Looking back at this past week, we were really all over the country. This week consisted of touring the Guinness Storehouse and concluding the week by visiting Northern Ireland. Each week that has passed during this trip has gone faster and faster. It is making me sad just thinking we only have about 2 weeks left in Ireland.
The Guinness Storehouse was something that I was looking forward to before this trip, and it did not disappoint int a single bit. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful gate at the entrance, and the surrounding area. Our tour guide was very knowledgable and cracked a few jokes throughout the tour. One of the funnier moments was when our tour guide got into a little altercation with another visitor, as he was trying to take part in our guided tour. He stood his ground and told the visitor he needed to leave our group. The storehouse was very interactive, and made it easy to understand where everything comes from and how it is made. One of the interesting facts was that the Harp has no meaning behind it, Arthur’s grandson just really liked the Harp, so they made that they symbol. Arthur also signed a contract for 9,000 years, which also surprised me. At the end of the tour, we got a ticket to get a free Guinness at the rooftop bar, with a very good view of the city.
Fast forward to the weekend, it was time for a hurling match and Northern Ireland. On Saturday, my friends and I attended a semifinal hurling match between Clare and Kilkenny. This was a great experience, with Clare coming out on top. We had really good seats, sitting right on the field. Now, it was time to go to Northern Ireland. The first thing we did was the Titanic Museum, which was really cool, going on the ride. It was cool to see how they found the ship, and the implications after. We then went on a Black Taxi Ride, showing us the battlegrounds of the “troubles” between the protestants and catholics. I was lucky enough to sit in the front seat, so I was able to ask the driver all of the questions that I had. The highlight of the ride was the griffiti wall, with everyone’s message on it. It was really cool to see the main differences between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, being 2 separate countries.
