Diary 12 - 26 June 2000 & Images
from my excursion to the Emerald Isle

Monday 12th June 2000

Having packed our suitcases and loaded everything into the car we decided to leave London at 0155 . It was a dry warm right when we pulled away from the tower block and peaceful lake in Thamesmead for the drive to Holyhead. Traffic was light and we made good speed stopping en-route for a 30 min break for coffee. It felt good to stretch my legs after the constant pressure of the driving. The dawn arrived as we sped on out way north west and the sun was shining low in the east as we entered the port of Holyhead 5 hours after leaving London.

The town was just awakening as we arrived, there were few cars about and none in the queue for the ferry. We parked up outside a restuarant and ate a light breakfast before catching the Ferry to Dublin.

After driving all night I felt pretty knackered and slept for most of the journey. Richard later told me he was concerned that I might fall off the window seat on which I was lying as we had to sail through a gale on the Irish sea.

We checked into the B & B which I had pre-booked from London. Fortunately there was a car park immediately round the corner of the next block and I was able to negotiate a block booking for our time Dublin that allowed me to take the car in and out at will. We went to explore the city and in the afternoon we decided that the most efficient way to see the city would be on the Dublin sightseeing bus. The tour was very interesting and the tour guide gave us much mirth and laughter using his Irish sense of humour laced with comic remarks about, and amusing descriptions of the places passed.

In the evening the Palm Trees restaurant at the Temple Bar afforded us an excellent dinner after which we went to the George public house for a few drinks before hitting the sack.

Tuesday 13th June
When I came out to the car park on Tuesday morning I found my car was covered with dust filled dried raindrops.

I went over to Phil, the car park attendent, and I asked him, "What do you think about the state of my car?" "Well," he said "What can I say? It's covered in dust from the building works." "You could tell me why I hadn't been advised that there was every possibility of this happening when I parked my car last night." On the previous evening the car parking practically empty and the attendent and I had chatted for sometime after I parked the car. He had every opportunity to advise me to park it in a different position where it would not be covered with this shit.

He elected to phone his boss who soon put in an appearance. The boss, when he arrived a few minutes later, was a young man wearing jeans and an open necked chequered shirt. He looked a lesson in a fellow and in the grey smudged baseball cap the war at a wry angle over his left ear. I explained my predicament to him and how it could so easily have been avoided. At first he was reticent to do anything practical to remedy the problem but after some lengthy discourse I persuaded him that it was really his responsibility to ensure that my car was returned to a clean state. He asked Phil to give it a wash for me. We went for a walk in the city while the car was being washed.

After returning to find the car cleaned we went to the tourist office where we picked up some maps and literature. In the afternoon we drove south and enjoyed the picturesque scenery on the winding roads through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough. It was a lovely day and we were both feeling relaxed and happy.

Whilst driving through the mountains we encountered the Vartry Waterworks. It is a water treatment process and a filtering system.

This picture shows the layout of the large reservoir tanks where the water moors from one to another removing impurities and adding chlorine.

We stopped off in the afternoon to take a cup of tea and enjoy the warm sunshine.

This evening we again wandered along the Temple Bar in the centre of Dublin and found a restuarant upstairs away from the crowd in the main bar who were watching a Euro 2000 football match on a large screen TV. During dinner we looked through the gay Dublin newspaper and found an advertisement for bed and breakfast in a guest-house in Cork. We decided to telephone and make a booking for the latter part of our holiday. The food was excellent but the wine we selected from the menu was no longer available.The waitress gave me an equivalent bottle which, although more expensive, she had sought and been given permission to bill it at the same price as the one originally requested.

After dinner a stroll through the town took us back to our B&B where late in the evening we went to the sauna which although a seperate business is situated in the basement of the hotel where we are staying. They have a special arrangement with the hotel whereby guests are not charged any entrance fee.

On our way downstairs we met a very dishy lad from Cork who told us his name was Connor. He was standing in his bedroom door wearing a white T-shirt and a towel draped around his waist as he stood talking to us. We both found his clear white skin and dark wavy hair quite attractive so persuaded him to come to the sauna with us. The sauna was not very busy when we arrived but since Connor was being so friendly and so gorgeous that we had no interest in anyone else and before long we were having a very good session with him.

Between the ministerings of both Richard and myself he had spent himself a couple of times and being satisfied he left around 2 o'clock. Richard and me decided to enjoy the facilities for a while before returning to the room.

