2018年11月23日金曜日 - 
Philip - Visit Dublin
The
amount of tourism in Ireland is increasing year on year and it's now the most
popular place for North American visitors to visit on vacation, overtaking the previous top place of Paris,
France.
Although
this fact may be surprising to people who have never been to Dublin, it won't
be to anyone who has had the chance to experience the many interesting
sightseeing spots and try out the local food and drink.
Let’s
talk about the sightseeing first. There are many things to see but as Dublin
has a fairly small city center, you only
need a weekend to see most of what it has to offer. One of the best ways to see
the city is take the sightseeing buses, which you can buy a one-day or two-day
pass for. Not only are these buses
convenient, but the bus drivers are very
entertaining with lots of information about the different sightseeing spots,
and occasionally they might even sing an
old Irish folk song.
One
of the things Dublin is most famous for is its alcohol so if you're a fan of
whiskey then the Irish Whiskey Museum is a must.
The museum can be found right in the centre of Dublin, opposite the famous
Trinity College grounds. (The college itself is worth
a look as it's free to enter and has nice parks to relax in.) The
Whiskey Museum tour takes about one hour and is followed by a tasting of three
different Irish whiskeys. There is also a bar downstairs if you want to try
more of your new favorite whiskey.
You
can’t talk about Dublin without thinking of Guinness: the world’s most famous stout/black beer. The tour of the storehouse and
museum is a must even if you aren’t a big drinker. It gives a really
interesting insight into how the beer is
made and ends at the top of a tower with 360-degree views of Dublin city.
If
alcohol isn’t your thing, then there are plenty of great art museums to visit
such as the National Gallery of Ireland and beautiful parks such as Saint
Stephen’s Green. Also in the city centre is Dublin Castle, which has lovely
interiors and is definitely worth a visit.
If
you're a fan of music and in particular the popular Irish rock group U2, then
you have to visit the Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum. The video at the start of the
tour goes through lots of important musicians and then you can have a look
around the U2 collection room, which is a treat for any fans of the band. The
tour also includes a look at the venue
where they still occasionally perform live shows and a recording studio where
many famous records were recorded. Unfortunately, the recording studio is no
longer in use but it still gives a good insight into the recording process.
For
evening entertainment, the Temple Bar street is a must do. There is an actual
bar called the Temple Bar but the whole street itself has been named after this
one bar. Every bar you go into will have live musicians, ranging from traditional Irish folk musicians to
solo singer songwriters to indie rock bands. The live music everywhere gives the
area a lively vibe and the cobbled street and old buildings look stunning at night time.
In terms of local food, a full Irish breakfast is the
only way to start the day. The bacon, sausage and breads (such as potato bread
and soda bread) are so fresh. You'll be so full that you won't feel like eating
lunch. For dinner Irish stew is a must try as it's the most traditional Irish
dish, with potatoes and carrots and real chunky
and fresh beef.
Dublin
is a great place to visit. Even if you're only there for a short stay you'll be
able to experience so much. It's a compact city and the locals are friendly.
They're always willing to help or just have a nice conversation with you.
However
long you decide to stay in Dublin, you're bound to
have an unforgettable experience and want to go back again in the future.
overtaking：追い越す
fairly：かなり
Not only～but…：～だけでなく…も
occasionally：時折
a must：絶対に必要なこと
worth a look：一見の価値有り
stout：ローストした大麦で作った苦味・酸味の強い黒ビール
insight：見識
venue：開催地
ranging：並んでいる
vibe：空気感
cobbled：丸石を敷き詰めた
stunning：素敵な
In terms of：～に関しては
chunky：分厚い
bound to：～する運命にある