Off to the Airport...Another Adventure

---

Wednesday morning we headed to the airport via the Dublin bus system. As always, the Dublin bus is very reliable (not to be confused a with the Ireland bus system). Our plan is to go to the airport, exchange our currency, board the hotel shuttle and head to the hotel for a 'zero.' This is a day with zero miles hiking. The only fly in this ointment is we forgot to keep out enough money for the hotel shuttle. We had talked about this the night before but before we knew it, we had exchanged our money and had walked the 15 miles (Kathy said it was only a half mile but I swear it was at least two) to the shuttle parking lot. Unwilling to walk back to the airport, we formulated a ruse. We would tell the bus driver that we had exchanged all of our currency and didn't have any for the bus. Of course Kathy led the ruse and I just looked pathetic in the background. I did a very good job and the driver agreed to take dollars instead of euros. Now...the second fly in this ointment is that we had no euros for the return trip in the morning.

So...Kathy and I proceeded to find the nearest currency exchange, which happened to be in the village of Swords Ireland about 2 miles away. So much for the zero...right! Well we walked to Swords. What a nice town with lots of history and a castle. We exchanged enough money for the bus, found a pub (of course I had to fain sickness close to death for a pint), and toured both the castle and the Swords mall.

Kathy wants me to say something about the castle but I'm here to tell you for a small village the mall was huge. It had 2 stories, a shoe repair, a theater, a grocery, and a place to exchange our money. It must have been the size of 2 football stadiums.

Swords was founded in 560AD and represents one of the finest examples of linear develop in Ireland. The castle was something to see. The bishop who represented the King lived in the castle and handed out justice and taxed the peasants. No wonder he neede a place to live with walls. Meanwhile the peasants had that wonderful mall. And did I tell you about their mall...

Aso we headed back to the hotel to settle in for the evening. Thursday morning we paid our hard earned euros to the bus driver and off we went to the airport. We are currently in Atlanta awaiting our final leg to Lexington...and finally my zero...

Until our next adventure.....

---

Photos

Castle in Swords
This place was impressive. Just shows what you can do with free labor.

The Bishops Personal Chapel
The village of Swords has spent the last couple of decades refurbishing the castle. They have done a wonderful job. The ceiling to the chapel has been completely restored.

Kathy in the Constables Quarters
The constable for the village also lived in the castle. I couldn't help but add one more picture of Kathy.