We woke up to sunny skies this morning.  We have about a 90 minute drive into Dublin, including a stop in Bray to top up the gas tank.

We are returning our car to Dublin this morning so want to get an early start as we know that when we picked the car up, there was a huge line up  of people picking up cars and dropping off cars.  We have a lunch date with a couple lovely ladies that we met while on vacation in Croatia 4 years ago.  When we arrived there was one man picking up a car, and us!  Easy peasy.  We have 30 minutes before Niamh and Ciara arrive.  The sun is still shinning and the wind is blocked, so we find a spot in Our Lady’s Park while we wait.

We see Niamh and Ciara pushing strollers enter Fagin’s bar where we agreed to meet, so head over there.  It is just before 11 and after we are seated we discover that they don’t serve food until 12:30.  We decide to walk up the street to a little cafe.  It is really nice to catch up with them!  When we met them they were 2 childless couples, carefree and travelling.  Four years later between them there are three children, two of whom we meet today.  🙂

After brunch we wave down a cab to take us to the ferry port.  It takes about 2 minutes for one to stop and pick us up.  There are large lines at the port and the cab can’t get through to the departure terminal to drop us off.  He suggests that we walk the rest of the way instead of running up the meter in line.  Quite thoughtful.

We arrive very early and check our bags, go through what is called “Security”.  Really just getting us to put tags on our bags and telling us that the escalator is working, but won’t move until we step on it.  Very secure!!  😉   We sit in the departure lounge and chat with a younger man, about 45 we guess.  He is a Psychology Professor on a years paid sabbatical.  Travelling around Europe.  Nice!!  Here is a photo out of the window.

The ferry is 30 minutes late.  It was scheduled to arrive in Holyhead, Wales at 4:30.  We have reserved a car at the port and find that the office closes at 5.  We figure it will be long closed by the time we disembark and pick up our bags.  Pleasant surprise, we aren’t the only passengers picking up vehicles, so the very nice young woman is still there looking after us!!  Yeah HERTZ!!!

We reserved another small car.  Well this is what they give us!!  A Kia Sportage.  SUV!!  It does have a navigation system.  I guess Stu is now out of a job.  And a rear camera,  but it is way too big!!  We only have it for tomorrow, so hopefully we continue our great driving record!  😉

We check into our B&B and head out for a bite to eat.  We stop to buy a bottle of wine.  Yellow Tale for 5.99 GBP!!  Woo hoo.  This translates to $9.70 CAD.  In Ireland this would have cost 11 euros = $16 CAD.  We are not in Ireland any longer.  We find a pub, share an order of Fish n Chips for 8 GBP and 2 glasses of wine and spend 15 GPB which is $24 CAD.  It is much cheaper than Ireland.

We will be spending this evening planning out the next few days.  There is a storm blowing tonight.  Maybe it will be over tomorrow and we can drive the huge vehicle around in the sunshine!!  We will see where the adventure takes us next!