We had to vacate by 10 a.m. to allow cleaning for the next guests. Our ferry is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. We have a few hours to enjoy Dalkey. Our first stop is a coffee shop we found the first day; now we return to patronize it. The sun is out which a big event in this part of the world. Nonetheless, this is service above and beyond!
I couldn't get Tom to wear the hat...and we already had on sunscreen, but don't you love the thought?
And while we were sitting there ( that would be OUTSIDE!!!), the owner put out her "saying for the day".
And just across the street is the Bookie!!! Yesterday, we featured the cultural aspects with Mike and JoAnna....this is where many of the full-time residents hang out. 'Twas fun to watch all the locals greet each other, their dogs, exchange news and, of course, comment on the weather. I leave T for a bit to go shop.
Didn't find much interesting in these few blocks....when I returned, T is expounding on the lobster fresh catch.
The 2-3 hours passed very quickly...two cuppas each, people watching, book reading, enjoying....We board the ferry, bound for Holyhead, Wales.
Again, we paid a few £ more to be in "premier" section....this ferry ain't nothin' like the one from Scotland to Ireland. It is the same line, but the similarity stops there. Not much food, no private toilets, the private entry was a joke....gate open the whole trip. The crossing was a bit wavy....2.5 hours....and we were more than ready to get off when the time came.
As an afterthought....we had been underway when T questions whether or not we could see our "nest" in Dalkey. We had watched the ferries come and go....wished we had thought of that just a few minutes sooner....by the time i found the rear deck and nested in amongst the crowd, this is all i could see. Found it!!! The long row of white buildings....we were about the second from the right. Sigh...
Trying to find maps to show our location has been impossible. They are too big to put on the blog. They are too big to handle in the car, for that matter. The one for the UK was in tatters and we had to throw it away. Ireland was better, but still no way to take a picture and put on the blog. Found this in a restaurant; it's not great, but might give you an idea about where we are in the world at this point. The ferry lands at Holyhead, Wales, which is very visible. What we didn't know is that Holyhead is not just the name of the town, but also of the island. Leaving Holyhead, we drive across another island, Anglesey, before we reach mainland Wales.
For now, however, we are staying in/on Holyhead for the night at Seacroft....a pub with 6 rooms overhead.
Yep, this is the pub.
And this is our room....and pictures ARE deceiving!
All the rooms are upstairs. That would mean that the whole downstairs is the pub....with well defined areas!
Not sure if it's because this is a Friday night, but the divisions are a bit cloudy tonight. We ate in the drinking area....shame on us....cause it was quieter???!!!
Most of the drinkers were outside, enjoying the last rays of sunshine. We sat by the door and watched them, knowing that within minutes, it would be too chilly for us! Kathy approached a group on the deck to pet the dog. A man for the group said to me, Tom, that the dog had no pedigree. I said, "That's OK. Neither does she." He laughed and shook my hand.
By the time we finished our meal, the place was packed!!! Really packed!!! And perhaps the noisiest place we have heard!!! But by approximately 9 p.m., it was silent and we had good sleep.
