Here’s a tip… If you have spacial relationship issues….don’t ever drive in Ireland - Enigmachick
Dublin Day 1
Arrived in Dublin late because my plane was late.
Went to get my rental car. It was raining. There were a bazillion people waiting. I finally got the paperwork taken care of and went to get my car that wasn’t there. I’m walking around in the rain, trying to find my car, grateful that I actually brought a rain jacket with me, but the fucking thing wasn’t there. I go back inside, signaling to the rental chick over the shoulders of the bazillion people and YES.. she acknowledged me (looking a little nervous) and motioned me forward, to the dismay of the many. She said she would find me a car... which she did... and then when I went to inspect it for possible damage.
The checkout woman made marks on an iPad for the car that I was supposed to have rented … Not the one I actually got. We couldn’t really see the car very well because ... did I mention that it was raining? I did notice some scrapes which I had her take note of. Whatever
It took me 20 minutes to figure out how to blue tooth my phone to the car radio because the display was all in Spanish. Not an auspicious start even if I SHOULD know more Spanish by now. I was pretty nervous because, not only did I not know where I was but, I had to learn to drive on the left side of the road with a manual stick …which is also on the left side. So... Totally different than anything I’m used to but I was determined and my friend Sam said the drive to the hotel was easy. HA
OK.. If you simply MUST drive in Ireland you should know, well before hand, that there are about a thousand roundabouts between you and anything that makes sense... unless you come from another place that feels that too many roundabouts is actually a good idea. Crikey. I just wanted to get on the highway but kept exiting roundabouts at the wrong place with the Google Maps chick saying, "at the next roundabout, take the third exit", which actually was not the third exit at all, and ending up in parking lots and wrong roads... which is how I managed to find myself driving in downtown Dublin convinced I was driving the wrong way on one way roads (deep breath now). I wasn’t… The roads are just really narrow. Which is how I ended up smashing my passenger side rear view mirror while trying to avoid hitting anyone to my right and having Dubliners hate my guts for my shitty driving.
I didn’t stop after hitting the mirror…. Twice… Against some parked car(s - ugh). My karma is totally sucking at the moment but A) There was no place to pull over and B) I was hoping no one noticed. For all I know someone took a picture of my plate and I’ll have police waiting for me at the airport.
So the trip that was supposed to take max 30 minutes took about an hour and a half. Good times! I got to the hotel but didn’t believe it was the hotel because the parking garage sign indicates the Beacon Hospital and I thought “ this can’t be the place … It’s a hospital ”. Turns out that the two buildings are connected or at least very very close together. More Good times!
I managed to park without hitting anything else and checked in and collapsed. My friend Sam texted me wondering where the fuck I was. I explained. I passed out after taking a bath in my super awesome bathtub and then went out to eat at Jamie’s Italian restaurant… A Jamie Oliver chain because it was easy. Yummy.
Dublin Day 1
Arrived in Dublin late because my plane was late.
Went to get my rental car. It was raining. There were a bazillion people waiting. I finally got the paperwork taken care of and went to get my car that wasn’t there. I’m walking around in the rain, trying to find my car, grateful that I actually brought a rain jacket with me, but the fucking thing wasn’t there. I go back inside, signaling to the rental chick over the shoulders of the bazillion people and YES.. she acknowledged me (looking a little nervous) and motioned me forward, to the dismay of the many. She said she would find me a car... which she did... and then when I went to inspect it for possible damage.
The checkout woman made marks on an iPad for the car that I was supposed to have rented … Not the one I actually got. We couldn’t really see the car very well because ... did I mention that it was raining? I did notice some scrapes which I had her take note of. Whatever
It took me 20 minutes to figure out how to blue tooth my phone to the car radio because the display was all in Spanish. Not an auspicious start even if I SHOULD know more Spanish by now. I was pretty nervous because, not only did I not know where I was but, I had to learn to drive on the left side of the road with a manual stick …which is also on the left side. So... Totally different than anything I’m used to but I was determined and my friend Sam said the drive to the hotel was easy. HA
OK.. If you simply MUST drive in Ireland you should know, well before hand, that there are about a thousand roundabouts between you and anything that makes sense... unless you come from another place that feels that too many roundabouts is actually a good idea. Crikey. I just wanted to get on the highway but kept exiting roundabouts at the wrong place with the Google Maps chick saying, "at the next roundabout, take the third exit", which actually was not the third exit at all, and ending up in parking lots and wrong roads... which is how I managed to find myself driving in downtown Dublin convinced I was driving the wrong way on one way roads (deep breath now). I wasn’t… The roads are just really narrow. Which is how I ended up smashing my passenger side rear view mirror while trying to avoid hitting anyone to my right and having Dubliners hate my guts for my shitty driving.
I didn’t stop after hitting the mirror…. Twice… Against some parked car(s - ugh). My karma is totally sucking at the moment but A) There was no place to pull over and B) I was hoping no one noticed. For all I know someone took a picture of my plate and I’ll have police waiting for me at the airport.
So the trip that was supposed to take max 30 minutes took about an hour and a half. Good times! I got to the hotel but didn’t believe it was the hotel because the parking garage sign indicates the Beacon Hospital and I thought “ this can’t be the place … It’s a hospital ”. Turns out that the two buildings are connected or at least very very close together. More Good times!
I managed to park without hitting anything else and checked in and collapsed. My friend Sam texted me wondering where the fuck I was. I explained. I passed out after taking a bath in my super awesome bathtub and then went out to eat at Jamie’s Italian restaurant… A Jamie Oliver chain because it was easy. Yummy.
I loved this bathtub so much I took 2 pictures of it. Sigh
My fantastic soft bed with artfully (oddly) arranged throw at the Beacon. But… why why a duvet?
I opted for sleeping with the furry side of the throw on me and no duvet. Much… much better.