Philadelphia - September 2019

Downtown Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a beautiful city with so much to offer.

If you wake up as early as I did and walk around, or jog, you may find a lot of runners, homeless people, or strollers, but the streets are free from all the usual tourists, locals, and cars. It is the best time to enjoy the city.  Best time for running. The streets are quiet, it was not hot, and the perfect time to go for a jog around the city and check out the city. 

Jogging downtown Philadelphia

The Free Library

The Free Library

The Free Library sits along the culture-heavy Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Brazilian Festival

You don’t need to fly to Brazil to enjoy Brazilian music or eat good Brazilian food; You can hang out with Brazilians from all over the world celebrating their Independence Day in Philadelphia. It was a-high energy and colorful event with Brazilians showing their art, music, and fashion. It was nice to be in Philadelphia during the festival this year (2019).

Center City (also known as Downtown Philadelphia)

Downtown Philadelphia

It did not feel as populated like other US cities like Manhattan (for example), but it is supposedly the second most populous downtown in the United States. You will hardly hear any of the locals refer to it as downtown. They refer to it as the Center City. The center of the city has flags of countries around the world in alphabetical order along the Parkway, including the Vatican.

You can see the flags of different countries

The downtown area blends both historical sites and modern skyscrapers. You could walk to some well-known venues like the Liberty Bell or the Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was signed) and many other historical sites. If history or culture is not your thing, the city also has many jazz clubs, bars, night clubs, restaurants, and museums for all ages.

Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic mile-long Parkway that starts at Philadelphia City Hall, curves around Logan Circle and ends before the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors

All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors

All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors is a war memorial in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that honors the state's African American servicemen who fought in American conflicts from the American Revolutionary War to World War I

The Famous Rocky statue and steps from the movie Rocky

The famous Rocky statue in the background

The famous Rocky Statue and "Rocky Steps" are one of the most popular attractions with tourists visiting Philadelphia. Once you get there, you will see a lineup of people wanting to take a picture with the famous statue of Rocky.

The steps have been made famous by the scene of the movie Rocky, and you will find tourists running up and down the steps mimicking Rocky's famous climb up those same stairs.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the head church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is located at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the east side of Logan Square in Philadelphia. I liked this building. I stopped during one of my walks and took my time to enjoy the design with its massive stone columns and highly recognizable great dome. The Basilica is Philadelphia's largest brownstone structure and the largest catholic church in Pennsylvania.

Spruce Street Harbor Park

Spruce Street Harbor Park is a seasonal park that is open from May till the end of September. If you are in Philadelphia around this time of the year, you should go check it out. There is plenty of space in the Park for lounging or playing games with friends. There are food and drinks and events happening every day. There is so much to do; so much that you can make this an all-day affair. There is live music on Thursday nights and some weekend nights. You can also go paddle boarding or join one of the outdoor yoga sessions you will find at the Park. I believe they have movies on some Sundays too.

Nightlife in Philadelphia

Philadelphia might be known for their football and football fans, or the culture and history or as the first-ever capital during the Revolutionary War under the Articles of Confederation, but there is so much to do in this city at night and lucky for tourists and locals, this city is a walkable city. You can go to most places by foot if you are in the center. I even went to a football game to watch the Philadelphia Eagle's home game opener and made it downtown in time for the next game which happened to be the Seahawks game that afternoon.

City Tap is a cool sports bar in the center of the city to watch the games, they have good food and reasonably priced drinks. The city has other cool sports bars, many rooftop bars, outdoor beer gardens, and bars everywhere. If a dive bar is your thing, Philadelphia has plenty of those too. You could choose to end the night at a fancy jazz club where you are required to dress nice or find a club that doesn't care what you wear.

Philadelphia Eagles

I am not an Eagles fan, but I have to say the fans there love their team and show support whether they are winning or not. Even the homeless people all had on their Eagles jersey or hats.  They were represented on the streets. I had to go to a game just because it was something to do and it was the first NFL game of the season (2019 regular season).

There is so much more to see in this great city, and Philadelphia is also very welcoming. Waving flags of all the countries in the world in the city center shows this, and when you are in the city, you will notice how diverse it is. I love this city, and I only touched the surface of what the city has to offer. Remember, I was only there for two days, so this post only represents what I saw and not the entirety of what the city has to offer.

