UK TRAVEL TALES CHAPTER 10

Enjoying a walking tour of Chester because it's a walking tour not a bus tour although one had to take a bus to get here. A timed walking tour because if we miss our rondez-vous, we miss the boat to Ireland - not acceptable.  Of course I don't know how important that is to the rest of the group.  (At any rate, we all made it.)  This is the second walled city from Norman times we visited. Even explored a recently unearthed Roman structure located many feet below the streets of Chester which was next to an ancient Roman-inspired garden located above the city streets. They also had a few tombstones moved from outside the city that depicted Roman burial practices.  Quite pleasant  and beautiful actually. And if I recall correctly the town also contained the first protestant church commissioned by jolly old Henry VIII. But after a while I got my castles and churches mixed up.

We walked to the town center and then along the top of the Norman wall all the way down to the River Die. And what did we see on the River Die in the British city of Chester in the western part of England?  See below:

Yes I am as puzzled as you.

As usual it started to rain pretty good, but it got us back to the bus early where we passed the time chatting with other bedraggled members of our group. In the U.K. you wear waterproof or carry umbrellas and soldier on. It's an island folks: misty mornings, sunny daytime, cool evenings.

As we entered Wales we stopped in a little town whose name is longer than the main street. Apparently the thinking was, if they made the name long and unpronounceable people would bypass it as we always want to say we traveled to------------------------------. I think it's 52 letters or something.

Loosely translated:  The Church of Mary in the Hollow of the....." well you get the gist. Of course there is a tourist stop - canteen and souvenir shop and look a "James Pringle Weavers" outlet! Also free samples of variously flavored whiskey. Amazing the amount of alcohol available regardless of the hour though the pubs close early so maybe that makes sense. I did not know the Welsh flag features a rather ferocious looking dragon, but I told Joe it's a dinosaur on the shirt I bought him. However, he probably knew the difference.

The ferry boat to Dublin which the bus just drives right up into, has eleven decks. We tried going outside but the wind even on a calm day blows you right off your feet. Inside there are chairs, couches, food and the inevitable gift shop. But all I kept thinking was "a 3-hour tour".

After an uneventful trip across the Irish sea during which I saw a porpoise dive, we arrived at the docks of Dublin. We made slow progress to our hotel due to traffic and a special concert that was being held that night. Ariana Grande was performing and we saw all the teenagers in their best outfits standing in a huge line to get into the concert venue, in the rain.  The view of all those excited young people was especially poignant  and sadly memorable when two days later a coward bombed the same concert in Manchester, England.

Arriving at the hotel most appropriately named the Trinity Hotel as it is located across from the famous Trinity College. This hotel certainly personified the point at which opulence just become gauche and apparently their favorite color is royal purple. I'll just leave it at that.

Big rainstorm prompted our deciding to sample the hotel cuisine rather than going out. At least the affinity for purple was more subdued in the dining area. Burt finally got his lamb.  We had been seeing tons of sheep and lambs but it was never on the menus. Then actually the next day at our Irish Cabaret night they offered lamb stew.  I stuck with steak and chicken until I learned to partner it with my new favorite brew which I discovered a day later.

I don't know what they use, but I can't get used to their salad greens. They just taste bitter and dressing is either non-existent or a form of vinegar and mayonnaise. They do love their mayo, but not my favorite. Tomorrow, Sunday, we will enjoy a different kind of religious experience followed by an extremely hilarious night at the Irish Cabaret.  To be continued......