Deans do Dublin

Arrived safely in Dublin after driving 1184 kilometers across the south of Ireland. My friends, Roberta and Owen from Northern Ireland met us in Dublin. Neither had ever been to Dublin before. We stayed at the Gresham Hotel on O'Connel Street.

For lunch we had a wonderful meal in the Temple Bar area. I had a chicken and leek pie which was like a chicken pot pie with soup inside. It was delicious. A young man was playing the guitar and singing, mostly American songs.

Later on Friday evening we went to the Temple Bar, probably the most famous pubs in Dublin. The streets were wild. I had my picture taken with a man dressed liked a Leprachan - or maybe he was a real leprachan. As we were watching out the window we saw a group of young guys pick him up and throw him around and then steal his money. Bill kindly went over and gave him some cash.

Apparently the Temple Bar area is THE place to go for bachelorette parties. We saw several groups dressed up in wigs and with sashes. They were quite decorated with phallic symbols. One had a phallic symbol wand which lit up that she gave to my mother. Mom waved it around like the party was for her. Both groups were taking group pictures outside of the bar and I invited myself to be in their pictures. So these ladies will go back to London and wonder who the fat woman is that is in all of there pictures.

Dublin has a hop on and off bus that goes around the city. On Saturday Bill, Robeta, Owen, and I rode the loop twice. We stopped off at the Guiness Factory and toured as well as a few other attractions. I had been to most of them before and the others seemed to be happy riding around on the bus. There was a pub near our hotel which had "Pull Your Own Pint" night. You got free beer if you pulled it yourself. Owen was so proud that he got free Guiness. He said that was the first time in 48 years he had pulled his own pint. There is a real art in pulling a pint of Guiness - you have to do it slowly and let it settle several times. I have been drinking Smithwick which is brewed in Kilkenny. Bill had about drank himself out and was ready to go to bed early.

I just put Mom and Bill on the bus for the airport. I was a little sad to see them going and knowing they would see Gabe before I do. I will be taking a 4 hour bus ride up to the very top of the island and stay with my friends for 9 days. I must say, I am a little tired and hope I can sleep on the bus, because there is Roberta will keep me very busy the rest of the week. I am hoping I can get on the internet at their house and keep on writing.