Today is the official start of our Tauck tour, but our first event isn’t until 6:30 PM tonight in the Banking Hall in the Westin Dublin Hotel for a reception and dinner.  So, we planned to visit the Guineas Storehouse. It was about a 1.5 mile walk from our hotel, flat and easy, but the first test of my stamina with two bad knees.  The Guineas Storehouse was full of stores to buy souvenirs, a place to take “selfies”, places to eat and some information about the brewing of beer and the Guineas family.  As part of the Guineas Storehouse visit you get a pint of Guineas in the observation deck about five or six stories above Dublin.  The beer was good, although I am not a big fan of heavy dark beers like Guineas, but the view was fantastic.  I took the elevator to the observation deck, only to open to the back of a band playing right in front of me.  I guess I was part of the show!!!

We chose to take a taxi back to the hotel and wanted a little something to eat, remembering that we had a reception and dinner later.  We found the Atrium Lounge in the hotel, which was quiet and a great place to have a Latte and a really good cookie, or two.  We enjoyed the quiet and a great conversation with one of the Westin staff from Canada.  We would visit the Atrium Lounge again the next day.

The Tauck tour starts at 6:30PM this evening in the Banking Hall.  The Westin Dublin was a major bank in Dublin.  The Banking Hall was elegant and fantastic, with high ceiling, brilliant chandeliers all while being accompanied by an excellent harpist.  The three course dinner was exquisite and it was a good time to get to know several of folks on our tour.  It was the first of many spectacular meals that we would have with Tauck.  During dinner we meet some of our fellow travelers and our tour guide, Madeleine Doherty. This was a great way to start a tour, Tauck got this right!!!

Covid-19:  Madeleine started by addressing the “elephant in the room” and talked about Covid, restrictions and recommendation.  If you caught Covid, your tour was immediately over. Also, Tauck would refund the unused portion of the tour, but you’re done travelling. In summary, none of the tour stops would require masks, but Madeleine did ask all of us to wear masks while travelling on the bus.  No one on our tour came down with Covid, YEA!!!

Commercial Stores - Everywhere

Central Core of Guniness Storehouse