Backpacking Western Europe-First Stop Dublin Ireland
- brandonjbk
- Jul 9, 2023
- 2 min read
My first trip across western Europe came when I was just finishing up my summer Shakespeare studies at LAMDA in London. I had planned to backpack throughout western Europe for three weeks after the program had concluded. The trick was trying to put the plan together, before even GPS was around...
My go-to resource was the Lonely Planet. This travel guide is still around today and is a fantastic resource for a young college student or someone looking to travel on a budget. Filled with advice on low-cost housing, logistics, and sites to see around the world. For my trip to Europe, I only had three weeks and wanted to maximize my time to see as many countries as I could. The thinking here was that I would be back in Europe later in my life and wanted to get in as much exposure as possible. So, the plan was Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and end in Italy. 7 countries, all via discounted flights, trains and hostel stays to save as much as I could for experiences.
My first stop was Dublin Ireland, a quick trip from London on EasyJet. This would be my only stop in Ireland and not the easiest to get to, but an important one. My last name is Irish, even though biologically I'm English, German, and French. I proudly carry an Irish last name, Keefe, and needed to start my adventure here. And what better spot to start my visit by grabbing a fresh pint at the Guiness factory:) The Guiness storehouse is located on the western side of Dublin, and just opened when I had visited. It's an incredible tour filled with brewing facts and the history of the brand, ending at the 7th floor in the Gravity Bar with views of Dublin. I also had the chance to check out the Trinity College Dublin, one of Europe's top academic institutions. And a few fun activities in catching "Stones In His Pockets" a tragicomedy written in 1996 by Marie Jones and the chance to see Windmill lane within the art district of Dublin to witness where one of my favorite bands recorded. One of U2's favorite bars was called the DOCKERS, which I believe was filmed during a 1992 Billboard awards spot when they won the #1 modern rock award.
Comments