30 May Tuesday (to Dublin)
The reason for documenting this day is so we don't repeat it.
Up normally, then up to breakfast in the nice rooftop dining room, which looked like a plague of locusts had hit. There were a few tables, but none had been cleared. The buffet serving line food containers were empty. Finally we cleared a table ourselves and shamed the (only) server to give us coffee and settings. After we ate what we could get, more servers came along. This is probably the result of a bunch of bus tours or air passengers leaving early. Total chaos.
Our driver showed up on time and routed us through all the back streets of Athens through fantastic traffic. Then he got onto the highway to the airport, which is quite a ways from downtown. He drove cautiously and we got there safely.
We entered Terminal 2's huge check-in hall, finally finding an information booth where a lady told us that check-in for Air Lingus would take place beginning at 1025 at lines 78, 79, and 80. We got there at 1025 and found long lines for desks 78 and 79, but a short line for 80, so we took it. Then airport staff re-arranged the lines putting us into the middle of the long lines, but well ahead of most who had already been in the 78/79 lines - now one line for all three agent desks. Then it took a long time for staff to come work the desks. We had plenty of time to meet some Irish schoolteachers riding herd on their 15 or so students who they were escorting on a five-day islands cruise. But we finally did the bag drop and headed for gate C32.
We passed through a security screening where they forced one to remove all laptops and iPads from luggage and send them through the machine separately. Did that and went on. Did I mention that we went from Level 2 to Level 0 to do this? No? Then I'll tell you now that we had to return to Level 2 to continue toward our gate. Either two or three security places needed to see our boarding passes. There were four (maybe five) long moving walkways in the tunnel we traversed. Then we passed other gates to ours, where we had to get our passport stamped as leaving the country.
Then we sat. No announcements of any kind. I asked the lady at the desk about the boarding process. She said we could board with the disabled. The web site and airport screens kept saying On Time. But the plane landed late coming in from Dublin. Gate agent was trying to get things moving but not succeeding. Finally, they just threw open the doors and the whole mob headed for the plane. No priorities, no queue, just a mob. That was reflected in the airplane - chaos again. We were cautioned that re-fueling the plane was in process, thus we should sit in our seats but NOT use the seat belts (I suppose so we could run if the plane caught fire). Finally everyone sat.
The plane was an Airbus A320, a little long in the tooth - they were introduced in the late 80's and were produced until 2010. About 180 passengers in the single-aisle all-economy (another thing we'll avoid) configuration we faced today. But it got into the air an hour late. Service began, so we had a glass of red. After the service, the four cabin attendants disappeared - no idea how they did that in a single-aisle plane. They came out of hiding just before landing to collect the trash. Lots of people jockeying around to use the toilets. Rather noisy since there were several groups traveling together.
But we arrived at DUB, got our luggage, cleared immigration, and joined the taxi queue which was quite long. Not many taxis came along, so we stood there in line about a half-hour until it was our turn. Mr Clarke drove nicely and avoided several idiots - one man walking against traffic in the bus/taxi lane, a motorcycle that shot out of a side street and turned against traffic to gain the side he should have used, and another idiot who shouldn't have been in the street we were in. Nonetheless, he let us out at Wynn's Hotel, our usual place in Dublin.
We checked in, threw our stuff into the room and had a glass in the quaint old bar. Then we went next door to the Grand Central restaurant/bar, housed in a former bank building (L). D had fish-n-chips, O had banger-n-mash, totally Irish. Then back to the room, where we're doing a few chores like calling back to the US to get prescriptions filled. Then to bed.
Photo Link O
53*20'N, 6*14.93'W. Cool, breezy.
Up, then down to breakfast in the dining room, overseen by the same man that's been overseeing the room for the last ten years or more. Excellent breakfast, everything just right.
Room still cool, can't figure out the heating panel. We gave up on it and went walking to Grafton Street, which used to be the famous pedestrian street with big-name stores. Looks like the Covid epidemic hit here, too. Many storefront vacancies, some welfare agencies in former stores, general run-down look.
