I spent the last few days in Dublin, Ireland, visiting a very good friend of mine. These are a few observations I made during my stay:

• The Irish consider themselves much less European than I had thought.
• Mainland Europe is simply called "Europe".
• They hate the English.
• Until recently, Ireland had been living in the Middle Ages, as is accurately portrayed in the 1991 movie The Commitments.
• They frickin' love The Commitments.
• Germans are forgiven for not knowing anything about Rugby.
• I have a better chance of catching an SC Freiburg match in Dublin than I do in Mannheim.
• They know how to make a good breakfast.
• They call Americano an Americano.
• Guinness is owned by big alcohol and employs mob tactics to block other beer makers from getting their products into pubs.
• Irish pub culture is as strong and real as it is advertised. Loving it!