Our adventure began at Prague airport, where we treated ourselves to some authentic Czech beer before our departure. The flight went smoothly, and after a few minor hiccups upon arriving in Dublin, we made our way to our accommodation. The hotel was simple, but its central location was ideal for exploring the city.
The main reason for our trip was to visit the legendary store Peterson of Dublin, a brand that is synonymous with quality pipes around the world. In the shop, we were greeted by friendly staff, and each of us – me, Radek Koutný, and Michal Pluhař – left with a new pipe that will remind us of the atmosphere of Ireland for a long time.
The city itself captivated us with its liveliness. Dublin is full of alleys, pubs, and people who stand around with a pint of stout by the barrels on the street, engaging in lively discussions. We added a gourmet experience to this with a fantastic Irish steak, of course washed down with several pints of rich black beer.
During our stay, we realized that Ireland is not exactly a paradise for pipe smokers – the prices of tobacco and pipes are significantly higher than back home. However, this did not deter us; on the contrary, it added another dimension for comparison and reflection on how different pipe smoking can be in various countries.
To give anyone considering a similar trip an idea of the costs, here are a few numbers:
• a round-trip ticket from Prague to Dublin costs about 3,500 CZK (of course, depending on the date and chosen fare),
• accommodation in central Dublin cost us about 1,000 CZK per person per night,
• for a pipe from Peterson, we paid around 4,500 CZK, as we chose without major compromises.
All in all, the entire trip cost each of us about 12,000 CZK. And that’s an amount for which, in addition to the pipe, you get an unforgettable experience, a piece of Irish atmosphere, and a wonderfully spent time with friends.
In the end, the whole trip was not just about pipes, but mainly about the moments spent together. We soaked in the atmosphere of the city, had fun, and enjoyed our friendship. And when we returned to Prague, we concluded our journey as it should be – with Czech beer and fast food, which felt surprisingly pleasant after the Irish specialties.