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Berlin, Germany - September 2019

Berlin is a bustling city with most days and nights of the week packed with locals and tourists partying.

There is something for everyone in this great city which is also the capital of Germany. I once said if the devil had a house on earth, it would be in Las Vegas, but he definitely has other hiding places or other homes in Berlin and New Orleans. These three cities are all 'sin cities' in my book. There are other 'sin cities' in the world, but these three are the ones I know. Let's explore the city together.

West Berlin

Brandenburg Gate

 

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

This may stand as Germany's most recognizable sight. Even if you are in Berlin to party, you should still spend some time to check out the Brandenburg Gate. At the top is the Quadriga, a chariot pulled by four horses.

Reichstag

Reichstag, Berlin

Another landmark that is worth visiting is the Reichstag, the meeting place of the German Parliament.

Alexanderplatz

Alexanderplatz

The largest square in Germany and an energetic transport hub, Alexanderplatz is one of the most dynamic and exciting corners of Berlin. Berlin is divided into east and west. I personally like East Berlin more, but West Berlin also offers many cool spots for tourists and locals. Alexanderplatz is in East Berlin.

Museums in Berlin

Altes Museum, berlin

Berlin has many museums, so much that if you are only there for history and love museums, it may take you a few days to enjoy all the historic and amazing museums like Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, or Gemaldegalerie amongst many others.

Night Life in Berlin

Berlin is known around the world for its nightlife; No wonder tourists flock the city all year long to party with locals. You will find all and every type of clubs or bars in this city. There is so much to do, and the people do not stop until the sun is out. Some clubs would only allow you in if you are topless, some require you to dress very nice, others do not care.

The clubs and some bars open almost all day and night. Have you ever been in an underground club that is dark, loud, and filled with lots of drunks? You walk outside the club and the sun is out. You look at your watch, and it is 9 or 10 AM. Now, how many cities in the world party as hard as these guys? If I was writing a blog about the nightlife in Berlin, it would take several pages.

Kit Kat Club is a famous club in Berlin that won't grant you access if you are not showing your skin. The more daring and extravagant you are, the better your chances of getting in. Think of it as a fun place to listen to trance, techno, and party with sexually charged individuals who mostly have a fetish or several fetishes and go there to explore with others or meet other like-minded people for a good time.

Make sure you have enough time if you are flying from Berlin to the USA. The process is super slow. They have to come up with something more efficient in Berlin, as the current process is too slow. About six people ask you questions and want to see your passport before you even get to the passport checkpoint. This is all before going through your standard airport security. The only positive thing was that everyone in line was traveling to the states too. So, the airline had to wait for us. 

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Dublin, Ireland - September 2019

Dublin doesn't give you the ‘real Irish’ (whatever that means) because Dublin is a city with many tourists, and Ireland's capital and largest city. Yes, visiting the smaller towns in Ireland would possibly give you a better view of the ‘real Irish’ but Dublin is not a bad starting point, especially if you have never been to Ireland. It still offers an endless number of Irish culture and lifestyle.

This post is not about Ireland as a country and not even about Dublin as a city, but just my three-day adventure in this amazing city. If you know me, you’d know most of the places I visited in the city were centered around partying and drinking.

Dublin can be cold even in the summer. Now, I understand why most of my Irish friends are always in the bar. It was not cold, but there was hardly any sun while I was there. I guess you can get your vitamin D from Guinness (joking).

A pint of Guinness was what I had for breakfast every morning and even before the bar was officially opened

On a side note, Guinness comes with some essential minerals and vitamins, and it is sold at pharmacies in some developing countries. Things you can expect to get from drinking Guinness are amino acids (lysine and glutamine acids), Iron, calcium, vegetable protein, and B-vitamins (B6). Furthermore, Xanthohumol is a natural product found in the female inflorescences of Humulus lupulus, also known as hops, which has been said could help against cancer, especially prostate cancer.  Hops have been known to have properties that can help fight Alzheimer (Please do not quote me as I wrote this while drinking Guinness).

Dublin might not be the most expensive city in Europe, but you have to be careful in Dublin because it is not cheap. I guess a city that attracts many tourists as Dublin does, have to be expensive. As long as tourists are willing to pay 7 to 8 euros for a pint of Guinness, the pubs will continue to ask for that. Many bars around the city have drinks and good food that are reasonably priced.

