roadquill1

Tuesday, September 11

Our first stop before we left Cahir had to be for fuel, so I pulled into an Esso station where a quick little man came out to fill the tank. As he bent over the pump handle, he said, what sounded vaguely like “Dittabitta nippindaray.” I smiled incomprehensively, and replied, “Pardon me?” He repeated the phrase, only this time it was closer to “Derz abitta nippinday ray”. I was about to tell him that I don’t speak Gaelic, and then I got it, and agreed with a smile. We paid up (EU$1.70 per liter – C$2.20) and were on our way.

The hour and a half trip into Dublin was uneventful, except for one directional sign as we entered the Dublin Airport area where we needed to return our Budget rental Skoda. All road signage in Ireland is in Gaelic, followed by English, though I think that few Irish actually speak Gaelic. This sign at the airport pointed to three areas: the first was to “Landa”, or something beginning with an “L”, meaning “Cargo”, the second I didn’t really notice, but the third really caught my eye – “Marbhlann” – and the translation was “Mortuary”! The thoughts raced through my mind…”How many pass through there? Or, do folks just pass on there? And, is it ‘Arrivals’, or ‘Departures’??? It was mind-boggling, and I left it unresolved.

We had a fun reunion with the Padghams at the hotel, then we all caught the Express bus into Dublin where we killed the afternoon, had a wonderful supper, and then caught the Express bus back to our hotel. Now THIS was experience! We all sat in a row at the front of the upper deck of the bus, and oohed and aahed, and gasped as the bus driver roared through Dublin traffic, weaving in an out, and always missing, but only by centimeters, other buses, running pedestrians, lamp standards, and cars. Bob compared it to the Wild Mouse ride at the PNE, and I concurred.

The day ended much as it had begin – with much lowered temperatures – and yes, I had noticed that “Dere was a bit of a nip in de air!”

And that, is the way it was – in Ireland! Slainte!

Et, demain, nous departons pour la France! Santé!