It was around 0245 that I decided I had had enough and went up to our room. I tried to open door with the Yale key but to my surprise I found it would not turn the lock. I went back down the three flights of stairs to the sauna and asked Richard if I could use his keys explaining that mine appeared to be faulty. Back up I trudged and found that Richard's key would not open the lock either.

There were no staff available so I went back down to the sauna and upon making inquiries with the receptionist I was told that I would need to consult the owner who usually slept in room three. Up the stairs I trekked yet again feeling quite tired and put out. I knocked on the door waited for two of the minutes then knocked again, this time it was answered by a short dark haired man who had clearly been woken up from the sleep. I explained my predicament but he seemed most disinclined to be of any assistance. He told me if I couldn't get into my room I could leave the hotel, adding that I had disturbed his guests he perfunctorily shut the door.

I was flabbergasted at such treatment and immediately knocked on his door again. He opened the door and told me I must leave the hotel immediately. I tried with some patience to explain that my clothes were in my room and that I needed access to my room whether I stayed or left the hotel. I pointed out that since it was his hotel, his keys, and his room, I felt it was his responsibility to see to the needs and comfort of any paying guest.

"You'll be refunded any money you've paid." he informed me before mentioning yet again that he was not prepared to do anything to assist me and that unless I leave he will call the Garda..

I suggested, "Since you are so unprepared to be helpful then it's best you do so and do so quickly as I am running out of patience and I need access to my room."
Again I went down to the sauna to explain to Richard exactly what had transpired. By the time I got back to the top of stairs there was no sign of the Garda so I again knocked on the room door of the owner. As he opened the door, revealing a thunderous expression a couple of bulky guys appeared at the head of stairs. They were dressed in black puffer jackets and dark slacks but had no cap and it turned out that they were actualy security guards. I could not make them see reason.
"As well as disturbing my guests himself and his friend enticed a young lad down to the sauna."
"There was no enticement involved." I interjected. "Young Connor came with us of his own volition. Not that it's any of your business who goes to the sauna with whom." I was no farther mention of this.
They insisted that if the landlord said we must leave then it was their duty to see that we did so.

We went upstairs where they tried both sets of keys, finding as I had done that neither would operate the lock. After a short discussion one them decided to put his shoulder to the door and force it open. One heave and the flimsy lock sprung back and the door was ajar. The man felt behind the lock and told me, in a very accusatory tone, that the catch had been let down. "Is there anyone in the room?" I asked him while maintaining my calm and innocent demeanor.
He put his head round the door, switched on the light, looked into the room and confirmed that the room was empty.
"Well as far as I know that can only be locked by someone who is on the inside ori it falls down by accident. Since, clearly, I am on the outside this is not my fault." I addressed them both and waited for a reply.
"Irrespective of that you must go now. Pack your bags and let's get it done with." He held the door open for me to enter.
I turned and addressed his colleague saying "I have, as you can see, a double room so before I can do any packing I must go downstairs and get my colleague to come up. He'll have to sort out his gear also."

I didn't wait for an answer but left them at my room as I went downstairs for what I hoped would be the final time. My leg was sore and I was very tired after driving and walking all day.

On reaching the sauna I eventually found Richard. He was cruising with some success and was not a little annoyed at the continued intrusions nor indeed the turn events had taken. However he realised that the situation was now getting out of control and collected his clothes, dressed, then came upstairs with me. We went into our room, closed the door, cursed about the bad luck of it all and proceeded to pack our suitcases. During this time we discussed our situation and poured ourselves a stiff drink as I had a bottle of whisky and some Coca-Cola in the room.

After we finished packing I decided I needed to check out the situation and so went to the toilet. When I opened the door of our room I found one of the guards leaning against the wall beside it and the other one was looking equally relaxed at the far end of the corridor. I returned from the toilet and I shut the door having that moment decided that we were going to stay here tonight.

I explained quietly to Richard what I intended and we ended up by barricading ourselves in the room. With the dressing table behind the door, then the bed hard up against it we wedged the other side with the bedside cabinet and a television so that there could be no movement by forcing the door. They knocked a few times but we ignored this and after finishing our drink we cuddled up and slept soundly till 0830.

