We both woke up still very tired and stressed this morning from our ordeal yesterday. We got ready and packed our bags quietly so we wouldn’t wake the boys, and also because we were still annoyed with each other. We just wanted to leave and find our own space to settle. Sam drove us to the airport at 7am, close to Legoland and it was good to hear her empathise how crap the road was. Dan was able to pretty much sleep the whole way and missed the roadside fun. We said our goodbyes to Sam and thanked her for her hospitality. We really love the area she and the boys live in and can appreciate why Paul and Anita decided to live in England. If we were ever to live abroad it would be here.
At the airport we found a lens cleaning pen and finally a universal electric plug. Huzzah, we got a break! We ordered a big full English breakfast at an airport cafe and sat in silence. Before our meal arrived we broke the silence and talked about our drinks...then how good it was to stay at Sam’s and see the boys...then how good mini Legoland was...then about how terrible the driving was. Finally we noticed the elephant in the room and killed it. We have never had a fight like that before and decided on a better strategy to handle our stress. We were able to joke about how ridiculous the directions were and agreed that from now on we’ll be using Google Maps for directions. Breakfast was good, really good.
After breakfast we headed to the departure lounge where we passed through security screening and Dan was told to remove his shoes. This was an unfortunate experience for everyone within smelling range. A huge relief was the fact that Ev was able to keep her boots on! Talk about chemical warfare. :)
We boarded the plane at 11:15am and were warmly greeted by an awesome Irish accent onto Aer Lingus. We were served a second breakfast and also bought a watch for Dan and Butlers Chocolates, an Irish brand, for Ev on the plane to Dublin.
The flight only took an hour and the first thing Dan saw at the Airport was a Bar, we are definitely in Ireland and Dan was happy.
Once collecting our bags we headed straight to the car hire (We are suckers for punishment!). We will need the car for a couple of day trips throughout Ireland. The car had no air-con and Ev asked if we could exchange it. Unfortunately none of the smaller cars had a/c., thankfully the weather was pleasant and we were away. We turned the radio on and were soothed by some traditional Irish music.
The map we had was very sketchy so to avoid more stress we used Dan’s iPhone map through data roaming even though we knew it would be expensive. After going completely the wrong way out of the airport terminal we finally got back on track for our hotel. Navigating in Dublin was going to be a little difficult as the street signs were either plastered on a building obscured by trees etc or not at all. On the way we discovered that our hotel was in a mall area with the massive Spire of Dublin, which is a 121m tall structure that is impossible to miss, you would think? We also drove past a restaurant/bar that has Irish dancing. We’ll have to go there before we leave.
We found the Academy Plaza Hotel and were impressed with its style, but unimpressed that we had to pay for parking around the corner in a public car park, we’re looking at about 17 Euros with the hotel discount. Once bringing our bags into the room and dropping the car off, we stopped into a corner store to buy lunches and snacks. Unfortunately there wasn’t a fridge in the room so we rang reception to see if we could upgrade but were told no rooms had fridges. There was a kettle and a cup of tea was in order. Free internet was available in the room so we researched where we were and how long it would take for our day trips.
We went for a walk down the main street of the mall and past the Spire of Dublin again (count how many times we pass it) at about 5pm and found restaurants, a candy store, a large souvenir store, and shopping centre with liquor and lots of bars. Dublin has a ridiculous amount of redheads so Ev felt at home.
