It was just getting light at 05:00 when Cat and I got up to head to Heathrow. I had to be at the airport for an 08:00 flight, which was too bad as Cat pointed out other flights that left later in the day…why didn’t I find one of those…she asked? She also suggested that next time I should use Skytrax which is better than Expedia for flights, in the UK anyway. Oh well, not a lot of traffic so we arrived with plenty of time and I was able to get a nice breakfast after getting through security and the inevitable extra scan.
The flight itself was short and sweet, we actually made it in just over an hour. At the Dublin airport I figured out which bus to get and that too was relatively short and sweet and I was dropped off a Heuston Station in the city centre, which is just across the river from the Ashling Hotel, where I’ll be staying for the night. The Ashling is located via what3words at ///myself.sock.liner.
I was able to check my carry-on at the hotel but my room wasn’t ready so it was time for a walkabout. I should point out that the weather is quite unbelievable, sunny and relatively warm. The big advantage is that there is no biting wind like there was in Dorking. I had really not expected this kind of weather and I sorely wish I could remember what I did with my sunglasses.
I walked east along the river, the Liffey, and took a couple of snaps, especially of this weird shaped building on the other side with strange lettering…Guinness…not quite sure what that stands for but I’m sure I’ll find out shortly.
It was getting past repast time but I couldn’t see anything resembling a restaurant or a pub. A block north of the R148 I spotted a corner shop that had a large group of young people standing around outside. It was worth a look so I headed that way. The place was called “Wuff” and it was hard to say what it was as it had a tiny door at the corner and essentially bars on all the windows. It turned out to be a very nice wee restaurant full of very young people, but with a table and chair just right for Moi.
Lunch was a ham and cheese sandwich, with double fried chips, and a pint of….you guessed it…Guinness. What a treat the pint was and the food was quite nice too. It was a bit pricey, especially when the transaction machine decided to tell me what it was in Canadian dollars…whince…whince…but what the heck…I’m on holiday.
I was getting a bit knackered, probably that magic brew, so I headed back to the Ashling, got my room and had a lie down until 17:00. The tour group was meeting at 18:00 so after a refreshing shower I went down and joined them.
I didn’t meet all of them in any detail but most of them are from Australia while there are two couples from Canada, so a friendly group. After handshakes all around we headed to the dining room which allowed for a bit more intimate chatting with seated neighbours. I sat across from Peter the tour guide, who in his spare time runs a cattle farm in Ireland. He’s been doing the tour bit for about 20 years so I think we are going to be in good hands.
Irish stew for dinner and it was really quite good…even the carrots. I didn’t have another Guinness as it was getting on and I was hoping for a good nights sleep to start the trip well refreshed. So..after instructions from Peter about breakfast and the departure routine for the morning, it was off to bed at 20:00. Tomorrow we head off to refight the Battle of the Boyne and then head to Belfast to the Titanic Museum. Sounds good.
Stand down
It’s called ‘Skyscanner’ dad 😝