St Paddy's Day and Dunluce Castle

Wow, what a day. Details coming.  s now.  So, we had quite a party at SPD but at 9p some of Rollin's roommates took a Snapchat of themselves and posted they had stolen Rollin's phone which set off alarm bells in Ellijay Georgia USA with his mom which - bad habit, I know - sent me off on a 5 hour search for him.  Finally found him at 2a asleep in his bed holding his phone!

We actually left Dublin at 10a and headed to the train station in light rain and heavy wind. So far, the weather has been great - much warmer than I prepared for. Better that than the reverse, but I'll not likely be needing my crampons. 

The trip to Belfast was uneventful, except for the train tickets. €19 era online in advance. €39ea at the train station!  Robbery!

 Rented a micro cheapo car for £17 a day ($29) and were upgraded by Budget to a 2014 Mercedes diesel 6 speed with only 900 miles on it!  So off we went wandering around N Ireland getting lost.  Finally arrived at Dunluce Castle at dusk. Awesome place!  Then to Port (Sill - I think) next to the castle where we are at a B&B. Leaving for the Giant's Causeway trip to Belfast and an early afternoon ferry to Scotland. No rain today expected but heavy rain tomorrow. We should be in Glasgow. 

In case you missed it, Rollin and I are celebrating...

something in Dublin for St Patty's Day!  He's staying in the hostel pictured here. They had only 1 bed available 3 months ago, as did the one I'm in around the corner. 

We are all going towards Brit customs

On our way into London - our first stop before going on to Dublin - we had company on our flight. See photo. Nice. But then Brit customs. It seems that the Italians and the Brits have this "virus": "let's-make-it-hard-on-the-tourists".  So our flight landed in London on time exactly and we had 1 hour and 35 minutes to get from our arriving flight to Rollin's departing flight. He was - just barely - able to do it.  I could not get there in time to see him off. Long walks. First, BA226 told us that because we were just changing planes we did not need to fill out a UK customs form. Fortunately, I stopped at an info desk and we found out to the contrary. Next a moderately long line for checking our cards and passports. Next, another line to check our boarding passes. Next a line to run biometrics on our faces. Next security. I was specifically told by one agent I did not need to take off my boots. When I got ready to be scanned they changed their minds.  Next another line to get the biometrics photo of our faces confirmed.  Everything is narrow so when a flight is de-planeing, all E-W foot traffic gets blocked with a sliding door until all passengers file by, and vice versa.  I got caught in one of those holds 2x. Finally got to Rollin's departure gate.  Boarding had just finished, he was not there, so I assume he was on board. I asked if I could fly on that flight: "No, this is an Are Mingus flight and we don't accept BA tickets" except this flight was booked as a BA flight.  Now I have a 5 hour wait for my flight.

We have had a similar Brit customs experience going to London for the day from Paris last spring. 

Finally!

At the airport, Rollin & Dad, on the way to Dublin for St. Patty's Day.

Rollin and I are ready!

5 V Five Cinco Cinq

All my bag is packed, I'm ready to go....  Lots to do before I can go - one massive brief to complete writing. A few meetings.  Buy a green wig for the St Patty's Day parade. Tick, Tick.  It's 4am with 5 days to go and I'm awake. Eager to start.  But 3 weeks away from the most wonderful wife.   Five.  5. V

Nine lives Cat o nine tails 3, 6 9 the goose frank wine

Nine. Nueve. Neuf. IX.   When I've been sitting, waiting, with 9 days to go it seems forever away. This time I have a lot to get done before I leave....  It seems around the corner.