To Dublin

A mini-city-break booked through Thomas Cook - whatever next! All built around L's performance of just one poem at a book launch. It's a good excuse to come back to Dublin.

Left home at 0815, Bristol Airport via Taunton Deane by 1030. V slick parking checkin at Silver Zone. Bag drop no queue. I'd paid £12 for fast track security which just dropped us into same scanners as the plebs, probably because there was no queue! Security easy cos everything stays in the bag.

Had 2 coffees and a cheese twist in Starbucks for £12. Pretty awful. Had a fully loaded baked potato, a toasted ham & cheese and 2 glasses of tap water at Soho for £14 - tasty. Soho wins. Flight delayed by 30 mins (they only admitted to 15) due to weather in Dublin! Someone was sitting in L's seat ... why?! We turfed him out.

The pilot banged it down and we felt why as we scurried across the tarmac - blowing a gale and raining. Welcome to Ireland. L's Irish passport had its first use, no-one blinked. The Leap transport card not sold by WH Smiths as promised, but did get it in Wright's on way to bus stand. Only had to wait 5 mins for a 16 which goes all the way to the Harcourt hotel (within 150m anyway). Timetable says 52 mins but ... in the rush hour traffic it took 90 minutes.

Had a moments hilarity/panic when no record of my name in hotel and I hadn't brought the booking email. Turns out it's in L's name. Though N booked it, L paid for it online. How we laughed. The room is grand, although the earplugs in the bedside drawer are an indicator of trouble to come.

After a brief rest we sallied forth to Devitt's pub, 3 mins walk in heavy rain, in the hope of food and music. It was rammed, no tables, so diverted to Indian opposite for very tasty meal. Eating is expensive in Ireland as we remembered from the summer. €75 for two is a minimum. Back to the pub past the bouncer and upstairs where it's even more crowded and the combination of guitarist and chatter is at stun level.

Lovely old pub, what we could see of it.

Had a swift half of Guinness and beat a retreat. It's a young people's game, and the music was not the trad we were hoping for. An experience. In quiet (so far) hotel room by 9pm, listening to the mournful clanging of the trams (Luas) as they pass under the window - wonder how late they run. Will try another music pub tomorrow. 

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