September 2 - Arrival in Dublin

We are in Dublin!  Our flight from Norfolk to Philly  (on a really old-looking plane) was delayed 30 minutes so we had to scramble to catch our Dublin flight which, of course, was in the section of the airport furthest from us :-) We had been scrambling to our gate but really picked up the pace when we heard our names announced on the intercom "Flight 522 - last call for passengers Ryan and Dunham".  Just before we arrived at the gate the zipper on my backpack opened up and the contents flew all over the place!  I crawled around on the floor to gather up everything and we boarded in time, glistening with sweat, but happy :-)

The transatlantic flight was pleasant - flying in an A330 that still smelled "new".  We tried to sleep, but no luck -- not even using my iPhone app that produces "brown noise".

An hour-long immigration line awaited us in Dublin, then we hopped on a bus and headed for Botanic View B&B.  Bernadette Ryan (I'm sure we're related somehow!)  brought us coffee and a snack and visited with us, offering great suggestions on where to go and what to do. 

Botanic View B&B

Bernadette

Hopped on a bus to Dublin - first stop was Trinity College.  Especially fascinating was the Old Library (see photo - yes, those are all bookshelves!) and the Book of Kells (books of the bible illuminated by monks/scribes). 

Trinity College Library

Walked along Grafton St. looking at shops and enjoying all the street entertainers.  

Ate a late lunch at Busyfeet and Coco Cafe, then shopped a little and walked through the Temple Bar area.  Even found a TK Maxx :-)

Since we weren't sure where to catch the bus, we walked back to our B&B in Drumcondra (a Dublin suburb).

Ate yogurt and cereal in the community room and visited with the other guests - Antony Moyne from County Donegal - a stone's throw from County Derry in Northern Ireland (staying at the B&B while attending college), Peter an older well-traveled chap from Australia and a family, also from Australia, whose sonwas playing in local pubs for a couple of months. We had a great time sharing stories and learning about the Irish. Apparently, rednecks in Ireland can be identified by their collars turned up (like US yuppies :-). 

B&B Friends

B&B friend, Peter