"You must try the Guinness in Ireland........ it tastes completely different." So people kept telling me, after some consideration, I think these were people who don't usually drink Guinness anyway, and nor do I. So last night, after our arrival in a torrential rain shower that was trying to wash Dublin away down the Liffy, I retired to a drinking establsihment and ordered a pint of the black stuff. I don't drink Guinness at home because having a couple of pints feels like having a four course dinner, with stodgy roly poly pudding and cheese board. Never the less, when in Rome and all that. I purchased my pint of black liquid and carried it back to a seat, Mrs YS proceeded to draw a happy face in the froth despite my protestations that a shamrock would be more in order. After a few moments contemplation I raised the cool glass to my lips, got half a pint of froth entangled in my moustache, and drank deeply of the lifeblood of the Irish. And do you know what ? All those wise people who told me I would love a pint of stout on its home turf ? They were wrong, every last one of them, if you don't like Guinness in Yorkshire, you won't like it in Dublin. Sorry about that, another myth shattered. The Irish can rustle up a proper breakfast though, 2-3,000 calories mostly made up from high cholestrol meaty goodness, salty bacon, black pudding, white pudding, sausages, fried bread. There was a muesli bar being picked over by a rather anorexic teenager but I stayed well clear. We spent the morning wandering around central Dublin, around Temple Bar and along the Liffy. I like to get a bit of culture on my trips abroad so we stopped off at Trinity University to see the Book Of Kells. If you come to Dublin you must see this, if only for the fact that 185 calves were slaughtered to make its pages. The scriptwork, calligraphy and artwork are nothing short of magical and there is a further treat for bookish types as you get to wander through the barrel vaulted Long Room Library as well. We have booked a table at a nice looking restaurant in Temple Bar for this evening, I'm looing forward to a traditional Irish feast of boiled bacon, buttered cabbage and parsley sauce, and maybe even another pint of the black stuff, you never know, it might grow on me.