Wednesday 14th June
After stowing our luggage in the boot of the car we walked down to the Tourist information office to find out if there was any alternative accommodation available in the city centre. We met a very helpful lady who informed us that they have nothing on the list at all other than the YMCA. Neither of us were very interested in staying there but she pointed out that it was only 20 or 30 yards from where we had spent previous two nights adding that it was a very modern building with clean and a well serviced facilities. She established that there was a vacancy for a twin room and we decided that we would avail ourselves of it rather than seek farther afield. We booked the room, paid the tourist office commission and a 10 percent deposit and looked forward to spending the last night in a room at the YMCA at IR £40.00 with no breakfast.

We checked in and I handed over my credit card to pay the bill. When we were given a key for our door the receptionist asked me for a farther pound.

"Why do you want another pound?" I asked.
"You have to pay a deposit in order to have a room key."
"You are telling me that you have charged me £40 for a room and that doesn't include the key to get into it?;" I couldn't believe I was hearing this as it made no sense.
"These are the rules of hostel I don't make them I am just employed to carry them out." She told me.
"You get your pound back when you hand your key in the morning."

We emptied our luggage from the car, took the lift to the second floor where we found our ensuite room in pristine condition. Everything was clean and looked to be fairly new, it is indeed a modern building.

I noticed that there were no towels available and went to reception to ask for some. I couldn't believe it when they told me that they do not supply towels in the rooms. They told me it they were an added extra and cost £1 each. I had no objection to paying this but then they asked me for a five pounds deposit for each towel. I objected to this and pointed out that I expected a better standard of service for the price that they were charging and that wherever I had stayed in bed and breakfast both here and in the UK, and often a no greater cost, I had never before being denied or charged extra for the use of a towel. The reception clerk, a girl who had been rather shirty all along, rather pompously told me that this was a youth hostel not bed and breakfast.
"My point exactly" I told her. "People who travel like myself, whether by motor car or public transport have far more capability of carrying towels than do the people who use youth hostels. Yet we generally don't. Mostly the hostellers carry their luggage on their back and I would have thought that damp or wet towels would be a weight they could easily avoid if people like you would be more considerate."
However I realised that these people do not trust me and there was nothing I could do that would enable them to behave very differently. I paid the deposits and went back to the room.

Since we were unable to have breakfast before leaving the hotel we found a café where we had a bite to eat on a nearby café.

In the afternoon I took the car and we drove to the Guiness brewery. It was very interesting hearing how this international beverage was made. There are no longer many craftsmen working there as the whole process is automated and even the barrels that used to be made by the cooper on-site come from another source now. We were given a voucher each for a couple of pints of Guinness and we enjoyed that before leaving.

These are some shots taken as we drove through the rolling hills of Ireland

Back at the YMCA Richard rested and I tried to sleep for a while too. We both chose the bottom tier of the bunk beds that where aligned each side of the window in the small room. I wanted to have a shower but the water was cold at that time so I slept for a couple of hours then showered and dressed for dinner. Yesterday Richard had made friends with a local chap who we expected to meet at the George, a Gay bar at 2100. After eating some traditional Irish food we arrived at the bar just before nine but unfortunately his friend did not show.

Thursday 15th June

We motored to Belfast arriving in the early afternoon. A visit to the tourist office allowed us to establish that the hotel I had booked in London was a 20 minute walk from the city centre. We immediately booked the next two nights in the Travelodge which is essentially a business hotel in the centre of the city. When we reached the Crecora hotel we were welcomed by the lady of the house and shown to a room in pristine condition with everything there that one could want. I went out to the shops and bought a bottle of Bushmills whiskey and a can of tenants super.

Gareth Johnson, an internet friend who I had not met before, met us at our hotel as arranged at six o'clock and took us to visit Stormont. After walking up to the parliament building and back he suggested that we dine in the Stormont hotel as they had a fine restuarant. The food was very good and since Gareth is a teetotaller I asked him if he minded us drinking. From the wine list I chose a bottle of red wine. The food here was very good and presented nicely by the friendly Irish waiting staff. Gareth wanted to treat us to the meal so I gave him £20 towards the bill which came to £66 altogether.

After dinner we left the Stormont and Gareth was good enough to drop us off in the centre of Belfast at one of the gay bars. It was very noisy and they wanted two pounds per head to enter so we decided not to go in. Went to another Gay bar which was pretty ordinary and held little interest for us. We gave up on the gay scene and found a straight bar called the Rotterdam. The entertainment was very good and we had some is interesting chat and fun with the local people. There was a girl called Marianne who gave us something to smoke and I also met a chap called Clifford who was willing to let me have a piece that we could use later.

