We are winging our way back to the USA as this is written. It has been a good trip other than the initial delay in receiving our baggage and the very expensive lesson, which I re-emphasize to anyone reading this, to avoid ever flying Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus’ hidden and costly baggage policies are not only very expensive for the consumer, they also contribute to Ireland’s struggling economy as was confirmed to us by an Aer Lingus employee upon our checking in to fly to London. She said not only are people not visiting Ireland as they used to (which was also mentioned by our taxi driver) but when they do visit, they don’t purchase things to take home because of the baggage restrictions. I took a second suitcase that was virtually empty with the intent of transporting such purchases but, at nearly $8 a POUND to take it on their airplane, we purchased nothing instead. Too bad for Ireland.

After our wonderful day of seeing Trinity College and the Chester Beatty Library, the remainder of our time in Dublin was spent visiting Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Stephan’s Green and a few other sites around central Dublin. I need to mention that we did find two reasonably priced nice restaurants with food we would go back for if we were to return to Dublin. At Il Vicoletto, the no cheese salmon stuffed pasta was excellent (we ate there twice) and the spicy curries at the Nepalese Monty’s of Kathmandu (both in the Temple Bar area) also hit the spot. These two fine restaurants (along with the menus of other restaurants we explored in Dublin) also demonstrated how significantly overpriced (as in 40 to 50 percent) the food was in Waterford as I mentioned in my “Uneventful Day” blogpost.

Since we had a whole evening to blow on the way home by arriving at Heathrow airport the afternoon before leaving for Chicago, we took the Underground into the city and wrapped up this trip with yet another visit to Patara in Knightsbridge. Still our all time favorite after eleven visits.

Another twenty three day trip in the books. This was supposed to be a trip to Barcelona but we could not find an apartment location available for the entire time we planned to be there (just tonight we learned listening to the news in the taxi that was probably because of the last bullfights being held in Barcelona this week as it has now been outlawed there).

So we switched gears and decided to see Scotland and Ireland. Some simplistic conclusions: I like rail travel over air, I like Scotland better than Ireland and London is feeling like a second home. Too bad it is so expensive for Americans.

Thanks for following us. Our next major trip is back to Tortola in January for four weeks, primarily to escape that month in the northern hemisphere so there won’t be much new from there. Below are a few shots of our last day in Dublin and photos of some miscellaneous things I found interesting during the trip.