Page 34 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – January/February 2020

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Cockles and Mussels, Alive, alive, oh!
While I am in no way Irish, people usually assume I am because of my bright red hair. I have always enjoyed the aspects of Ireland’s culture that have made it to the United States, so when the opportunity to visit the Emerald Isle presented itself, it was impossible to say no.
After a few days visiting our friend in London, my travel buddy, Christine, and I boarded the plane to Dublin. Our welcome to the country was a celebrity sighting. Standing
in the European Union passport line waiting to get back
into the country was Cillian Murphy, an Irish actor on the hit British show, “Peaky Blinders.” This was very exciting for me, especially since no one else seemed to notice he was there.
We arrived at our hotel which was conveniently located right next to the rail station. The Ashling Hotel Dublin was quite beautiful on the inside, but the best part was the feel of the room. It was quaint and full of character, which made us feel right away like we were on an adventure. Exhausted from the long day, we napped and enjoyed a dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. The bread pudding was so delicious that Christine and I went back each day we were there to eat more.
We only had a couple of full days to explore, so we decided to take a bus out to the Cliffs of Moher. This was our splurge for the trip. Unfortunately, the weather was stormy and we weren’t able to see the fantastic view
that everyone raves about. Tip: Try to check the weather before you decide to go; apparently, this happens quite
Photo: Shutterstock: Bernabe Blanco
often on the coast. On the plus side, we did make several stops throughout our journey, including a small chocolate factory, an ancient castle and a pub in Doolin that served traditional Irish cuisine.
Our last day, we began with a tour of the ever-popular Guinness Storehouse. Even though neither one of us are beer drinkers, we still had a blast. The Guinness tour takes you through the history of the company, the process of beer making and teaches you how to “pour the perfect pint,” which you, of course, get to keep! Surprisingly, I thought the fresh stout was incredibly delicious. As both of us were communications and media majors in college, our favorite floor of the building was the one dedicated to Guinness advertising over the years.
From there, it was on to a walking tour of the city lead by a native Dubliner. As we walked through famous sites like Temple Bar, Dublin Castle and Trinity College, we learned about the history of the city and the local culture. Our tour ended at the Molly Malone Statue, where the entire group broke out in song. It was “loads of craic.”
From our first cab ride to our closing walking tour, I loved everything about the people and the places in Ireland. Our time there was indeed too short. I can’t wait until I’m able to return this magical country and hopefully get to spend a lot more time.
Emily Gnacik is the Editor of AAA Every Day Magazine.
34 I JAN/FEB 2020