Today is our last train ride in Ireland traveling from Belfast to Dublin. As we were walking to the train station I remembered that Van Morrison will be playing here live somewhere in Belfast this Sunday, May 26th. We had already purchased our plane tickets before I ever thought to check Van's website for his schedule. It wouldn't have mattered checking it back in November 2023 because the concert wasn't announced until February 2024. When I finally saw that Van Morrison would be appearing live in Belfast just 2 days after we were leaving Ireland, I talked to Patrick about changing our tickets by 3 days. We decided it was going to take too much rearranging, so we chose to pass on this rare opportunity. But here's the cool part....we saw the venue being set up on the Queens University campus and didn't realize what we were looking at until just now when I checked Van's website for the location. Van Morrison will be playing "LIVE at Botanic Gardens, Belfast." So close and yet so far time-wise from the actual event.
There are going to be lots of beer and food stations across a relatively small stretch of grass from the stage, a stage that was still in a pile of pieces on Tuesday 5/21. Below is a picture of the vendor row. I would've taken a picture of the stage had I known all of the above. Double the patch of grass and put a stage opposite of these tents, and you get an idea of how small this venue is.
On to the train station....
We arrived so early that the que for the train was empty, but we took our place in the front of the line in order to get good seats. As I was scrolling through Facebook, I saw a quote from the "Big Panda, Tiny Dragon" illustrations. "Which is more important," asked Big Panda, "the journey or the destination?" "The company," said Tiny Dragon. Yes, having good company makes the journey and the destination all the better. Patrick went above and beyond "the call of duty" to make every taxi, Uber, train, plane, bus, and Airbnb reservation once we were in Ireland, and it all went like clockwork. The only reservations we both made before we left the States were the plane tickets to get there, of course, the Wren hotel in Dublin at the beginning and the end of the journey, Kinnity Castle, and the week in Limerick at the Airbnb. The rest he figured out as we moved from place to place.
It was a two-hour ride to Dublin, so we broke out the Skip-Bo and watched the scenery go by.
In the seats across from us there were four young Italians who talked the entire time. They were probably going to the city to watch another large sporting event that would fill the streets with more travelers than usual. The UEFA Europa League soccer championship is tonight.
Once in Dublin, it was a short walk to Wren Urban Nest. Photos of where we'll be for the next two nights are below.
Standing with my back to Wren Urban Nest, this is the small alley way leading out to the streets of Dublin. Gotta watch for those cars zipping in and out!
We arrived at our room hungry and this cheese board was waiting for us with a sweet note and two cocktail vouchers. We love the Wren and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Dublin. It's a bit pricey like the castle, but totally worth it. We justified the expense because we saved so much money with public transportation, Uber, and Airbnb. When we were in St. Andrews talking to the golfers from South Carolina, they couldn't believe we traveled from Edinburgh to St. Andrews for only $65 US dollars total for the both of us. Many golfers pay $2000 just for their chauffeur. Add in the golf fees, hotel, etc, and it's easily $10,000 each for their one week in Scotland.
Our walk through Dublin below and a pub, O'Regan, with live Irish music
Guinness for him. Dingle Gin & tonic for me. We are very happy travelers.
Patrick met a Raider fan in the O'Regan pub. He's from Mexico.
Dublin is filled with buses that hug the curb. LOOK to the RIGHT before crossing every street!
I finally got smart about finding a thrift store. "GOOGLE - thrift store near me" and there it was just a few blocks from us, St. Vincents is circled below, and it was open for another hour. It was very small, but I found two treasures. A bone china bowl made in Galway, a town we had visited on Day 12, only 2 euros. And a small plaque with an illustration from the "Book of Kells" at Trinity College, only 5 euros. We won't be able to visit the "Book of Kells" or the great library at the college because those two tours require tickets and they are sold out. We didn't think to buy tickets weeks ago knowing we'd be here now, but finding this 4"x6" wooden "Portrait of Christ" more than made up for that oversight.
There was a strong Garda presence tonight due to the soccer finals.
Here's my interest in the Garda. Months before we left for Ireland, from the library with my Hoopla app, I downloaded and listened to five audio books by the author, Carlene O'Connor. I had more than enough time to listen just driving around Charlotte. Her series of "Murder in an Irish....." includes the same characters, both gardas, who fall in love and solve murder mysteries together. I learned so much about the language, the countryside, how they view Americans in "Murder in an Irish Churchyard" when it's an American that was murdered and the daughter asks Garda O'Sullivan, "Do you have Netflix here?" O'Sullivan answers, "No, we still have rotary phones and black & white television only." Love that Irish humor. 😊
Only pepper spray, batons, and handcuffs on those belts.
Back at the Wren for dinner and drinks. I'll admit, I had more than usual on the second to last night in Dublin, and it was worth it.
This was our duck leg appetizer. I forgot to take a picture of my Irish salmon and arugula entree and Patrick's chicken, broccoli, corn and mashed potatoes. "OMG, it was so good." Patrick just said remembering the meal. There was a single traveler at the table next to us, Terry. She reminded me of my cousin Carol, also a world traveler. Terry told us about
"The Winding Stair" bookshop here in Dublin. We'll see if it's within walking distance tomorrow.
Here is a picture of my current blogging location in our room at Wren Urban Nest. It's a tiny room, but it has everything we need.
