Thursday and Friday in Ireland -- August 4-5

We got to Ireland about 10:30 AM Thursday after an overnight flight from Atlanta. Flight, arrival, baggage all went fine. Slept a little on the flight.

We got to our hotel, the Westin Dublin, via bus for 6 euros each. We going to take a taxi, but the bus was right there and went near the hotel and

the driver was helpful pointed the way to the hotel for us. Even though check-in is not officially until 3 and we got there at noon, reception said our room w

as ready and so no problem with us going up.

We really had not choice but to take brief naps before doing anything else. We slept until about 2 and then headed out to explore. The Westin is right downtown, next to Trinity College. We wandered up Grafton street, which is essentially a pedestrian mall. It was packed. From the Starbucks, which is above a clothing store, we people-watched, including the bron

zed "statues" which were actually two actors.

At the end of Grafton street is St. Stephen Green Park, which was packed on this warm, sunny day. We were promised highs in the 60s, but Thursday was in the mid 70s or more. Very nice, and we definitely didn't need a sweater or jacket.

We then took the train to the station I remembered was close to the RDS (Royal Dublin Society, location of the horse show) so that on Friday we'd know where we were going. The station I remembered was the one that was a ways from the grounds so we ended up walking quite a distance and had to ask directions a few times. But we did find it, looked around and then walked back to the station and rode back to town.

Thursday night we ate at O'Neils Pub. Fish and Chips and Smithwicke for me and wine for

Janis.

Today was spent at the horse show. Mostly jumping. The afternoon was entirely taken up with an International Jumping competition between 8 teams (Ireland, England, Germany, USA, Belgium, France, Netherlands, and Denmark). England took first, then England. France and Belgium tied for 3rd and USA took 5th.