DUBLIN, IRELAND

DUBLIN, IRELAND

ROOTS My Great-Grandfather, Aaron Thomas, was 19 when he came to the United States from Belfast, Northern Ireland. That was about 1880. He was married in Kansas, but he girl he married was from, well, actually, her Morher was from Scotland. So I have both Irish and Scotish roots in me blood.

It was with this family history in mind that I have looked forward to visiting Ireland and Scotland. We chose Dublin to visit. There is a dab of civil unrest going on in Belfast and I really didn't want any part of that right now. Dublin has been much more stable, even though an economic crash exists here as well as back home. But the Dubliners have a pretty good attitude about it and are making the best of it as they can.

I really enjoyed visiting Dublin. I enjoyed seeing 400 year old buildings and a way of life that is, in some ways, similar ro ours. Not to mislead anyone, I am here to confess there is no place like America, the land of the free, the home of the brave. There's just no place like home, no matter how you slice it!

We kept telling people that we don't have anything near as old as Dublin. This place has buildings older than our REDWOODS!

It was refreshing to finally be in a country where there was little hard pressure to sell you something, or so many on the streets trying to beg you out of a Euro or pick your pockets. Dublin is more civilized. It was also nice to hear the spoken language be English! We could order food or drinks or ask directions without having to speak slowly or apologize for not knowing the language. The people of Ireland are much nicer and helpful than in some other countries. They are more laid back!

I suppose the one thing I noticed the most is the Irish people's attachment to their beer! There are about as many pubs in Dublin as there are Taxi's, and they boast to have more Taxis in Dublin than in NYC! I don't know so much about the pubs, but there seems to be more than their share! Their claim to fame is the Guinness Beer. It is a dark brown liquid that has a long history of imbedding itself into the very fabric of Irish society. Guinness is found in most every drinking and eating esta lishment...I believe I even saw it at McDonald's! Yes, the golden arches are EVERYWHERE!

Ron and I took a taste of the Guinness just to see what all the fuss was about. It was a mellow drink, served cool, not too cold, with not too much foam on top. I guess it's an art to learn how to draw a draft! Ron and I concurred that for non drinkers, we didn't care much for the bitterness. To us it was not a pleasant drink and none that we will miss or desire down the road. It occurred to me that Old Man Guiness, back in the 1800's must have been a fantastic salesman! He created something with a bitter taste and convinced the Irish that it was their heritage or something; that they should buy vast quantities of this stuff and consume it regularly! What a salesman! The rest is history!

We enjoyed visiting St Patrick's Cathedral. It is a beautiful building built by the Catholic Church 300 - 400 years ago. It wasn't as plush as some other churches we visited, but it was nice. Christ Church Cathedral was also very nice. Those masons really knew how to put up a building!

We visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, a bible hand crafted and hand written by a few Monks back in the 16th century or so. It was a work of art and masterfully done, painstakingly written with quill and ink, without error. It was a piece of work, for sure. It was in a sealed case, viewed through thick glass in dim light and lay open to the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

The Irish Church of Christ was fun to be at. It was established in 1977. They are all first generation Christians with a level of zeal we can be jealous for! Everyone participated in singing (forget the 4 part harmony!). When the sermon was preached. Nearly everyone was taking notes and turning pages to their scriptures. Families sat together and even the kids were listening to the preacher and looking in their bibles. I was amazed at the participation! They seemed very sincere and genuine in their new found faith.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we will be in EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND. Friday we catch a train to London, England. We will be there through Monday. Tuesday we fly to the USA; back to NYC.

Belgium TSA Agents

Belgium TSA Agents

Airport security is different across the globe. Having gotten used to USA TSA, being screened by European airport security was...well, let's just say, "educational". Not only at airports, but also seeing sights like 2 to 4 Police Officers roaming the aisle ways of Trains like they were looking for someone. Also everyday on the cruise as we re-entered the ship, we had to go through the identification and metal detectors process all over again.

