Today was a lovely day, despite the dreary weather that began it. I finally got some wear out of my raincoat (which, Peter says, makes me look like a Beatle.) We departed early for the Gaelic Athletic Association Museum at Croke Park Stadium. It was a really neat experience because it chronicles the history of the three Gaelic sports: Gaelic football (similar to soccer, but allows certain pick-ups and hand throws), Hurling (which is so violent and awesome to watch, it's completely terrific) and handball (which is racquetball without any paddles. Seriously. They just whack balls against the walls with their bare hands. The Irish are so hardcore.) Historically, the GAA has been very involved in Irish nationalist endeavors, and I thought that was well chronicled in the museum exhibits. They have even gone so far as to ban GAA members from playing non-Irish sports, including Rugby. That ban no longer exists, but you can certainly still see the ferocious sense of pride that accompanies these uniquely Irish sports.
The coolest part of the museum was the "try it out" room where you got to try Gaelic football and hurling. As you will see in Image 4, Peter tried hurling and loved it. We went to Elvery's Sports Shop and he bought a hurling stick and ball to bring home. They're pretty sweet, and I'm thinking about bringing home a set for myself because it's an awesome souvenir. Anyway...the stick didn't quite fit in his backpack, and he carried it around sticking out for the entire day. As shown in Image 2, he mastered the reach-back-and-grab maneuver in case we were mugged. We were not. He was slightly disappointed that he did not get to defend himself with his hurling stick.
After the GAA Museum we went to Queen of Tarts, an adorable and TINY restaurant in Temple Bar. My housemates had eaten there earlier this week and recommended it highly, and I had read about it on some online forums. It was arguably the best meal I have had in Ireland (right up there with the Irish beef & Guinness stew.) I had a red pepper and goat cheese savoury tart, served with ciabatta bread and salad with dijon dressing, followed by a chocolate pear tartlet. The first picture of this post is my look of sheer delight as I enjoy my meal. Peter had a different savoury tart, and the Apply Crumble tartlet for dessert. I had a bit of his, and even though my tartlet was great, he made the better choice.
After that (very filling) lunch we trudged to another bus stop to head to the Guinness Storehouse & Brewery. Except...we got on the bus going the wrong direction, so we got a nice hour-long tour of a lovely residential area of Dublin. Eventually we got to where we wanted to go. The Storehouse had a spectacular museum describing the brewing process and the history of Guinness. The most enjoyable parts were watching the television ads for Guinness throughout the years - some of them were so hilarious. We also learned about all of the ingredients used to give the stout its unique flavor, and sampled some roasted hops. The tour also takes you through a tasting lab where you can try the latest Guinness brand beers (today it was a lager) and finally you end up in the Gravity Bar where you get your free pint of Guinness. I picked up recipes for beef and Guinness stew (which I will make for my family when I get home) and also Guinness cake (which I think I might make for my housemates when we have our Christmas party here). In the third picture you can see me lovingly hugging a Guinness keg before it makes its way down the conveyor belt. When you buy your ticket to the Storehouse you get a neat souvenir - a tiny clear globe with a drop of Guinness encased in the center.
Peter and I were exhausted when we got home so we made the very simple and very delicious Baked Chicken and Rice that I relied on when I lived in Door County. It's great - dump rice, cream of chicken soup, water, salt, pepper, and chicken breasts into a pot. Cover it. Stick it in the oven for an hour. Eat. Warm, tasty, comforting, and easy to clean up. We shall be making it again soon. On Sunday I think we will attempt a cheesy veggie pie.
I purchased a 30 day pass for the LUAS (Dublin light rail system) and Dublin Bus. So far, it has proven very useful. I paid 68 euro for unlimited rides on both the LUAS and Dublin Bus. Considering that I have been riding one or the other at least once a day, it was a smart investment.
I hope that you all are well!
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