I have now come full circle geographically after the most amazing cross country trip. I left Glendalough just after 10.30 this morning, the plan had been to leave by 9.45 and I was packed and ready to go, in the car park. As I was closing my boot a car pulled up opposite, 3 guys got out (lets just say they qualify to live in The Retreat).  The one dude asks me what kind of car I am driving, so I answer Renault Kanjar.. He wants to take a look! So he has a look and then asks where I come from….45 minutes later, his friends come back looking for him saying….”Tony, we are leaving without you!” Seems like he is a wagjaw specialist, I had a good laugh.

We had gotten into a serious discussion, because when he heard I lived in Johannesburg…he said…Oh, a dangerous area! My reply was Joburg is much safer than Norther Dublin! He burst out laughing and had to agree. We then discussed the good weather (of course), the crappy journalists, cost of living crime and the scourge of drugs….etc. At one stage another two of his walking/hiking companions came past and he stopped them and introduced me as “My friend from Johannesburg”. I think that Tony has kissed the Blarney Stone with an open mouth quite frankly!!!!

I arrived in Dublin just after 12.15, the traffic in the city centre was horrendous. I found where I was staying, but there was nowhere to park or stop. Thanks to Daniel I found a car park about two blocks away. At €3.50 per hour (R60 per hour people!!!)..I ran with my suitcases to the apartment to drop them off and then get back to the car, before the next hour started. Apart from the traffic, having a car in city is a costly exercise.

I handed the car in and then went to find out about leaving my luggage at the airport when I fly to Scotland. Then caught the No.16 bus back to the city centre. I live just one street away from the Temple Bar District in Dublin. The apartment itself is ok. It is clean, but a bit shabby. You know when the lampshade is wonky, the floors are scuffed and it looks well worn. The entrance to the building is abysmal. A little side door (although could possibly be a urinal / ashtray). Because it is recessed, clearly used as a pisstop (no spelling mistake Mom) by the local drunkard brigade and anything blowing in the wind lands up in the doorway. But the location is good, wifi is strong and it is clean!

I had lots of  laundry to do today having been short  overnight stopping for the last week. So this afternoon, I did washing, went to get some groceries and made myself some padkos for tomorrow.

I am on a bus tour to the North to see the Giants Causeway, a bit of Belfast and lots of the Game of Thrones shooting scenes. So Brett, you can watch this space for pics and details. I have to be at the tour office at 6.45am (about 1.8km away) and we will only get back at 8.30pm. They advise that you bring a packed lunch as there is no time at the stops to see everything and get food. So I guess it is going to be a rushed affair – hopefully the guide does not have a little red umbrella!

I took a quick walk around my neighbourhood tonight. Saw the Ha’Penny Bridge (also know as Liffey Bridge), which celebrated its centenary this past week.  It is a pedestrian bridge, built accross the River Liffey in Dublin and was nicknamed the Ha’Penny bridge because that was the price of the toll to cross it. I walked into an honest to goodness comic book store tonight. I have never been in a proper dedicated one before. OMG!!!! I may have recognised  a dozen names out of many hundreds. Not a single Richie Rich, Caspar, Li’l Lotta or Wendy Witch to be seen anywhere. I found an Archie comic- but this is a remake- these dudes don’t look like the Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica that I know. Tracy- I did however find a Sheldon alter ego comic figurine!

That’s all folks….. To quote a classic

Zoom in to see the date

Ancient headstones in Monastic cemetary

Jen…what do you think these guys did??

I liked this view

In the cemetary

Temple Bar area Dublin

This is a pretty section of the street

At long last…bigger than I imagined!

The 100 year old Ha’Penny Bridge

100 years old last week Ha’Penny Bridge

Archie and Veronic???? Whaaaat??

Sheldon Cooper’s alter ego

This reminded me of my sister – various reasons

How cool is this bicycle/trolley

View feom my apartment window – Karma