Indy-Texans in Dublin

[Editor's Note: We love having visitors!]

As I was walking home from work on Thursday evening, I spotted an attractive couple walking toward me on Watermill Road. Could it be? Yes, it could! (Especially since I had just spoken to Andrea on the mobile and said, hey keep walking up Watermill and I'll meet ya.) Their first words after our exuberant greetings were, "Where can we buy a cornetto?" We proceeded to the costsaver, and ate our cornettos while walking home through the park. Bill was home soon after, and cooked us a tasty, meat lover's Irish Breakfast.

Friday the Bockelmans met me for a Carvery lunch near my office, before taking the city bus tour to see Dublin's Oldest Pub, and Dublin's Smallest Pub, and the house where James Joyce wrote The Dead (although the tour guide didn't mention that!) and Phoenix Park and U2's hotel and the statue of O'Connell. Bill came into town and met Kevin and Andrea at the Liffey and then I hooked up with them for a tapas dinner in Temple Bar.

Saturday we hit the road in the mighty Polo with stops at Ardgillan Castle and Monasterboice. Ardgillan is an 18th century Manor house and gardens that look out on the Irish Sea. The Taylors of Ardgillan would have socialized with the Talbots of Malahide Castle. We toured the house with a charming gentleman who at the end of our tour, overcome by a fit of beleaguered honesty, said that he thought the tour was overpriced and that he felt you could get a better tour at another home! Well, sir, we were quite pleased with our €6.50 tour! Why, at Malahide you're just listening to a recording. I think there is a lesson here about believing in yourself and having a positive attitude.

Monasterboice was unchanged from our last visit with Peggy in May. I really enjoy visiting the crosses and high tower.