We bought some drinks and ice. Dan decided to go Irish and bought some Jameson's Irish Whisky, gauranteed to put hairs on your chest and Ev bought some Archer's Vodka. We headed back to the hotel, again past the Spire of Dublin (That’s 3 times so far. You’ll see where this is heading tomorrow.) Now that we have our bearings we can relax in Ireland. We bought Chinese for dinner for only 5 pounds and ate in the hotel, followed by a few drinks...then a couple more, followed by a few more. Dan passed out at around midnight not realising the liquor was 44% alcohol as opposed to the normal 36% he is used to. You get the idea..:)
Ireland, I love you.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan-ev/collections/72157624677997272
At the airport we found a lens cleaning pen and finally a universal electric plug. Huzzah, we got a break! We ordered a big full English breakfast at an airport cafe and sat in silence. Before our meal arrived we broke the silence and talked about our drinks...then how good it was to stay at Sam’s and see the boys...then how good mini Legoland was...then about how terrible the driving was. Finally we noticed the elephant in the room and killed it. We have never had a fight like that before and decided on a better strategy to handle our stress. We were able to joke about how ridiculous the directions were and agreed that from now on we’ll be using Google Maps for directions. Breakfast was good, really good.
After breakfast we headed to the departure lounge where we passed through security screening and Dan was told to remove his shoes. This was an unfortunate experience for everyone within smelling range. A huge relief was the fact that Ev was able to keep her boots on! Talk about chemical warfare. :)
We boarded the plane at 11:15am and were warmly greeted by an awesome Irish accent onto Aer Lingus. We were served a second breakfast and also bought a watch for Dan and Butlers Chocolates, an Irish brand, for Ev on the plane to Dublin.
The flight only took an hour and the first thing Dan saw at the Airport was a Bar, we are definitely in Ireland and Dan was happy.
Once collecting our bags we headed straight to the car hire (We are suckers for punishment!). We will need the car for a couple of day trips throughout Ireland. The car had no air-con and Ev asked if we could exchange it. Unfortunately none of the smaller cars had a/c., thankfully the weather was pleasant and we were away. We turned the radio on and were soothed by some traditional Irish music.
The map we had was very sketchy so to avoid more stress we used Dan’s iPhone map through data roaming even though we knew it would be expensive. After going completely the wrong way out of the airport terminal we finally got back on track for our hotel. Navigating in Dublin was going to be a little difficult as the street signs were either plastered on a building obscured by trees etc or not at all. On the way we discovered that our hotel was in a mall area with the massive Spire of Dublin, which is a 121m tall structure that is impossible to miss, you would think? We also drove past a restaurant/bar that has Irish dancing. We’ll have to go there before we leave.
 |
| Spire of Dublin (the large pin-lik steel thing) |
We found the Academy Plaza Hotel and were impressed with its style, but unimpressed that we had to pay for parking around the corner in a public car park, we’re looking at about 17 Euros with the hotel discount. Once bringing our bags into the room and dropping the car off, we stopped into a corner store to buy lunches and snacks. Unfortunately there wasn’t a fridge in the room so we rang reception to see if we could upgrade but were told no rooms had fridges. There was a kettle and a cup of tea was in order. Free internet was available in the room so we researched where we were and how long it would take for our day trips.
 |
| A real Alice in Wonderland corridor |
We bought some drinks and ice. Dan decided to go Irish and bought some Jameson's Irish Whisky, gauranteed to put hairs on your chest and Ev bought some Archer's Vodka. We headed back to the hotel, again past the Spire of Dublin (That’s 3 times so far. You’ll see where this is heading tomorrow.) Now that we have our bearings we can relax in Ireland. We bought Chinese for dinner for only 5 pounds and ate in the hotel, followed by a few drinks...then a couple more, followed by a few more. Dan passed out at around midnight not realising the liquor was 44% alcohol as opposed to the normal 36% he is used to. You get the idea..:)
Ireland, I love you.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan-ev/collections/72157624677997272
2 comments:
That drive to the airport was pretty stressful, even if I may not have shown it like you guys would have lol. It didn't help having that goddamn elephant in the car taking up all the room with us hehe! Glad you guys got it sorted. I decided to go via Oxford home to avoid or those roadworks, but got lost myself, it's so easy in this country since half the road signs are missing because of said roadworks that are on EVERY motorway, as you found out x
Sounds like you'll need a holiday from your holiday, hehe. Bel x
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