Emilia Lucas Week 4: Blarney, Backseat, and the National Bev

This week felt like one of true Irish enrichment. To start, I have been hearing about the European love of leisure (or lack of love for working), but I hadn’t remotely experienced it yet. Since my job is with a relatively large company, there are strict procedures for at home work, time off, etc. However, last week this finally changed! On Friday I was let out of work a WHOLE hour early to celebrate the last Friday of the month! (Yes, an hour is barely generous. But it genuinely changed the trajectory of my day.) Zoe, Rayna, and I ended the long day with some well deserved Italian and went to a fun lounge for some classic Dublin fun.

The next morning after just a couple hours of rest, we ran to catch our bus. I dozed off shortly into the ride and soon found myself in front of the rest stop Krispy Kreme heaven. After much deliberation, I picked out my two donuts, consumed my sugary delights within about five minutes… at 8:30 Am, and promptly went back to sleep!

After a bit more time on the bus, we finally reached the Rock of Cashel and explored the history and architecture for a bit, followed by a race by Lily and Zoe as they rolled down the hill. Real nail biter! We continued on to Blarney Castle, strolling the grounds and admiring the attraction. I’m ashamed to admit that I did not kiss the Blarney stone for good luck, and I fear that my 101% Irish grandmother may disown me when she finds out. We finally stopped at the Cahir Castle and learned about its history and built-in defense mechanisms which I found particularly interesting.

After a long day of bussing and tours, Zoe, Rayna, and I sprinted back to our apartment for a quick bite to eat and to get ready for a full night of fun. We went immediately to the National Stadium in Dublin to see the Backseat Lovers, one of my favorite bands, in concert! The band members brought the energy and we had an incredible time watching them perform and listening to their music live. It was my first time seeing them in concert and I was not nearly disappointed! It was one of, if not the best concert I’ve ever been to.

I settled in for a nice sleep after our incredible night and dozed off dreaming of my entirely free Sunday. I slept in as much as I possibly could, and woke up at noon with ease. We then headed for a nice brunch at Cafe en Seine on Dawson Street, did some shopping in the area, and returned home for the night. I cooked my dinner for the week and prepared for the coming week.

And of course, on theme with Irish enrichment, I can’t forget the Guinness Storehouse tour! It was interesting to learn about the ingredients and processes that make Ireland’s healthiest, most well-known beverage! My attempt at splitting the G was poor and embarrassing, but we enjoyed our time overall!