Ben-B-Bloggin

Ok, fast forward from circa 1992 to the fall of 2006. Many things have changed. Our roles have reversed. No longer am I pulling Ben, now I’m the tag-along and Ben is leading me. The surroundings are familiar to Ben but strange to me. Change is the one constant of the Universe….I think the Greek Heraclitus said that.

Also i shoud say a bit about the way Ben and I travel, We’re good travelling companions but our style is a bit unconventional. Surprise, surprise! When we travel we have a vague destination: We went to Prague for our first trip in Europe—that’s as specific as our plans were. Ben told me the one thing I needed to know: Prague is cheap! Next we went to Anatalyia, Turkey. When we boarded the plan I didn’t know anything about Anatalya, Turkey but since Ben paid the airfare with his credit card it. OK with me. Neither of us knew that we would have to pay $100 for an entry visa (almost everybody else–other than Americans–paid $5 or $10 dollars—Thanks a lot George W). Well this fall our distination was Ireland.

“Everybody tells me its a great place to visit, but expensive.” OK, Ben I had already heard that Ireland was expensive from Jackie who was born in Tipperary. Jackie’s sister, Judy and her family, live in Waterford. Jackie and Helen (J’s daughter) and family visited there this summer, but I couldn’t get it together in time to join them. Nonetheless, Waterford was the only place in Ireland that I had as a distinct destination. I had heard a good deal about Judy so now was my chance to meet her.

Ben booked passage from Bonn to Dublin. Ben’s friend Hendryk drove us to the Bonn airport where I almost managed to board the wrong plane…..I was sitting in the waiting area for a plane to St. Petersburg, Russia when Ben rescued me. (see blog..benbrouhard.com- Am I alone for that story).

The flight to Dublin was short and uneventful. Dublin airport was smaller and less modern than what I had expected. To de-plane the passengers walked down the stairway—like you’re a movie star or a celebrity—to the tarmac then into the terminal. Once in the airport there were two lines at customs. The long line was for EU (European Union) and the short one for non-EU. Ben and I joined the short one. We were pleasantly surprised by the man who stamped our passports. Usually these officials are very serious and official. This guy wo looked just like you expect an Irishman to look—florid complexion, red hair, blue eyes and a smile. “What’s your purpose for coming to Ireland?”
“To have a good time,” I flipppantly replied.

“With a wide grin he replied, “You’ve come to the right place.” Never have I been treated that warmly by a customs official. He was right too as I will relate. Once in the airport we went to the information desk. Ben had reserved a hotel via computer…..The Blooms Hotel…so he did most of the talking to the friendly lady behind the counter. All I gathered from their conversation was that there were three ways to get to downtown Dublin—other than taxi. The fast way….a direct bus, most expensive of course. An airport bus and a local bus….longest but cheapest. I’ll leave for you to decide which we chose. While in the airrport Ben checked the counter that was selling rail and bus passes…..we decided to delay that decision until later.

Outside the airport we board a double-deck bus….the first I had ever ridden. Ben took a photo of me wearing a floppy hat with his digital camera and posted it to friends on the Internet. Sister Celinda’s reaction to the photo was that I looked like a regular Dubliner. A comment I took as a compliment. Again we were surprised by the friendliness of the Irish. Everyone welcomed a chance to assist us. A far cry from the Parisians…….we had been in Paris a week earlier. We were directed to the Bloom Hotel and we arrived without incident.

I suggested to Ben, “Why don’t we get a Guiness in an Irish pub?”
” I don’t like Guiness.” Typical Ben We didn’t have far to look. There was a pub in the hotel but it was dead. We walked a block down the street toward the river, and I found what I was looking for; an Irish pub complete with a band, Even though it was early in the afternoon the place was jam packed like Joe’s Place in Iowa City at midnight on a Saturday night.
Speaking of time I asked Ben, ” Do we have to change our watches?”
“Yeah, set it ahead an hour.” I dutifully did. I mean it seemed like the right thing to do with the party in full swing. It wasn’t until we were watching the news on television in the hotel the next morning that we realized that we should have set our watches back. I think I crashed about seven pm.
I’d like to continue…..but…………

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