Day Two began after a short night filled with jet lag and watching the Democratic National Convention on CNN far too late into the night. We woke up and had to pack and check out of the Merrion. All of our stuff had been neatly arranged for us — toiletries gently placed on small towels on perfect bathroom shelves, charger cords carefully wrapped in small velcro bands, suitcases conveniently situated on just-right stands — by hotel staff the afternoon before, so it was a fast process to get ready and go and head downstairs for tea.

Art Tea at The Merrion

Our first stop of the day was Art Tea at the Merrion. The experience was simply wonderful. It started with a glass of champagne and progressed through two courses of treats and teas. Surrounded by art in Drawing Rooms fit for royalty, we were served delicate finger sandwiches that reject simple definition. Egg salad. Cucumber. Salmon. Chicken. Sweet and savory scones and pastries rested on tiered stands that allowed us to see and choose every bite with intention and delight. The second course was pastries designed to represent works of art from the hotel’s collection. No joke. I am not exaggerating to say I felt like I was being walked slowly through an exhibit of decadent tastes through the entire two-hour experience.

The Spencer

Following tea, we traveled to The Spencer, the hotel we will call home for three nights. We arrived and were greeted with a wonderful welcome that included two shots of Bushmill’s Whiskey. The Spencer has a much more modern feel than The Merrion, and happens to be the headquarters of the Georgia Tech Alumni group in Dublin. (Free Irish breakfast with our favorite Yellow Jacket fans on game day will be great fun.)

Amy Austin

Greg found Amy Austin while searching for Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Dublin. The restaurant is nestled in a parking garage in the Southwest part of the City Center. There are probably 20 to 25 seats in the restaurant. We shared a bottle of Spanish Vinho Verde, Prawn Agua Chile and Scallop Crudo. Greg had Iberico Pork Cheek while I had Chili Garlic Cabbage. It was truly tasty.

The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

After dinner, we experienced the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl. This four stop, actor-guided, narration of Dublin’s literary history was told as we visited The Duke, Oneill’s, and the Old Stand. I knew it was going to be a fun crawl when, at the first stop, the actors were performing a scene from Beckett’s Waiting for Godot with their backs turned to us (just because of the way the crowd happened to be arranged in the pub) and it was still funny, doing nothing.

Our night ended at the infamous Toner’s Pub.

A special thank you to City Lifestyle Magazine, Tourism Ireland, and Fáilte Ireland for making this trip possible.