Dublin Day 1

Getting into the City around 12:30, we will have to wait for our rooms to be ready, and we’re prepared for that. The taxi ride into the city center is an extended chat with the driver, who has many questions, opinions, and recommendations. In particular he inveighs against going to Temple Bar, when there is a myriad of better places to enjoy a pint and music that won’t overcharge you, lists good places for “trad” music, dishes on the current government, and tells us aobut our hotel.  Seems it is right up close against several government buildings,and whatever   governmental skulduggery or power grabs may be current are hatched in the pub at Buswell’s hotel.  

He pulls up right in front of the hotel.  Buswell’s is an older hotel, but nicely renovated.  It started in one residential townhouse, and has since taken over two others that are not necessarily equivlent in levels, which makes for interesting treks up and down stairs from the lobby to our respective rooms.  The pub is very nice, and we are treated to free tea and coffee pending our rooms being readied, which is accepted and then followed by our first Irish drink, not free. At 2 PM sharp we are admitted to our rooms, and promise to meet later to take a walk into the downtown.  Lynn needs some cleanser from the department store, and we need to secure a couple of SIM cards for two phones, so that we can communicate with each other and with home if necessary.  Both are taken care of at a department store on O’Connell Street, and then we walk up to Madigan’s pub in quest of the kind of sustenance to be found in a pub.  After a short wait, we are refreshed and better able to face the effects of jet lag.  

Getting a SIM card with an unlocked phone is a simple and inexpensive way to get communication, and it takes but a few minutes, and once our first pub drink is finished we address the challenge of supper.  This is met by pub food – bangers and mash, shepherds pie, and the like.  Then it is early to bed for the travelers.

We stop for a nightcap in the hotel pub, but John heads for bed.  As a result, he misses the turndown service. Weh we get to our room later, we discover the bed turned down, and chocolate bunnies on each pillow, illuminated in little spotlight reading lamps.  

Easter Bunnies in our bed

All is not lost, though.  Sunday morning, their chocloate bunnies are presented to them at their breakfast table.  The hotel staff keeps track of who has not received their holiday favors, and John and Lynn do not miss out, although they did miss out on the dramatic presentation.