Oct 10.2009 - Dublin, Ireland

SS : Today is my mom’s 75th birthday… went to see her before leaving for the big trip and I’m happy to report that she’s doing very well. I travel abroad with my spirit for adventure and her flair for fun. Many thanks in advance to the folks keeping the plates spinning back home including Jammin’ Jamie and Scotty O… as well as our house sitter Janette and Greg & Melissa. A big shout out to Basil who always believes that we’re coming back home and a “Hi Bird” to Pongo who really doesn’t care.
After flying for nearly 10 hours on a flawless flight on Aer Lingus, we touched down in Dublin, Ireland for just a few hours as our first point of entry to Europe. Weather is very Irish (cool and cloudy). However, the people are very warm. We enjoyed our walk about the center of Dublin and stopped into a Dub pub for a pint and bite.

Donna has all of the details here (most are true - LOL) and you’ll find some great pics from both of us in the Facebook album. As they say in auld Ireland, enjoy the “Craic”!

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DKP : The South America Experience on the Carnival Splendor was the catalyst of change, a shift in paradigm... a journey from East to West taking the "long way" home around Cape Horn... "Fin del Mundo" (the end of the World). I still contend that a part of Sandy and I never came back from that trip; I trust that those were the parts that didn't need to come back as we now find ourselves with smaller bodies, open hearts and new insights into ourselves and our future.

The Transatlantic Crossing on the Carnival Dream... a journey from Old World to New World, promises to be just as symbolic in completing this shift in each of us. Every day that we edge closer to boarding Carnival's newest, largest and reddest ship... I grow anxious with anticipation of how the circles will be closed and the pages will be turned to the next chapters. Ironically for me, it seems the more I return to the "old world" the newer I become.

My creativity flows freely as I am inspired by the ancient and modern designs coexisting side by side... by the excellent quality and flavors in the food and drink... by the focus on spending time with family and friends laughing and telling stories... taking time out from the work. A lifestyle that maybe leans a little more towards the simple things that feel "real" to me. I felt this a lot in South America, I feel it even more in parts of Europe and am very happy to be back so soon.

Dublin was a great point of entry, a place I've longed to spend time basking in the place that created my favorite dark brew... a place that shaped dear friends Ken & Ester... a place where poets, heartfelt musicians and hard working rebels of society are never too tired to "make a stand."

Dublin has grit with just the proper amount of angst, whilst being one of the friendliest towns I've ever visited. I found the folks to be truly charming and accommodating and I respect them so much for living day to day in the cold and fog - something I have grown more than weary of on the chilly N. Cali coast.

We had a good 6 hrs to clear our heads and were able to stow our luggage at the airport while we paid a small fee to ride the double decker into town for a look around. We found any manner of excellent subjects for the FaceBook photo album - so check it out when you get a chance, as the shots always tell the "other" part of the story.

As fortune would have it, we made it back to the airport in plenty of time for the Ryan Air "Circus of Hell" to begin. NEVER (unless you carry a suitcase the size of a small handbag) fall for the $15 Euro fare "bait and switch" routine on this cheesy Vegas style airline... where they would charge you to use the restroom if it weren't considered a health and safety violation.

Unless you're prepared to pay 20 Euro per kilo over the alloted 15 kilos/bag (which in our case for 3 sep flights would have been approx 1800 Euro extra) avoid this airline like the Bubonic Plague that it is. After purchasing (at airport prices) a 3rd piece of unecessary luggage (just to get the overage fees down to $70 Euro per flight) Sandy had to stand in line for almost an hour just to pay this fee, then go back to the check-in line and start all over again.

I passed the time repacking and imagining the stunning marketing meeting that ensued to create this hideous monster of a business model - can't you just see it now?? "Let's make the fare so low they can't resisit, then nickel and dime them to death to make it up - BRILLIANT!" :-) And here's the kicker, you could pay less to register your extra bag online, except when you've already "checked in", there's no allowances for changes and if you want to call to complain, they charge a mere 1 Euro per min.

Ryan Air be damned, I will never forget having my first pint of real Irish Pub drawn Guinness and a lunch of curried chicken over rice and peas. I will not forget the kindness the locals showed us, nor the highly convenient public transportation, nor the winding back alleys of beautiful signage and stone walls and colorfully painted doors. Instead I will definitely return one day, on a civilized airline or by steamer ;-), for a much deeper look for what lies under the fog and atop the endless green... Cheers to yous and onto Milano!