Staying with a nice host in lovely Blackrock, a seaside town south of Dublin. The flat has a great view of Howth across the bay, a beautiful place I hiked 7 years ago, so it’s almost literally like coming full circle. A lot has happened to me in those years since. I was a much happier person for sure, very content with where I was in life. But age, a hurricane, burnout have since taken their toll. I’m yearning for a change in life and trying to make that happen. But in the short term a change of scenery does me a world of Good! Although for this trip I’ve been staying in traditional lodgings, for my final leg in Blackrock I’m staying with a local. I’ve had a lot of success with this in Scandinavia, so I figure a couple of days in friendly Ireland will be fine. He is very hospitable and it’s great to have conversations and share a meal in someone’s home. It’s doesn’t hurt that his flat has an amazing view! He suggested I visit the Irish National Art Gallery. While I can’t say Ireland is known for its visual art, I have not hit a museum this trip, so I decided to listen to his suggestion. But first a pint of a craft cider on the way… For market research for my future of course!
As a sit in Dublin Airport I feel it’s time to reflect on my latest journey. First off, I’ve decided I’m not a fan of U.S. Pre-Clearance. I was assigned a time to get to the area that left little time to hang out at the shops, and more importantly, bars in the main terminal area. Then I had to go through the whole security clearance that I just went through again. After Passport control the waiting area has very limited options for passing the time. There is one small duty-free shop and one bar and grill for food that EVERYONE is at. Moreover, there is a fight for seats and tables because there are so few. I better NOT have to go through all of this again JFK. I would’ve much rather had spent my time leisurely in the main terminal. Flying is stressful enough without this!
The Irish friendliness really did not let me down this trip. Even at the airport everyone was so pleasant, even to people who did not deserve such respect. The locals were always eager to join in a conversation and even show me around some. My host for the last couple of nights could not have been more hospitable. Cork was a nice city, but felt more like a provincial town, that is, once their Jazz Festival wound down. During it was like Times Square meets Mardi Gras. It was a pleasant place, with friendly, slightly crazy people. The vibe reminded me of Baltimore, so I basically loved it. I actually met a couple from there who agreed with me. Upon my return to Dublin it’s funny how large Dublin then appeared, although Cork does have Ireland’s tallest building: an 18 story residential tower!… A far cry from the 100+ story pencil tower atrocities sprouting like weeds in Manhattan. Now it’s time to return home. Travel Keith goes back into hibernation and Home Keith takes over. I used to say Travel Keith and Real Keith, but I’ve come to understand that Travel Keith is closer to who I really am than the home version of me. While epiphanies often seem to make life easier to live, this one just makes me more frustrated, knowing that my soul will starve until my next trip, which has yet to be determined. But I will soon be trying to determine it! Slainte.
