Dublin: Damp Days, Strong Coffee, and Even Stronger Whiskey
I spent a month in Dublin, and I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I came for a change of scenery. Something different from the palm trees, remote workers, and smoothie bowls that had become a bit too familiar. And Dublin delivered... mostly in the form of clouds and whiskey.
Let’s address the obvious: it rains. A lot. Not in a dramatic, cinematic way—just enough to keep your socks mildly damp at all times. At first, I fought it. Three weather apps, a rotation of jackets, an umbrella that gave up on day two. Then I leaned in. Wore the same coat every day, stopped checking the forecast, and focused on things I could actually control. Like how many flat whites I could drink before 10 a.m.
And somehow, in the middle of all that grey, I got a ridiculous amount of work done. The cafés were quiet, the WiFi worked, and no one was trying to pitch me a DAO or sell me a morning routine. People here are grounded. They work, they talk, they drink, and they make space for actual conversation. It felt real. Refreshing, even.
The evenings were my favorite. I’d wander into a pub, and within twenty minutes, I’d be pulled into a conversation about rugby, literature, or why French people walk like they own the place. I’m not saying I agreed, but they weren’t wrong.
And then there’s the whiskey. Look—I’m French. Wine is the default. But Irish whiskey? It grew on me. Slowly at first, then with conviction. One bartender gave me a crash course, complete with a tasting flight and unsolicited life advice. He might’ve been a genius. Hard to tell. Great accent though.
What surprised me most was the creative undercurrent. Music, writing, art—Dublin’s got soul, and it doesn’t try too hard. I didn’t become a part of it, but I admired it from the edges. It was nice to be somewhere where not everything is about monetization and follower counts.
Would I come back? Definitely.
Would I stay forever? No. But that’s me everywhere.
Dublin gave me space to work, room to think, and just enough bad weather to keep me inside doing both. I’ll take it.
