Across the Sea with two OGs, a Wee and a He!

This spring when my brother, Rick, was planning for his business conference in Dublin, he was considering taking Alexa, his 8-year old daughter.  Mom and I thought it was a great idea....she was old enough to start experiencing some cultures other than her own, the educational value of the trip would be exceptional...and OF COURSE, she would need someone along to keep her occupied when he was actually working!  So not only did we encourage him to take her, we volunteered to come along.  I'm not sure that was exactly what he was hoping for...but he's the "little" brother so he gets what he gets!  So we started planning our trip with two OGs (original gadabouts), the wee Alexa the he that is her father.

Though his conference was in Dublin, "we" decided that a trip all this way to only see one spot was pretty silly, so we booked flights into London, he arranged for a rental car, and we planned a 12 day adventure that would take us from London to Dublin, to Belfast to Edinburg and then back to London!  Again, maybe not exactly what he was thinking.....but he's the "little" brother so..........well, you are getting the idea.

Since Rick was booking his and Alexa's ticket through work, we gave him our info so that he could book our flights as well.  He booked one business class and three coach, hoping that there would be upgrades available for all of us.  Unfortunately, upon arrival we found that not only were there no upgrades, the flight was over booked and quite crowded....and the coach seats he had gotten were in the middle of the middle section!!!  UGH.......but because he and I both fly business most of the time for work, he gave Mom his business class seat and he sat with Alexa and I.  Because of a double booking in Mom's assigned seat, the business class became a first class.....and she was almost giddy.

In addition to being in the middle of 5 seats in the middle section of the plane.....Rick's new coach seat was the only seat in the plane that had a tv monitor that didn't work!  So for the entire 9 hour flight (except for the one hour he managed to nap) he got to sit in his cramped seat, watching a blank screen, eating mystery food and think about Mom getting complimentary pajamas, real silver and china, warm nuts, unlimited movies on a 24 inch screen and and ice cream sundae!  That was plenty of entertainment for me for the entire trip!   Besides, he shouldn't complain about being cramped or uncomfortable on a vacation....he has taken lots of trips where he had to ride whereever he could fit....because....he is the "little" brother!

Actually the flight was great. Alexa was excited and fun to travel with, we arrived early, immigrations and customs were both amazingly uncrowded for Heathrow and Rick's gold status with Hertz got us in a car and going in record time!  He had not ever driven in the UK.....and so, as with me when I had to drive a standard, on the wrong side of the road, from the wrong side of the car...there was a slight learning curve for him.   He got the hang of it pretty quick and only hit two curbs the first day.....of course one of the curbs was on the expressway as we were driving 70mph....but only a big sister would rat out her brother for something like that.

Looks pretty serious, doesn't he?  He was much more worried than the three of us...we had great confidence in him.  However, we won't tell him that, because.....he's the "little" brother!

Regardless of the driver, the trip from London to Holyhead was memorable and the countryside in Wales was breathtaking.

The crossing  on the ferry from Wales to Dublin was a bit rough for Alexa, but beating me soundly in several games of "battle" helped her get over her momentary bout of seasickness.  Arriving at the hotel at midnight didn't slow us down much....Alexa, Mom and I went to the gym and then back upstairs to crash for over 10 hours of great sleep!

Our first day in Dublin was wet...but started with an amazing brunch, where Rick, just having left Texas and the some of the best Mexican food in the world, ordered Huevos Rancheros????  I won't admit to him that they looked pretty good because its too much fun to laugh at him for ordering Mexican food in Ireland!

We spent the afternoon people watching near St. George's arcade (street market) and downtown Dublin.

There was a big rugby match today, against Wales, so the Irish were all out in their green jersey's ready to celebrate.....unfortunately they lost, so they drowned their sorrows instead!  This guy must have been REALLY sad about the match and had lots of sorrow to drown!  But we enjoyed him nonetheless!

Every city has their share of interesting buskers....but this guy, playing a guitar made of a gas can and with a car battery powered amp was particularly talented.

After a short first day here, we are ready to hit the ground running tomorrow....hopefully lots of adventures with lots of interesting people!