It's no secret that the French take first place in having all the characteristics you hate to see in people. They are certainly a difficult people to deal with. In fact, yesterday we went to church in an area of Dublin called Templeogue on Knocklyon Road (about $30 away from downtown Dublin), and, talking to one of the members, he asked about the different people we had met. I mentioned that we had also met some very rude people. He said, "You mean the French?" Ha Ha!

Belgium is made up of a lot of French. Our waiter at the Airport Hotel was a prime example! But so was airport TSA, or whatever they call themselves. I played by the rules and made sure I had absolutely nothing in my pockets, removing my hat, jacket, etc. At least we didn't have to take our shoes off! So I made it through pretty well.

So I wondered what was keeping Debby so long. Apparently she was trying to smuggle out a plastic Tupperware cheese slicer and her hidden credit cards! The French agent took the cheese slicer back to his superior for consultation. Apparently, they must have needed one for their break room because they confiscated it straight away! They made her take off her belly pouch of hidden credit cards and put them in a plastic box She also set off the security alarm and was converged upon by former Gestapo agents (after all, she looked like someone out for no good (I will not use the "T" word here for fear they may be monitoring our communications, as well). Because my Debby fits "the profile", she was taken to a holding mark on the floor and was patted down.

They patted her down twice; apparently she was trying to smuggle a coin hidden in the corner of her pocket. She tried going back a third time but they wouldn't let her. I saw Nancy sneak in the pat down line but Ron made her get out.

Finally we made it through and got on the plane.

Frenchmen

You Gotta Love 'em!

I suppose much of Belgium overflows with Frenchmen. Brugge had its share serving in the sidewalk cafes. At best, most of them were rude and condescending. I try not to profile people....well, perhaps a little! But I don't see it as being my fault because I was trained to profile in the military! That's right. If it walks like a Duck and quacks like a Duck, it can't be a Chicken! Why, I could pick out a Viet Cong from 10,000 feet just listening to him send Morse Code!

I don't usually go around profiling but I do condemn those who disgrace a race. Certainly not all Frenchmen fall into the rude category. I can only speak of those who I have met. It seems as if the majority I've met fall into the rude category. It occurs to me that Frenchmen have a way about themselves.

Our waiter in the Airport Hotel restaurant last night was a fitting example. The restaurant was very nice; the waiters were dressed in dark suits and the table looked nice. We get our inch thick menus and choose our meals. Deb asks what is the soup of the day? "Carrot", he replied. She's not into carrot, unless it sparkles! She orders tomato bisque. About 30 minutes pass and the waiter brings a bowl of hot rolls and butter. As we have no plates yet we sit there and watch the rolls cool down. Kind of like watching paint dry, or gasoline evaporating on the sidewalk on a hot summer day. After another 15 minutes, the waiter comes over and serves Ron the soup of the day. We reminded him that Debby ordered the tomato soup and Ron ordered the spaghetti. He seemed a little taken back that he had made a mistake and hoped to convince us that he hadn't. Reluctantly, he took it back to the kitchen. Nancy asked him for some plates that we can use for the formerly hot rolls. Another "look" from the waiter like why would we want plates? I thought about crumbling the bread and smearing butter on the brown linen table runner to help him see why the plates would be a good idea. Debby wouldn't let me. A few minutes later he brought four saucers. Good thing for us the butter was soft spread!

Another 15 minutes pass and Debby gets her tomato bisque, which she eats. The waiter picks up the soup bowl and Debby compliments the chef. The waiter kind of grunted.

Another few minutes later he served our main courses. Even though my Medium-Well Prime Rib was outwardly charred, the inside was barely warm. I ate most of it by smearing the thick mushroom gravy I had ordered all over the top and sides in order not to see what I was eating. I dared not send it back as I could imagine the abuse it might have suffered in the hands of a disgruntled Frenchman!

The whole ordeal brought back near-wonderful memories of our Paris vacation about 6 years ago. How dare we insult our waiter by ordering coffee so early in the morning, when he had JUST opened his shop!! We quietly apologized for not ordering in French and gladly paid the six bucks for a small cup of strong coffee.

