Monday – rain

Rainy days in Ireland? Who’d ‘a thunk it? We’re prepared with layers and waterproof. We’re also not far from Jameson and they have hot drinks on offer. Our morning starts late and breakfast and reconnoitering takes its time. Our train tickets for Tuesday were pre-ordered online, so we cross the river to Heuston Station, named for one of the executed leaders of the 1916 Rising, and punch in our confirmation code at the ticket machine. The tickets print and appear without hesitation or protest.

A two-stop tram ride and two block walk gets us to Jameson, where we have a couple of hot drinks involving whiskey – ginger infused whiskey, tawny port, apple cider, cinnamon, a section of tart apple, and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Just the thing to recommend to our friends and relatives shoveling out from 6-12 inches of heavy spring snow at home.

Jameson also provides a bottle for our own travels and travails, and a bottle for sharing on the tour bus when we set out on the tour on Thursday. We are old hands at these Men of Worth tours and we know what’s expected.

Due to the continuing rain, we pass on the Emigration Museum and famine ship. Another visit to Dublin is pretty much certain. Under the influence of a couple of hot whiskey drinks, we tram our way back to the hotel for nap, Irish cell phone setup, and unlocking the cryptex that is WordPress for blogging.

What’s with Pittsville WI, you ask? We met the proprietors of Baum Mercantile of Pittsville last summer on one of our Merrimac ferry cruises, took a bumper sticker from them, and resolved to post some travel pix.