Louise goes to Ireland

I decided to take advantage of my unemployed mobility and head over for a bit of a road trip with Dave and Lee Lee in Ireland. I fell into the new Londoner trap of thinking that Stanstead airport, London is actually anywhere remotely close to London. It suddenly became quite clear to me why the 6.30am flight was so incredibly affordable - because I had to wake up at 3am to get there on time! Luckily the Stanstead express bus stops just round the corner from our house so it wasn't too bad but it was still a REALLY early morning.

The airport itself was a bit overwhelming at 5.30am. It was a bank holiday weekend so it was packed, particularly with Hen and Stag parties. I knew this because of the matching outfits they all insisted on wearing. The amount of groups I passed on the way to my gate wearing matching pink antenae or tight tees with "Lucy's hen weekend" or some equivalent splashed across the front was ridiculous.

Dublin itself is very cool. When I arrived it hadn't rained for a full 10 days and everyone was getting very concerned about a possible drought! I was loving the sun though. We of course headed straight to the Guiness Brewery where we were treated to the most amazing 360' views of the city and I confirmed that I really don't like the taste of Guiness. Lee lee, Dara and Dave treated me to a true Irish welcome. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8sMM1VJVg. Lee lee even got dressed as a Leeannprechaun for the occasion.

We went out to "Howl at the Moon" on the first night and I was a bit taken aback when quite a number of people asked if I had any crack. I was just beginning to think that I obviously looked like an Irish drug dealer when it was cleared up for me. 'Craic' is Irish for fun or good times, much like 'jol' in Afrikaans I think. So when someone says "Have you any craic?" , they are not asking if you have any drugs but rather if you are having fun. You could also say "the craic is mighty" or "was it good craic?". "Are we going to have a craic?" Is not correct, I discovered after trying to be clever and introduce myself to someone.

Our road trip took as to the seaside in Tramore where I almost swam but didn't and for a night in a castle in Kilkenny. Folksroth Castle was huge, old and riddled with ghosts according to the dubious claims of one of its semi-permaent guests. In Kilkenny we also went to an amazing old round tower which was built in 849. It's over 100 feet tall and has a mere 2 feet foundation. The countryside of Ireland is really beautiful. Most of the time, I felt like I was off on an adventure with the Famous Five driving down all the country lanes and between the impressive hedges.