It seemed like an epidemic! All over Paris, there were rude Frenchmen EVERYWHERE! It's like if you didn't speak their language, you was dirt or something. I must confess that I am not the only one like me. I feel good about that because misery loves company, you know. But being in Brussels reminds me again why we did not choose a Paris visit this time (as much as we liked the Eiffel Tower the last time).

You know, the French used to like us back during the War of Independence. What happened over the next 230 years?

Are they still upset because we make the world's best French Fries?? I think so!

BRUGGE

BRUGGE
October 3, 202

We took another run around town this morning. It's raining today. The girls wanted to mail some boxes to the states. Ron and I had to go hit the ATM twice just to cover the expense! But that wasn't all...we went shopping for more chocolate! We also sampled the hot chocolate creations of a couple of eateries. I think I've eaten more chocolate in the past 3 days than I've had all year!

This morning was cold and raining. I think we will get more of this in Dublin tomorrow. We leave Brugge this afternoon at 2:00 by private car to Brussels. The rail strike is messing with our plans! Tonight we stay in a hotel near the airport. We have to be at the Ryan Air counter by 0500. That means getting up at 4:00 AM! We arrive in Dublin by 8:00 or 9:00. The good news is that we can go directly to our apartment because it is empty and ready!

Hopefully we will have good WIFI there so we can keep in touch!

BRUGGE, BELGIUM

BRUGGE, BELGIUM

We made it to Brugge late at night, taking a train from Brussels. It was very tiring having traveled all day. We found our apartment after midnight. After a good nights sleep we started checking out the sights.

Brugge is an amazing place, especially for chocolate lovers! Brugge boasts the world's best chocolate! I don't know if that's true or not, but one thing is for sure; the chocolate here is unlike any other we have tasted! I have found myself ordering Hot Chocolate multiple times a day instead of coffee! It is as smooth as silk and soft as a baby's bottom! The color is pleasing to see and the temperature is just right. I wouldn't be surprised if its shaken, not stirred!

The architecture in Brugge is also different. Some designs are similar to other parts of Europe, but overall, the buildings are beautiful. So many of them have a "stair step" front facade. It looks as if you could walk up the roof clear to the chimney top! Pretty cool! Many of the fronts have the building date on them. Many have dates from the 14th Century to the 16th Century, while some of the newer buildings I looked at today were of the 18th Century.

Yesterday was our first full day of sightseeing. We took a boat ride tour on the canal. We window shopped and sipped hot chocolate here and there. Many shops in Brugge cater to selling Lace, which is one thing this city is known for. Debby and Nancy actually went into a place next to a church that had several ladies making lace work. They said even the 85 year old was working so fast they couldn't see how her hands put it together!

Fashionable clothing stores abound. However, not one of them carry Overalls or flannel shirts! Then there are the chocolate stores. They abound! Many of them claim to have Brugge's best chocolate! But they were all creative with designing chocolate to resemble any shape they wanted, including rubber duckies, sea shells and sea creatures! I loved the one place that carried a sign in the shop window that said, "A BALANCED DIET IS CHOCOLATE IN BOTH HANDS".

We took a walkabout this morning and headed for a church where there was a sculpture by Michaelangelo, the only statue created by him that resides anywhere but in Italy. It was a sculpture of Mary and baby Jesus in a beautiful old church that had burial crypts and everything!

From there we headed to an area where there were 4 Wind Mills, Holland style, next to the canal. Apparently Brugge used to have 60 or 70 in use, but are now down to 4 for show, non-working. On the way we met a woman on a bike who stopped to talk with us. She lived nearby in a small house. She was probably in her early 80's, very nice, telling us about the history of her neighborhood and how to find interesting places few people know about. She introduced us to an older gentleman who showed us inside an old house he had bought and was renovating. He didn't know how old it was for sure but it was probably a 17th Century building. He said he lived in Antwerp and that he bought the property for investment. I doubt very much that when I get to be 85 that I will buy a fixer upper for over $350k for an investment!

