Pubs and Clubs

Throughout my time in Dublin I have frequented a few pubs; they are a legion, and mostly alarmingly overpriced, crowded and rowdy. Not being much of a drinker, or much of a fan of beer, I haven't spent a lot of time in them, especially because the crowds are pretty emotional these days, what with the World Cup and all...it's better to be far away when various groups of grown men and women break into cheers or tears.
Last night, though, to celebrate my getting a job (I start at Starbucks tomorrow) and Celia having a night off, we decided to go out. We were joined by Jenny, a delightful and hilarious Swedish girl who works with Celia. We ate at home, enjoyed a few bottles of wine, and then went out. We had planned to go the Porterhouse Brewing Co., a pub-type place on College Green near Grafton Street, but our cab driver had other recommendations, and we started out at a pub called Finnley's (I think). We were vastly entertained there by a breath-alcohol analysis machine (1 Euro per use) and the trivia questions they had running on the TVs, but weren't thrilled with the crowd, even when it got busy. Deciding we'd had enough of Finnley's, we headed out toward Temple Bar.
Our first stop there was Club M, one of the big dance clubs. European clubs are rather different than I remember back home; the music is still defeaning, the drinks are still expensive and the dance floor is still hot and crowded, but the people are a bit different. The guys, in particular, are much more willing to dance--and actually dance, not just shift awkwardly from foot to foot (no offense guys!). There were actually groups of guys dancing...not something I remember seeing at home. (Then again, I'm not exactly a club expert, so this could just be a new worldwide trend of which I alone am completely unaware.) We enjoyed that for a while, but eventually got tired of trying to carry on conversations when we couldn't even hear ourselves think.
Another difference that I noticed at Club M and the Viper Room, where we went next, and really in Dublin in general, is that the people are from everywhere! Last night alone we met people from Senegal, France, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Britain, South Africa, the Netherlands, and yes, even a few from Ireland. And those are just the nationalities that I remember!
The Viper Room, our last stop for the night, was fun; we got in for free because Celia and Jenny told the doorman that we all work at Oliver St. John Goggarty (the pub where they actually do work). The owner and managers of Goggarty are evidently such regulars at this club that their staff people get in without cover. It was great, like being part of a secret and exclusive club! It can't have been early when we got there, but the club area in the basement was completely deserted. We enjoyed having the dance floor to ourselves for a while before people started to join us; after that we alternated between the bar upstairs and club downstairs. I wasn't wearing a watch and didn't have my phone, but I think it must have been around 4am when I really started to get tired. Celia and I made it home around 5am (by which time the sun was almost completely up!), had a pre-breakfast snack and went to bed around half past.
Thanks to my restraint in drinking and all the water I consumed (as well as some prophylactic Advil before going to bed) I felt fine when I woke up this afternoon. Celia's feeling a little pain but is recovering. It was a great night, and a bit of an adventure for me, but I'm glad I don't feel compelled to do that regularly!