Oh My Goodness. Oh My Guinness - Day Fifteen

Wedesday, July 8th, 2015

We journeyed from Portadown to Dublin, leaving part of ourselves behind us, but new things ahead of us. Once we got into the city, we set off to explore again. 
(Below is a photo of what we would use on a typical day for transport. Trams, trains, taxis and bikes are all the norm.)

First on our list was the Guinness Factory. No, it's not "just beer." The history of Guinness, their start, and their present were all very informative! 

The artwork was also creative. This is a wood carving with animals used in Guinness advertising in the past. It goes from a deep brown to lighter near the top. The foam is done in what appeared to be an ornate linen lantern.

This picture needs a little explanation. Recall the Stanscheck family? Besides rabbits and chickens, they also have one turtle. Completely adorable and completely fast. The problem is that when we visited them last, the speedy turtle ran from outside into the house, without my noticing. I went inside, and blindly nudged the turtle across the floor with my foot. He was completely ok, and so was the family ;) But the girls haven't let me live it down. So we took this photo to lightheartedly commemorate the event.

The girls, standing beside a HUGE barrel.

But the highlight, besides the super industrial vibe, was definitely the tasting. To finish the tour with a bang, they teach you how to properly pour Guinness. In fact, we all passed as Perfect Pint of Guinness Crafters. (Everyone else passed too, but just to sound fancy, we got a certificate.)

The top of the building features a panoramic outlook of the city. It took our breath away. Here's a glimpse of what that looked like.

The day was winding down, and so were we. So off we went to our lodging. Thursday would be another day of exploration.