Here We Go Again

 Arrived in Dublin at 10 this morning after a 9:00 pm flight on Aer Lingus. Sue experimented with a jet lag app which had entailed getting up at 4 am on the morning of our flight, so she slept well on the plane. Julie not so much. 

At Dublin airport the line for non-EU passport control was incredibly long. At least this meant no wait for our luggage. It was waiting on the belt which had apparently long ceased going around. Sue and Nick are traveling with one ginormous bag and one carry-on size bag, the latter chuck full. Nick’s huge suitcase is a source of stress as he tries to maneuver it while balancing his duffel and backpack. Downside to a 3-week trip is all the stuff you think you need. 

After we collected our luggage we had a choice to make - taxi (at least 55 Euro based on our last trip) or bus (allegedly only 8 Euro). The Dutch contingent opted for the bus which we easily located. We tried to take a different bus line than the Air Coach which was such a boondoggle in August, but were advised Air Coach was our only option to Dun Laoghaire (where Sue’s sister Mary lives). So we purchased 3 tickets for 36 Euro (funny math in Ireland) and were told the bus would come in 5 minutes. Nick astutely asked if there would be room for us on the bus and was assured there would be. In the 15 or so minutes we waited in the heat for the bus, we heard several other travelers told their bus would be there in 5 minutes too. Finally the number 703 bus arrived and the jolly driver alighted and opened the luggage compartments. Unlike on Coach USA, he did not assist with loading the luggage; it was each passenger for himself! And the compartments were already full of other people’s luggage!! Luckily an Irish woman knew the drill. She jumped in front of us and began pushing the luggage toward the back to make room for ours and hers. Then she helped Nick wrestle the big heavy monster into place and threw Sue’s on top of that. She was just hoisting her own suitcase aboard when her daughter cried out “Mommy, this is not our bus!” We climbed aboard and there were only a few single seats remaining which we hastily claimed. 

The bus ride was about an hour, with many stops. As people disembarked, Sue wondered whose suitcases were behind Nick’s monster bag, and if someone would simply leave his bag on the curb, and if that would be really a bad thing or not. When we finally reached Dun Laoghaire, we saw that all our bags were safe, and they were unloaded by Nick and Julie. We think a cab back to the airport tomorrow is wise. A large cab. 

It was about 1 pm but we took a chance that Sue and Nick’s hotel room at the Royal Marine would be ready. It was only a 5-minute walk from the bus stop. Unfortunately it was not. We stowed all our luggage, including Julie’s who is staying with Mary. 

We went to Elvery’s to collect some Rugby gear we ordered. Julie ordered the exact same hoodie Sue had previously bought on our trip in August. Nick later tried on his shirt and noted that Niko and Spencer would approve as the neck hole is really tight. We set off for lunch when Mary texted she would meet us at Elvery’s with her keys so Julie could get in. We turned back and she soon arrived. Hugs all around! She joked that people in her office were raffling off our Rugby tickets since they are so jealous we are going. She recommended Walter’s Pub for lunch and it was delightful. Sue had a caprese sandwich; Julie had a pulled pork sandwich and Nick had a falafel sandwich with marinara sauce.  All delicious and the staff was great. 

We came back to the hotel, collected Julie’s luggage, and then walked together toward Mary’s. It was hot, and we were still in our traveling clothes. Only Nick was wearing shorts. When Julie was comfortable enough that she knew the way (she had stayed with Mary last Fall when we visited) she carried on and Sue and Nick returned to the hotel to rest and change for dinner. 

Tonight we will have dinner out with Mary and her friend Mary. And tomorrow we will fly to France to begin our Rugby Gourmet Wine tour. Photos are from the plane over Ireland and from our hotel room balcony.