Day 4 in Ireland. This was the actual day of the game. We weren’t exactly sure how to get into the game. The stadium is in the middle of a neighborhood and doesn’t really have much parking next to it. We knew we were going to take a train, but to add to the confusion there are 2 different rail systems that go through Dublin. A light rail system that doesn’t go that close to the stadium. And a rail system that goes all through Ireland and has a station near the stadium, BUT wouldn’t be open after the game.
We ultimately decided to take the light rail system, the Luas because it had a station near us with parking. However when I read reviews of it, a lot said that people didn’t know you had to pay to park there and had gotten clamped. The Irish word for getting a boot. So we knew for sure we had to make sure we paid for parking.
While we figured all that out, the first thing we knew we wanted to do was go for a morning hike. In my poor researching for the trip I had learned that there were the ruins of an old hunting lodge near by that had a great view of Dublin. I was drawn to the ruins of the hunting lodge because it was known as the Hell Fire Club. The name of the group of D and D players from “Stranger Things”. Across the street from the hike to the Hell Fire Club was what was supposed to be a pretty good little cafe and also a lumber yard. A weird combination, but it definitely worked.
Here is the first collection of images from the day:
It was a beautiful Irish morning and the only day we experienced the legendary Irish rain.
Everyday you saw something just breathtakingly beautiful in Ireland.
This marked the high point of the “mountain”.
The remains of the Hell Fire Club.
It was named that because the level of debauchery that went on there was legendary.
Dublin! When we first got there the fog was so thick, we couldn’t see any of it.
We were told that if we walked around the Hell Fire Club 3 times, counter clockwise, the devil would appear. We didn’t tempt fate, but I’m pretty sure if we had, I would have won a fiddle of gold of off him.
Inside the Timbertrove Cafe.
Don’t worry ladies, you had your own sign.
I got this bomb sandwich, but saved it for Sunday AKA Day 5.
Delicious Carrot Cake!
Delicious raspberry scones!
So freaking good. If I ever go back to Ireland, I will go back to the Timbertrove Cafe.
The things dreams are made of!
Andy cooked us breakfast with the potatoes we bought in Northern Ireland (story not yet told) and some sausage we got at a gas station.
If you go to Ireland, go with somebody that will cook you breakfast. My advice. Also way better than the fancypants hotel breakfast!
Andy’s Timbertrove Cafe purchase.
The closest thing he could find to a scotcheroo.
Not pictured, but the bread we bought (from a gas station) was about the best bread I’ve ever had in my life. That came out of a plastic bag.
So we got onto the Luas with the help of super helpful employees. They helped us pay for parking and for tickets. Then they rode with us to our stop to make sure we got off on the right stop.
Andy made a lot of new friends by talking about his railroading experience. They wouldn’t let him drive the train though.
Because we were going to a stadium that wouldn’t have let me take my camera in, most of the picture on this day are cell phone pictures.
I hadn’t noticed that there were buildings in the seat design until looking back at these pictures now.
These are the super helpful Luas employees that made our trip to the stadium a breeze!
The area we got off the train was very photogenic. I badly wished I had my real camera!
Still plenty more pictures from the walk to the stadium and the game left to share!