Upon Landing
My introduction to Ireland was a little rough. I was so excited that I didn't sleep AT ALL the night before the flight and then I didn't sleep AT ALL on the approximately seven hour flight to Dublin. I was pretty wired by the time I finally set foot on Irish soil. I remember we arrived very early in the morning when the island was just waking up and I could see the twinkle of lights below. When we disembarked from our plane, one of the first things that I noticed was that the signs are in English and Irish. I thought that was so different and amazing. I wanted to take photos of all the signs, but I was afraid to because it's an airport. I didn't want to get in trouble right away and be identified as a security threat. First impressions are important. I was so excited and proud when the agent we showed our passports to recognized we were Irish, she said, because of our last name. Stephanie told her a bit about our ancestry. The agent smiled and wished us a wonderful time and I will forever like her.
We had a very outgoing taxi driver too. Our conversation ranged from Ireland's weather, Catholicism and Pope Francis, to America and back to Ireland all in one short drive. Stephanie told him a bit about our ancestry too. When we got to the Grand Canal Hotel our room wasn't ready so we had to wait in the lobby with our luggage. I was really starting to feel jet-lagged. Steph said I nodded off for a few hours. I thought I drifted asleep for a few minutes. (Later I noticed fellow travelers sleeping in the lobby too, passed out next to their suitcases, mouths wide open, dreaming of shamrocks). When we finally checked into our rooms, we decided that we needed to stay awake to get on Dublin time so we went in search of food. I had my first Irish meal at Gasworks Bar in the hotel - fish and chips, with tartar sauce and mashed peas, with a hint of mint and veg soup with brown bread. It all tasted so delicious. I knew the Irish call French Fries, chips, but they also shorten vegetable to veg. It's little things like that that are fun to pick up on because you feel like you're becoming more of a local, even if to other people it seems insignificant.
After we ate, then we walked around the beautiful neighborhood of Ballsbridge. The two things that struck me right away were the colorful doors, which Dublin is famous for, and the flowers. I have heard that roses grow well in Irish soil. How wonderful to have a beautiful garden in Ireland! When we arrived back at the hotel we slept, ordered a pizza, slept again and then we began the first full day of our Irish adventure.
