Ireland

Hubby and I were recently privileged to be able to visit Ireland.  This was my first trip abroad and frankly, I wasn't really sure what to expect.  What I found was a gracious, gregarious, and humor filled population that made us feel welcome from the first moment.  We landed in Dublin after a night of cat-naps in the cramped confines of the airplane, sleep deprived and groggy.  The bus driver that picked us up had obviously had instructions to drive us around until our rooms would be ready. (It was 9 am)  After a short while he gave up on the commentary as the comparative comfort of the bus lulled everyone into a comatose state.  With quiet, good humor he drove us up and down, while we napped.

That set the tone of the trip for us.  Everywhere the people welcomed us as they would forgotten cousins, with cheerful acceptance of our weird ways.  The first evening, hubby wanted to get out for a while and smoke a cigar, so we ankled down the block.  We had noticed some booths set up along the street and decided to explore.  We fell in with a crowd of people all heading the in the same direction.  Figuring that the safest way to cross a busy corner where the signals are in the wrong places and the traffic going the wrong direction, was to follow the crowd, we fell in with a middle aged couple and their teen-aged children.   We soon struck up a conversation and found out that the regional rugby finals were being played across the street between Ulster (Ireland) and Edinburgh (Scotland).  The man leaned close and confided to hubby that he had 40 euros on the game, but don't tell the missus!  He then urged us to try a Guinness and a sausage before the game.  With a wave he hustled off to catch up with his family, leaving us in the middle of the tailgate party taking place on the street.

Rugby we didn't know much about, but tailgating we understand.  We wandered happily through the crowd enjoying the display of colors and team paraphernalia.  It didn't take long to figure out that Ulster was red and Edinburgh was blue, with both sides insisting that they were going to win.  With no animosity they all packed into the Guinness tents and hoisted a few for their team.  We felt right at home.

Returning to the room we found the game on television and got a taste of the craziness that is rugby. (Ulster won) A sport that is a cross between soccer and football, played without any protective gear with the ferocity of a hockey match.  We never did figure out the rules, although hubby watched devotedly.  One thing I know, it's no sport for wimps!

From pubs to cabs, clerks to waiters, guides, drivers, and just pedestrians on the street the Irish people were friendly, talkative and funny.  They greeted us as welcome guests in their country and not just a shot in the economy.  They were cheerfully willing to discuss our trip, their neighborhood, the history and customs, castles and ruins for as long as we wanted.  Surprisingly, the only subjects I never heard mentioned were politics and religion (unless it was an historic site).  With great diplomacy they just skirted the topics that keep their country in the news. 

It was a wonderful trip and the people will have a warm spot in my heart for years to come (along with a fondness for Guinness and Jameson's whisky).