An Irish Goodbye

Because we have the world's best travel agent, we got to switch a ten hour layover into an overnight in Dublin. In stark contrast to the last four weeks of our lives, the weather was cold and rainy. Normally, I'd kill for a day like this, but it wasn't ideal to for it to be this particular day, given that we had four hours of waking hours in the city!

Our hotel was right next to Croke Park where there was a HUGE couple of hurling games happening over the course of the next two days. It was so much like the atmosphere around Fenway or Gillette before a game. Crowds making their way down the surrounding streets, vendors selling foam fingers and flags. This particular game was county Clare vs. Galway. We walked for a bit with a couple of old guys, one of whom said, If you go to church today, say a pray for Galway!  :)  Turns out the game was called and has to be replayed due to fighting or some damn thing.

We arrived from Lisbon at 2 am and got a cab after a bit of a wait (naturally, since it was quite late). The hotel was near (thanks to the Travel Goddess who is my travel agent) so we were in bed by 2:30. Up at 8 for continental breakfast in the executive lounge because, yes, she upgraded us to a suite and access to this lounge.

We then ventured out to find the perfect place for lunch --- fish stew and Guiness. The walk was pretty nasty.. cold and rainy and it's hard for two people who are almost a foot apart in height to share an umbrella comfortably. If I hold it, he gets poked in the eye; if he holds it, I get soaked in that foot area of difference.

Now for the pics:

Tidy little yards. 

The value of this reminder cannot be underestimated!

That's Croke Park looming above the row houses. 

This guy was giving a sports report outside the stadium -- in Gaelic :)
 

This was the sweetest café with an even sweeter clientele. Two mothers and their chubby Irish babies having tea on a rainy Saturday morning.  

A happy camper :) 

I can never understand how lush the flowers are in Italy --- it being so very dry. But in Ireland, it's not surprise. Just as breathtaking, nonetheless. 

And that's all I've got for now. Thanks for following!