Breaking Bread with our Ancestors - Sabbatical Leave Part #2 - June 1-2, 2022

 I had purchased my flight for this second part of my Sabbatical leave many months ago with British Airways finding a great fare round trip to Dublin.  As the months grew closer, they continued to change (or rather update as they called it) my reservation.  Each time additional connections were added or changed until they had my whole itinerary completely messed up.  I tried using their website, calling, even going to the airport to get it resolved - nothing worked.  I had resolved to go extra early on the day of departure to have all the issues worked out.  However, the day before departure I proceeded to their online check-in.  Oddly enough, from there I was able to resolve nearly all of the conflicts I had.  So, things went smoothly until I arrived in Philadelphia, where I literally had minutes to get from Terminal F to Terminal A by shuttle service.  I arrived at gate A8 huffing and puffing, while they closed the airplane’s door behind me.  In retrospect, I suppose that is why they changed my flight and had me going to New York instead, but that route had me going to Paris, then London, then Dublin.  Anyway, the flights themselves were without incident and the flight from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia was particularly beautiful.

I arrived in Dublin at 10am (local time), but it took nearly two hours to get from the gate to the Hostel where I am staying.  The rooms were not ready until 2:30pm, so I went to local Pub for a Guinness.

Not my favorite type of beer as I prefer lighter, citrusy beers like a Blue Moon (I think this is only available in the states) or a Hefeweisen - a wheat beer.  But, I have to admit, it wasn’t too bad.  I then stopped at a little sidewalk cafe which ended up being a Brazilian coffee shop and had a Pao de Queijo (cheese bread).  

At the table next to me was a man who was eating cake that looked like a piece of Tres Leches cake.  I remarked on it and he told me that it was very similar, but made with tapioca and coconut.  We chatted.  His name was Brian and he has lived in Dublin his whole life.  His girlfriend is from Colombia and this particular cafe was the closest thing that Dublin had to a Colombian eatery.  He gave me lots of pointers of things to see and do.

I walked around a bit more and found a statue of Molly Malone and the Irish Whiskey Museum before heading back to Abbey Court Hostel for a nap.

After a much needed nap, I got up for dinner at 8pm and went to Merchant’s Arch for Irish Stew and Brown Bread.

First, a word about the Hostel.  It is not my preferred choice of accommodation, but every other possible type of stay (Airbnb, Motel/Hotels, even through Booking, etc…) were outrageously expensive.  And the only way to do this trip was to cut down on expenses somewhere; hence, hostels.  It is extremely clean and has all kinds of sitting areas, study areas - inside/outside, etc… huge shared kitchen, dining room, and laundry facilities.  The hostel advertised that it was in a “mixed dorm” format.  I assumed that this meant separate rooms for men and women, like in college.  But no, it means a shared room with mixed gender.  There are five women and four men in my room.  The room itself is quite spacious.  Normally, I wouldn’t bat an eye at sharing space with others as I have done on multiple occasions for mission trips, but the whole concept these days makes me a bit anxious. 

Second, a word about the Irish Stew and Brown Bread.  I don’t think Ireland will ever win any culinary art awards.  Even Brian remarked that he really couldn’t think of any food that Ireland was particularly noted for, that was absolutely a “must have” when you visit.  He said, “I think we are better known for drinking!”  For me, the stew was rather tasteless and the broth weak, even though I was told by the desk clerk that this was the place to go and the dish to order.  Brian did tell me that when I get to Galway to definitely have the Fish Chowder, so we’ll see.  Our brown bread tends to have just a touch of sweetness to it.  Irish brown bread has none of that and is quite heavy, so I didn’t eat both slices.

Tomorrow I plan to visit Dublin Castle, Trinity College and see the Book of Kells.