We hopped on a bus and went to the train station to find an information station. We wanted to take a trip out to see the North Sea and to find a tour to Flanders Field. As we walked up to the counter we spied a small sign that said there would be a train strike on the 3rd of October, lasting for 24 hours. This was bad! We were supposed to catch a train into Brussels on the 3rd! So we canceled our trip to the North Sea and the Flanders Field tours were full anyway. so we spent the afternoon panicking on what to do tomorrow!

It's ended up ok. Good thing we panicked as much as we did! We found a private car and driver to take us to Brussels tomorrow afternoon to our hotel. It's costing us about $130 but at least we don't have to start hitch hiking! So we can sleep peacefully tonight!

PARAGLIDING

We took the Tram to Murren and met our pilots. We hiked I higher on the side of the hill
Above Murren where we were strapped onto our pilot's tandem harness. When airborne we just sat back and enjoyed
the ride.
Nancy was reluctant at first but once she was in the air, she was fine.

CRETE

CRETE

We were in Port by the time we woke up this morning. We watched the sun rise over the ocean from our 7th floor balcony. The sky was dotted with few clouds and the sea was calm. We dressed and had breakfast in the Windjammer.

The Windjammer is a large cafeteria on the back end of the ship, on the 5th floor. There are 7 or 8 food buffet's in this place alone, with all kinds of breakfast foods. If you can't find anything you like , then you aren't looking! If you don't get full, then you aren't eating! Ron and I have been trying to sample from all of them, but we fizzle out after thirds!

After breakfast we went outside and caught the City Bus for a trip downtown. We bought a city tour Hop On, Hop Off ticket and took a tour of the city. It was a fun trip. We saw a lot of shops and signs. They were all Greek to me!

After the tour we walked around in the market place to see what we could see. As we walked down the sidewalk, we passed a young mother sitting on the sidewalk with 3 little kids, begging for some change, wanting to sell a trinket to us. . As we continued walking, Debby dug in her pocket for a couple of Euros and said she couldn't pass them by without helping because it was a mother and her children, and they were pulling on her heart strings. So she went back and gave the mother some coins. As she turned to leave, the 3 little kids came running after her holding out their hand, too! They were touching her and keeping up with her wanting more! Now it was more than heart strings they were pulling! Ha Ha! They followed her for half a block! Deb finally got away from them without having to take out a loan.

Enough of that! We went back and caught the City Bus for a trip back to the Port. Once we were securely on the ship it was time for lunch! We were treated to a BBQ on the 11th floor deck. They had about everything you could think of! The ribs and chicken were very tasty!

Afterwards, we found some deck chairs and worked a while on our tan. I hit the hot tub and then took a nap! It was good!

We set sail (so to speak) about 4:00. We had a formal dinner evening. The food was great! I had the Salmon. Our waitress for the cruise was a young lady from Romania. She spoke several languages and was fun to talk to. I told her I was on a seafood diet; whenever I see food, I eat. She cracked up! She had never heard that one before! Ha Ha!
Nancy and Debby had a Thai chicken and Ron had the Prime Rib. For dessert we had a sampler plate with 3 small cakes on it, Cherries Jubilee, and Creme Brûlée for the 4th day in a row. The Creme Brûlée wasn't even on the menu, but after Debby's conversation with the head waiter, he ordered it for our table every night! Sure be glad when this cruise is over....my pants are getting hard to fasten!

After dinner, we took a walk up on the front end and stood on the very tip of the boat. It was dark, the wind was blowing 60 and it was pretty cool! Deb said some people were up there when she first came up, who were posing for the famous Titanic, lean over the rail, pose (when it was going down in the movie). If you think about it, it's not all that funny in real life!!

We've now parked ourselves in our cabin, relaxing. Tomorrow is an all day of cruising, on our way back to Rome. We now must pare down our luggage to get ready for a Ryan Air experience.

Chow!