Shepherds Pie and a pint of Guinness... yumm Yumm!!

Explore the city and do not fall in love with one bar or pub. Check out other spots and places.

There is so much to do in the city; It can be overwhelming if you are in Ireland or Dublin for the first time. I did not know where to start, but no matter where you start, you can never go wrong, especially if you begin the journey with a glass of Irish whiskey or a pint of Guinness. Just remember, "the craic is always mighty in Ireland." (I was first introduced to this phrase by my "brown Irish" brother, aka “the white Sri Lankan”. I didn’t know what it was, but he will always use it around his Irish mates or brothers. In Ireland I used it, and this young Irish lad was impressed that I knew what the word "craic" is.

 

There is a science, and some arts in pouring a pint of Guinness

"Craic" or "crack" is a term for news, fun, entertainment, or enjoyment. Young Irish people use it quite often with their friends. A 'good craic' is a reasonably okay night. A 'mighty craic' is a fun night but not the best night. A 'savage craic' is a great night, one of those nights with your boys where everyone is having fun and laughing. A 'deadly craic' is one of those unforgettable nights that the booze was flowing, and you guys are just out having so much fun, so much that you don’t want it to end.

When you say the craic was 'ninety,' that means you had so much fun, everyone was great, the Guinness was poured right, and the whiskey had you dancing in your head. That's the night you want to write a blog about, but you’ll probably be too 'shit-faced' to remember the night.

Never get to the "minus craic" phase. A minus craic is one of those nights where nothing seems to go well for you. GET YOUR CRAIC ON LADS!!

St James's Gate Brewery

I still cannot believe this is the place where it all started. They have been brewing this famous drink (aka Guinness) since 1759.

The Guinness storehouse inside this brewery is a massive seven-story attraction. It is mainly used today for tourism and no longer used for fermentation like it was intended to be used when it was built.

I could go on about this place, but I will keep it short.

I initially thought about making this blog post about this place, but I will not. It is a place to visit. It is also one of the most popular attractions in Dublin.

This is true for tourists who don't drink Guinness and also for those who do drink Guinness.

The Temple Bar District

The Temple Bar District is a place you have to visit. You also probably want to find a hotel or hostel close to this district as some of the cool bars and clubs are around or in this district.

The Temple Bar district at night

I mentioned the craic earlier, …. this is definitely the place to get some good or possibly a ninety "craic". The Temple Bar District has many options for live music, bars, food, etc. This is one place you have to be careful with what you buy as this is by far the most expensive place in Dublin - but who cares, huh? You go to Ireland to make sure the "craic" is at least mighty.

 

Temple bar is the most popular bar in this district. 

All Ireland Senior Football Championship - 2019

I happened to be in Dublin during the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (Gaelic football is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The primary objective is to score by driving the ball through or over the goals. It is possibly the most popular sports in Ireland. I was expecting the ball to look like a rugby ball because of how it’s played, but it looked more like a slightly smaller soccer ball).

The finals were on September 1, 2019, between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. The city was out and ready to party. Every bar was packed, and Dublin, the favorite to win, had their fans in every bar cheering and partying. It was a fun night.

One of the rooms at a club I went to had a silent disco rave party. Silent disco is the craziest thing I have ever experienced. Take off your headphones and it is even funnier. Rather than using a speaker system, music is broadcasted via a radio transmitter with the signal being picked up by wireless headphone receivers worn by the participants.

Warning: Don't drink too much in heels because I saw three women on my first night, fall for one reason or the other, and all three were wearing heels and drinking heavily.

If you were expecting this post to tell you about Ireland or Dublin, or all the touristy places to visit, then you did not read the first two paragraphs. This post is not about how to get to Dublin or how to walk or drive around the city but just my adventure around the city. What I can say is this, there is history in Dublin, and you don’t have to spend most of your time in bars because there are Irish bars all over the world.

Famine Memorial, Dublin

Explore the city, check out restaurants, museums, and Irish shows.

Christ Church Cathedral

You can even go to the zoo or check out some of the castles like the Malahide castle or architectural buildings all around Dublin like the Christ Church Cathedral or some of the older pubs scattered around the city.

The Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin

Another popular attraction in Dublin is the Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison in Kilmainham, Dublin where many of the Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders, were imprisoned and executed by the British. It is now a very famous museum in Dublin. 

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