Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

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Great Places To Stay ln Europe (125mm x 217mm) Bleed 4mm m
Great Places To Stay ln Europe (125mm x 217mm) Bleed 4mmTo Stay ln Europe (125mm x 217mm) Bleed 4mm
Great Places
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IREL AND 55
FOOD AND DRINK show the bartender your
appreciation, offer him or her
HE TRADITIONAL food of a drink.
TIreland – simple fish and
meat dishes with potatoes Telephoning To make calls
and root vegetables – has inside the Republic of Ireland,
improved beyond recognition dial the whole number, in-
in recent years. The cooking cluding the initial zero. To
has become lighter, healthier call the Irish Republic from
and more cosmopolitan – in the UK, dial 00 353 and omit
fact, ‘New Irish’. the first zero; from the US,
Old favourites include the 011 353.
ubiquitous Irish stew, a To call Northern Ireland
casserole of mutton or lamb from the UK, dial the number,
and vegetables, and coddle, a including the first zero of the
mix of pork sausages, bacon, area code; from the US, dial
potato and onion. Champ is Longueville House, page 63 011 44, omitting the zero of
buttery mashed potatoes with the area code.
scallions (spring onions). The remember that An Lár means
Irish are also justifiably proud town centre. Note too that old Public Holidays Republic of
of their fish and shellfish. signs in miles and new signs Ireland: 1 January; 17 March
The full Irish breakfast is a in kilometers may (confus- (St Patrick’s Day); Easter
national institution. Typically ingly) both be in use. Monday; first Monday in
it comprises egg, sausage, May (May Holiday); first
bacon, black pudding (made Language Although Ireland is Monday in June (June
from dried blood), tomatoes officially bilingual, English is Holiday); first Monday in
and toast. The Irish also eat the principal language. How- August (August Holiday);
heartily at lunch and dinner. ever, in the parts of Ireland last Monday in October;
The best genuine Irish known as the Gaeltacht 25 and 26 December.
food can be found in pubs. (principally along the west Northern Ireland: See
These are also often the most coast), Gaelic is still the main Great Britain, page 71.
congenial and the cheapest language. In the remotest
places to eat, but quality can parts of the Gaeltacht, English IRELAND PRICE BANDS
vary enormously. may not be spoken at all.
Few visitors leave Ireland URPRICE BANDS refer, as
without sampling a drop of Currency Republic of O O O usual, to the price of a
smooth, creamy Black Stuff, Ireland: from 1 January 2002, standard double room in high
which is invariably Guinness, the European euro (‘(( EUR’), season. The bands below are
a stout or porter-style of beer made up of 100 cents. for the Republic of Ireland;
which derives its distinct Northern Ireland: the British for Northern Ireland, see
flavour and colour from pound. Britain Price Bands, page 71.
roasted malt and barley and Breakfast is often, but not
a high hop content. Guinness Shops Generally open always, quoted within the
is always drunk chilled and is 9am–5:30 or 6pm, Mon–Sat. room rate. Prices quoted for
allowed to settle for a few Smaller towns may have an rooms include all taxes and
minutes. The other national early closing day, many towns often the service charge.
drink is Irish whiskey. This is have late shopping on
smoother than Scotch Thursday and/or Friday. In ¡ under 75 EUR
(Scottish whisky) and lacks its towns and cities, super- ¡¡ 75–150 EUR
smoky flavour. In the pub, markets may open from noon ¡¡¡ 150–225 EUR
asking for a beer by name to 6pm on Sundays. ¡¡¡¡ over 225 EUR
will get you a pint. If you
want a half-pint, ask for a Tipping Ireland is
‘glass’ of your chosen beer. not a tip-conscious
society. Where
OTHER PRACTICAL restaurants add a
INFORMATION service charge there
is no need to tip.
OOK WELL in advance for Otherwise, round
B hotels in Dublin year- up the bill to around
round and in other heavily 10 per cent. A help-
visited spots. ful taxi-driver will
The rules of the road expect 10 per cent,
follow those of Great Britain: and porters, tour
drive on the left, give way to guides and chamber-
the right. Road signs are often maids are also
in both English and Gaelic, usually tipped.
and it may be useful to If you want to The K Club, page 65