We went into Marks & Spencer - D was looking for a hoodie or sweatshirt to augment her ensemble. But nothing suited so we wandered. Encountered a Carroll's store (one of many) which sells Irish stuff. Spotted an Irish cap/hat that Bill might like so we started information exchanging to learn the proper size and style. We'll go get it tomorrow.
The day turned cloudy despite the forecast sun, and the wind made it cooler. We decided to take the HOHO tour. We got on at Stop One and sat in the covered, protected, part of the upper deck. We could see well and took quite a few pictures. It returned to Stop One, we hopped off and returned to the hotel. Room still cold but we worked on things until we finally went down to dinner in the bar.
While going to the bar we found the footman and explained the cold room. He said he'd look at it while we dined.
D had carrot-and-parsnip soup then prime rib steak. O had Supreme Chicken. All quite good, somewhat unusual. After dining we encountered the footman again who told us he had our heating device working - that the index for the number setting was below the rotary dial, not above it (really strange). When we entered the room it felt warmer, so we didn't change anything.
Perhaps later we'll go down for D's evening Port. Perhaps not. We didn't.
Photo Link O
1 June Thursday Dublin
Down to breakfast in the hotel dining room again. A good part of the reason we stay here is that breakfaat. Excellent again.
Spoke with hotel desk to arrange car to the airport at 0730 tomorrow. Loafed for a while then out to get a gift.
We went into Eason's, a fine bookstore on O'Connell Street. D found little things to take home. Then on up to the Carrolls just beyond the GPO to get another gift.
Then we wandered through pedestrian shopping areas. Went into Penney's to find out it has been taken over by Primark, a British outfit selling low-quality low-price stuff.
Went on a walk to the river Liffey and around. Stopped for a glass in the Grand Central bar in a former bank building, great huge old thing - see picture but ignore clock. There we watched a bit of Irish cricket and wondered why we were watching Irish cricket.
Went on a hunt to find another pub for dinner - neither of us feels up to a fancy place tonight. I guess we're winding down after 37 days on the road (or water)(or air).
We found Mooney's across from Wynn's and had pub food there (see photos).
Then to Wynn's to pack, down to the bar for a final drink with them, then to bed.
Photo Link O
2 June 2023
And finally it's time to go home. We have EI105 to JFK (4H/K) and B6(JetBlue)1677 (8C/D to home (FWQAZ0).
Up early, skip breakfast, checked out of Wynn's. Car came at the right time. Mr Consgrove took us to T2 at DUB.
Check-in even at the Priority desk took a while. There are lots of flights to the US in the morning at DUB - NY, Chicago, Atlanta, LA, etc. We hiked out through the Duty Free store where O bought a bottle of Kilbeggan whiskey. Then through US Immigration. After that, we are effectively in the US on a local flight - no hassle in the US.
We used the Green 51 lounge for breakfast, very nice. Then up to the gate. Boarding went well. Took off on time, very nice flight, good service with food and wine.
Then we arrived at JFK. Off the plane into T7. After a bunch of confusion we found out the JetBlue uses T5. When we had purchased our tickets Aer Lingus & JetBlue were in the same terminal, which we thought would make it easy to transfer. Not so.
Towing our luggage, we left T7 and went across the street and up to Air Train. The train took us to T5. Since the Aer Lingus people don't have any knowledge of TSA Pre-chek, it's not on our JetBlue boarding pass. So we had to go through a very long security line and luggage check.
There, the TSA person took objection to O's whiskey, saying it was in a container that was not sealed properly by the Duty Free people. We had no time to argue or fix the problem, so they confiscated it.
We continued to the gate, boarded with the aged, and flew to JAX. During the flight, O received e-mail from JetBlue saying our luggage didn't make the flight and that it would be on the next flight (which arrives at jAX at 2359). Once on the ground we sought out the JetBlue baggage person (nice guy). We worked the problem with him so that the luggage will be delivered tomorrow in the mid-morning.
Then son Bill picked us up and we returned to normal life in Jax Beach. Thanks for coming along.
OBTW, FindMy shows the luggage in JAX as I type this at 0400 6/3/23. It was delivered next morning about 1000.
