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Neon lights reflect off the puddles forming between the cobblestones covering the street. Signs advertising Guinness cover the fronts of numerous pubs. And we’re walking through it all, hopping from one pint to the next.

Dublin is alive.

There are some people milling about during the day, but at night the city sparkles with energy. We got a brief tour of the highlights by Sinead, a friend of Joe’s sister from school. She brought us to The Brazen Head, the oldest pub in the city, and to Dawson’s Lounge, the smallest pub you could ever imagine. Sadly, that was Joe’s last night, and he headed home the next morning.

The next day Sean and I went to tour the Guinness factory - it’s a really impressive and well done tour. They had some of the most creative and unique uses and placements of video screens I’ve seen.

Later, Sean and I bar hopped and took a recommendation to go to Mssrs Maguire, a multi-floor pub that is all wood paneling, with a young crowd. I could easily see it being my classic haunt if I lived in Dublin.