Five essentials to optimize an Irish vacation

When you come to Ireland, there are certain protocols you must mind for your own good. I’m telling you the truth.

1. Irish time is never exact. Go with it and lay back. You won’t miss anything.

2. Be prepared to engage with the Irish. They want to talk your head off. Indulge them. You’ll hear a lively story or two.

3. When you go to a bar and are asked how you are doing, then that’s the signal to place your order. Otherwise, the bartender will walk off and leave you alone. You’ve lost your window of opportunity. That could be an evening breaker right there.

4. Like fairies hiding in the fields, the Irish make you play search and rescue to find the hairdryer in your guest room. I’ll let you in on a little secret, though. You’ll never find a washcloth.

5. Get used to the fact that in one hour it might rain, beam sunlight and pour again. Take the umbrella at all costs.

This is a natural shot.

Eating my way through Ireland

and a little pub crawl, too.

Irish lamb stew at the local pub with a “session” commencing.

Fish chowder and prawns on soda bread

Crab cakes

Nettle soup is amazing!

Catching on to local ways

Last evening with a late arrival - the Irish are very spontaneous by nature - I took my room key, pushed onto the elevator and headed for the third floor of the small hotel.

I saw only buttons for 2 floors. I gave it a try , ended on the second floor, and turned around going back down to the lobby. Maybe I hadn’t understood the receptionist and my room was in another part of the building.

When I explained my plight to her she looked at me with a blank face and said, “ You get off on the second floor, walk all the way down the corridor and take the stairs to the third floor.”

Like giving directions to someone on the the highway - “ turn right at the pub on the corner” or “ just past St. Bridget’s a short way around the bend” - the Irish don’t excell in giving specific information. I guess they assume it’s not worth worrying about. What’s the hurry.

I repeated my actions, got off at the second floor, walked all the way down the hallway. Tucked away in the far corner was a narrow stairs to the third floor with three rooms. Well, I must say the view was worth it.