Days 186-187, 15-16 December 2014, Dublin, Ireland. What can I say, Monday was Travel Day. Literally Planes, Trains and Automobiles (and a Bus). Early start compounded by the fact that I never sleep well prior to Travel Day anyway. We left St Lo at 6 am and Lee drove us to the station for the local train to Caen (45 minutes), then straight onto the big train to Paris (almost three hours). Due to a taxi drivers strike in Paris there were very few on the road and those that were were taken. We'd planned just to jump on the RER E train at Gare St Lazare to start our trip to the airport - but where to get access was a guessing game - escalator and lift shut off and helpful message in French directing us to use the entrance on a particular street - out of the station, across the square and down the road. A map and signage would have ruined the fun, but hoisting our bags up and down far too many flights of stairs we eventually got the train to Gare du Nord and then (couple more sets of stairs later) we were on our way to the airport, CDG 1. Which means off at the station then onto the shuttle train to the actual airport. Once there things flowed swimmingly - Bags deposited with the nice folks at Aer Lingus, stamped out of France without a glance, through security (though of course having been on a gun range with my handbag I was selected for a "random" bag check), finally sitting down with 40 minutes until boarding. We enjoyed our final Normandy epicurean delight - baguettes with ham and cheese and some fruit. Followed by a cheapskate coffee from a machine (1.40 each instead of 4.40 at the cafe). With nothing better to do I trotted up to the check in staff when they arrived and snagged an exit row for us (yay us!) Great flight to Dublin (James has to take my word for it, he conked out). Our first time through Dublin airport - lovely staff... "How long are you planning to stay in Ireland?" 8 weeks or so... "Like your style". Bless him. We love countries that love us. Stunning day weather wise - cold but fine - so instead of relaxing and unpacking we headed straight out into the winter, Christmas, magical wonderland that is Dublin. Pictured above are the lights on Grafton Street. Headed past numerous great buskers and ended up at the Christmas Market on St Stephen's Green. Lucky we'd already had the special roast Christmas dinner at Dunnes Stores - otherwise we'd have been starving. Dinner was an early accident - saw the deal when we went to pick up my pre-ordered wellies. Couldn't resist turkey, ham, roasted veges and gravy.

Tuesday? More of the same - fun, fun and walking. Finally 2 years after the first crack, we made it to the National Museum and saw the stunning gold hordes that have been found over the years and, weirdness personified, the bog bodies. Sort of Ireland's mummies. Preserved in the oxygen free atmosphere of bogs for over 2000 years. Spooky pooky. Well, that is us. Off to the National Gallery tomorrow. Both a bit under the weather with a virus and headaches - so no point paying for activities!