Musings on Dublin architecture, and other issues

While Dublin is a pretty city, most of the buildings, even the big ones, are quite simple on the outside. I'm not that well-travelled, but I think that they'd be more obviously "fancy" in other places. The amazing thing is that when you go inside, they vary hugely, and can be really extraordinary. I've kind of gotten used to it, but I was reminded again yesterday evening when me and my Boyfriend went for a post-cinema drink at this place on College Green, The Bank. Although it's right near college, I had never been there before. Wow. We just had one drink, but it's an amazing building. It used to be a bank (well, d'oh) and they still have the old vaults downstairs. People (misinformed people) say, "Well, why not just buy some beer and drink it at home to save money?" but they are missing the point. Drinking a "glass" (half pint of beer) or a hot whiskey in an amazing old place like that is less about the drinking than about basically renting a table so's to soak in the atmosphere. I'll definitely be going back. My Uncle Joey has been down in Wexford for a couple of days, but he's back tonight for 2 more days in the city and I'll take him there. You never know: he might decide that I deserve to be treated for a meal out!

We'd been to the cinema to see A Serious Man, which paints a generally depressing picture of middle age, American Judaism, family life...you name it. It's by the Coen Brothers. It was good, but it made me feel anxious. I like the Screen on d'Olier St though. It's not swanking and gorgeous and arty like the Lighthouse. It's not huge and American like Cineworld. It's in an ugly cement building that looks like a bunker and the decor is strictly functional. But in a good way, like you're supposed to be focusing on the movie, not the flashiness of it all.

Back at the apartment, Bepe was weird. We came in and although he was half way through watching something on TV he just muttered goodnight and went away. Trying to give us some privacy? Or being rude? Boys; they are hard to understand.

3 comments:

I love your description of "renting a table so's to soak in the atmosphere" - you're so right! Most of the time being out is more about the company or the place you are than how much alcohol you can consume-well for me anyway, sadly not for lots of other people.
Great post :)

 

I found The Bank on my first day in Dublin last year and sat there in awe, looking around at everything. Thought it was fabulous and can't wait to go back. In the meantime I'll just keep reading your blog and live vicariously through you ;-)

 

Hi Niamh, Sharon. I've actually noticed -- the nicer the place is, the less I actually drink :-) Somewhere fancy and beautiful, it doesn't seem right to just treat it like a "drinking-trough". I am going back to the Bank tonight and my uncle is buying me a meal before going home, so we'll see if the food is as good as the decor!

 

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