tasting to compare Irish Whiskey (Jame), Scotch (Johnny Walker) & Bourbon (Jim Beam) and everyone sampled, even the minors. And everyone winced - NOT whiskey drinkers - except for me and the couple sitting next to me from north Ireland. He was hilarious and offered me his scotch & bourbon, then went about finishing all the Jameson left by the other tourists as few got to the bottom of their glass. The tour also offered another complimentary shot but I had that beforehand - a wee bit early to be drinking but it's Dublin. Then I checked out Michan Church right next door, the small crypt tour and the four mummies. It was very intimate and the guide was hilarious - sort of like Riff Raff from Rocky Horror, speaking in an affected overly-dramatic way, with a genuine limp, and delivering a good history lesson. I explored that neighborhood north of the Liffey a bit and found the perfect place for Tara - a cat lounge (which is just a room filled with kittens, cat walks and lounge chairs) right next to a VR parlor (like our videogame parlor but just VR spaces and set). Like I said, I was hoping to go to the Gaol but I saw earlier online that it was sold out for the weekend, which is just as well. I made it for Teelings Distillery, the first active one in Dublin and that was fascinating too. I had lunch in the cafe there - a lovely red lentil, chickpea & chilli soup with a goat cheese & red pepper sandwich with onion relish, and an Irish rhubarb & ginger lemonade that was delish. Plus the cafe was playing reggae. The tour reminded me of Anchor, especially the aroma as whiskey is essentially distilled and cask-matured beer. The guide kept pausing to ask questions and I was the only one who knew the answers to all of them because 1. I know a little bit about whiskey 2. I read all the displays in the waiting area and 3. I'd just got an Irish Whiskey refresher lesson at Jameson's. That was fun and made me feel quite whiskey wise. The other tourists were a bit awestruck and the tour guide was very amused - we had a nice discussion during the tastings. Then I strolled back to the Kilronan along the Grand Canal,but started getting bad shin and calf cramps and had to sit down several times to rub/stretch them out. I'm now back at the Kilronan taking a break before heading out in search of dinner. It's Saturday night and I don't want to stress my forelegs much more as well as avoid crowds. All in all, a wonderful day. Dublin opened up her heart to me again and I'm so grateful.
Tomorrow is shopping and maybe some museums. Not sure yet. I'll surely be up most of the night again as there's no point on switching to Dublin time, so I'll surf the net and make a plan. A bay area martial arts guy that I know peripherally reached out to me over facebook on Daniel's recommendation - he's here doing some stunt driving training after just finishing some work on Into the Badlands. I don't know him well - I think we met only once - but we know each other by reputation so we might get together. We'll see. I'm pretty spent tonight because of the leg cramps, but it is Saturday night in Dublin. Not sure if I can make it all the way to Temple Bar. Might just head back to Camden street which is much quieter and closer.
I thought I was going to woken up by breakfast because I can hear everything in the lobby very well from my room, as well as when everyone walks up or down the stairs (also right by my room) but my when my alarm woke me and I rushed downstairs so I wouldn't miss breakfast, I was only the second person. The place was packed soon after because breakfast was almost over. Breakfast was good - fruit & yogurt, tea, OJ, salmon, poached eggs & brown bread. The yogurt was phenomenal - even creamier than the stuff we get at our farmer's market. But I finally found the weakness in Irish cuisine - the fruit was canned (saved by the yogurt) and the OJ was terrible.
Today was grey and wet as if it rained, but it didn't. I think it was just cloud condensation. I mapped out my personal walking tour last night because I was so awake, but abandoned it as I started walking, taking many detours when I saw something off my course, and exploring. Went past St. Patricks & Christ Church to get to Jamesons. Took the tour and it was very slick - lots of history and information in an animated presentation with a live narrator who was spot on and quite funny. There was a tasting to compare Irish Whiskey (Jame), Scotch (Johnny Walker) & Bourbon (Jim Beam) and everyone sampled, even the minors. And everyone winced - NOT whiskey drinkers - except for me and the couple sitting next to me from north Ireland. He was hilarious and offered me his scotch & bourbon, then went about finishing all the Jameson left by the other tourists as few got to the bottom of their glass. The tour also offered another complimentary shot but I had that beforehand - a wee bit early to be drinking but it's Dublin. Then I checked out Michan Church right next door, the small crypt tour and the four mummies. It was very intimate and the guide was hilarious - sort of like Riff Raff from Rocky Horror, speaking in an affected overly-dramatic way, with a genuine limp, and delivering a good history lesson. I explored that neighborhood north of the Liffey a bit and found the perfect place for Tara - a cat lounge (which is just a room filled with kittens, cat walks and lounge chairs) right next to a VR parlor (like our videogame parlor but just VR spaces and set). Like I said, I was hoping to go to the Gaol but I saw earlier online that it was sold out for the weekend, which is just as well. I made it for Teelings Distillery, the first active one in Dublin and that was fascinating too. I had lunch in the cafe there - a lovely red lentil, chickpea & chilli soup with a goat cheese & red pepper sandwich with onion relish, and an Irish rhubarb & ginger lemonade that was delish. Plus the cafe was playing reggae. The tour reminded me of Anchor, especially the aroma as whiskey is essentially distilled and cask-matured beer. The guide kept pausing to ask questions and I was the only one who knew the answers to all of them because 1. I know a little bit about whiskey 2. I read all the displays in the waiting area and 3. I'd just got an Irish Whiskey refresher lesson at Jameson's. That was fun and made me feel quite whiskey wise. The other tourists were a bit awestruck and the tour guide was very amused - we had a nice discussion during the tastings. Then I strolled back to the Kilronan along the Grand Canal,but started getting bad shin and calf cramps and had to sit down several times to rub/stretch them out. I'm now back at the Kilronan taking a break before heading out in search of dinner. It's Saturday night and I don't want to stress my forelegs much more as well as avoid crowds. All in all, a wonderful day. Dublin opened up her heart to me again and I'm so grateful.
Tomorrow is shopping and maybe some museums. Not sure yet. I'll surely be up most of the night again as there's no point on switching to Dublin time, so I'll surf the net and make a plan. A bay area martial arts guy that I know peripherally reached out to me over facebook on Daniel's recommendation - he's here doing some stunt driving training after just finishing some work on Into the Badlands. I don't know him well - I think we met only once - but we know each other by reputation so we might get together. We'll see. I'm pretty spent tonight because of the leg cramps, but it is Saturday night in Dublin. Not sure if I can make it all the way to Temple Bar. Might just head back to Camden street which is much quieter and closer.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse