We snuggled into our seats on a very crowded flight ready for some serious shut eye. Looking at the map we saw our journey and the length of time that lay ahead. Tom is always happiest when he can watch the map tick off the altitude, temperature, and miles to go. I guess it goes back to his navigating days in the Coast Guard.
Unfortunately, we had a 4-hour layover before our connecting flight would depart to Ireland. We were grateful that the time passed quickly and before long we were roaring down the runway once again. The short flight on Aer Lingus to Shannon passed quickly. It seemed like only minutes before the emerald colors and lakes of Ireland were visible out the window. The landscape from the air is stunning and we were anxious to get on the ground to take it all in.
Deplaning from the rear of the airplane allowed us to get our first breath of fresh outside air. It was now 3:30 PM Irish Time. We had been travelling for 13 hours and were ready for some real food and a welcome to Ireland Guinness Stout.
Knowing we would be arriving late we planned to pick up the rent-a-car the next day and stay in a hotel near the airport. The plan was that we would not be driving the Irish countryside in the normal zombie mode on our arrival day.
It was sitting at the bar where we met Sean, Patrick, and Natasha. Every Wednesday they have a ritual to gather at this pub for a pint… or two. The three of them kept us laughing with stories and songs. Natasha has a beautiful voice and at one point grabbed Janet’s phone and put in a must have Irish playlist in Spotify. When we asked about the origins of Natasha’s name because it was certainly not Irish, she laughed and said it was a TV character that her father liked, but she was as Irish as a potato in the ground!
Once again, world politics was part of the conversation. The troubles, the Middle East, Ukraine, and the United States current administration were all topics we discussed. We quickly surmised that we would not be able to escape the later topic on this trip. Although we were having so much fun, the time had come to eat. One cannot live on Guinness alone… or can they?
Dinner would be a short walk through some double doors to the attached restaurant in the hotel. Hunger had definitely set in. Janet went with the Char, while Tom had to have an Irish Lamb Shank. Both mains were extremely good and both were sitting on a bed of creamed potatoes. The vegetables on the side you ask… Why more creamed potatoes and root vegetables. There was no doubt that potatoes would be a major part of our culinary experience in the coming days.
Completely stuffed with our meal, it was time to call it a day. Tomorrow we will be heading out on the Irish roads on our adventure while driving on the left side of the highways. Good thing that Tom is dyslexic and ambidextrous because driving on the “other” side of road never seems to bother him. (Finger Crossed)
When the lights went out, sleep came very quickly!
The Shannon Springs Hotel was just a short cab ride away and the driver kept us laughing and telling us stories of the area. Oh yeah, and a lot of world politics! The hotel has a restaurant, pub, and comfortable bed… what else could one ask for on their arrival night.
It did not take long to drop our bags and head down to the pub! Pulling a couple stools up to the bar, we ordered two pints and sat patiently to allow for the brown stout to reach quiescence. That is when the tan carbonation slowly becomes a deep brown and the aromas of coffee, cocoa, and caramel fill the air. Proper Irish etiquette demands that one must wait until that transition occurs before their first sip.
It was sitting at the bar where we met Sean, Patrick, and Natasha. Every Wednesday they have a ritual to gather at this pub for a pint… or two. The three of them kept us laughing with stories and songs. Natasha has a beautiful voice and at one point grabbed Janet’s phone and put in a must have Irish playlist in Spotify. When we asked about the origins of Natasha’s name because it was certainly not Irish, she laughed and said it was a TV character that her father liked, but she was as Irish as a potato in the ground!
Once again, world politics was part of the conversation. The troubles, the Middle East, Ukraine, and the United States current administration were all topics we discussed. We quickly surmised that we would not be able to escape the later topic on this trip. Although we were having so much fun, the time had come to eat. One cannot live on Guinness alone… or can they?
Dinner would be a short walk through some double doors to the attached restaurant in the hotel. Hunger had definitely set in. Janet went with the Char, while Tom had to have an Irish Lamb Shank. Both mains were extremely good and both were sitting on a bed of creamed potatoes. The vegetables on the side you ask… Why more creamed potatoes and root vegetables. There was no doubt that potatoes would be a major part of our culinary experience in the coming days.
Completely stuffed with our meal, it was time to call it a day. Tomorrow we will be heading out on the Irish roads on our adventure while driving on the left side of the highways. Good thing that Tom is dyslexic and ambidextrous because driving on the “other” side of road never seems to bother him. (Finger Crossed)
When the lights went out, sleep came very quickly!
No comments:
Post a Comment