When it was time to leave, a girl who we had not seen before but had been in the bar, got into our mini cab and asked if she could share cab as she was going in the same direction. I told her yes but that she must pay her portion of the fare. Shortly after we set the driver told me that the girl was wanting to go in the opposite direction to ourselves. I asked her where she was going and she made some mumbling noises. Richard said that she was whispering to him that he should pay her fare. I asked the driver to stop and let her out. She refused to leave the cab so Richard also asked her to get out. I asked her again but she refused. The driver asked her several times then told her to leave his cab. I got out and went round to open the passenger door behind the driver where I proceeded to remove the girl from the back seat. She clung on desperately as I made every effort to get her out. Richard helped by releasing her fingers from the seat and I was eventually able to free her and bodily threw her onto the pavement.

Unfortunately as always my timing is never the best. Two police officers drove along and saw me do this. They pulled up and by the time I had her on the pavement they were alongside me. It was another ten minutes before they were satisfied that she was well out of order and had tried to hijack our taxi. We left her in the hands of police complaining about our behaviour toward her and bad mouthing tourists in general.

Friday 16th June

We left Belfast just soon after finishing our lunch and the took a scenic drive up the coast road . We stopped at some of the coastal villages and took a walk in Ballycastle. The local baker in this village had a fine display of bread and scones so we bought a snack before continuing on our journey to the rope bridge

where I took some pictures of Richard precariously crossing it.

It was a pleasant afternoon so when back in the car we continued our journey and drove on to the Giants Causeway. This feature of Ireland turned out to be a disappointment to both of us. We found it to be both unimpressive and considerably smaller than either of us had expected.

While out on the rocks we asked a girl to take a photograph of us. Unfortunately I placed my spectacles on one of the rocks and forgot to pick them up, only remembering about them when I was back at the car.

Since there seemed little chance of finding them and we were by now at least a mile from the rocks clusters I accepted my loss stoically and moved on.

Saturday 17th June

Again this morning it was late when we rose. After breakfast we took a wander around the centre of Belfast. I had been very anxious to buy some rechargeable batteries for my camera so I set out with a mission. We spent some considerable time and visited several likely shops and stores before I could declare my mission accomplished. When we returned to the room I put them to charge before we went to board sightseeing tour of Belfast. This was a three-hour tour round the city and we both learned something of its history and enjoyed viewing, from the opened topped upper deck, the buildings that we passed. In the evening we had dinner then went to a bar or two. Richard was a bit irritable but he managed to contain his temper and we did not actually quarrel though there was a slightly tense atmosphere between us.

Sunday 18th June

We went from Belfast in a south-westerly direction stopping of on the way to visit the Lady Dixon garden which is famous for its roses. Richard was looking for a particular rose called 'Royal Salute' which, after searching extensively throughout the rose garden wewere fortunate enough to find and it was in bloom.

During the afternoon we called in to visit the planetarium, which is a scaled-down version of the one in London.

After walking around the town in the evening we found a beautiful restaurant called Le Chateau. The table was booked for 2030 but they kept us waiting until 2050 before it was ready. At 2110 I complained and told them if the dinner was not served within five minutes they could forget it. We only had a main course, which, as it happens was absolutely delicious, rack of Midland lamb for myself and chicken on salmon for Richard. We left the restuarant at 2145 and went to the local bar where there was an Irish group playing music.
Here are some of the pictures that will give you a flavour of the evening. We stayed there until half past midnight and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the singing. I took several pictures of the scene including a chap called Jimmy wearing a Manchester United T-shirt.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

A group of people came into the bar having returned from a day trip to some coastal town.	They were in joyous spirit and had brought some toys back with them.	Richard took on the spirit of the evening but I had no idea what the lady expects to pour into red funnel.
Closer examination reveals that the feminine doll has a distinctly masculine appendage.	As the evening wore onthe revellers took turns to sing and Irish song.	This friendly lady, Maureen, whose daughter holds that red funnel above, when not singing, turned out to be a lively chatterbox and full of fun.
We tried to persuade this happy Lassie to sing a song for us but she persistently declined.	This is Mick, the husband of the lady with the funnel, is a regular singer with a grand voice.	Jimmy was one of the more attractive men in the bar, and told as he was a keen football supporter. Not that anyone would have guessed this.......unless they read his T-shirt.