1) Dubliners speed up. They walk fast. No clue why, but they do and it's remarkable. Adapt your speed to theirs on busy streets. Just imagine you were using the tube in London and you'll be fine.
2) There is Wi-Fi everywhere: coffeeshops, on busses, on trains...if you have no or a very limited data plan, you'll be fine. Once logged in with Dublin Bus, you'll always be connected as there are so many busses passing by. No need to worry!
3) Grocery stores are open til 10 or 11, some discounters may close at 9 on a Sunday. Spar on St. Georges St is open 24/7. However, there are certain times that you cannot buy booze, which is a relics from times when the Catholic Church dominated Ireland. On a Sunday, i.e. you are not permitted to buy alcohol before 12:30. 10pm is the ultimate maximum each day. Off-Licence stores close at 10, some supermarkets close their alcoholic drinks department with a construction fence.
4) Busses are not to be relied on; after 11:30 pm there are no busses at all. Apparently, there are night connections that cost €4.50 (which will be added onto your leapcard even if you have reached your day/week limit)
5) Vegetable prices at grocery stores are more constant than in Germany. Cucumbers may be 49cents on Monday in 79cents on Wednesday in Germany. In Ireland, not that much do the prices vary. For instance: raspberries had not changed in 7 weeks at Tesco (€1.79). Only last week did they raise it to €2.15. I guess it will stay that way for a while.
6) Grocery shopping#2: try to go to LIDL and ALDI as much as possible. Tesco is fine, too, as they have their own Tesco branch which is quite cheap. Avoid Dunnes Store, apart from when they have offers (and they do have great bargains!). However, Dunnes has Sourdough, which is bread that you can actually eat (no toast!). It starts at €2.70 but it's totally worth it! Supervalu offers Irish brands only and is quite expensive.
7) Don't take your laptop or tablet to university. Irish students don't even take notes during classes. I was thinking of getting myself a tablet before I came here as my laptop is too large to take it to university every other day. I am so glad I had not bought it as it would have been a total waste!
