After a night being involuntarily sleep deprived we left the Ashling Hotel in Dublin at 6:00 a.m. Topping off the rentak car, our fearless Nissan Micra, and dropping it off near caused us to miss our flight. Turns out the TSA has nothing on Dublin’s security. Never thought I’d be thankful for the TSA. Aside from the protecting us from the baddies of course. I somehow snuck my travel pack on as a carry on, despite it being two times larger than anyone else’s bag. I’m convinced those “will it fit” carry-on checks are just a way to see if suckers will try it or not. Well, I’m no sucker! Well I was in San Francisco, but I learned my lesson. I’m not a sucker from hear on out.
Our flight, via Ryan Air (the Southwest Airlines of Europe), boarded via the tarmac which was a lot of fun. I can’t recall doing that since Jordan several years ago and that was my first time ever. The weather was brisk and breezy but pleasant as we took to the skies and not much changed when we landed outside of London 55 minutes later. Gotta love short flights.
We then took a train from the Airport to Liverpool Station in the heart of London. The train right was beautiful through the lush English countryside, only occasionally shook by another high speed train passing inches away going the opposite way. To pass the time Bethany and I played the card game “War.” Normally a game that goes on forever. However, this time due to a stunning Double War victory I was victorious in under twenty minutes. That’s one for the record books.
When we arrived in London it was up to us to find our way to our first Air BNB residence of our trip. Turns out Three’s Wireless works in London if you call paying roaming data for texts, calls and data working. That’s how they get ya. We made it but not before I sweat through two shirts, ewwwww. Our first hosts have a similar setup to us a shared living space with a guest room off the main room. On the fourth floor of their building we have a nice view of London Architecture for both sides. No it’s not all the famous stuff but it’s nice to look at and through the back patio it appears we have access to their roof. I’ll look into that this week and get back to you.
After falling asleep for two hours, did I mention we’re exhausted already, we headed out for our first attempt at The London Underground. For being total newbies I’d give us a 7 out of 10. Mainly because just after purchasing our metro pass a security guy had to show me how to use it and I immediately dropped it on the ground. How embarrassing… Or may it’s the two cameras I’m constantly carrying around to take pictures that’s embarrassing? Nope… it’s the other thing.
After getting off three stops to soon, sorry babe, we walked through the shopping district of London. Full of stores I can’t afford, stores I can’t pronounce and stores I wish I was cool enough for it really has everything. I know understand why our friend said it was some of the best shopping in Europe. Before entering Hyde Park we stopped by a small pizza kitchen called Fino’s. Full of only locals an run by guys who’s first language was Italian the pizza was understandably good. We got something with goat cheese, mozzarella, basil… yeah, you’re jealous. I would be too. My on complaint is, though the crust was excellent, the pizza itself was very thin and droopy. Which is probably how “real pizza” is, but I’m American, I demand my cardboard-esque Little Caesar’s deep dish!
We took a quick jaunt through Hyde Park just past the Marble Arch we set out in search of the illusive Peter Pan statue. It wasn’t until we entered the park that I was informed it took Bethany’s sister quite awhile to find it. Forget that mess… I’ll look on the map. We found it on the map pretty quickly but seeing how far away it was from our current location we opted out to head back to our place. We hopped on the metro again for our second ever ride with our first ever transfer from one line to the next. I gotta say it went pretty smoothly, aside from the sardine car we entered on the Central line during peak hours back to Bernal Green. You know it’s rush our when you can taste the air… Welp, I’ll leave you with that.
We may sleep early so we can be out all day tomorrow without interruption. Please be praying for energy and how to use our time most efficiently.
Cheers,
B&B
